absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published Feb. 27, 2009
A snippet in The Nation caught my eye: “Thai consul in Hong Kong instructed to check Thaksin’s whereabouts.” Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it. Kind of reminiscent of the good old Cold War thrillers. The Thai consul playing James Bond. “The Thai Consulate Office in Hong Kong will check into the whereabouts of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and report back to the government,” Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is quoted as saying.
“If Thaksin can be located, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with the Office of the Attorney General to bring him back,” Abhisit said. Ho ho Abhisit, an extradition is not that easy. Or shall we expect a commando operation, rendering Thaksin harmless and retrieving him back to a Thai prison cell? Or could it be that the Chinese government cooperates and arrests the man?
In case you missed it, Thaksin plans to give a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Hong Kong on Monday, March 02. The FCCT will broadcast the hour-long event live at 11.45 a.m. Expect a packed house — if Thaksin doesn’t opt out. Why should he not. Abhisit demands his rightful trophy with his consul closely monitoring Thaksin — to catch him? Think again Abhisit: Thaksin on the loose may be better for your government.
But then again, Thaksin’s Hong Kong appearance would not only put the Chinese authorities under pressure — but how much more can the man on the run be on the run. And why would he take the risk? Thaksin has shot his last bullets already. Any new revelations to further his cause are highly unlikely. On the other hand, he wouldn’t expose himself without a clear goal in mind.
Imagine Thaksin in a Thai prison. Don’t think that he would be quickly forgotten. As a “martyr” Thaksin could be a more effective politician from the inside of a Thai prison than from the outside world on the run. The Abhisit government is better off with no Thaksin in sight — while the only strength Thaksin has left is the weakness of the Abhisit government.
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