Thaksin Shinawatra

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Thailand's foreign minister was forced during a censure debate Friday to defend himself against angry opposition attacks over his role in the protests that shut Bangkok's airports last year. Kasit Piromya is accused of supporting the ten-day airport siege in November-December by members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that cost the kingdom 8.3 billion dollars and tarnished its tourist-friendly image. The 64-year-old reportedly said the blockade, the culmination of a four-month street campaign to rid former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's allies from government, was "a lot of fun". But Kasit played down his role in the protests. "I am not a core member ... Read Full Story

So good old Thaksin what’s his name, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, is supposedly "on the run" after a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for both him and his wife.  Why?  Because they both skipped bail, failed to appear in court in Bangkok on Monday and high tailed it to London instead.  They probably had a bit of site seeing to do!  Let’s not forget, this is the Chairman of a Premier League team, you could make it up, could you!? Shinawatra and his wife will also forfeit bail in the sum of £400,000 (approx $395k) after they failed to appear for ... Read Full Story

BANGKOK — Thailand's new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday urged fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra not to incite unrest in the kingdom ahead of mass protests planned by the opposition. Story Continues Below: Breaking News   British-born Abhisit told AFP that he hoped pro-Thaksin rallies due to start on Sunday would not disrupt his plans to unveil his policies to parliament, adding that police had been ordered to avoid violence. The 44-year-old added that all parties involved in this year's political unrest, including those behind a costly blockade of Bangkok's airports, should face justice as part of a wider reconciliation plan. "I have ... Read Full Story

Excerpt: Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who faces having billions of dollars in assets seized by the Thai courts, has set up a fund to help Asia weather financial turmoil, an adviser said on Tuesday. Multi-millionaire Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, has set up the Building a Better Future Foundation, which his spokesman said aimed to bring together some of Asia’s brightest financial brains to help struggling poor nations. full story >>> Read Full Story