Thailand’s Foreign Ministry issued a new Thai passport to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Oct 31, Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut claimed on Thursday.
Mr Chavanond said he had received an email message from a Foreign Ministry official who wrote under the pseudonym ‘Buakaew Saiphanmai’ (new blood of the ministry). The message said the ministry had issued a passport to Thaksin on Oct 31.
Read more: Bangkok Post
I don’t find this particularly surprising, given that the current government is of course very supportive of Mr. Thaksin. What is more shocking is that the Yingluck government dropped their plans to pursue a royal pardon for Thaksin, apparently after Thaksin wrote a letter requesting that the matter be dropped. Does he have an ulterior motive here, or is he just genuinely trying to prevent more political polarization in Thailand?
Another question is what exactly does this mean for easing his ability to travel? Does he not already have passports that he purchased from other countries which he could travel on? Is the issuance of his passport a stepping-stone to him eventually returning to Thailand, possibly through means other than a royal pardon? I suppose we would have to ask a Thailand lawyer specializing in criminal law and extradition. I am very curious to see what happens next with this.