Thaksin Detained on Return to Thailand
BANGKOK: — Police detained ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he arrived home Thursday after 17 months of exile to face corruption charges.
Thousands of supporters - many dancing, beating drums and singing - gathered at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for his arrival aboard a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong.
But Thai authorities quickly took the 58-year-old billionaire politician into custody, said police Maj. Gen. Thaweesak Toochinda, the head of airport immigration police.
Thaksin was deposed in a September 2006 coup and had lived abroad ever since. He had expected to face arrest after arriving at the airport on charges of graft and abuse of power during his 2001-2006 time in office.
Before boarding the plane in Hong Kong, Thaksin told reporters, “I believe in the Thai justice system, especially the court system. Normally in justice systems everywhere, a person is innocent until proved guilty.”
He said that he was a “little bit” concerned about his security. But he added that there was little chance his return would spark violence.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived home Thursday after 17 months of exile, prepared to face charges but saying he had faith in Thailand’s justice system.
Thaksin flew first class on Thai Airways from Hong Kong to Bangkok, where thousands of supporters had gathered at Suvarnabhumi International Airport before dawn to await his return. They danced, beat drums, sang and carried signs reading “We love Thaksin.”
The 58-year-old billionaire politician was deposed in a September 2006 coup and had lived abroad ever since. He was expected to face arrest after arriving at the airport. He is accused of graft and abuse of power during his 2001-2006 time in office.
–AP 2008-02-28
Ousted Thaksin returns to Thailand
BANGKOK: — Thousands of people, many carrying red roses and waving blue flags, have gathered at Bangkok airport to greet ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has just returned to Thailand.
Filling the airport with a carnival atmosphere, the crowd sang songs in praise of the billionaire politician who was toppled in a coup in September 2006, as he headed back to his country for the first time since the putsch.
Waiting outside the airport’s VIP lounge, many wore T-shirts bearing Mr Thaksin’s image and waved paper banners carrying messages that read “We love you,” “We miss you,” and “Welcome home.”
About 10,000 Thai police have been deployed to boost security in the capital.
Mr Thaksin set off from Hong Kong today to defend himself against corruption charges. He said he did not want to return to politics and would report himself to authorities when he arrived.
Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, Mr Thaksin waited in Hong Kong airport’s business lounge to board his flight.
“I don’t expect there to be large crowd when I arrive,” he told reporters. “I want to go back as ordinary citizen.”
Since the September 2006 coup Mr Thaksin has lived mainly in Britain where he owns Manchester City football club, two of whose footballers were also on the plane.
His return comes with a new civilian government in office in Bangkok under Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a close ally who was handpicked by Mr Thaksin to lead the People Power Party (PPP) to success in December elections.
As soon as he clears immigration, police have said they will escort him to the Supreme Court to hear charges from a corruption case accusing him of using his influence to win a property deal for his wife in 2003.
Mr Thaksin is expected to seek bail, which his wife Pojaman was granted in the same case last month.
He would then be escorted to the justice ministry’s special investigations unit to hear charges over alleged fraudulent filings to securities regulators in 2003.
Mr Thaksin is also expected to visit the Grand Palace, to pay respects to the late sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in what would be an important display for a man accused by the military of lacking loyalty to the throne.
“I am confident that I am innocent,” he told Thai media here Wednesday. “I have done nothing wrong. I am ready to prove it.”
“I am ready to work to serve the king, the queen, and every member of the royal family, in any way that I can,” Mr Thaksin said, adding he would focus his energies on his football club and charitable foundation.
The legal cases were brought by the military regime who toppled him.
The coup was welcomed by Bangkok’s middle classes, who led months of street protests against Mr Thaksin in early 2006 accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.
But the military government left many coup supporters disillusioned as the generals mishandled the economy and failed to win convictions on the charges against Mr Thaksin.
Even with Mr Samak as prime minister and close Mr Thaksin allies at the highest levels of government, analysts say the court cases still pose a threat.
“The legal challenges are serious,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University.
“He’s taking a gamble here,” he said, although “it’s much less (of a) risky gamble than before the election.”
The People’s Alliance for Democracy, which spearheaded earlier anti-Mr Thaksin protests, has vowed to take to the streets against any perceived interference with the courts.
But its links with the unpopular military regime have weakened its support, and Mr Thitinan said they may struggle to gather a large following so soon after an election seen as reaffirming Mr Thaksin’s popularity.
“This is a different ball game. Mr Thaksin has the upper hand,” he said.
– AFP 2008-02-28
Over 2,000 taxi motorcyclists wait for Thaksin at airport
The number of taxi motorcyclists who gathered at the Suvarnabhumi International airport to welcome former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra grew to over 2,000 shortly before his arrival.
Thaksin’s mother-in-law, Pojanee na Pomphet, also waited to greet the former prime minister at the airport.
– The Nation 2008-02-28
Thaksin’s sister, some 100 former Thai Rak Thai MPs gather at airport
Yinglak Shinawatra, a sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and some 100 former Thai Rak Thai MPs gathered at the Suvarnabhumi International airport to welcome the former prime minister.
Yinglak said she was excited to meet her brother, who asked her to thank all of his supporters to wait there to welcome him.
– The Nation 2008-02-28
Chalerm, transport minister, justice minister welcome Thaksin at airport
BANGKOK: — Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, Transport Minister Santi Prompat and Justice Minister Somchai Wongsawat gathered at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to welcome former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The three will board Thanksin’s plane once it arrives at the airport at 9:45 am to welcome him.
– The Nation 2008-02-28
taken from http://www.thaivisa.com