Ousted Thai leader Thaksin seeking Pacific asylum: Report

September 22nd, 2009 Thai leader says US moving toward engaging MyanmarNEW YORK — Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday that the United States and Europe appeared to be moving toward engaging Myanmar rather than a policy of sanctions only as a means of encouraging political change in the military-run country. Thailand shares a long border with Myanmar, and Abhisit told an audience at Columbia University he believes talks with the country's military leaders are the best way to affect political change, improve human rights and stem drug trafficking.

September 20th, 2009 Thai leader calls for peace after activists' clashBANGKOK — Thailand's prime minister called for peace and reconciliation on Sunday, a day after a nationalist group provoked clashes with police and villagers during a march to the Cambodian border. "We can express different opinions but please don't hurt each other.

September 19th, 2009 BANGKOK - Thousands of supporters of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra braved a tropical downpour and tight security Saturday to protest on the third anniversary of the 2006 coup that ousted him. About 10,000 members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) kicked off a rally at Bangkok's Royal Grounds despite a rainstorm that left the protesters drenched and scrambling for shelter.

September 19th, 2009 BANGKOK - A 6,500-man combined force of police and soldiers equipped with riot gear were on standby Saturday in Bangkok's government district to keep the peace during a planned demonstration marking the third anniversary of the 2006 coup. The Dusit district of Bangkok - encompassing Government House, the Parliament building and the house of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda - were put under the protection of the Internal Security Act this weekend, allowing authorities to crack down on acts of violence with impunity.

September 9th, 2009 Thai police chief resigns after forced transferBANGKOK — Thailand's national police chief resigned Wednesday after being transferred to an inactive post in the wake of an official recommendation that he be prosecuted for his role in a deadly crackdown against anti-government protesters last year. On Monday, the National Counter-Corruption Commission said police Gen.

August 17th, 2009 Supporters seek pardon for fugitive former Thai PMBANGKOK — Thousands of supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rallied in central Bangkok on Monday and then marched to the royal palace, seeking a pardon for the fugitive leader. After months of calm, the march to the ceremonial palace of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej threatened to rekindle the political turmoil that has gripped the country since before Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup.

July 6th, 2009 Opposition urges Thai foreign minister to resignBANGKOK — Opposition members in Thailand's Parliament called Monday for the resignation of the foreign minister after police filed charges against him for alleged involvement in demonstrations that climaxed with the seizure of Bangkok's airports last year. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and 35 other leaders of the "Yellow Shirt" movement face criminal charges including illegal assembly, attempts to stir unrest, and breaches of aviation law and terrorism for the eight-day siege of Bangkok's two airports in November and December.

June 29th, 2009 Thai ex-PM's fortunes boosted by electoral resultsBANGKOK — Two consecutive electoral victories that put allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand's Parliament have buoyed backers' hopes for a resurrection of their fugitive leader-in-exile. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup, following accusations of corruption and abuse of power.

June 10th, 2009 Germany bans Thai ex-leader ThaksinBANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's globe-trotting, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra is no longer welcome in Germany and will be arrested if he returns there, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry was notified about the ban in an official letter from the German Embassy last week, said Chavanont Intarakomalyasut, a ministry spokesman.

May 3rd, 2009 Thai protest leader says soldiers attacked himBANGKOK — A Thai protest leader who survived an assassination attempt said Sunday he believes he was attacked by soldiers who were assigned to silence him because he knows too much about the shady side of Thai politics. Sondhi Limthongkul, leader of Thailand's "yellow-shirt" movement that helped topple the government three years ago, spoke in his first news conference since the April 17 attack, in which his car was ambushed by gunmen in pickup trucks firing M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles.

April 24th, 2009 Thais who rioted last week call for new protestsBANGKOK — Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who rioted in Bangkok last week called Friday for a new protest rally, just hours after Thailand's current leader lifted an emergency decree and said the country had returned to normal. The call followed a special two-day parliamentary session that sought to heal the political divide between supporters and opponents of Thaksin, whose 2006 ouster set off a series of demonstrations as the two rival groups have sought to bring their preferred leaders into power.

April 14th, 2009 BANGKOK - The leader of a Muslim community in central Bangkok plans to ask the emir of Dubai to eject fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his supporters attacked people and property during anti-government protests, a newspaper reported Tuesday. Manit Saengthong, leader of the Darrulaman Mosque community, told the Nation that it would ask Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to bar Thaksin because he uses Dubai 'as a springboard to attack Thailand'.

April 12th, 2009 BANGKOK - Beleaguered Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has tipped off legal action against protesters who forced the cancellation of the ASEAN summit. Vejjajiva claimed that the protesters' drive against him was illegal, and declared that pressure from "enemies of Thailand" could not make him quit.

April 10th, 2009 PATTAYA - There will be no reconciliation talks with fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after a sharp escalation of anti-government protests in Bangkok and the nearby resort city of Pattaya aimed at disrupting a regional summit, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Friday. A group of pro-Thaksin demonstrators, known as Red Shirts, broke through police and military barricades Friday to rally at the site of the meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its dialogue partners, which include India, China and Japan.

February 10th, 2009 LONDON - Manchester City has removed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Sinawatra as its honourary club president. The step was taken by City's new Arab owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in Abu Dhabi.