ID :
45031
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 20:42
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/45031
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US ambassador denies revocation of Thaksin's US visa
BANGKOK, Feb 10 (TNA) - The US ambassador to Thailand on Tuesday denied press reports about a so-called visa revocation for convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying the reports were unfounded.
Eric G. John, the US ambassador to Thailand, also denied that Pornthiva Nakasai, Thailand's Minister of Commerce, was barred from entering the United States.
"Normally we don't talk about visa policy, but I think the stories were unfair both to former prime minister Thaksin and the commerce minister. For fairness of those two people, I want to correct those incorrect stories in the press," said the US envoy.
The US ambassador made the remarks after unconfimed reports about the issue appeared in the media over several days.
Thailand's ruling Democrat Party on Monday denied reports that it was lobbying foreign countries to bar entry to Mr. Thaksin.
Thepthai Senpong, spokesman for party leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, said the Democrat Party was not asking foreign governments to bar Mr. Thaksin from visiting their countries.
The Thai government, he said, never intervened in affairs of countries with cordial relations with Thailand and revocation of any visa was the decision of a particular country.
The former premier was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for abuse of power in a land purchase deal in a prime business area of Bangkok.
The British government earlier revoked the visas of Mr. Thaksin and his former wife Mrs. Pojaman, when the ousted premier attempted to seek political asylum in that nation. The couple separated last November. (TNA)
Eric G. John, the US ambassador to Thailand, also denied that Pornthiva Nakasai, Thailand's Minister of Commerce, was barred from entering the United States.
"Normally we don't talk about visa policy, but I think the stories were unfair both to former prime minister Thaksin and the commerce minister. For fairness of those two people, I want to correct those incorrect stories in the press," said the US envoy.
The US ambassador made the remarks after unconfimed reports about the issue appeared in the media over several days.
Thailand's ruling Democrat Party on Monday denied reports that it was lobbying foreign countries to bar entry to Mr. Thaksin.
Thepthai Senpong, spokesman for party leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, said the Democrat Party was not asking foreign governments to bar Mr. Thaksin from visiting their countries.
The Thai government, he said, never intervened in affairs of countries with cordial relations with Thailand and revocation of any visa was the decision of a particular country.
The former premier was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for abuse of power in a land purchase deal in a prime business area of Bangkok.
The British government earlier revoked the visas of Mr. Thaksin and his former wife Mrs. Pojaman, when the ousted premier attempted to seek political asylum in that nation. The couple separated last November. (TNA)
