THAKSIN SLIPPED INTO MALAYSIA - THAI GOVT

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, July 6 (Bernama) -- Former Thai prime minister-turned-fugitive
Thaksin Shinawatra was spotted in Malaysia recently, but escaped before he was
arrested by authorities there, Thai Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Sennian
claimed Monday.

Thaworn told reporters in the southern province of Pattani that Thai Embassy
officials had informed Malaysian authorities that Thaksin was staying at the
Shangri-La Hotel.

"Thai officials informed Malaysian authorities about Thaksin's presence
there.

"Somehow, Thaksin managed to get wind of the impending arrest and managed
to escape," he said.

However, he did not provide any information on when the alleged incident
took place.

According to Thaworn, Thaksin later left for Fiji.

The policeman-turned telecomunication billionaire ruled the country from
2001 to 2005 before he was ousted in a military coup on Sept 19, 2006 while he
was attending the United Nations General Assembly.

He came back briefly last year, after his allies won the December, 2007
general election, but remained in exile to escape the two-year jail imposed on
him for abuse of power.

Two prime ministers aligned to him were forced out of office and their party
lost power to a coalition led by Democrat Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thaksin has been shuttling between his exile homes in London, Dubai, Hong
Kong and recently, Germany, using various passports of other countries after his
passport was cancelled by the Thai Government.

Despite his absence, he remains popular with the north and northeast
population, which was clear during two by-elections when his allies in the Phue
Thi Party won.
-- BERNAMA