Nicaragua gives passport to ex-Thai leader Thaksin
MANAGUA (AFP) - - Nicaragua said it had given a diplomatic passport to Thailand’s fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose Thai passport was revoked on charges of inciting violence.
The billionaire Thaksin, deposed in a 2006 coup and living in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption, has made a series of speeches in recent weeks calling for “revolution” as his supporters have taken to the streets.
Thailand revoked his passport after his supporters forced the cancellation of an Asian summit at the weekend, and Nicaragua said Thaksin was to be accredited as an ambassador with a “special mission” to help bring investment to the country.
He was given the passport earlier this year, the government said in a statement.
Pro-Thaksin demonstrators say his allies were unlawfully pushed from power by a court ruling last year, and have been calling for current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down and hold fresh elections.
“Thaksin Shinawatra was democratically elected by the majority of Thai people, and was then forced to abandon his duty by a coup in 2006,” said Rosario Murillo, Nicaragua’s first lady and a government spokeswoman.
Thailand said it had no extradition treaty with Nicaragua and otherwise had little to say about the announcement.
Foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Thailand had “not yet” made a formal protest to authorities in Managua.
“Nicaragua can give whatever they want to,” Tharit told AFP.
Thailand issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin and 12 supporters following demonstrations in the capital Bangkok Monday which left two dead and scores injured.
Demonstrators loyal to Thaksin, known as “Red Shirts” because of their trademark attire, surrounded Abhisit’s offices three weeks ago to demand his resignation before moving to the resort of Pattaya to disrupt the Asian summit.
They accuse British-born Abhisit of being a stooge of Thailand’s military and of coming to power illegally after Thaksin’s allies were removed from government by a court in December.
The protesters returned to Bangkok on Monday where they fought street battles with armed troops in which two local residents who challenged the demonstrators were killed.
The Bangkok Post accused the protest leaders and Thaksin of “heinous crimes” while another newspaper, The Nation, said the peaceful end to the riots had strengthened Abhisit.
