Ousted prime minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra eyeing Fiji as one of several potential asylum destinations
Ousted prime minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra is eyeing Fiji as one of several potential asylum destinations, it has emerged.
Thaksin and his entourage arrived to the island nation on a private jet on Monday this week and was accorded – sources say – full VIP treatment.
The Thai politician –whose wanted in his country to answer corrupt charges – reportedly met Fijian leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama as well as other local government officials which included investment authorities
Details of those talks remained under wraps as Commodore Bainimarama left for neighbouring Vanuatu after his meeting with Mr Thaksin for this week’s one day retreat of leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
Contacted at his office today, Fiji government spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said he would need to check the information first.
Whether the Thai leader offered an investment package to Fiji in return for being accorded a safe haven, it could not be established.
What could be determined however was the route he took from his temporary base in Dubai.
His private plane stopped for refueling in Kuala Lumpur and Port Moresby before flying down south to Nadi’s international airport.
From Nadi, it was a short 20minute hop across the island to Suva, capital of Fiji.
After his meetings here on Monday, Mr Thaksin overnight at Suva’s luxurious Holiday Inn hotel before he flew off the next day.
Overseas media reports are suggesting that Thaksin is particularly looking for countries that do not have extradition treaties with Thailand.
Fiji and Tonga seemed to fit the bill. The island kingdom was Mr Thaksin’s next stop after his meeting with Commodore Bainimarama on Monday.
Another media report said the Thai politician who is a billionaire in his own right was offering an investment package of US$280 million in return for being offered asylum.
Mr Thaksin became Thai prime minister when his Thai Rak Thai party won the elections in 2001. After winning re-election in the 2005 general elections, he however was ousted from power by the Thai military on September, 2006.
He returned to Bangkok in 2008 but couldn’t return home following an overseas tour months later after he was tried in absentia and sentenced to two years in jail.
He has been looking for a safe haven since then using Dubai as a temporary base
SOURCE: PACNEWS
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