Thai former PM Thaksin may announce political asylum

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-11 10:21

BANGKOK -- Rumors about if Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek political asylum aboard will be clear on Monday, since Thaksin will make an announcement through his lawyers in Bangkok in the morning, a political source said.

The source told Xinhua that during his talks with Thaksin's lawyer on Monday morning, the ex-premier may make an announcement on Monday morning to explain the reason why he does not return to Thailand for his case as scheduled.

The source said Thaksin has already flied to London from Beijing with his wife Potjaman. His only son and one of his two daughters also flied there recently since another daughter had been there already.

It is said that Thaksin is very likely to announce the political asylum state through the announcement.

The couple were due to report to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Monday morning for a hearing on their trials in the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

Flight to London and semi-permanent exile may cause Thaksin and his wife to lose their bail and even cost them 69 billion baht (about $2 billion ) in frozen funds.

Rumors they were preparing to go into exile dominated Bangkok political circles last week. Their spokesmen have repeatedly said the duo will be back and make their court appearance.