MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008

Bangkok Post

NATIONAL

POLITICS

Thaksin underestimated
the UKs close ties to Thailand

he British governments decision

processed in London. So he decided to
to revoke the visas of Thaksin
send his message to his red-shirted
Shinawatra and his wife Khunying
loyalists at Rajamangala stadium on Nov
Potjaman is a blow to his personal life
1 from Hong Kong. The one big mistake
and more importantly to his political
he made was to underestimate the
strategy.
importance of the deep-rooted, close
The cancellation of the visas by the
ties between the UK and Thailand.
United Kingdom Border Agency involves
Living the quiet life in London after
only the couple and not their children.
the coup and his conviction in a Thai
Their son and
court was not
daughters will still
impossible.
have no problem
Instead, his
S A RITDET MA RUK A TA T
entering Britain.
political activities
Although the
were making the
order relates only to their red-covered
British government increasingly
diplomatic passports, it would be very
uncomfortable and putting a strain on
difficult, if not impossible, for the
its relations with Thailand.
convicted former prime minister and
The best way out for the British
Khunying Potjaman to apply for entry
government was to kill off his bid for
to the UK using the other passports in
political asylum as soon as possible,
their possession.
and that was made possible by the
Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman have decision to revoke their visas.
not been declared persona non grata by
Now Thaksin has to find a new base
London, but the cancellation of their
overseas that will allow him to keep
visas comes close to that definition. Their sending messages to his supporters in
chance of entering any British port is
Thailand. However, he will have to think
now very slim. So is the opportunity for
very carefully about his family ties as he
them to be granted political asylum, a
and his wife can no longer visit their
status he sought from the British Home
children in London, if the children decide
Office in August.
to stay there.
Thaksin knew very well that he could
The British government realised the
not afford to upset the British government importance of its relations with Thailand
by making any political moves while his
at all levels and knew that should not be
application for political asylum was being
jeopardised by one man.

NEWSThink

Sondhi Limthongkul,
leader of the Peoples
Alliance for Democracy,
sprinkles holy water
inside the Government
Housecompound torepel
bad luck and evil spirits.
JETJARAS NA RANONG

Sorcerer Sondhi wards off evil

Followers don white,
clean, pray for victory
KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI

Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD)

supporters yesterday cleaned the Government House compound as part of
the latest Sondhi Limthongkul-led spiritual rite aimed at warding off spirits
and ushering in a long-awaited victory.
About 100 PAD supporters, who were
dressed in white and claimed to be
practitioners of the five main precepts
of Buddhism, took part in the dhamma
walk around the rally site at 9am.
They were not allowed to talk during
the procession and were required to
collect every piece of rubbish they spotted on the way. They were also told to
meditate and pray for victory.
Donning a white outfit and sprinkling
holy water around the compound, the
PAD leader looked more like a sorcerer
than the head of the anti-government
movement.

K
C
M
Y
E

The PAD supporters were, however,

familiar with their leaders wizard-like
performance as they had joined several
other such rites since the PAD renewed
its political rally in May.
My dear brothers and sisters, this is
a sacred activity. My revered masters
told me to perform this ritual to counter
evil spirits and to clear this area [to
make way] for our triumph, he told
the crowd on Saturday night.
The ritual was held after the PAD
was targeted in a series of bombings by
unknown assailants that injured some
of their guards.
It was held a day after PAD received
the news that the British government
had revoked the visas of Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman.
Spiritual rites and incantations have
been performed by the PAD on numerous occasions.
The rituals, which have been conducted in various forms, have usually
been held after Mr Sondhi has told
demonstrators about black magic performed by his enemies, especially the
one he calls the Khmer wizard, as

they attempt to destroy the PAD and

strengthen their side.
The Khmer wizard is said to be Newin
Chidchob, a former Thai Rak Thai executive and one of Thaksins close aides.
There have also been reports of PAD
members placing used sanitary napkins
at the statue of King Rama V to counter
the black magic of the Khmer wizard,
which is supposedly blocking the statues
power backing the PAD.
Some political observers believe the
PADs obsession with these rituals resulted from Mr Sondhis alleged belief
in black magic, while others say it is
merely a strategy.
Political scientist Prajak Kongkirati,
of Thammasat University, said the rituals
are aimed at boosting the morale of the
PAD supporters by making them believe
they are waging a holy war.
Such rituals help the supporters feel
that their cause is connected and blessed
by sacred things.
These kinds of spiritual activities
are very much needed at a time when
a political or social movement faces
declining support from the public.

The leaders have to do something

to lift the demonstrators spirits, he
said.
But such activities can also backfire,
Mr Prajak warned.
An obsession with the supernatural
could tarnish the image and lessen the
credibility of the PAD, which could be
seen as an irrational movement rather
than a powerful group of people who
produce solid evidence about the governments flaws, he said.
Mr Sondhi denied he was a practitioner of black magic.
I dont believe in black magic. The
rituals I performed are paying homage
to sacred spirits and my respected
teachers. The activities are dhammabased, he told the demonstrators during his daily speech in the evening.
A staunch PAD supporter said he
did not mind Mr Sondhi resorting to
such methods to boost the supporters
spirits.
He has to use every means to win
this war. There is nothing wrong with
using these kind of activities to mobilise
the people, he said.

Extradition efforts continue

POST REPORTERS

The prosecution will press for the extradition of former prime minister Thaksin
Shinawatra from China to serve his jail
term here when his whereabouts are
established, a senior public prosecutor
said yesterday.
Sirisak Tiyaphan, the director-general
of the Office of the Attorney-Generals
International Affairs Department, said
Thaksins extradition can be requested
as Thailand and China have an extradition treaty.
His comments came after reports that
Thaksin and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, are now in China their United
Kingdom visas cancelled.
The British government has revoked
visas for the couple and told airlines not
to carry the pair to any spot in the UK.

The cancelled visas are in their

diplomatic passports.
British ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle refused to comment on the
Shinawatra couple.
I can assure you that in the UK every
immigration case is treated according
to the law, but I cant offer any comment
about any individual, he said.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat,
who is Thaksins brother-in-law, was
also tight-lipped about the status of Thaksins diplomatic passport.
He rejected speculation he would meet
Thaksin in the Philippines during his
official visit today and tomorrow.
Mr Somchai said the trip has long
been planned as part of his visits as new
prime minister to the capitals of other
members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations.