Thaksin ends trip around South Pacific and come to roost in Dubai

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ended his island-hopping trip in the South Pacific and flown back to Dubai.

He denied news reports he had been trying to seek asylum in Fiji in exchange for a multi-billion-baht investment deal.
Meanwhile, a signature campaign seeking a royal pardon on Thaksin's behalf appears to have stalled after authorities said the move was unprecedented and contrary to the law. The Corrections Department, the primary agency in charge of processing pardon petitions, yesterday released a report saying the Criminal Procedural Code was clear on the issue.
A convicted offender must comply with the verdict and serve time before becoming eligible for a royal pardon.
In Thaksin's case, he is a fugitive who fled the country, and his graft verdict was read in absentia.
Articles 259 and 260 of the code make it clear Thaksin has no grounds for a pardon unless he decides to surrender himself and begin serving his two-year prison term.
In the wake of the department's report, the Justice Ministry is planning to raise public awareness about the prescribed procedures for a pardon, in order to clear up misunderstandings about the signature campaign that has been fuelling the red shirts.
Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, yesterday said in Bangkok that he had just had a telephone conversation with his client in Dubai.
"Thaksin has asked me to rebut reports he was planning to invest about Bt8 billion in Fiji in exchange for political asylum," Noppadon said.
Thaksin has not planned to seek asylum, as evidenced by his withdrawal of an asylum petition in the UK, Noppadon said, adding that his client remained confident Thai authorities could not extradite him, since no foreign government would cooperate.
Noppadon said Thaksin met with Fijian leaders to gather information about investment prospects and that there was no discussion about asylum.
He ruled out speculation Thaksin had used a fake name to gain entry to Fiji and Tonga.
Chavanont Intarakomalyasut, an aide to the foreign minister, said Thaksin used a passport issued by Montenegro under his real name to travel.
Speculation about Thaksin using an alias came from reports in the Australian media, he said.
When Thaksin made a transit stop in Kuala Lumpur last weekend, the authorities did not have sufficient time to complete extradition procedures to nab him before he flew on to the South Pacific, Chavanont said.
A group of three senators led by Kamnoon Sitthisamarn issued a statement urging the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary to clarify procedures for seeking a royal pardon, to dispel confusion.
Kamnoon said clarification from the Royal Palace would help the public judge the appropriateness of a signature campaign.