Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s passport has been cancelled by the Foreign Ministry after his telecast inciting red shirt protesters to march upon the ASEAN summit, local newspapers report.
On Saturday April 11, red shirt supporters of Thaksin stormed into the ASEAN summit venue in Pattaya advocating for the resignation of current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The meeting was cancelled.
According to The Nation, ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the decision was made to rescind Thaksin’s ordinary passport to prevent him from “harming the country.” Thaksin’s diplomatic passport was revoked in December 2008.
Tharit further added that the ministry has the right to cancel a passport if the holder uses it to travel abroad yet manipulates activities inside the country that are harmful.
The decision comes following violent clashes on Monday between red shirt protesters and soldiers, resulting in two dead and more than 120 people injured.
The two death victims were locals shot by red shirt protesters.
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