Bangkok issues new passport for Thaksin

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said today the passport was issued in Bangkok on Oct 26 and had been sent back to the Thai embassy in Abu Dhabi.

"Thaksin submitted his passport application in Abu Dhabi on Oct 25 and the embassy forwarded it to Bangkok for further action on the same day," he said, here.

Thani said Thaksin was issued with an ordinary passport, adding that "He has the right to come back to Thailand anytime."

Thaksin's passport was revoked by former Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on April 12, 2009 when the former fled the country in 2008 after being charged with corruption and was later found guilty in absentia and sentenced to two years in prison.

Foreign Minister Dr Surapong Tovichakchaikul today confirmed that he had lifted the revocation order.

Prior to this, Dr Surapong had said that the right to issue or revoke passports lay with the Foreign Minister and that he planned to re-issue the passport for Thaksin as a "New Year gift".