admin Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 BANGKOK Thailand's prime minister has a confession to make: He is also British.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva publicly acknowledged his dual nationality Thursday for the first time during a debate in Parliament. Abhisit automatically holds British citizenship because he was born in Newcastle to parents from a well-to-do Bangkok family. He would have to specifically renounce it to lose it. Abhisit's political foes have highlighted the matter. They claim that as a British citizen, he can be sued in the International Criminal Court over alleged abuses during his administration's crackdown on anti-government protests last year. Opponents like to tweak Abhisit for his upper-class Oxford University education, and typically refer to him in speeches by his English name, Mark. "I admit I have not given up British nationality because it is understood legally that ... if the nationality laws are conflicting, Thai law must be used," Abhisit said in response to an opposition lawmaker's question. "My intention is clear. I was born in England but I consider myself a Thai. I studied in England but I intended to return to work and live in Thailand, to work for the country's interest, and didn't think of anything else." He also said he didn't hide that he supports the Newcastle football club. The 46-year-old prime minister had been evasive about the citizenship question since it was raised about a month ago. The matter became an issue through a complicated point of international law raised by a lawyer for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Abhisit's political enemy. The lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, is seeking to bring Abhisit and colleagues to court for alleged human rights abuses committed when the Thai military forcibly put down anti-government protests in Bangkok last year. About 90 people were killed over the course of two months of demonstrations and unrest. Amsterdam is seeking to bring to case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, but Thailand is not a signatory to the treaty empowering the court, and therefore cannot be held to account. Amsterdam asserts, however, that Abhisit, as a British citizen, can be held liable by the court because Britain is a signatory to the treaty. Thailand's head of state, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was also born overseas. He was born in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, where his father, a prince, was studying medicine. via AP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuabaaBambie Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 chob P'Mark a' ka hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_Bob Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 It's a nonsense tactic designed to keep Shinawatra in the spotlight and to discredit Abhisit. The ICC won't touch the case anyway. I read Amsterdam's so called expert witness testimony - Sgt JW Witty. It was complete garbage. I could see a hundred holes in it from a layman's position - imagine what a team of lawyers could do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 It's a nonsense tactic designed to keep Shinawatra in the spotlight and to discredit Abhisit.The ICC won't touch the case anyway. I read Amsterdam's so called expert witness testimony - Sgt JW Witty. It was complete garbage. I could see a hundred holes in it from a layman's position - imagine what a team of lawyers could do with it. Obviously, if push came to shove and they were going to extradite him to The Hague to stand trial all he would have to do is renounce his UK citizenship. I just thought it was surprising that he held a UK passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_Bob Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Obviously, if push came to shove and they were going to extradite him to The Hague to stand trial all he would have to do is renounce his UK citizenship. I just thought it was surprising that he held a UK passport. Really? I would think it's a no-brainer. Look at the visa advantages having a Brit passport gets you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Really?I would think it's a no-brainer. Look at the visa advantages having a Brit passport gets you. I guess I was ignorant of the fact that he was born in the UK. I thought he just went to school there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Obviously, if push came to shove and they were going to extradite him to The Hague to stand trial all he would have to do is renounce his UK citizenship. I just thought it was surprising that he held a UK passport. as far as i'm aware he doesn't have a UK passport, i believe he uses a Thai passport. my understanding is that he is a British citizen due to being born (and raised) there !! he didn't have to "apply" to be a british citizen he became one automatically. u DO have to apply for a British passport though and i don't believe he has done that !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 and WTF is with that Amazing Thailand banner showing 2 ppl skiing ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorea Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 and WTF is with that Amazing Thailand banner showing 2 ppl skiing ??? Isn't it amazin'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Isn't it amazin'? Nicky gets it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolbreez Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Really?I would think it's a no-brainer. Look at the visa advantages having a Brit passport gets you. Not near the advantages having the diplomatic passport he now has gets you.....lolololol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Isn't it amazin'? not really !!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) is there still no delete function ??? Edited February 25, 2011 by CiaranM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 PM's nationality not a problem: SodsriPrime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's dual nationality is not an issue barring him from contesting the elections or holding office under the Thai laws, Election Commission Sodsri Sattayatham said on Friday. "Under Articles 101 and 102*1) of the Constitution there is no ban for dual nationality," she said. Sodsri said under relevant laws, Abhisit was entitled to run for office and secure political appointments, including the position of prime minister. Thai laws take precedents on affairs involving Thai citizens, she said. The Nation I don't think place people were born matter... We can't choose where to born, how we grew up. Stramash 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 He was born in Newcastle, therefore should be banned from holding any public office no matter which country he is in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 He was born in Newcastle, therefore should be banned from holding any public office no matter which country he is in. unfair thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 wasn't aimed at Abhisit at all - more a Britcentric criticism of his birthplace... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnno Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 He was born in Newcastle, therefore should be banned from holding any public office no matter which country he is in. isn't he qualified to coach newcastle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 isn't he qualified to coach newcastle? that's not public office; it's a punishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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