Former Thai PM Thaksin ‘visits Myanmar’

24 February 2015
Former Thai PM Thaksin ‘visits Myanmar’
Seen in Myanmar - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (C), with his sister former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra (L), and her son, on a visit to China. Photo: Yingluck Shinawatra/Facebook

There has been an apparent sighting of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Myanmar, said to be on a merit-making trip, according to the Bangkok Post on February 22.
Mr Thaksin visited Myanmar early this month,claimsMr Surachet Chaikosol, aformer Thai MP for Ayutthaya, who on February 22 posted pictures in thesocial mediaof thefugitiveformerprime minister in Yangon.
Mr Surachet, aformerMP of thedissolvedThailand’s People's Power Party, said he got the pictures from a friend who is a businessman who went to Myanmar toexploreinvestmentopportunities.
His friend, whom he did notidentify,happenedto see Mr Thaksin at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon on February 5. Mr Surachet said the friend introduced himself to Mr Thaksin as hiscompatriotand Mr Thaksin talked to him in a friendly manner. Mr Thaksin said he was on a trip tomake merit.
After getting the pictures from his friend, he held on to them for several days before deciding to post them on social media, believing they would not offend the Thai military government.
Mr Surachet said Mr Thaksin told his friend he could talk about anything butpolitics, including about the government and his younger sister andformerprime minister, Ms Yingluck.
Mr Thaksin told his friend he couldinvestin Myanmar, saying that the country is now wide open toinvestors, Mr Surachet said.