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Thai junta says ‘not concerned’ about Thaksin’s Asia tour

This article is more than 12 months old

BANGKOK: Thailand is not concerned about the movement of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, also an ousted former leader, after recent visits by the pair to several Asian cities and meetings with members of their party.

The Shinawatras have dominated Thai politics for nearly two decades and wield significant influence through allies and relatives despite both living in self-exile. They are likely to be a significant factor in a general election the junta has promised for November.

Critics say the military, which took power in a 2014 coup that removed Yingluck Shinawatra's government, wants to end the family's political influence - something that is reflected in a new, military-backed charter, party laws and restrictions on political parties.

Thaksin and Yingluck visited China and Japan this month and met at least 30 members of parliament from their Puea Thai party in Hong Kong on the weekend, party members said after returning to Thailand.

The two were spotted in a Singapore hotel on Tuesday meeting a group of unidentified men, and were in the city state yesterday, party sources said, adding they were having "business meetings".

ELECTION

Political observers say their Asia tour is a sign that their party is gearing up for the election.

A spokesman for the junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, said it was not focused on the two Shinawatras.

"Monitoring those who have an arrest warrant is the job of relevant agencies. We are not concerned about this," the spokesman, Piyapong Klinpan, told Reuters.- REUTERS

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