Thaksin, Changed, His, Name,, Thaksin, Changed, His, Name..., Maybe, Not

The Nation:

There is not sufficient information to prove ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra has travelled under different names - although he has used many foreign passports, Vice Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth said yesterday.

"It is not easy for a well known person like Thaksin to change his name," he said."As long as we have no clear information, we shall not jump to any conclusion."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier that since his Thai passports had been revoked, Thaksin had moved around the world under different names.

Former secretary-general of the now defunct People Power Party, Surapong Suebwonglee said the premier should not confuse the public with such inaccurate information.

He said it was extremely difficult for celebrities, especially former prime ministers, to use fake names on passports or visas.

Abhisit's personal spokesman Thepthai Senphong defended his boss saying the Prime Minister's information was based on hypothesis, since no Thaksin name had appeared on any immigration system, although the ex-premier kept travelling.

BP: Argh, nice spin there by Thepthai.

btw, again we seem to have confirmation that Surapong is part of the Puea Thai fold despite his closeness with Newin last year.