Ex- to exile?: Former PM and wife no-shows on THAI flight

BANGKOK, Aug 11 (TNA) – Rumours that ousted prime minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Pojjaman may go into exile overseas
gained credibility late Sunday night as the couple failed to return to the
Thai capital as earlier scheduled.

A source said that Thai Airways International's TG flight 615 on which
Mr.Thaksin and his wife had advance reservations for their return from the
Beijing Olympics arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport without the couple on
board.

Their failure to appear on the flight disappointed a group of faithful
supporters led by ruling People Power Party MP Pracha Prasopdee, who were
waiting to meet Mr. Thaksin at the airport.

Mr. Pracha advised the former premier's supporters to return home, saying
that the ex-premier might come back to Bangkok Monday morning instead.

However, he later revealed that he was informed the Mr. Thaksin would not
return for the time being.

Instead, Mr. Thaksin will issue a statement from London at 9 am Monday
stating why he did not go to Bangkok as scheduled, Mr. Pracha said without
elaboration.

Earlier, an official airline source said the three Thaksin children --
Panthongtae, Pinthongta and Paethongtan -- departed Bangkok for London on
Saturday. It was also noted the the children had been in tears when their
parents left Suvarnabhumi for Beijing.

Mr. Thaksin and his wife attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing
Olympics on Friday.

The former Thai prime minister was under obligation to testify Monday
morning in a Supreme Court hearing on the controversial Rachadaphisek
land-purchase deal.

Mr. Thaksin and his wife have been accused of abuse of power by bidding
for the land owned by the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a unit
of the Bank of Thailand.