President Obama: Senator: Congressman: Attorney General: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: Chairman John Kerry, US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, US House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, US Ambassador to Thailand: Editor: May 16, 2012 Subject: Deny Entry Visa to Thaksin Shinawatra We, the undersigned, are Thais living in the US. We have been actively following politics of both the US and Thailand. Since the establishment of the current government in Thailand headed by Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; we have been watching the actions of the Thai government and the situation of the country closely. The Thai government and the ruling political party are on a fast track of self-destruction. Currently we have strong reasons to believe that Thaksin Shinawatra is trying to gain entry into the US. He remains a convicted criminal in Thailand, a fugitive evading a 2year jail sentence for corruption while holding public office. He has also evaded prosecution for multiple cases where he was indicted on charges of corruption, bribery, tax invasion, and involvement in the extra-judicial killings of Thai citizens. Shinawatra is known to hire US lobbying firms to represent his interest in the US. It is highly likely Shinawatra’s lobbyists have been working with officials in the US State Department to secure an entry visa. As the US law bars a person with criminal records, especially a convicted fugitive from entering the US; we strongly urge that the US Administration examine this affair and ensure no illegal entry visa is granted to Shinawatra contrary to the law. Most of the Thais living in the US strongly affiliate with both the Thai King and the rule of law. We abhor the reported broad-based colossal corruptions by the current regime in Thailand, the widespread inflation and hardship endured by the people throughout Thailand. There have been systematic attacks on the Thai King, including the fabrication of events blamed on the King; with well-coordinated publicity drummed up for foreign consumption – the truth of events which are well understood by the Thai people. One of Shinawatra’s oft-stated goals is to establish a new Red Thai State. Shinawatra’s paid
mobs have made it clear they want Shinawatra to be the head of state for the new Thai State. This will not be tolerated by the majority of Thais. The resentment felt by the mass against the current regime in Thailand and Thaksin Shinawatra is growing quickly. Potentially Thailand may be the first country in Southeast Asia to experience an Arab Spring-style uprising against the current government in the near future. When the people’s uprising happens, the current US foreign policy makers may be surprised to see the weakness in quantity and quality of the paid-mobs supporting Shinawatra (despite the loud noise made and publicity in the media) vs. the strength of the mass from all parts of the country supporting the King. The issue of whether the US will grant an entry visa to Thaksin Shinawatra is very sensitive to both Thais residing in the US and Thais in Thailand. The action to be taken by the US Administration is being watched with keen interest. We hereby strongly urge the US Administration to deny entry visa to Shinawatra for the following reasons: 1. To adhere to the US law and good practice of the past. 2. To avoid alienating a large voting block comprising the 350,000 Thai-Americans spreading across the US, who are strongly against corruption, especially prior to the upcoming elections in the US. (According to th.wikipedia.org/wiki, there are 350,000 Thais living in the US.) 3. To avoid association with a corrupt regime, and a loss of goodwill and legitimacy with the Thai people in the event of an Arab Spring-style uprising against the present government. 4. We strongly believe the current Thai government is not stable, though not yet apparent to the outside world. This is based on all the information we have, and our analysis of the situation. 5. The US handling of state affairs at this juncture is crucial, especially when the US is attempting to re-enter the Southeast Asia in competition with China. We do not want to see the US making a blunder. Instead of forging the US future with the fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra and his present power, we strongly urge the US Administration to heed the strong request stated in this letter, and side with the people of Thailand for a secure relationship for a longer term into the future. The US and Thailand have good relationship dating back over a century, we hope the US policy on this visa matter will help to keep it that way; so that the Thai voters in the US in this upcoming election will be able to continue to support the current US Administration and vote for its party. Sincerely, /Signed 1,110 Names/