The leader of a Muslim community in central Bangkok plans to ask the emir of Dubai to eject fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his supporters attacked people and property during anti-government protests, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Manit Saengthong, leader of the Darrulaman Mosque community, told the Nation that it would ask Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to bar Thaksin because he uses Dubai "as a springboard to attack Thailand".
"It would also attempt to have Thaksin blacklisted in other Muslim countries," he said.
Thaksin supporters ran wild in the community on Monday, trashing shops and cars and damaging a mosque, after being chased away from a key road junction by soldiers in a military crackdown.
Thaksin, who instigated the protests, is widely believed to spend much of his time in Dubai, where he has powerful contacts in the business community.
He is welcome in only a limited number of countries after being found guilty of abuse of power by a Thai court and sentenced to two years in prison. He was ousted from power in a 2006 coup.
Local residents in several Bangkok communities fought running battles with the pro-Thaksin demonstrators on Monday during the army crackdown. Two local people in one market community were shot dead when residents objected to protesters setting fire to a bus.
{{/usCountry}}Local residents in several Bangkok communities fought running battles with the pro-Thaksin demonstrators on Monday during the army crackdown. Two local people in one market community were shot dead when residents objected to protesters setting fire to a bus.
{{/usCountry}}The three-week protest ended this Tuesday when its leaders surrendered to police.