From memory wasn't he the prime minister of Tieland?

I also seem to recall that

he was preceded by Chuan Leekpai and Succeeded by Surayud Chulanont
Born July 26, 1949 (1949-07-26) (age 58)
San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai
Nationality Thai
Political party Thai Rak Thai (formerly)
Spouse Potjaman Shinawatra
Religion Buddhism
Signature Thaksin Shinawatra's signature

Thaksin Shinawatra (help?info) (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินวัตร, IPA: [tʰ?ksǐn tɕʰinnaw?t]; (Chinese: 丘達新), nicknamed by the media as แม้ว (maew, a northern Thailand hill tribe also known as Hmong) or เหลี่ยม (leam), born July 26, 1949 in Chiang Mai, Thailand), Thai businessman and politician, is the former Prime Minister of Thailand, and the former leader of the dissolved populist Thai Rak Thai Party. He was in exile for 17 months until February 28, 2008, when he returned to Bangkok. During his exile, Shinawatra became a resident of London and owner of the English football club Manchester City.[2] Thaksin started his career in the Thai police, and later became a successful entrepreneur, establishing Shin Corporation and Advanced Info Service, the largest mobile phone operator in Thailand. He became one of the richest people in Thailand prior to entering politics. Thaksin entered politics by joining the Phalang Dharma Party in 1994 and later founded the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in 1998. After a landslide election victory in 2001, he became Prime Minister of Thailand. At the time, the 2001 election was regarded by observers as the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.

Thaksin Shinawatra's re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history and was noted for the marked reduction in vote-buying compared to previous elections.[4][5][6] His main support base was the rural poor in the north, northeast, east and central part of Thailand. Thaksin's policies were particularly effective at alleviating rural poverty (poverty fell by half in 5 years) and at providing near universal access to affordable health care. Under his government, Thailand's standing on major indices of corruption improved substantially.

However, his government was frequently challenged with allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, demagogy, treason, conflicts of interest, acting undiplomatically, tax evasion, the use of legal loopholes and hostility towards a free press. He was accused of l?se-majest?, selling domestic assets to international investors and religious desecration. Independent bodies, including Amnesty International, also expressed concern at Thaksin's human rights record. Human Rights Watch described Thaksin as "a human rights abuser of the worst kind", alleging that he participated in media suppression and presided over extrajudicial killings. A series of attacks in 2005 and 2006 by Sondhi Limthongkul and his People's Alliance for Democracy destroyed Thaksin's name and reputation. He was also subject to several purported assassination attempts.

On 19 September 2006, a military junta known as the Council for National Security (CNS) overthrew his government in a bloodless coup while he was attending a UN meeting in New York. His diplomatic passport was revoked after the CNS accused him of engaging in political activities and Thai embassies were ordered not to facilitate his travels. All pro-Thaksin websites were also blocked or shut down. A junta-appointed panel dissolved the Thai Rak Thai party and banned Thaksin and the TRT's executive team of 111 politicians from engaging in politics for 5 years. The junta also appointed an Assets Examination Committee that froze his bank accounts, claiming that he had become unusually wealthy during his term in government and demanded that he return to Thailand to face charges of corruption.The deposed Thai Prime Minister returned to Thailand from 17 months of exile abroad on February 28, 2008 to fight corruption charges.[22] Although Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont guaranteed his safety, CNS President Sonthi Boonyaratkalin warned him that he could be assassinated if he returned to Thailand.

Thaksin is commonly referred to by the Thai press as "maew" (Thai แม้ว) which is, the derogative term for a northern Thailand hill tribe also known as Hmong. He is married to Potjaman Shinawatra, and has one son, Panthongtae and two daughters, Pintongtha and Peathongtarn. Could be wrong though.

Posted By: Tomblander, Jul 8, 15:28:22