国际英语新闻:Thailand considering to impeach ex-FM for reissuing Thaksin's passports

BANGKOK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's parliament will mull over an impeachment against former Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul for reissuing passports to fugitive ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2011, local media reported on Saturday.

According to the local media, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has scheduled to hold on March 9 the first hearing in which Surapong will be invited to defend himself.

The decision comes after an a request sent by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to impeach Surapong for seriously violating the criminal code for malfeasance, the code of conduct for political officials.

Thaksin's passports were first revoked after the 2006 coup that overthrew his government.

Surapong, the foreign minister in the government of Yingluck, Thaksin's sister, reissued the passports in 2011.

The ex-premier has been in self-imposed exile since he fled the country in 2008 just before he was sentenced to two years in jail for abuse of power while in office.

NACC, the accuser, said Surapong's move was guilty as Thaksin was banned from traveling abroad.

Surapong, as quoted by local newspapers, said he was not responsible for the reissuing of passports as Yingluck's government had agreed that Thaksin's presence overseas would not cause any damage to Thailand and other countries.