For the past year or so, Noppadon Pattama has been the voice of Thaksin Shinawatra. Whenever Thaksin has been in the news, it was always Noppadon, Thaksin’s legal advisor, who had something to say. This is the same Noppadon who is Thailand’s new foreign minister.

The Bangkok Post reported that “Mr Noppadon vowed he will not exercise his power to re-issue the diplomatic passport of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra that was revoked after the military coup.”

Noppadon, being the stand-up fellow that he is, then said, as quoted by The Nation, “Due to the rules of laws and as long as other former prime ministers can keep their diplomatic passports, Khun Thaksin should get back his diplomatic passport.”

Obviously not exercising his power at all, it has taken all of one day for Noppadon to show his true colors.

There is, of course, no link between Noppadon’s appointment as foreign minister and the fact that Thaksin’s diplomatic passport was last year revoked by the Foreign Ministry.