Japan issues visa to exiled former Thai PM Thaksin

Japan has granted special entry permit to exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the request of the Thai government, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Monday. "We issued a visa to Thaksin on Sunday as an exceptional case," the top government spokesman told a press conference, adding that the former Thai leader is interested in visiting northeastern Japan to meet victims of the March 11 disaster and improving ties between Japan and Thailand. But Edano didn't mention when Thaksin will visit Japan. Japan's decision comes 10 days after Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra was officially sworn in as the country's first female premier. Thaksin needs special permission to visit Japan as the Japanese immigration control law prohibits the entry of foreign nationals who have been given a prison term of more than one year. Thaksin, who is believed to be living in Dubai, served as Thai prime minister from 2001 till 2006, when he was ousted by a military coup. In 2008, Thaksin was sentenced to two years in prison for violating the country's anti-corruption law. He was banned from entering many countries during the previous government under Abhisit Vejjajiva.