Thai PM admits holding British nationality

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday admitted that he holds a British nationality but has never taken any benefit of being a citizen of the U.K.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is seen at the parliament in the capital city of Bankok, Feb. 24, 2011. Abhisit on Thursday admitted that he holds a British nationality but has never taken any benefit of being a citizen of the U.K. [Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua]

Abhisit told the parliament that he was born in Newcastle in England and at the time, he automatically became a British national. Both of his parents are Thai.

"When I was studying in English, I studied as a foreigner," the premier said. "If I had made use of being a British national, I would not have had to pay any tuition."

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday deliberated on the Abhisit government's performance in 2009, a belated agenda that the House was supposed to deliberate last year. The meeting was televised live nationwide on a state-run television.

Abhisit said he has submitted his government's performance report to the House since May 2010, but it was the House decision to set a date on its deliberation.

He said he always wants to be a Thai national, but did not give up his British nationality because he did not see any reason to do so.

The premier was talking about his dual nationality as it was mentioned by opposition MP Jatuporn Promphan in his deliberation.

There is no voting on Thursday's meeting, which is likely to continue until late in the evening.


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