Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of the deposed prime minister, gives food to a monk on her 50th birthday yesterday at her home on Charan Sanitwong Road. With her are son Panthongtae and youngest daughter Paethongtarn.

Yesterday, she just gave alms to monks before flying to join Thaksin in Hong Kong.

Her son Panthongtae and youngest daughter Paethongtarn will also be there for her 50th birthday celebrations while her eldest daughter Pinthongta is studying in London.

However, Bhanapot Damapong, Pojaman's brother, who also celebrated Thaksin's birthday in July and usually attends such occasions, was noticeably absent yesterday.

Pojaman yesterday allowed photographers to take pictures at her residence for 10 minutes, but didn't give an interview. It was the first time she had opened her house to reporters since the military coup on September 19.

Bhanapot is in the hot seat since the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) ruled on Monday that he has to pay Bt546 million in additional tax for the shares valued at Bt738 million he bought in 1997 from a domestic helper in Thaksin's family.

Meanwhile, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is currently in China, where he is scheduled to meet with high-ranking Chinese military officers. There has been speculation that Thaksin might have a meeting with Chavalit there.

Chavalit, also a former prime minister, left Thailand on Monday and is scheduled to return on Friday. He recently called on the Council for National Security to allow the exiled former prime minister to return to Thailand and criticised the military council for having appointed too many generals to executive boards of major state enterprises.

 Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation