Thaksin’s former wife Khunying Potjaman Damapong and their daughter Paethongtan flew to Hong Kong. Another daughter Pinthongtha departed to England. Their son Panthongtae headed for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Thaksin’s brother-in-law and former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat also left the country, Mr Sathit said.
Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said he had been informed by the Immigration Bureau that some Shinawatra family members have left the country for Dubai, Hong Kong and London.
He said the government had nothing to do with their travels, They must be worried about their own safety or would like the public to believe it was not safe for them to remain in Thailand.
“Actually, there are no reasons why they should feel unsafe,” he said.
“The government has not done anything to cause them to feel it is not safe for them to stay in the country.”
Mr Somchai’s wife Yaowapa and Thaksin’s younger sister Yingluck, however, were seen in Bangkok showing their support for the red-shirt protesters.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he was not aware members of Thaksin’s close family had left the country, but they had the right to travel and he had no duty to track their movements.