Friday, October 23, 2009

PM threatens Thaksin extradition request

Published: 23/10/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section:
News
Bangkokpost

Thailand will seek the extradition of Thaksin Shinawatra from Cambodia should he move there, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

The country will go after the fugitive former prime minister if he moves to Cambodia, Mr Abhisit said yesterday.

''Once Thaksin enters Cambodia the extradition process will begin,'' he said.

''If Cambodia fails to comply with the treaty, that will be another story.''

Thailand and Cambodia have an extradition agreement dating back to 2001.

Mr Abhisit also reminded Prime Minister Hun Sen of his promise to separate personal issues from international affairs.

''I have talked with Hun Sen several times and he told me that he is Thaksin's friend but that he will separate friendship from duty and international affairs,'' he said.

''I have told Hun Sen that anyone who is appointed to an important position must separate personal relations.''

The prime minister's comments were in response to remarks made by Hun Sen to Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh who paid a one-day visit to Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
Gen Chavalit said after the visit Hun Sen had welcomed Thaksin to Cambodia and, as a friend, Thaksin had been offered a home in the country.

Gen Chavalit quoted Hun Sen as saying: ''Thaksin is welcomed in Cambodia.''

The deposed premier has spent most of his time in Dubai after being sen tenced last year to two years in jail in absentia for abusing his authority when prime minister by helping his wife to win the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday echoed Mr Abhisit's position, saying the government was ready to ask Phnom Penh to extradite Thaksin back to Thailand.

Sirisak Tiyaphan, chief prosecutor for international affairs, said Thai police would be obliged to locate Thaksin's exact location if he travelled to Cambodia and then inform the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry would then ask Attorney-General Chulasing Wasanta
dhsing to request the extradition of Thaksin from Cambodia.

However, the Cambodian government was free to decide whether it wanted to extradite Thaksin, Mr Sirisak said.

The Group of 40 Senators yesterday condemned Hun Sen for offering to take in Thaksin.
Senators Phaiboon Nititawan and Khamnoon Sitthisamarn, who represent the group, said they viewed Hun Sen's position on Thaksin as intervention in Thailand's domestic affairs.

The group also demanded that Mr Abhisit ask Hun Sen where he really stands on Thaksin during the Asean summit starting today, the two senators said.

Thaksin yesterday thanked Hun Sen for offering him a home.

The deposed prime minister said in a Twitter message: ''I want to express deepest thanks to Prime Minister Hun Sen for saying in public that I am his friend and welcome me to his country. I also would like to thank him for arranging me a home.''

Thaksin also congratulated his former classmates from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School's Class 10 on joining the Puea Thai Party.

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