Deputy PM Denies Interest in Extradition of Russian Arms Smuggler

UPDATE : 23 August 2010
Thailan Outlook

Deputy prime minister in charge of national security downplays arrest of Thai men in Cambodia while also denying personal interest in the extradition of Victor Bout, a notorious Russian arms smuggler.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said that he has not yet been informed about the Thai men, who have been detained by the Cambodian authority.

However, Suthep believes that the Cambodian authority was merely following legal procedures, without aiming to create any incident due to the ongoing border dispute between the two countries.

When asked whether the planned talk between Prime Minister Abhsit Vejjajiva and Prime Minister Hun Sen during Asia-Europe Meeting or ASEM in Brussels, Belgium in October could be complicated by the incident, Suthep replied that the talk is needed to maintain the peaceful relationship between the two countries.

Suthep also believes that local authorities will be able to negotiate for the release of the men by using the good personal relationship with their Cambodian counterparts.

The deputy prime minister also talked about the a claim made by Russian government that the Thai government has decided to extradite Victor Bout, a Russian arms smuggler to the United States in exchange for an interest in the purchase of Black Hawk helicopters, saying that it is a responsibility of the Foreign Ministry clarify the issue.

On the issue of the 2011 National Budget Bill, Suthep expressed confidence that the bill will be approved by the lawmakers by August 26 and has denied an accusation by the Opposition that a large portion of the fund has been allocated to the Interior Minister controlled by the Bhumjai Thai Party.

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Jatuporn Promphan announced that he will lead a number of red-shirt protestors to the Constitution Court during the trial of the Democrat Party's dissolution case.

The deputy prime minister said that it will be up to the Court's security authorities to decide on how to deal with the protest. The government will not do anything unless it is requested by the Court's security authorities.

However, Suthep announced that any attempt to incite violence will be swiftly dealt with according to the law.