EDITORIAL
If Thailand is to aspire and establish the rule of law, authorities must pursue the country's most famous fugitives. Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman have fled the country and the authority of the court. Various legal offices, court officers and particularly the Foreign Ministry have the means to demand their return from England.
But the affairs of Thailand are bigger than one issue. It is vital the government and most agencies get on with the many tasks of running the land for all Thais.
Mr Thaksin and his wife fled two weeks ago to London. They ran away from court cases in which there was strong evidence against them. From current safety, at least, the ex-premier feels safe in criticising the legal system. One should not forget, however, that when he was premier, Mr Thaksin used that system, often ruthlessly, against others, including political foes.
The system is far from perfect, and this column has frequently raised criticism. But one thing is clear: The flight to Britain makes the Shinawatra couple ordinary fugitives. No doubt their money and influence will make it hard to bring them back to face the courts. But it is specious to argue, as some radical members of the People Power party did, that efforts to show the couple are law-breaking fugitives is somehow disrespectful.
It is important that the British authorities support the Thai demand for the extradition of Mr Thaksin and his wife. The legal system of the United Kingdom is difficult and highly protective of individual rights. It remains to be seen how various British courts deal with the cases. But diplomacy is not a deep, legal matter. Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman have nothing to fear in Thailand beyond being found guilty of long-established laws. It is important that the British embassy and the government support the Thai government's application to extradite these fugitives.
Speaking of diplomacy: The red passport is perhaps better described as a red herring. Anti-Thaksin activists are consumed with their demands to lift the diplomatic travel document from the fugitive couple. In fact, the diplomatic passport is only a courtesy document, long granted to all former prime ministers, for example. It provides neither legal protection nor travel convenience, because Mr Thaksin and his wife are not accredited diplomats to any nation.
The Foreign Ministry should consider lifting these honorary documents from the couple. Fugitives arguably deserve no such honour. But the public and the opposition orators must know that this will have no effect, in any manner, on the outcome of any case involving them, either at home or abroad.
Thailand and its people, however, are more important than any two fugitives, even the high-level couple. Day to day and year to year, Thais have the right to demand their government's attention to a wide range of matters, particularly security and the economy.
It is therefore important that authorities focus on what is needed for the country. From Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej down, there are difficult challenges. Already, the Samak administration has given far too much attention to its own survival. One wonders if authorities are even aware of just how bad inflation has become, and what difficulties citizens are living with.
The return of Mr Thaksin and wife is important. Democracy, rule of law and accountability all demand that the fugitives be pursued. But they are no longer at the centre of the country's problems or solutions.
Authorities should pursue the lawbreakers, but the main attention should be on solving problems affecting the daily life of the country.
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