UDD leader to visit Thaksin in Dubai

Kwanchai Praiphana, a core leader of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and chairman of Kon Rak Udon (Love Udon People) group, said on Wednesday he will leave for Dubai in the afternoon to meet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Kwanchai made the announcement on a community radio station in Udon Thani.

He said he would take with him a large number of letters written to Thaksin by red-shirt supporters in his province.

He would stay in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, for a few days.

 The executive director of the attorney-general's Office of International Affairs, Sirisak Tiyapan, said his office could take no action over Mr Kwanchai's announcement.

 He said police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should investigate and confirm Thaksin's exact address in Dubai so that his office can take further steps in seeking the extradition of the fugitive politician.

Mr Sirisak admitted it was no easy task getting the United Arab Emirates to send Thaksin back to Thailand as there was no extradition agreement between the  two countries.

He said Attorney-General's Office had previously written to the authorities in the UAE requesting cooperation in extraditing  Thaksin to Thailand. There had been no response.

Earlier report below: UAE promises to expel Thaksin, if they find him 

MANAMA : The United Arab Emirates has promised to expel ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and send him to Thailand if he is found in Dubai. While the two countries do not have an extradition treaty, there is a reciprocal arrangement that allows for the exchange of fugitives.

The issue was raised in talks yesterday between Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Bahrain. 

Mr Kasit said Thailand had already sent six fugitives to the UAE as requested by Abu Dhabi. 

Sheikh Abdullah admitted Thaksin had stayed in Dubai, Mr Kasit said.

The UAE was looking into the issue of whether Thaksin had re-entered the country by possibly using a passport from another country or another name..

Thaksin told supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship last Saturday he was making the phone call from Dubai.