Thaksin 'not covered' in extradition law

Published: 23/10/2009 at 04:11 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could serve as his economic adviser Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said after arriving at Hua Hin airport on Friday afternoon to attend the 15th Asean Summit.

"I plan to appoint Mr Thaksin as my economic adviser," Mr Hun Sen said.

"I could do it because I act under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

"If people can talk about Aung San Suu Kyi, why can't I talk about Thaksin?

"If millions of Thais support Thaksin, why can't I?" Mr Hun Sen asked reporters.

The Cambodian premier said he was not Thaksin's supporter, but he could stay in Cambodia as a guest.

Mr Hun Sen said Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy visited Thailand about two weeks ago and criticised the Cambodian government, but he did not complain about it.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cambodian Prime Minister may not receive the right information about Thailand's situation and Thaksin.

Mr Abhisit said he hoped Prime Minister Hun Sen would receive the correct information and would change his mind on this matter.

"I consider Prime Minister Hun Sen as a senior and experienced person and he should not become someone else's pawn," Mr Abhisit said.

On Mr Hun Sen's comparison between democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and fugitive prime minister Thaksin, Mr Abhisit said he wondered how many people in the world would liken the two people.

''I would like Prime Minister Hun Sen to consider the purpose of his visit to attend the Asean summit,'' he said.

Earlier Friday, Cambodia’s foreign ministry released a statement saying its government would likely reject any request from the Thai government for the extradition of Thaksin if he seeks political asylum in the country.

“Thaksin faced political charges and his case is not in line with the extradition agreement between Thailand and Cambodia,” said the statement.

Phnom Penh's statement came after a report that the Thai government would seek Thaksin’s extradition if the fugitve former politician accepts Prime Minister Hun Sen's invitation to move there permanently.

The statement said Mr Hun Sen’s offer was just an act of kindness for an old friend and the offer did not mean that Cambodia was interfering in the internal affairs of Thailand.

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Tbone

Discussion 84 : 30/10/2009 at 10:04 PM84
WoW, two free thinking Thai?!?! #82 and 83. If you are Thai may I wager a guess? you're Isan related somehow right?!?!

--IF Thai-Cambo extradition don't cover political crime then good luck trying to get him. If you are thinking he has a jail term and that makes him a criminal/ fugitive and subject to extradition, not so fast. Don't forget the adjective political as in he's a political criminal/ fugitive...Fin.

Go spend effort else where, or wait till he make another bonehead move, like unwittingly get caught up in not warning his wife not to BID in a PUBLIC BID for a piece of real estate), and lands in "Thailand" friendly country.
David

Discussion 83 : 30/10/2009 at 06:40 PM83
As long as the elites can manipulate behind the scenes, the 3 main arms of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, regardless of how they come into being is inconsequential.

As long as this keeps up, Thailand makes a mockery of democracy per-se. If the elites feel that their own status and influence are threatened, under the guise of preventing further abuses by the politicians of the government in power then, they support the coup, tear up the constitution, appoint their choices as the government, their cohorts as members of the legislature and the judiciary have no choice but to toe the line.

Seriously, under the present circumstances, we Thais are in no position to condemn Burma and the likes.
Returned Thai

Discussion 82 : 30/10/2009 at 05:43 PM82
All this talk about the constitution being broad-based and requiring 3/4 majority to approve its amendments. When the 1997 constitution was formulated and approved by an assembly of so-called wise men, appointed and duly elected and these included people like Khun Anand Panyarachun, it was then said that that was the most eleborate that Thailand can have and that the politicians would be properly checked by the independent bodies. What happened 9 years later?

Thaksin was elected, deemed to have abused this consitiution by the elites who supported the coup and the constitution torn up. What is there to stop the elites, using the military, tearing up future constitutions.

Despite all the talks about Thailand joining the club of the 1st world countries and being the model for democracy and free press, we have slipped back very badly and now ranked well behind Indonesia. Please don't say that we are still better than Burma and Cambodia, we are fast catching up with them.
bondjamesbond

Discussion 81 : 30/10/2009 at 01:19 PM81
MR. HUN SEN MAKES ME LAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tbone

Discussion 80 : 30/10/2009 at 11:33 AM80
Whether you like Hun Sen or not, you have to be amazed at least I do. Maybe unwillingly or not but that is a great move by PM Hun Sen, especially if Thaksin take him up on the offer. It will be a great boon to Cambodia and her people (brain gain bravo!!).

No offense but ASEAN country are atrocious when it comes to utilizing and maximizing human resources.
wow

Discussion 79 : 30/10/2009 at 10:58 AM79
Wow, peter, that was a great comment. Too bad more people don't subscribe to this sort of common, obvious sense.
Peter Quinlan

Discussion 78 : 29/10/2009 at 11:46 PM78
For the sake of a complete understanding, there were two other governments elected after the coup, so I guess they were both illegal also?

I don't like coups any more than anyone else does. They are an abhorent, medieval throw back to different times, but I also have difficulty with intellectual laziness and "sloppy logic".

If the Samak and Somchai governments were legal enough for the Thaksin apologists, then there is nothing illegal about this government's formation. I am not supporting one or the other, as the whole lot, frankly, are not worth voting for, but let's be consistent.

I'm for a fresh start, whatever that takes, under a completely new constitution developed from broad based community consultation. Anything else, including going back to the 1997 constitution, is window dressing not democracy.
joecan

Discussion 77 : 28/10/2009 at 09:31 AM77
Buba: Yes, your opinions seem grounded in democratic values. However, I do disagree on your interpretation.

Looking Inn: How about change Step #2 to over 2/3 of of the Thai voters.

What I am suggesting is that no government will work when every incoming government changes the constitution to suit their needs or throw a bone to the Thai people.

Given your description of the political system, why vote if one is not accountable to their own constituencies.
obs

Discussion 76 : 28/10/2009 at 12:43 AM76
I Bubba, that's great, why dont you move to Cambodia. Sure you will enjoy the company there. Just get out of here.
Bubba

Discussion 75 : 27/10/2009 at 09:30 PM75
PS to JOECAN: I would still though like to know your opinion about the illegal coup of September 2006...In fact the legalities in general involved in military takeovers anywhere.

It is beyond me how military generals can topple/oust legitimate governments through illegal means and then prosecute members of that ousted government.

How can governments who have attained power by illegitimate means afterward claim legitimacy when working through a judiciary they directly, or indirectly control.

I think most people know this is a sham but I am curious about the actual legal aspects of such a government.

As a curious oddity I think of the Red Khmer after Hun Sen led the overthrow of that government. All the whole knew the KR were not communists but mass murderers. After they were overthrown the US continued to claim at the UN that the Red khmer were the only legitimate government of Cambodia. As did the royalists, who continued to help and fight alongside the red Khmer against the new government.

The military overthrows an elected government and attains legitimacy. Another group overthrows a government of mass murderers and is refused legitimacy.

As is said, something is rotten in the state of Denmark...

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Thaksin 'not covered' in extradition law