Lao officials are curbing anti-government activities by Thai lese majeste fugitives holed up in the country, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday.
Gen Prawit's remarks came after he travelled to Vientiane, Laos, to attend an Asean Defence Ministers Meeting retreat last week.
Gen Prawit said Lao authorities told him they were acting to stop lese majeste offenders from staging movements against the Thai government and monarchy. Lao authorities have also suspended local radio programmes with content attacking those institutions.
Gen Prawit said he asked the Lao government to take care of the matter following reports that lese majeste fugitives were using social media and radio stations in neighbouring countries to spread their message.
Referring to the Thai government's earlier requests for the extradition of lese majeste fugitives from neighbouring countries, Gen Prawit said each country would make its own decision.
Thai authorities have asked seven countries to extradite 19 suspects accused of breaching lese majeste legislation. The countries have responded positively, according to Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya, refusing to name the countries, citing security reasons.