Amsterdam ends US lobbying for Thaksin
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Amsterdam ends US lobbying for Thaksin

International law firm Amsterdam & Partners (formerly known as Amsterdam & Peroff) has terminated its US lobbying relationship with fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Robert Amsterdam (Photo by Pattarachai Preechapanich)

The firm on Monday submitted a lobbying termination report saying that their advocacy for Thaksin ended on June 30, reports said.

According to the statement isssued Amsterdam & Partners, it had provided counsel and guidance to Thaksin’s interests in the US and abroad for two years.

The firm's partner Andrew Durkovic took care of Thaksin's interests in Washington DC, contacting the US  Justice, Treasury and State departments.

However, Robert Amsterdam said his firm had done "virtually nothing" nothing in the US for Thaksin. He said his firm focused on helping Thaksin and the red-shirt movement.

The firm has also filed a petition to the International Court of Justice to investigate alleged crimes against  humanity committed by the Democrat-led government during the crackdown on the violent red-shirt protest in 2010

They were paid less than US$5,000 (about 157,000 baht), according to the quarterly lobbying reports to the US congress.

Mr Amsterdam declined to say how much money the firm received from Thaksin, however he said Thaksin remains a client of the firm.

He added that his firm did not help the former prime minister obtain his US visa, which generally are not issued convicted felons.

Tida Tawornseth, chair of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said Amsterdam & Partners continues to represent the red-shirt movement even though the firm has ended its lobbying relationship with Thaksin.

She said change of the relationship between Thaksin and the firm would not affect Mr Amsterdam's ties with the red-shirt supporters.

"Robert Amsterdam remains a lawyer for the UDD," Ms Tida said. "He intends to take part in the UDD rally to mark the sixth anniversary of the Sept 19, 2006 military coup."

Mr Amsterdam wrote on his Twitter page as follows:

"Rumours I no longer work for the Red Shirts are completely false. I remain as committed as ever to making sure my clients receive justice.

"I should also confirm I remain retained by Dr Thaksin with my main efforts focused on bringing the 2010 Thai regime to account at the ICC."

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