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124908
Sat, 05/29/2010 - 15:57
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Hard to return Thaksin to face trial in Thailand if he gives up Thai citizenship
BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) -- Attempts by the government to bring back fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Montenegro to Thailand to face terrorism charges would be difficult if he has relinquished Thai citizenship, Panich Vikitsreth, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, said on Saturday.
Mr Panich, who is scheduled to travel to Montenegro next month and to request its government to deport Mr Thaksin to Thailand, admitted that Montenegro's constitution stipulates that Montenegrins shall not be extradited to face charges in a foreign land.
The Thai government now must explain to the Montenegrin government that the deportation request is because Mr Thaksin is a Thai citizen and his wrongdoings were committed in this country and have already been judged by a Thai court and were free from political intervention, he said.
It is quite worrisome if Mr Thaksin holds dual citizenship, he said, adding that revocation of Thai citizenship could stall pending charges against the ousted premier.
On earlier remarks by Interpol that it had not yet received a request from the Thai government for Mr Thaksin's arrest, Mr Panich said concerned Thai authorities are now collecting evidence which would be used in filing charges against him.
Mr Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006 and went into self-exile overseas. He stands accused of masterminding and funding the violent protest of the Red Shirts which culminated in an army assault and Red Shirt arson in the capital and provinces in the North and Northeast during the past week. The bloody street fighting ended on May 19.
Also, Mr Thaksin was earlier sentenced to a two-year imprisonment in absentia for guilty of conflict of interest while in power.
Associate Professor Pantip Kanchanachitra of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law stated that under the Thai constitution, a Thai citizen automatically loses his nationality if he was naturalised in another ountry.
“It is still doubtful presently whether Mr Thaksin has become a citizen of Montenegro," said Dr Pantip. "It doesn’t mean that he would become a Montenegrin if he holds that country’s passport.”
But if he has naturalised to become a Montenegrin citizen then it is the duty of the Thai interior minister to revoke his Thai citizenship and announce it in the Royal Gazette, he added.
An earlier report by the Associated Press in Podgorica said the Montenegrin government would not extradite or put Mr Thaksin on the track of justice without valid proof or an international arrest warrant. The ousted premier has acquired a Montenegrin passport and stays occasionally in a seaside villa.
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic told the news agency Thursday that Montenegro gave Mr Thaksin citizenship partly because of his planned multimillion dollar investments in Montenegro’s tourism. However, the premier said “we have mechanisms to correct our decisions” if need be. (TNA)
Mr Panich, who is scheduled to travel to Montenegro next month and to request its government to deport Mr Thaksin to Thailand, admitted that Montenegro's constitution stipulates that Montenegrins shall not be extradited to face charges in a foreign land.
The Thai government now must explain to the Montenegrin government that the deportation request is because Mr Thaksin is a Thai citizen and his wrongdoings were committed in this country and have already been judged by a Thai court and were free from political intervention, he said.
It is quite worrisome if Mr Thaksin holds dual citizenship, he said, adding that revocation of Thai citizenship could stall pending charges against the ousted premier.
On earlier remarks by Interpol that it had not yet received a request from the Thai government for Mr Thaksin's arrest, Mr Panich said concerned Thai authorities are now collecting evidence which would be used in filing charges against him.
Mr Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006 and went into self-exile overseas. He stands accused of masterminding and funding the violent protest of the Red Shirts which culminated in an army assault and Red Shirt arson in the capital and provinces in the North and Northeast during the past week. The bloody street fighting ended on May 19.
Also, Mr Thaksin was earlier sentenced to a two-year imprisonment in absentia for guilty of conflict of interest while in power.
Associate Professor Pantip Kanchanachitra of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law stated that under the Thai constitution, a Thai citizen automatically loses his nationality if he was naturalised in another ountry.
“It is still doubtful presently whether Mr Thaksin has become a citizen of Montenegro," said Dr Pantip. "It doesn’t mean that he would become a Montenegrin if he holds that country’s passport.”
But if he has naturalised to become a Montenegrin citizen then it is the duty of the Thai interior minister to revoke his Thai citizenship and announce it in the Royal Gazette, he added.
An earlier report by the Associated Press in Podgorica said the Montenegrin government would not extradite or put Mr Thaksin on the track of justice without valid proof or an international arrest warrant. The ousted premier has acquired a Montenegrin passport and stays occasionally in a seaside villa.
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic told the news agency Thursday that Montenegro gave Mr Thaksin citizenship partly because of his planned multimillion dollar investments in Montenegro’s tourism. However, the premier said “we have mechanisms to correct our decisions” if need be. (TNA)
