ID :
138586
Fri, 08/20/2010 - 19:34
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http://m.oananews.org//node/138586
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PM: Thailand will deal carefully with alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout
BANGKOK, Aug 20 -- Prime Minsier Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government will carefully look into the details of the court ruling that suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout can be extradited to the United States as requested to face terrorism charges there and will make its final decision in accordance with legal aspects and agreements.
The premier said he was confident that the case would not have any impact on bilateral relations as the case must proceed according to the facts.
The court of appeals on Friday said Mr Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death, must be extradited within three months, or else be permitted to go free, in keeping with Thailand's extradition rules, overturning a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that he face trial there.
Mr Abhisit said the Thai agencies concerned would examine the details of the court's decision and the legal practices and agreement involved.
The prime minister said he believed the case would have no any impact on bilateral ties between Thailand and Russia although the suspect was Russian and the US demanded him to face trial in the US.
Thailand would try to clarify to the two countries that the case must proceed with facts and the kingdom must deal fairly to all sides involved. He asserted that the case was not political and that Thailand would not have to side with anybody, he said.
Asked whether US pressure will influence Thailand's decision to extradite the suspect, Mr Abhisit said there was no impact and the best thing was to deal with matter straightforwardly.
A US State Department spokesman reportedly said agency had called in Thai Ambassador Don Pramudwinai earlier this week "to emphasise that this is of the highest priority to the United States."
Russia on Friday angrily condemned a decision by a Thai court.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, quoted by international news agencies, called the decision "unlawful and political.''
Lavrov said the ruling was influenced by "very strong outside pressure'' but stopped short of mentioning the US.
He also vowed that Russia would do everything so that Mr Bout could return to his motherland.
Mr Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claimed he ran a legitimate business.
His arrest at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC.
The US indictment also charged Mr Bout with conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to kill US officers or employees, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. He could face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
In August 2009, the Bangkok Criminal Court rejected a US extradition request. It said then that Thailand considers FARC a political movement and not a terrorist group, and that extradition under a Thai-US treaty could not be granted for a political offense.
But the appeals court had different opinion, saying that under Thai law the charges against Mr Bout were considered criminal, not political so he should be extradited and handed over to US authorities within three months. (MCOT online news)
The premier said he was confident that the case would not have any impact on bilateral relations as the case must proceed according to the facts.
The court of appeals on Friday said Mr Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death, must be extradited within three months, or else be permitted to go free, in keeping with Thailand's extradition rules, overturning a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that he face trial there.
Mr Abhisit said the Thai agencies concerned would examine the details of the court's decision and the legal practices and agreement involved.
The prime minister said he believed the case would have no any impact on bilateral ties between Thailand and Russia although the suspect was Russian and the US demanded him to face trial in the US.
Thailand would try to clarify to the two countries that the case must proceed with facts and the kingdom must deal fairly to all sides involved. He asserted that the case was not political and that Thailand would not have to side with anybody, he said.
Asked whether US pressure will influence Thailand's decision to extradite the suspect, Mr Abhisit said there was no impact and the best thing was to deal with matter straightforwardly.
A US State Department spokesman reportedly said agency had called in Thai Ambassador Don Pramudwinai earlier this week "to emphasise that this is of the highest priority to the United States."
Russia on Friday angrily condemned a decision by a Thai court.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, quoted by international news agencies, called the decision "unlawful and political.''
Lavrov said the ruling was influenced by "very strong outside pressure'' but stopped short of mentioning the US.
He also vowed that Russia would do everything so that Mr Bout could return to his motherland.
Mr Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claimed he ran a legitimate business.
His arrest at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC.
The US indictment also charged Mr Bout with conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to kill US officers or employees, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. He could face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
In August 2009, the Bangkok Criminal Court rejected a US extradition request. It said then that Thailand considers FARC a political movement and not a terrorist group, and that extradition under a Thai-US treaty could not be granted for a political offense.
But the appeals court had different opinion, saying that under Thai law the charges against Mr Bout were considered criminal, not political so he should be extradited and handed over to US authorities within three months. (MCOT online news)
