ID :
152481
Mon, 12/06/2010 - 17:37
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http://m.oananews.org//node/152481
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Thai Foreign Ministry confirms ex-PM Thaksin’s planned visit to US
BANGKOK,Dec6(TNA)-The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received a confirmation from the Thai Embassy in Washington on the planned visit of ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the United States.
Thaksin is scheduled to the US to provide a testimony on the rallies of the “red-shirt’ anti-government group United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
Speaking to the Thai New Agency (TNA), spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry Thani Thongpakdi said that the confirmation came after Thaksin’s close aide and lawyer Noppadon Pattama divulged this morning on Thaksin’s planned visit on December 16th 2010.
“The Thai Embassy in Washington has confirmed the visit to the ministry”, said Mr Thani and further detailed that the CSCE is a independent organization that provides a platform to speak on matters in the Kingdom. “Besides inviting Thaksin, the committee has invited the Thai Ambassador to the CSCE as well”, Mr Thani said.
Meanwhile, regarding the feasibility of Thaksin’s entry to the US, Mr Thani said that the matter is dependent on the US authorities. On cooperation with the US authorities to extradite Thaksin back to Thailand, Mr Thani said that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the attorney general.
“There is an extradition treaty between Thai-US”, Mr Thani said, adding that if the attorney general has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter, the ministry is ready to proceed. “So far, no order has been issued as the location of Thaksin’s whereabouts is yet to be determined”, the Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Chawanond Intornkomasut, the secretary-general of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed doubts on Thaksin’s entry to the US, but receded to give further comment.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He fled Thailand in 2008 before he was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail.
The ex-premier remains an influential figure on Thailand's political scene. He galvanised his "Red Shirt" supporters earlier this year to join mass protests against the current government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The mass demonstrations in Bangkok descended into several bouts of bloodshed in April and May that left 91 people dead -- mostly civilians -- and some 1,900 injured, in a series of clashes between armed troops and protesters.(TNA)
Thaksin is scheduled to the US to provide a testimony on the rallies of the “red-shirt’ anti-government group United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
Speaking to the Thai New Agency (TNA), spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry Thani Thongpakdi said that the confirmation came after Thaksin’s close aide and lawyer Noppadon Pattama divulged this morning on Thaksin’s planned visit on December 16th 2010.
“The Thai Embassy in Washington has confirmed the visit to the ministry”, said Mr Thani and further detailed that the CSCE is a independent organization that provides a platform to speak on matters in the Kingdom. “Besides inviting Thaksin, the committee has invited the Thai Ambassador to the CSCE as well”, Mr Thani said.
Meanwhile, regarding the feasibility of Thaksin’s entry to the US, Mr Thani said that the matter is dependent on the US authorities. On cooperation with the US authorities to extradite Thaksin back to Thailand, Mr Thani said that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the attorney general.
“There is an extradition treaty between Thai-US”, Mr Thani said, adding that if the attorney general has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter, the ministry is ready to proceed. “So far, no order has been issued as the location of Thaksin’s whereabouts is yet to be determined”, the Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Chawanond Intornkomasut, the secretary-general of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed doubts on Thaksin’s entry to the US, but receded to give further comment.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He fled Thailand in 2008 before he was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail.
The ex-premier remains an influential figure on Thailand's political scene. He galvanised his "Red Shirt" supporters earlier this year to join mass protests against the current government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The mass demonstrations in Bangkok descended into several bouts of bloodshed in April and May that left 91 people dead -- mostly civilians -- and some 1,900 injured, in a series of clashes between armed troops and protesters.(TNA)
