ID :
48197
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 18:03
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http://m.oananews.org//node/48197
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Ex-PM Thaksin cancels planned speech in Hong Kong
BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA) - Convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday was reported to have cancelled a planned speech in China's Hong Kong special administrative region to refrain from jeopardising relations with China.
Reuters news agency said it talked to the former Thai prime minister at an undisclosed location by telephone.
Mr. Thaksin was quoted as saying "I am very annoyed by the hoo-ha made by the government so I think it is better for me not to go."
"I have decided not go to the speech because I don't want my presence to affect bilateral ties.", Mr. Thaksin cited the reason for the cancellation.
The cancellation of speech was made after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier his government would request Hong Kong authorities to help extradite the convicted former premier to Thailand.
Mr. Thaksin was scheduled to deliver the speech at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong on Monday.
Former Thaksin legal adviser Noppadon Pattama confirmed the cancellation on Saturday. He said Mr. Thaksin's speech was to be about solutions to the global economic crisis, but the Democrat-led government had just overracted to Mr. Thaksin's move.
Mr. Noppadon, former foreign minister during the Thaksin-aligned People Power Party-led government, insisted that the extradition request by the Thai government is not the cause of speech's cancellation
as there is no extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong .
Mr. Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison last October after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders found him guilty of breaching the National Counter Corruption Act by aiding his then-wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra win a bid for a tract of state-owned land on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok in 2003. He is also facing other corruption charges and the cases are proceeding in the courts.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said the Thai consul general at Hong Kong would coordinate with authorities there about whether it is possible to extradite Mr. Thaksin to Thailand. The result is expected in couple days.
'We are seeing the possibility of sending the former prime minister to China where we have an extradition treaty with,' said Mr. Puttipong.
The spokesman said the government has no hidden agenda or ulterior motives over the issue as the Thai authorities are duty-bound to comply with the law to bring the convicted ex-PM to justice. (TNA)
Reuters news agency said it talked to the former Thai prime minister at an undisclosed location by telephone.
Mr. Thaksin was quoted as saying "I am very annoyed by the hoo-ha made by the government so I think it is better for me not to go."
"I have decided not go to the speech because I don't want my presence to affect bilateral ties.", Mr. Thaksin cited the reason for the cancellation.
The cancellation of speech was made after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier his government would request Hong Kong authorities to help extradite the convicted former premier to Thailand.
Mr. Thaksin was scheduled to deliver the speech at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong on Monday.
Former Thaksin legal adviser Noppadon Pattama confirmed the cancellation on Saturday. He said Mr. Thaksin's speech was to be about solutions to the global economic crisis, but the Democrat-led government had just overracted to Mr. Thaksin's move.
Mr. Noppadon, former foreign minister during the Thaksin-aligned People Power Party-led government, insisted that the extradition request by the Thai government is not the cause of speech's cancellation
as there is no extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong .
Mr. Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison last October after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders found him guilty of breaching the National Counter Corruption Act by aiding his then-wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra win a bid for a tract of state-owned land on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok in 2003. He is also facing other corruption charges and the cases are proceeding in the courts.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said the Thai consul general at Hong Kong would coordinate with authorities there about whether it is possible to extradite Mr. Thaksin to Thailand. The result is expected in couple days.
'We are seeing the possibility of sending the former prime minister to China where we have an extradition treaty with,' said Mr. Puttipong.
The spokesman said the government has no hidden agenda or ulterior motives over the issue as the Thai authorities are duty-bound to comply with the law to bring the convicted ex-PM to justice. (TNA)
