ID :
49706
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 20:26
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http://m.oananews.org//node/49706
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Foreign Minister confirms talks underway to extradite Thaksin
BANGKOK, March 9 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Monday affirmed Thai and Hong Kong authorities are now working out an extradition agreement to return convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand.
Mr. Kasit told reporters that the move was not political persecution against Mr. Thaksin, but that the Thai government was duty-bound to bring the fugitive ex-premier home.
“There is no problem. Legal cooperation between Thailand and Hong Kong is underway,” said Mr. Kasit. “We are just doing our duty."
The Thai foreign minister made the statement after the Hong Kong-based newspaper the Sunday Morning Post reported talks were at an advanced stage over an extradition treaty with Thailand which could be used to send the ousted premier back home.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier that Thailand would look into any possible legal channels for asking China to extradite Mr. Thaksin with police and prosecutor agencies would sort this out.
Toppled in a bloodless coup in 2006, Thaksin has mainly lived abroad in voluntary exile ever since. During mid-2008 he returned to Thailand for a time, but left to avoid court appearances.
He was convicted by a Thai court last year to two years jail in absentia for violating conflict of interest laws while in office.
Mr. Thaksin said the verdict against him was politically motivated.
The former telecom billionaire-cum-politician, who was in power from 2001 to 2006, still commands strong support among rural Thais who have benefited from his past populist policies, some of which have been adopted by the incumbent coalition government led by prime minister Abhisit who rose to power after a parliamentary vote in December. (TNA)
Mr. Kasit told reporters that the move was not political persecution against Mr. Thaksin, but that the Thai government was duty-bound to bring the fugitive ex-premier home.
“There is no problem. Legal cooperation between Thailand and Hong Kong is underway,” said Mr. Kasit. “We are just doing our duty."
The Thai foreign minister made the statement after the Hong Kong-based newspaper the Sunday Morning Post reported talks were at an advanced stage over an extradition treaty with Thailand which could be used to send the ousted premier back home.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier that Thailand would look into any possible legal channels for asking China to extradite Mr. Thaksin with police and prosecutor agencies would sort this out.
Toppled in a bloodless coup in 2006, Thaksin has mainly lived abroad in voluntary exile ever since. During mid-2008 he returned to Thailand for a time, but left to avoid court appearances.
He was convicted by a Thai court last year to two years jail in absentia for violating conflict of interest laws while in office.
Mr. Thaksin said the verdict against him was politically motivated.
The former telecom billionaire-cum-politician, who was in power from 2001 to 2006, still commands strong support among rural Thais who have benefited from his past populist policies, some of which have been adopted by the incumbent coalition government led by prime minister Abhisit who rose to power after a parliamentary vote in December. (TNA)
