By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
23 October 2009
Were ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to come to Cambodia, the country would not extradite him, a government statement said Friday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this week he would welcome the former premier to Cambodia, which prompted a rebuke from Bangkok.
“Cambodia will not extradite in following of any eventual request by Thai government, in case the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra decides to stay in Cambodia,” according to a government statement.
Thaksin, who was ousted in 2006 by a military coup, lives in exile in Dubai. He faces a two-year jail term for corruption in Thailand.
The extradition treaty between Cambodia and Thailand allows either party to deny extradition in cases of “political offenses,” among others, the Cambodian statement said.
“The Cambodian government has the right to interpret these two points [on whether] the case of Thaksin Shinawatra is a political case or not,” it said.
Hun Sen told reporters Wednesday after a meeting with Thaksin supporter Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a member of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Thaksin was “a political victim.”
“I respect and like him more now than when he was a prime minister,” Hun Sen said. “I have prepared a house where Thaksin can stay at any time.”
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded, saying if Thaksin entered Cambodia, “the extradition process will begin.”
“If Cambodia failed to comply with the treaty on the extradition, that would be another story,” he said.
The Cambodian statement said Hun Sen’s invitation was one of long friendship and should not be interpreted as “interference of Thailand’s internal affairs.”
Hun Sen left Friday for Hua Hin, Thailand, where Asean leaders are holding a summit. He is expected to hold talks with Abhisit there.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this week he would welcome the former premier to Cambodia, which prompted a rebuke from Bangkok.
“Cambodia will not extradite in following of any eventual request by Thai government, in case the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra decides to stay in Cambodia,” according to a government statement.
Thaksin, who was ousted in 2006 by a military coup, lives in exile in Dubai. He faces a two-year jail term for corruption in Thailand.
The extradition treaty between Cambodia and Thailand allows either party to deny extradition in cases of “political offenses,” among others, the Cambodian statement said.
“The Cambodian government has the right to interpret these two points [on whether] the case of Thaksin Shinawatra is a political case or not,” it said.
Hun Sen told reporters Wednesday after a meeting with Thaksin supporter Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a member of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Thaksin was “a political victim.”
“I respect and like him more now than when he was a prime minister,” Hun Sen said. “I have prepared a house where Thaksin can stay at any time.”
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded, saying if Thaksin entered Cambodia, “the extradition process will begin.”
“If Cambodia failed to comply with the treaty on the extradition, that would be another story,” he said.
The Cambodian statement said Hun Sen’s invitation was one of long friendship and should not be interpreted as “interference of Thailand’s internal affairs.”
Hun Sen left Friday for Hua Hin, Thailand, where Asean leaders are holding a summit. He is expected to hold talks with Abhisit there.
17 comments:
It's not very bad idea. In the past,former Khmer leaders use to run to Siam for help too. The point is Khmer will benefit or lose from doing this.
Can anyone tell Khiev Kanhrith to ask Hun sen first before he make any further Statement. His last statement has made Hun Sen very stupid by saying that Hun Sen make hsi own remark and not represented the government at all. I hope this time Khiev Kanhrith is fully understood hun sen statement.
Areak Prey
If Hun Xen says but dont do, he is really chicken.
Come big dog (dictator), you have to respect your words.
Thaksin is a runaway criminal adn if hun sen hides a criminal he would be a criminal by association.
I agree with HUN SEN on this point for allowing Takshin to stay in Cambodia! If I was a Cambodian leader I would do the same thing because Takshin most of all is a friend and he used to be Thai Prime Minister elected by the Thai people through democratic process until the Thai military leaders overthrew him from power! I don't see how HUN SEN can interfere with Thai internal politic because Thailand has two camps of political rival already long before Hun Sen meet Takshin.
Tell me who vote AH Abhisit Vejjajiva to be in power?
Who care?
If Thaksin is a run away criminal as the radical extreme Khmer thugs like this old fart Areak Prey said, Bhumibol, and those PAS thugs are worse.
Hun Sen is very cleaver politician and he is smart how to play games with the PAD thugs in Thailand.
These fucking azzhole radical thugs only know how to blame, but they have no answers.
shut your mother pussy up 8:25am hun sen is cleaver..hah ahah.
OK then open your mother puzzy up ah.mee 8:40am.
That's right Hun Sen is cleaver that's why he is the longest PM in SEA. Only the cleaver can stay in power that long. Hun Sen is blind one eye is the longest PM, King Bhumibol is blind one eye is the longest ruler in SEA. He too is smart to stay that long.
9:29 Ah CHOY MARAI Hun Xen is the longest PM because he's the longest vote Cheater. Do you know that Ah Choy Marai Aeng?
good for cambodia. good future, too
10:20 AM
Be fair and use the right language.
AH CHOY MARAI Hun Xen is the most stupid our khmers leader, but is cleaver for his own benefit.
im glad you guys are not in the same room. we can fight or scream at each other all we want but we're not going to get anywhere. do you think by taking side would benefit you personally. try to show up at hun sen door step and see if he give any shit about any of you. dont hate each other because of hun sen,thaksin,srp and the thais party.
this is how people murdered each other in cambodia because they took side, they augue,one get angry take out the stick then the knife and then the gun. who suffer? im sure is not hun sen. he's at home eating his heavenly foods,counting his money and playing chess with his buddy.
It is fine if Hun sen allow THAKSIN safe haven in CAMBODIA and doing nothing politically ,but if THAKSIN decided to use CAMBODIA as his springboard to destabilize Thailand , then Thailand will use it as an excuse to pulverize Taing krosaing.
Great for Cambodia, in case Thailand invade or do something bad to Cambodia, Thailand will lost ground like the former Yugoslavia.
Remembered Khmer Mon, Karen and Yala are Khmer brothers
Since Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander, now a Khmer Rouge leader and had many of his political opponents assassinated, I wonder if he have any plan to assassinate the Thai Prime Minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?
Post a Comment