Cambodia tells Thailand government no we will not extradite Thaksin - just as expected

Thaksin greeting PM Hun Sen in Cambodia. Hun Sen shares Thaksin's disdain for current Thai govt. (AP Photo/Lim Cheavutha)

November 11, 2009
Cassandra James
Asia Travel Examiner

After all, who is going to take a Thai government seriously who, on one hand cancels a maritime treaty they had with Cambodia and, on the other hand, tells Cambodia "hey, we have an extradition treaty with you. Honor it". Yep. That's going to happen.

A few hours ago, according to The Bangkok Post, the Thai government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva received the official confirmation letter from Cambodia, stating clearly and simply that they will not extradite outsted Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Cambodia. Thaksin is currently in Phnom Penh meeting with Cambodian President Hun Sen, in preparation for a speech he's giving in front of 300 economists on Thursday. So, what does this mean to Thailand and what do they do now?

Thailand's options in getting Thaksin extradited from Cambodia are actually quite limited. There's talk of cancelling even more agreements with Cambodia (Thailand already cancelled a maritime agreement earlier in the week) which, according to several Asian analysts is only going to damage Thailand and deter foreign investment. After all, who wants to invest money in a country that goes back on its word every time you do something they don't like?

Thai TV has also been reporting the Thai government is considering approaching Interpol for help. Very few westerners however understand what Thailand hopes to achieve by this. In fact, it shows Thailand's ignorance over how Interpol works as Interpol is not an agency that is going to help one government pit itself against another in order to arrest an exiled Prime Minister, who many in Thailand feel was kicked out by the military coup illegally. The Cambodian President himself is saying Thaksin's conviction on corruption charges is nothing more than politically motivated, and many in Thailand agree with him.

Most westerner analysts also think, not only is it a huge mistake for Thailand to be pushing the issue with Cambodia, they also believe it will further damage Thailand's economy and investment opportunities. With the Thai government constantly giving Thaksin more and more air time and making themselves look increasingly weak and ineffective, Thaksin is winning and they are losing. A better strategy would have been to just keep their mouths shut and pretend Thaksin doesn't even exist. All this chest beating though is playing right into Thaksin's hands, and he's loving every minute of it.

Meanwhile, now that Thailand has officially received the 'no we're not extraditing Thaksin' letter, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is calling an emergency meeting to go over options. But with talk of their solution being to send another letter to Cambodia explaining Thaksin is a convicted criminal and not a poltiical refugee (the government's belief) and that Cambodia should live up to their extradition treaty, it doesn't look good.

After all, who is going to take a Thai government seriously who, on one hand cancels a maritime treaty they had with Cambodia and, on the other hand, tells Cambodia "hey, we have an extradition treaty with you. Honor it". Yep. That's going to happen.

SOURCES: Bangkok Post - Cooperation with Cambodia under review