Phnom Penh will decline any Thai request for former PM amid deepening row between south-east Asian neighbours
Tuesday 10 November 2009
Ben Doherty in Bangkok
guardian.co.uk
Cambodia will refuse any request from Thailand to extradite fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after the billionaire landed his private jet at Phnom Penh airport today.
Thaksin will be in Cambodia for at least two more days, and Thai government officials have told the Guardian that as soon as his address in the country is known, they will file for his extradition. They hope to lodge the request today.
But while the two neighbours have an extradition treaty, Cambodia says it will ignore any request, saying Thaksin – who was sentenced by a Thai court in absentia last October to two years in prison for a conflict of interest over a land deal – was a political victim.
"We will not extradite him. We already clarified this case because he is a political victim," a foreign affairs spokesman, Kuoy Kong, said.
Thaksin, ousted from power by a military coup in 2006, is in Cambodia as an "economics adviser" to the government, a job offered to him by the country's prime minister, Hun Sen. He will speak to 300 economics experts in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, on Thursday.
It is Thaksin's friendship with Hun Sen that is at the heart of a worsening dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
In recent days, as a war of words between Bangkok and Phnom Penh over Thaksin has escalated, both governments have withdrawn their respective ambassadors and Thailand has torn up an agreement over maritime boundaries.
There is concern, too, that the long-running and violent dispute over the Preah Vihear temple on the border may flare up again. And while Bangkok has promised to keep the border open, tourism operators in Thailand are reporting that one in five trips to Cambodia have been cancelled by Thai holidaymakers.
A Thai government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said the extradition request was imminent, and he expected it to be properly considered by Cambodia.
"As soon as we can confirm his whereabouts we will make the request, it is simply a technical requirement," Panitan said.
"It's up to the Cambodian court to decide whether to extradite him, but this will be the first time the court has had a chance to see evidence regarding Thaksin's conviction, and we would expect the court to look favourably upon our request."
Tuesday 10 November 2009
Ben Doherty in Bangkok
guardian.co.uk
Cambodia will refuse any request from Thailand to extradite fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after the billionaire landed his private jet at Phnom Penh airport today.
Thaksin will be in Cambodia for at least two more days, and Thai government officials have told the Guardian that as soon as his address in the country is known, they will file for his extradition. They hope to lodge the request today.
But while the two neighbours have an extradition treaty, Cambodia says it will ignore any request, saying Thaksin – who was sentenced by a Thai court in absentia last October to two years in prison for a conflict of interest over a land deal – was a political victim.
"We will not extradite him. We already clarified this case because he is a political victim," a foreign affairs spokesman, Kuoy Kong, said.
Thaksin, ousted from power by a military coup in 2006, is in Cambodia as an "economics adviser" to the government, a job offered to him by the country's prime minister, Hun Sen. He will speak to 300 economics experts in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, on Thursday.
It is Thaksin's friendship with Hun Sen that is at the heart of a worsening dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
In recent days, as a war of words between Bangkok and Phnom Penh over Thaksin has escalated, both governments have withdrawn their respective ambassadors and Thailand has torn up an agreement over maritime boundaries.
There is concern, too, that the long-running and violent dispute over the Preah Vihear temple on the border may flare up again. And while Bangkok has promised to keep the border open, tourism operators in Thailand are reporting that one in five trips to Cambodia have been cancelled by Thai holidaymakers.
A Thai government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said the extradition request was imminent, and he expected it to be properly considered by Cambodia.
"As soon as we can confirm his whereabouts we will make the request, it is simply a technical requirement," Panitan said.
"It's up to the Cambodian court to decide whether to extradite him, but this will be the first time the court has had a chance to see evidence regarding Thaksin's conviction, and we would expect the court to look favourably upon our request."
20 comments:
http://www.examiner.com/x-26647-Asia-Travel-Examiner~y2009m11d6-Diplomats-not-supporting-Thailands-recall-of-Ambassador-to-Cambodia
Ki-maidia is posted Sam Raisy Party.
Ah Pleu Hun Sen is a victim of his ignorance.
CPP Traitor
We will see who is blinking first. Hun Sen or Abhisit? During border closures in 2003 it was Hun Sen who blinked first as border closure caused Hun Sen to lose millions of millions of dollars in revenue coming from Casino. At that time Hun Sen had to pay $50 Millions to get the Thai to open the border. I hope this time he don't bow to Thai pressure again as he did in 2003.
Extradition is not going to work since SIAM retaliated us all kind of ties.
No Extradition!!!!!!!!!
Hun Sen let his fortune teller looks about the situation in Thailand and said that Thaksin will come back into Thai's politic and remove Abullshit out of office.
Thai will have civil war!!!!!!!!!!!
we don't belive KI-maidia.
Everybody check www.dap-news.com and www.evryday.com.kh
I don't belive KI-media to.
yes, Everyday and dap-news.com are good news.
A lot of the Cambodian people like CPP, but not SPR. CPP=90 seat. so sok pheng, Ngou Sovann and Lun phun... are good idea.
Cambodia already told Thailand she will utilize hers rights in the extradition not to extradite Taksin, why Thailand bother to ask for extradition.
LOL,
I'm also don't understand the Thai motive. They kept saying this.
We closed the case already. Why they kept repeating this EXTRADITION?
Need to learn how to listen to others!!!!
I don't undersand, why Sam Rainsy don't help the cambodian people near thailand border.
9:16 PM,
That is a potential dangerous area. HUN SEN can't guarantee his safety.
Don't you get that!!!!!!!!!!!!
If he goes to visit that place HUN SEN could have a hit man and shoot him then fabricate the incident.
Learn how to think!! This guy is politician he can't take risk like you think.
Check the following video clip I got from nationmultimedia.com
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/nationvdo/showvdo.php?id=2497&cateid=13
CPP Traitor
9:02+9:05
You two had better go back and study more.
Thailand asks for extradition is a proper move. Once Cambodia refuses to extradite Thaksin without proper reason, Cambodia is simply showing the World that your country doesn't abide by the international law. Be smart dudes!
Since when Thailand respect Cambodia's law and international law?
Thai never done that!!
So why do they expect Cambodia to do it?
No way!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's fun to see Thailand going crazy.
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