AFP
PHNOM PENH - THAILAND was set to formally ask Cambodia on Wednesday to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra, deepening a row over Phnom Penh's appointment of the fugitive former Thai premier as an economic adviser.
Thaksin, who was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position and was welcomed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodia has vowed to refuse any request from its larger neighbour for the extradition of the billionaire tycoon, saying that the charges levelled against Thaksin in Thailand were politically motivated.
Thai foreign ministry officials said diplomats would hand the extradition papers to Cambodian authorities early on Wednesday. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors from each other's countries last week.
'The papers were conveyed to our embassy in Phnom Penh late Tuesday and we believe they can be submitted to the Cambodia foreign ministry tomorrow,' senior Thai Foreign Ministry official Panich Vikitsreth told AFP. 'We believe our request will reach the Cambodian foreign ministry during the period of time that Thaksin stays there.'
Thaksin is due to give a speech to 300 Cambodian economics experts on Thursday. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.
Thaksin, who was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position and was welcomed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodia has vowed to refuse any request from its larger neighbour for the extradition of the billionaire tycoon, saying that the charges levelled against Thaksin in Thailand were politically motivated.
Thai foreign ministry officials said diplomats would hand the extradition papers to Cambodian authorities early on Wednesday. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors from each other's countries last week.
'The papers were conveyed to our embassy in Phnom Penh late Tuesday and we believe they can be submitted to the Cambodia foreign ministry tomorrow,' senior Thai Foreign Ministry official Panich Vikitsreth told AFP. 'We believe our request will reach the Cambodian foreign ministry during the period of time that Thaksin stays there.'
Thaksin is due to give a speech to 300 Cambodian economics experts on Thursday. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.
3 comments:
The Khmer Thai extradition treaty was also revoked in retaliation to the scrap of the Khmer Thai overlapping maritime boundary MOU.
The Renewed Khmer-Thai MOU is as follows:
Article 1: Thai government accepts to give Cambodia a total of 60 billion US dollars over 5 years with 10 billion US dollars up front and also 80% of petrol wells from Thai-Cambodian overlapping claims area in exchange for the extradition of the international fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra.
That’s only in Thailand’s dream. No extradition and no need to bow to the bandit as all MoU have been torn by the enemy. Thing came a little to late for the game.
Dear Sirs,
Please do not use Thaksin game in the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand.
Thai Army must be out of Cambodian Land near Preah Vihear Temple. The Hagues International Court of Justice ruled the Temple in favour of Cambodia on 15 June 1962. There was an appeal for a period of ten years but no Thai governments since then claimed the Temple and the surrounding area. It is only this Abhisit Government which want to set up this issue and illegally occupy the 4.6sqkm Land adjacent to the Temple.
Abhisit must not use this Temple as a pretext not to recognise the ICJ verdict. The mighty power of Preah Vihear will destroy this illegitimate government like the last story of PM Thanat Khoman and Mr. Sarit Thanarat in 1963.
Please do not create the same story. You will not get to the point that you want to stay in power for a long time. You will die sooner or later.
Thank you for you kind understanding and read this opinion.
Ly
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