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Thailand to ask Cambodia to extradite Thaksin
2009-11-11 08:08
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is seen at the Parliament in Bangkok November 10, 2009.
Thailand is in the process to send involved documents to Cambodia to request the country to extradite ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday.
Thaksin's arrival in Cambodia was not surprising since Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced earlier Thaksin was appointed as an advisor to the Cambodian government, Thai television Channel 9 reported.
Thaksin arrived in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh Tuesday morning to take up his new job as the advisor of Hun Sen and the Royal Government.
Currently, involved authorities are working on the documents to send to Cambodia, the Thai prime minister said.
The Thai government's additional measures after this will depend on development from Cambodia, Abhisit said.
As Thailand is waiting for the further development from Cambodia, it is unsure how long Thaksin will stay in Cambodia, Abhisit said.
Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded diplomatic relations due to conflict over the appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government on November 4.
A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.
Source:Xinhua
Cambodia Rejects Thai Request to Extradite Former Leader
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (left) sits with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during meeting in Takhmua, Kandal province on Nov. 11, 2009. Cambodia has rejected Thailand's request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. There now are suggestions that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should intervene to reduce tensions that have risen between the two countries.
Thai diplomats on Wednesday morning presented Cambodian officials with a request to detain and extradite Thaksin Shinawatra. The former prime minster is wanted in Thailand after fleeing a year ago to avoid a two-year jail sentence for corruption.
Cambodia responded with a diplomatic note rejecting the extradition request. The Cambodian government has said it considers Thaksin's conviction to be politically motivated.
Thaksin arrived Tuesday in Phnom Penh to take up a position as an economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodian and Thai media showed photographs of Hun Sen warmly greeting Thaksin.
The Thai government has indicated it may terminate its extradition treaty with Cambodia if Thaksin is not sent back to serve his sentence.
Kraisak Choonhavan is a member of Thailand's governing coalition. He says it may be necessary to call on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to mediate an end the diplomat dispute. "I think it is time now for the ASEAN Secretariat to step up, perhaps a shuttle diplomacy toward this unsettling issue, and that Hun Sen should reconsider to reduce this antagonistic approach toward Thailand," Kraisak said. "You can only see escalation and that's no good for anybody, not only on a bilateral basis but as an organization as a whole."
Thailand has not closed the border with Cambodia to avoid damaging their economies. Kiat Settheearmon is president of the Thailand Trade representative office. "We want to ensure that the livelihood of the people is not affected by the current misunderstanding," Kiat said. "I will say that and we will continue this path, whatever measures it might be it will be the least [impact] affecting the well being of the people of the two countries."
Relations between the two countries have been strained for a year because of a disputed ancient temple on their border. The temple is in Cambodian territory but a main approach to it is in Thailand.
There are concerns the soured diplomatic ties could spill over to the ASEAN meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum under way in Singapore.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, remains popular with the rural and urban poor. But many in the urban middle class accuse him of authoritarianism. Some political analysts in Thailand say he may have hurt his popularity by taking the post in Cambodia, and by making controversial comments on the revered Thai monarchy in an interview with a British newspaper.
VOA News / Nov. 12, 2009 08:50 KST
Thailand seeks Thaksin extradition as row deepens
Thaksin suppporters with his poster, the former PM is a thorn to the Thai government inside and outside the country. - Reuters pic
PHNOM PENH, Nov 11 — Thailand formally asked Cambodia today to extradite fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a widening diplomatic row that threatens to worsen Thailand’s political crisis.
Thailand’s embassy in Phnom Penh submitted the request for the former telecommunications tycoon a day after he arrived in Cambodia to take up a job as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, a move that has infuriated the Thai authorities.
“Thaksin is a criminal fugitive and we asked the Cambodian government to send him back,” Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters in Bangkok. “Now what we have to do is wait for their official response.”
The diplomatic spat looks set to undermine any attempt by Southeast Asian leaders to project a united front in talks with US President Barack Obama on Sunday in Singapore, the first-ever meeting between a US leader and all 10 members of Asean.
Thaksin, twice elected but deposed in a 2006 military coup and sentenced last year to two years in jail for graft, has been living in self-imposed exile, largely in Dubai. He arrived in Phnom Penh as a guest of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
His presence in the neighbouring country, where he intends to give a speech tomorrow, has fired up passions on both sides of Thailand’s political divide while drawing attention to a border where Thai and Cambodian troops have clashed in the past year.
The row will embarrass the Thais in front of Obama. Thailand is this year’s chair of Asean, and the regional grouping’s meeting with Obama will be led by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose coalition government is on shaky ground.
RESISTING EXTRADITION
Thaksin plans to meet today with Hun Sen, who has said he would never agree to extradition because he believes Thaksin’s conviction was politically motivated, a comment Thai leaders say is tantamount to meddling in their domestic affairs.
“Thaksin wants to cause chaos at home and remind his supporters he’s still alive,” said Puangthong Pawakapan, a specialist on Thai-Cambodian relations at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Thaksin is still immensely popular among Thailand’s rural poor and his red-shirted supporters have staged frequent street rallies in Bangkok, calling for his pardon and return.
Abhisit’s allies, the urban elite centred in Bangkok who wear the king’s traditional colour of yellow at protests, plan a demonstration of their own on Sunday in Bangkok to denounce Thaksin and the Cambodian government.
“Abhisit is under heavy pressure by groups in Thailand to act,” added Puangthong.
Extremists within the yellow-shirt movement want him to take bolder retaliation against Cambodia — from closing all border trade to stepping up Thailand’s military presence on the border.
Suthep said today the government had no plans to close the border. Analysts say closing it could hurt Thailand as much as Cambodia, especially if Cambodia turned to Vietnam for more of its imports. — Reuters
Tension as Thaksin arrives in Cambodia
AFP/Phnom Penh, www.gulf-times.com
Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in 
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (C), Bun Rany Hun Sen and Hun Sen’s family posing for picture at a house that Hun Sen prepared for Thaksin in
The row has plunged relations between the neighbouring nations to their lowest for years and threatens to cloud weekend talks between Southeast Asian leaders and US President Barack Obama.
Thaksin landed in a private jet at
“Thaksin is here for the economy and no activities related to politics. It is an honour for
Thaksin is expected to stay a few days and is due to address 300 Cambodian economics experts in
State television yesterday evening showed Thaksin and Prime Minister Hun Sen embracing, reporting the Cambodian leader pronounced him an “eternal friend” and “the best adviser with economic leadership”.
Thaksin reportedly thanked Hun Sen for offering the adviser post and said “nothing can compare” to his excitement for the new role. Thaksin also planned to visit
The men were shown laughing and chatting at a house specially prepared for Thaksin, but the exiled leader said on his official Twitter account that he was “really homesick”.
“Tonight I will dine with Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family. I want to reiterate that nation, religion and monarchy are always in my mind,” Thaksin wrote.
He won two elections and remains a massively influential figure in Thai politics, stirring up mass protests by so-called “Red Shirt” supporters against the government.
His presence on
Tensions between
Abhisit said
The Thai foreign ministry said that it was sending the extradition request to the embassy in
Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong rejected the extradition threat. “We will not extradite him. We already clarified this case because he is a political victim,” Koy Kuong said.
INTERVIEW
Hun Sen blames Thailand (and Abhisit) all the way
- Published: 12/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News, by BangkokPost
What drives Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's foreign policy towards Thailand? Here are excerpt from an interview Hun Sen gave to the press on Nov 8, after returning from the Mekong-Japan summit.
This picture taken Nov 8 and released by China’s Xinhua news agency shows Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen holding a press conference at the airport in Phnom Penh, during which he lambasted the present Thai government.
Thai-Cambodian relations
What is going on in Thai-Cambodian relations is essentially a problem between me and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. I would urge people who wish to comment on this issue to do their research. When I started to work in the political arena, the Thai PM was still a child running around.
Close the border if you want to
The Thai side has been quoted in the press saying that it would pressure Cambodia by sealing off the border. I say, close it if you want to. Cambodia will follow suit.
If Thailand orders the border shut, don't stop at blocking the flow of people. Because Cambodia would close it too, and we will block economic activities as well. We will forbid all Thai goods from coming into the Cambodia market. Even one pig would not be able to cross.
Cambodia can import every Thai product from other countries. Let me cite as an example the statistics on Thai-Cambodian trade in 2008. Thailand's export to Cambodia was worth about US$2 billion while Cambodia's export to Thailand was only US$90 million.
Still, I agree with the Thai PM's statement that [foreign relations] measures to be issued won't affect people in the two countries because I myself do not wish to do so [shut the border] either. It is not in line with the idea of cooperation under the Asean framework.
Although I do not want to have to resort to such a measure, the Thai leader is threatening me so much. Therefore, I am giving an order to all relevant Cambodian officials to be prepared for it [closing the border and banning Thai products].
On the appointment of Thai adviser
On the issue of the appointment of former Thai PM as adviser, I would like to declare, loud and clear, to the Thai people so they realise that as far as this problem is concerned, it is PM Abhisit who has meddled with Cambodia.
Think about it carefully and determine who is at fault here, Hun Sen or Abhisit? There is no way I will retreat.
Cambodia has appointed many foreigners as advisers, both Korean and Australian nationals. What does the Thai PM have to fear if Thaksin resides in Cambodia?
Thaksin has been around the world and he [Abhisit] has done nothing about it. He has just been to Sri Lanka and nothing was done about that. Only after Thaksin said he would come to Cambodia that our country has been targeted.
I already explained this at the meeting in Hua Hin on Oct 23. I have tried to be patient and remain silent. But the Thai PM and Thailand have kept on criticising me.
As for the revocation of the MoU, it is Mr Abhisit who has put the common interest of both countries under harm.
Who is using whom?
Regarding the statement issued by the Thai Foreign Ministry on Nov 5, in which Mr Abhisit claimed he could not stay put when Thailand was humiliated, I will tell you what do the Thai people really think.
The Red Shirts support the appointment [of Thaksin as adviser]. The Yellow Shirts are angry and have expressed their opposition and protest. There is also another group which is indifferent and stays silent. These people know that the Hun Sen government is a good one, that we made them feel comfortable _ with money to spend _ when Thaksin was prime minister. The harder PM Abhisit pushes us, the stronger the reaction will be.
PM Abhisit warned me not to become a pawn in Thaksin's game. We are nobody's tool. I also wonder who is being used by whom. Abhisit let himself be used by Thaksin. When Thaksin made an opening, Abhisit jumped out and retaliated without thinking, without considering the national interest.
[He] said from Tokyo about the MoU cancellation. Thai people should consider the issue for themselves: the assets belong to the state but it is the personal matter that caused the cooperation to stop. Can Thai people accept that? Can someone like this serve as the Asean leader?
In 2012, Asean will cooperate in many areas. Member states will open the borders so that people can travel freely. We will adopt the same currency.
But Thailand is evidently attacking Cambodia. It sent troops to occupy Cambodian land.
Where was Thailand during the Angkor era? They claimed that Cambodia trespassed into Thai territory, but how could we? Study your history and see who the aggressor is.
Red Shirts' Permission
Thaksin is not our tool. I want to employ Thakin's experience, to ask him for help on Cambodia's economic affairs. I would like to take this opportunity to ask for permission from the Red Shirt brothers and Puea Thai Party to allow me to bring Than Thaksin to Cambodia to help with our economy.
Asean's deliberation, once and for all
Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan issued a statement urging for a solution to the problem. I agree with him. But it seems the Asean Sec Gen's proposal is not in line with the Thai government's stance.
The truth is, Cambodia is always ready for a dialogue, whether it is a bilateral or multilateral one. But the Thai government rejected it.
Than Surin has to understand, though, that Asean should consider these problems comprehensively and solve them all in one go. These include the Thaksin problem, the Sept 19 coup, the intrusion into Cambodia's territory, the appointment of Thaksin as Cambodia's adviser. Cambodia is prepared to engage either at a bilateral or multilateral level.
I actually wanted to raise this issue at the Hua Hin summit but I restrained the urge. Think of it as my consideration towards Thailand and Mr Abhisit.
To solve this issue, we must tackle it from the origin. Since this has to do with Thaksin, we have to start at the Sept 19, 2006 coup.
If Abhisit is so sure of himself, then he should call an election. What are you afraid of? Is it that you are afraid you will no longer be the PM? Are you afraid that Puea Thai party will win the election?
I am Prime Minister of Cambodia who has received two-thirds of the vote in the Cambodian parliament. How many does Than Abhisit have? You've stolen somebody else's chair to seat yourself in. You claim other people's property as your own. How can we respect that?
Thai military and intelligence
Abhisit is so buried in problems himself he may not survive. He has problems with all the neighbouring countries _ Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Burma. He also has problems in the South of Thailand, problems about the Yellow Shirts, Red Shirts, Blue Shirts, White Shirts, and Puea Thai. The Yellow Shirts aren't in harmony themselves. What does Thailand have that Cambodia has to respect?
Thaksin's appointment has nothing to do with Thailand. I told Abhisit when I met him that Thaksin is my friend. Friends do not betray friends. Friends cannot feed friends to the tiger.
So, if you want to tear up anything, do so. If you want to shut down anything, do so. It's probably not convenient to keep things open anyway.
We will probably have to withdraw the 911 [special force] unit within this week. A small force should be enough.
As for the rumour that Thaksin has been in Cambodia many times, I deny it. It is evident that your intelligence is flawed. It reflects the weakness in your information gathering ability.
Respect for international law
Referring to the accusation that Cambodia does not respect the Thai court, I don't see any value in the Thai justice system worthy of respect.
In the past, Khieu Samphan or Noun Chea [of the Khmer Rouge] were allowed to live [given refuge] in Thailand before they were arrested upon entering Cambodia. Thailand had signed a pact not to support the Khmer Rouge.
Thailand did more than violate international law. It had signed a peace pact. And it violated many things. Thai people should consider this. If Thailand does not respect international law, how can you expect us to respect Thai law?
The above has been translated from a summary published Nov 11, 2009 in Matichon.
Thailand's now former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, accompanied by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, greets a Thai embassy official upon arrival at Phnom Penh International airport in 2006
Chor Sokunthea / Reuters
(PHNOM PENH, Cambodia) — Cambodia has turned down a request from Thailand to arrest former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who last year was sentenced in absentia by a Thai court to two years imprisonment for violating a conflict of interest law.
A statement from Cambodia's Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said the request to detain Thaksin for extradition would not be honored because the legal case against him was politically motivated, and therefore not covered by the countries' extradition treaty.
Thaksin lives in self-imposed exile. He is visiting Cambodia to give a lecture after his appointment last week as an adviser on economic affairs to the Phnom Penh government. His appointment has strained relations between Cambodia and Thailand.
King Father wants PM to look into VN border
KING Father Norodom Sihanouk has written letters urging Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior officials to examine opposition party allegations that Vietnamese authorities are encroaching on Cambodian soil.
The letters follow Cambodian and Vietnamese officials’ criticism of opposition leader Sam Rainsy for uprooting six markers along the countries’ loosely defined border in October.
Sihanouk’s letters urged officials to “consider” Sam Rainsy’s allegations. On Saturday, the opposition leader wrote a letter to the King Father, saying that villagers along the border in Svay Rieng province’s Chantrea district were losing valuable farmland to Vietnam.
Var Kimhong, the government’s senior minister in charge of border affairs, declined comment, noting only that Sam Rainsy’s letter mentions that villagers uprooted border posts – omitting his own involvement.
THAI EXTRADITION ATTEMPT
Bangkok regrets Cambodia's refusal : Abhisit
Thaksin should have realised that he had caused problems between Thailand and Cambodia.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wednesday he regretted Cambodian government did not adhere to the international laws by rejecting Thai request to send ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra back to serve two-year jail term.
Thai Foreign Ministry will however re-submitted the extradition request to Cambodia soon.
Abhisit was speaking after Thai officials of Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh submitted extradition papers to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday only to be handed back the documents.
"Thai government will review more mutual cooperations following the incident. We will restrict more on border crossing to prevent people from crossing to gamble in casinos on the Khmer soil," he said.
However he said he wanted to insist that there would be neither closure of the border nor use of force.
Thaksin should have realised that he had caused problems between Thailand and Cambodia, Abhisit said.
Commenting on reports that Hun Sen refused to extradite Thaksin because he did not trust Thai justice system, Abhisit said Hun Sen may be misinformed.
Abhisit also reiterated that the problem could be solved on a bilateral basis and it would be escalated to Asean forum.
In Brief: Jackie Chan to talk peace in Cambodia
Hong Kong-based actor, action choreographer, filmmaker, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur and singer Jackie Chan will visit Phnom Penh tomorrow to deliver a keynote address in the Peace Foundation’s “Bridges” event series. Chan’s talk, titled “Arts and culture as a pathway towards peace”, is scheduled to be held at 2pm Wednesday, at the University of Cambodia. For information and free seat reservations phone 023 993 275 or email info@uc.edu.kh .
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