Cambodia rejects Thailand’s Thaksin extradition request

BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – Cambodia has rejected Thailand’s request to extradite convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Wimol Kidchob said on Wednesday.

Speaking in a telephone interview to TV Channel 9 news programme, the foreign ministry spokeswoman explained the latest developments in the diplomatic stand-off between Thailand and Cambodia.

Ms Wimol said the ministry has received a copy of the official letter from Cambodia, but declined to disclose its details.

“The ministry’s legal team will thoroughly examine the wording and reasons provided in the document in Cambodia’s denial of our request before considering any further move,” said the foreign ministry spokesperson.

Thai diplomats handed over the extradition papers to officials at Cambodia’s foreign affairs ministry early Wednesday but were then handed back a note from the Cambodian government rejecting the request.

The French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong as saying “Our diplomatic note answering them is nothing beyond rejecting the extradition request.

“Thaksin’s conviction (was) caused by the coup in September 2006, when he was the prime minister of Thailand whom Thai people voted in with an overwhelming majority in accordance with democracy,” the Cambodian foreign minister was quoted as saying.

The convicted ex-Thai premier arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday for a lecture to over 300 Cambodian economists on Thursday as his first assignment after being appointed as economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Panich Vikitsreth said earlier that the ministry has submitted an official letter asking Cambodia to temporarily detain Mr Thaksin and then extradite him to Thailand under the extradition treaty between the two countries.

The vice foreign minister reasserted that Thailand may consider to further downgrade relations between the two neighbouring countries if Cambodia allows the fugitive Thai premier now staying there to speak or give any advice that is deemed to damage Thailand or insult important Thai figures.

Deputy Thai Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban conceded that Cambodia cannot be forced to extradite the ousted premier as requested by the Thai authorities, but further attempts will be made through diplomatic channels to return the former premier to Thailand.

The deputy Thai premier brushed aside Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s remarks challenging Thailand to close the border, repeating Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s statement that the peoples along the borders must be able to lead their lives normally, while national sovereignty must not be violated. (TNA)