Cambodia refuses to extradite Thailand's Thaksin

http://timesofearth.com/Worldnews/?NT=0&nid=13539 BANGKOK -- 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, according to the Thailand News agency (TNA)'s report.

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 that: "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 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.

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

Vikitsreth reasserted that Thailand may consider to further downgrade relations between the two neighbouring countries if Cambodia allows the fugitive to stay in Cambodia as an advisor, which 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.

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• Thaksin

[Tomstered]

Well Hunsen did the right thing because Thaksin can help Cambodia Economic , Enimies become Friend

[KhmerSerey1]

If the Redshirt trully wanted Thaksin back in Thailand,now is the time to act,they must rise against the dictator Abhisit government while the Cambodian government are supporting their democratically elected leader Thaksin.Abhisit was selected by a handful of rich elites,he was not not elected by the thai people...

[utubb100]

Thailand at it again , Khmer stop selling your kids , you do that its like you selling yourself, Khmer government not doing enuff , i'm with Thailand on this one.

[endracismguy]

why would they give him up when he is paying them all off

[clintonswhiteboi]

@KhmerSerey1 WRONGWRONGWRONG! WHAT THE FUCK.

[pkving]

hun sem made a smart move. an enemy of your enemy should be your friend. cambodia was in dispute with the government of thailand over preah vihear. thaksin is the arch-ennemy of that government. so why not take him??

[godismy100]

cambodian just try to create peace thai them self try to invaded cambodia

and lie to cambodian so manything

i hope thai will understand gete out from cambodian land, peace will come after that, please creat business better than war, thai please gete out thing that not belong to you

[KhmerSerey1]

Hun Sen doesen't want to see his golfing buddy get kill or imprisoned,that's why he's so kind to Thaksin,he refuse to extradite Thaksin.Once awhile Thaksin hopped over the border fence to play a round of golf with Hun Sen.All politic,no play make Hun Sen and Thaksin all soft and Gay...

[vannath242425]

Thakisn is just using Stupid Hun Sen to piss off Thai PM.

[KhmerSerey1]

If i have to choose between Hun Sen and the Thais,blood is thicker mate.

[missy869]

hun sen are the dumb bitch you baster killing cambodia in pol pot bitch you fake and why you let the fucken thai siam come to cambodia nothing belong to them fuck thai one day i hope you die curse will follow you

[thai32usa]

this khmerserey1 guy is a hypocrite. At one time he was critiszing his Hun Sen and now he is all over his nuts. And why do u want to be intefere into Thai politics. Look into all the corruptions in your own country.