Human Rights Group Challenge Thaksin's Rrght To Run Man City

[Bangkok Barry]

This probably belongs here, rather than the sports forum:

From the BBC

Human Rights Group: Man City's Thaksin Not 'Fit & Proper'

A group of human rights activists has urged the English Premier League to challenge Thaksin Shinawatra's right to takeover Manchester City.

Shinawatra now controls Premiership club Manchester Ciry after completing his takeover of the club nd pumping money into manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's transfer kitty. But Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims that the former Thai prime minister is "a human rights abuser of the worst kind" and should not have passed the League's 'fit and proper person' test.

Although Thaksin, who led his country from 2001 to 2006, denies the accusation, Brad vAdams of HRW told BBC Sport: "Under any definition, I don't see how Thaksin can be fit and proper.

"I've written a letter to the Premier League asking what this test means."

In response, Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadol Pattama, told BBC Sport that the allegations were completely unfounded.

"The civil and human rights charges against him have never been proven," said Noppadol.

"My client deserves to be treated as an innocent man, until proven guilty.

"So far there hasn't been any solid evidence against him."

However, Amnesty International has aligned itself with many of the concerns expressed by HRW. An Amnesty spokesperson told BBC Sport: "Thaksin did preside over some very serious human rights violations.

"If the Premier League wants to take any of that into account when making their decisions, we're happy to make our documents available to them."

The allegations against Thaksin are that,while Thailand's prime minister, he:

- Presided over extrajudicial killings during the notorious "war on drugs". HRW says 2,500 people were killed during one three-month period at the start of 2003.

- Told the Thai military to employ any means to suppress an insurgency in the south of Thailand.

- Suppressed the Thai media.

But Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadol, replied: "As far as I am concerned, he has never instructed any public officer to execute a drug dealer.

"We just tried to solve the drug problem in Thailand by getting tough with criminals. But he has never issued any instructions for shoot-to-kill policies.

"I hope Manchester City fans and British people are fair-minded. They should suspend their judgement before deciding Thaksin is not fit. He is a fit and proper man to run the club."

Under the Premier League's own rules, prospective owners of their clubs must pass a "fit and proper person test" before being allowed to buy a Premier League football club.

And Thaksin passed this test before completing his buy-out of City in June.

Thaksin currently faces charges of conflict of interest and dereliction of duty following a land deal that his wife conducted in 2003.

If he is convicted, the Thai government could request his extradition from Britain, although such a request would probably be seen in the UK as politically motivated, and not be granted.

While Thailand is currently ruled by a military-installed government that overthrew Thaksin in a 2006 coup, but elections are scheduled for December this year in Thailan, and the UK government's attitude could change if a democratically-elected Thai government requested Thaksin's extradition.

But Noppadol insists his client would be acquitted if a democratic government assumed power in Thailand.

"We will be able to prove his innocence after the general election when we are sure our client will get a fair trial," he told BBC Sport.

Edited July 31, 2007 by Bangkok Barry

[aaaaaa]

as saying goes: "Show must go on" (Show is called "Thaksin bashing" hysteria)

[LinkPopularity]

those HRW's and other extreme left lunatics are anarchist, trying to destabilize our societies and should be put in jail !

[Ricardo]

Whereas right-wing proto-dictators are defenders of democratic freedom, it all depends, where you stand.

[jackspratt]

those HRW's and other extreme left lunatics are anarchist, trying to destabilize our societies and should be put in jail !

Or even better, declare a war on them, put them on a blacklist, and then shoot them on sight. Apparently it's OK to do this if the middle-class, silent majority doesn't object.

Putting them in jail implies some sort of time-wasting legal process, including lawful arrest, gathering of evidence, and a trial.