PM Abhisit Challenges Thaksin

[webfact]

PM challenges Thaksin

By THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the government was unfazed by signs of resistance from Montenegro over ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's arrest warrant and challenged his fugitive rival to relinquish Thai citizenship if he planned to use his Montenegrin passport as a legal weapon.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic had said his government would not deport Thaksin, who has been accused of terrorism in Thailand, or place him under investigation unless there was an international arrest warrant for him, a foreign press report said yesterday.

Although Abhisit said Bangkok was coordinating with Interpol on the matter, Djukanovic was quoted as saying Interpol had not issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin, who has been granted Montenegrin citizenship.

Djukanovic said Thaksin had been an elected Thai premier whose government was brought down by a military coup.

Abhisit admitted the Montenegrin passport could make it "harder" to get Thaksin and vowed to step up diplomatic efforts to bring him back.

"Maybe one question he needs to answer is whether he wants to relinquish his Thai citizenship now that he has decided to take Montenegrin citizenship," he said.

But even if Thaksin decided to do away with his Thai citizenship, the terrorism charges against him would not go away, the prime minister insisted.

"We will keep on trying, although it will not be easy because he keeps moving all the time," he said.

The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for Thaksin on a terrorism charge, which carries the death penalty as the maximum punishment for his alleged role in orchestrating anti-government protests.

At least 80 people have been reported killed and nearly 1,800 injured since the red-shirt protesters descended on Bangkok in mid-March, with violence culminating in rioters going on an arson spree in the city on May 19.

The Abhisit government will send Vice Foreign Minister Panit Wikitset to Montenegro next month to try to reach an understanding with the country's new government about the Thaksin situation. Montenegro's present regime is certain to return to power following a recent election.

Due to pressure, countries harbouring Thaksin either temporarily or on a longer-term basis have made sure he does not attack the government from their soil.

Montenegro's constitution stipulates Montenegrins shall not be extradited to face charges in a foreign land. This could lead to legal complications, and the Montenegrin government is expected to demand concrete evidence before both countries can even start talking about extradition.

Despite his tough talk, Djukanovic did not completely slam the door shut on extradition. He earlier mentioned one of the reasons his government had granted Thaksin a passport was that the ex-premier was serious about planned investment in mega-tourism projects in Montenegro.

Now, however, Djukanovic said his government had a mechanism to change the decision on extradition if it were deemed necessary.

PM's secretary Chavanon Indharakomansut said he had received reports indicating Thaksin had left France and would wait and see whether Montenegro would accept the Kingdom's request for extradition.

However, he acknowledged it would be difficult to get Thaksin deported to face terrorism charges even though the Foreign Ministry has followed correct legal procedures and provided sufficient evidence.

The government has failed to secure Thaksin's extradition since the Supreme Court in October 2008 sentenced him to two years in jail for abusing power to facilitate a deal for his then-wife, Pojaman na Pombejra, to buy a Bangkok plot worth Bt772 million from the state.

Chavanon dismissed as impossible Thaksin's threat to take the government to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, because Thailand was not a member of the organisation.

Abhisit yesterday also laughed off Thaksin's claims he did not want to return to Thailand because he feared he would be assassinated.

"This government does everything in accordance with the law. Only the other side has been instigating violations of the law in this country," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-05-29

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[SomTumTiger]

Thaksin is afraid of jail - he's a coward, and all cowards are weak in the face of real adversity. Look at the Red leaders (With the exception of Nattawut and Jatuporn - the only 2 who didn't run away)

[richard10365]

There are more people living in the city of Chiang Mai than the entire country of Montenegro. So sad they can't go in there and get the Thai terrorist there.

[luangtom]

It is a fact that once Khun Thaksin's funds run out that he will be a man without a country. Even Montenegro will not want him. I suspect that if he does not invest there his welcome will be withdrawn and he will flee to another even smaller enclave. Should all of the funds seized by the government with the latest court rulings be funneled away so that he cannot attain them through whatever means, his presence will be a liability to whoever is harboring him. Just keep the pressure on him financially and he will soon have nowhere to roost. Starve him out via his loss of money.

I would also suggest that those monies seized be used to rebuild and refurbish all that Khun Thaksin has helped destroy. Rebuild the government buildings burnt out in the NE and Chiang Mai. Supply funding to those businesses in Bangkok that the supporters of the exiled PM destroyed. Pay back the country he helped set afire with the funds he and his family acquired through ill means. Karma...........

Edited May 29, 2010 by luangtom

[lazurus]

clearly demonstrate our political determination and capability to meet all the commitments

arising from our membership of INTERPOL and to give our contribution to the fight

against transnational crime, terrorism and other security challenges and threats

Address by Mr Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro

26 May 2010, Budva, Montenegro

The Prime Minister on one hand promises to fight terrorism and on the other refuses to turn over Thaksin. Looks like double standards are the norm in Montenegro. I wonder how much it costs to bribe the PM there? Was it higher than Thaksin's usual rate?

[SomTumTiger]

It is a fact that once Khun Thaksin's funds run out that he will be a man without a country. Even Montenegro will not want him. I suspect that if he does not invest there his welcome will be withdrawn and he will flee to another even smaller enclave. Should all of the funds seized by the government with the latest court rulings be funneled away so that he cannot attain them through whatever means, his presence will be a liability to whoever is harboring him. Just keep the pressure on him financially and he will soon have nowhere to roost. Starve him out via his loss of money.

I would also suggest that those monies seized be used to rebuild and refurbish all that Khun Thaksin has helped destroy. Rebuild the government buildings burnt out in the NE and Chiang Mai. Supply funding to those businesses in Bangkok that the supporters of the exiled PM destroyed. Pay back the country he helped set afire with the funds he and his family acquired through ill means. Karma...........

Yes, but...he has millions or billions in offshore hide-a-ways - he ain't gonna run out in his lifetime.

[mazeltov]

Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

LYON, France — Cross-border police agency Interpol said Friday it had received no request to track fugitive Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and that it would not arrest him on purely "political" grounds.

Thailand said Thursday it would request Interpol's co-operation after it issued an arrest warrant on terrorism charges for Thaksin, whom it accuses of funding protests that led to deadly clashes in Bangkok in recent months.

Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France, quoted its Secretary General Ronald Noble as saying he had "no knowledge" yet of an official demand from Bangkok for help in the case.

If such a demand were made it would be subject to Interpol's "normal procedure" and referred to the agency's judicial advisers.

A spokesman for Interpol, which helps coordinate investigations between its 188 member countries, told AFP that its statutes forbid it to ask its member states to carry out arrests of a "political nature".

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and later went into exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He has been living mainly in Dubai, with visits to other countries including Montenegro, France and Britain.

The Thai government accuses him of inciting unrest and bankrolling rallies by "Red Shirt" opposition protesters which have sparked deadly outbreaks of violence.

Thai deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that a request for Interpol's help would be sent "so any country that knows of his whereabouts can notify Thailand, so Thailand can begin the extradition procedure".

Thaksin said in a radio interview Wednesday that Interpol would recognise the accusations were "politically motivated".

-- ©Copyright AFP May 28, 2010

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...AKqRrHYBQ8Aw6wg

[SomTumTiger]

Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

LYON, France — Cross-border police agency Interpol said Friday it had received no request to track fugitive Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and that it would not arrest him on purely "political" grounds.

Thailand said Thursday it would request Interpol's co-operation after it issued an arrest warrant on terrorism charges for Thaksin, whom it accuses of funding protests that led to deadly clashes in Bangkok in recent months.

Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France, quoted its Secretary General Ronald Noble as saying he had "no knowledge" yet of an official demand from Bangkok for help in the case.

If such a demand were made it would be subject to Interpol's "normal procedure" and referred to the agency's judicial advisers.

A spokesman for Interpol, which helps coordinate investigations between its 188 member countries, told AFP that its statutes forbid it to ask its member states to carry out arrests of a "political nature".

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and later went into exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He has been living mainly in Dubai, with visits to other countries including Montenegro, France and Britain.

The Thai government accuses him of inciting unrest and bankrolling rallies by "Red Shirt" opposition protesters which have sparked deadly outbreaks of violence.

Thai deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that a request for Interpol's help would be sent "so any country that knows of his whereabouts can notify Thailand, so Thailand can begin the extradition procedure".

Thaksin said in a radio interview Wednesday that Interpol would recognise the accusations were "politically motivated".

-- ©Copyright AFP May 28, 2010

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...AKqRrHYBQ8Aw6wg

Apparently they aren't aware of "Thai Time". It'll get there eventually!

[ozzieman05]

Djukanovic said Thaksin had been an elected Thai premier whose government was brought down by a military coup.

Correct me if I am wrong

At the time of the Coup there was no legal government in power

Thaskin was caretaker PM and did not call an election as per the constitution

The coup was to stop a bloody massacre that was about to unfold on the streets of Bangkok

It was not to bring down a government

as at this time there was no constitutional government in power

Please correct me if I am wrong

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Djukanovic said Thaksin had been an elected Thai premier whose government was brought down by a military coup.

Correct me if I am wrong

You're wrong. The ability among some to white-wash what happened is stunning, but the rest of the world really isn't in doubt what to call it when tanks roll down the streets, the constitution is shredded and a military junta takes over.

Wake up.

At the time of the Coup there was no legal government in power

Thaskin was caretaker PM and

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

LYON, France — Cross-border police agency Interpol said Friday it had received no request to track fugitive Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and that it would not arrest him on purely "political" grounds.

Thailand said Thursday it would request Interpol's co-operation after it issued an arrest warrant on terrorism charges for Thaksin, whom it accuses of funding protests that led to deadly clashes in Bangkok in recent months.

Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France, quoted its Secretary General Ronald Noble as saying he had "no knowledge" yet of an official demand from Bangkok for help in the case.

If such a demand were made it would be subject to Interpol's "normal procedure" and referred to the agency's judicial advisers.

A spokesman for Interpol, which helps coordinate investigations between its 188 member countries, told AFP that its statutes forbid it to ask its member states to carry out arrests of a "political nature".

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and later went into exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He has been living mainly in Dubai, with visits to other countries including Montenegro, France and Britain.

The Thai government accuses him of inciting unrest and bankrolling rallies by "Red Shirt" opposition protesters which have sparked deadly outbreaks of violence.

Thai deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that a request for Interpol's help would be sent "so any country that knows of his whereabouts can notify Thailand, so Thailand can begin the extradition procedure".

Thaksin said in a radio interview Wednesday that Interpol would recognise the accusations were "politically motivated".

-- ©Copyright AFP May 28, 2010

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

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Excellent.. More loss of face to the Thai government. When will these clowns be put out of their misery I wonder?

[kaengk]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

[hammered]

The classic comment in all this is:

Despite his tough talk, Djukanovic did not completely slam the door shut on extradition. He earlier mentioned one of the reasons his government had granted Thaksin a passport was that the ex-premier was serious about planned investment in mega-tourism projects in Montenegro.

Leverage

[Ulysses G.]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase.

Who would you have replace him? He is about the best we can hope for.

Edited May 29, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[simon43]

Chavanon dismissed as impossible Thaksin's threat to take the government to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, because Thailand was not a member of the organisation

Handy eh?

Simon

[Phuket Stan]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Who do u think should be Prime Minister ??

[hammered]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase.

Who would you have replace him? He is about the best we can hope for.

That is indeed a problem. Who after Abhisit? Who are the new generation leaders? Even including the banned the field is bare of anyone who comes even to Abhisit's flawed standard and only a complete masochistic idiot woudl want a return to the likes of Chavalit and Banharn

[WinnieTheKhwai]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Who do u think should be Prime Minister ??

Nattakorn Devakula. Will take a couple more years though.

Still, you heard it here first.

[rixalex]

Yes, but...he has millions or billions in offshore hide-a-ways - he ain't gonna run out in his lifetime.

Richer men have managed to lose their fortune.

[Phuket Stan]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Who do u think should be Prime Minister ??

Nattakorn Devakula. Will take a couple more years though.

Still, you heard it here first.

That figures....he has the same mentality as your avatar....stil he would be better than Chalerm or Chavalit

[otherstuff1957]

I'm pretty sure that the "Interpol arrest warrant" is just a bit of PR on the part of the govt. to counter Thakin/Amsterdam's PR effort. They want Thaksin to be uncomfortable, harassed and too busy to get up to more mischief.

They don't really want him in a prison in Thailand. I'm sure that Abhiset can picture the instant Red siege that Thaksin's prison in Thailand would be under!

[otherstuff1957]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Who do u think should be Prime Minister ??

Nattakorn Devakula. Will take a couple more years though.

Still, you heard it here first.

^ Agreed, in 10 years or less, he could be a serious contender to be PM. Is he going to be a candidate in the upcoming elections?

Of course, he is going to have to get over his habit of opening his mouth and inserting his foot!

[hammered]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Who do u think should be Prime Minister ??

Nattakorn Devakula. Will take a couple more years though.

Still, you heard it here first.

The boring arrogant hi-so elite vacuuous one with issues?

Nah last time I took the younger ones of the wifes poor family out they fell over laughing when he came on the telly as his reputation for arrogantly loving himself and getting annoyed when anyone doesnt fawn enough is far too well known unless of course someone with power uses him as a puppet. But he certainly couldnt do it on his own.

Edited to add: anyway he works for the Shin family right now on one of their propaganda channels (voice TV?). Guess that could help with him being a puppet but is another nail if indeed another one were needed for any independent thinker

Edited May 29, 2010 by hammered

[rixalex]

Nattakorn Devakula. Will take a couple more years though.

Still, you heard it here first.

Had my fill of this self-important, smarmy, Thaksin-puppet fool all those years back on Newsline. If he is the future of Thailand, gawd help us all.

[rixalex]

^ Agreed, in 10 years or less, he could be a serious contender to be PM. Is he going to be a candidate in the upcoming elections?

Of course, he is going to have to get over his habit of opening his mouth and inserting his foot!

As i recall, he ran in elections for Bangkok Governor. Anyone know how many votes he won?

[KireB]

If Abhisit would just return to his country of birth and stay there, Thailand could go forward with its long, long reconciliation phase. With the waters polluted with the hi-so hate-speech of Abhisit, Kasit and others, nothing good can happen.

Hi-so hate speech? Enlighten us?

Imagine Thailand with Chalerm as PM! The opposition better run for the hills.

[chantorn]

Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

LYON, France — Cross-border police agency Interpol said Friday it had received no request to track fugitive Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and that it would not arrest him on purely "political" grounds.

Thailand said Thursday it would request Interpol's co-operation after it issued an arrest warrant on terrorism charges for Thaksin, whom it accuses of funding protests that led to deadly clashes in Bangkok in recent months.

Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France, quoted its Secretary General Ronald Noble as saying he had "no knowledge" yet of an official demand from Bangkok for help in the case.

If such a demand were made it would be subject to Interpol's "normal procedure" and referred to the agency's judicial advisers.

A spokesman for Interpol, which helps coordinate investigations between its 188 member countries, told AFP that its statutes forbid it to ask its member states to carry out arrests of a "political nature".

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and later went into exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He has been living mainly in Dubai, with visits to other countries including Montenegro, France and Britain.

The Thai government accuses him of inciting unrest and bankrolling rallies by "Red Shirt" opposition protesters which have sparked deadly outbreaks of violence.

Thai deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that a request for Interpol's help would be sent "so any country that knows of his whereabouts can notify Thailand, so Thailand can begin the extradition procedure".

Thaksin said in a radio interview Wednesday that Interpol would recognise the accusations were "politically motivated".

-- ©Copyright AFP May 28, 2010

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Excellent.. More loss of face to the Thai government. When will these clowns be put out of their misery I wonder?

He said she said.

Thailand say one thing, interpol say the other.

Who to be trusted?

Thailand government, NBT & CRES 100%.

[Bottlerocket]

Thaksin is missing one thing in his life and that's a major whoopin' of his hide. He thinks he's bad and that he can engage in all of these shenanigans without any consequence because he's never had his hind end blistered and bruised. When they arrest him, and they will eventually, I hope he tries to resist so that the officers can give him something to really cry about. He needs it.

[chantorn]

Thaksin would just ignore Mark's challenge. Full stop.

It is like saying to your friend "If you are so brave, why don't you stipe naked and walk down the main street at noon". If she doesn't dare to do it, you call her a chicken.

[rixalex]

It is like saying to your friend "If you are so brave, why don't you stipe naked and walk down the main street at noon". If she doesn't dare to do it, you call her a chicken.

On the off-chance she rises to the challenge, can we have the when and where details?

Edited May 29, 2010 by rixalex