Russia Will Understand The Viktor Bout Extradition Case: PM Abhisit

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MERCHANT OF DEATH

Russia will understand : PM

By The Nation

The Foreign Affairs Ministry would provide an explanation of the extradition case involving alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout to help Russia better understand the outcome, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Understanding would be the key to the Thai-Russian ties, the premier said.

Abhisit made the comments in response to a question from reporters on whether the Court of Appeal's decision to extradite Bout to the United States would upset relations with Russia.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal overturned a lower court verdict, which rejected a US request for extradition. Last week's ruling upset Moscow, which summoned Thai ambassador Chalermpol Thanchitt to voice its disappointment.

The Thai government insists the case was dealt with on its merit - based on facts and laws.

Abhisit said his administration had not sought to influence the outcome. "This is not a political issue," he said.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had already explained the case to Russian officials.

"We have already guaranteed that Thailand's judicial process is transparent and free from political interference," he said.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged Abhisit to adopt an appropriate stance on the Bout case to maintain good ties with both the US and Russia.

Pheu Thai had monitored the case for a long time and suspected political pressure had come into play.

-- The Nation 2010-08-23

[golfho]

Whoever writes the bigger aid check to Thailand gets the nod and in this case it looks like the US.

[kuffki]

Yes Russia will understand because Russia has a long history of being an understanding and compassionate country.

I am sure for Russia, in Thailand's opinion only, it is important to keep good relations, yet again Thailand fails to realize that in fact it is nothing on a larger scale and does not offer anything to country who is already in bed with big guys like China.

If anything Thailand will soon see what it means to upset Russia.

As always first speak then think!

[Thai at Heart]

How "WILL" they understand?

Hypnosis?

Right now Russia understands that a Russian citizen sitting in a hotel in Thailand talking to a couple of Americans can land him in jail in the US.

There is a similar story in the UK about something similar right now about batteries for rockets, which the defendant didn't apparently know were to be used for rockets. Apparently talking about something which is completely legal in the country in which you are sitting, can now get you extradited to the US. The opportunity for entrapment is enormous.

So if someone regales me with his time in the Army Rangers over a beer in Thailand, but it is a lie, can I get him arrested for impersonating an member of the US Army? There is no political expediency in this decision??? Absolute BS.

[kissdani]

So if someone regales me with his time in the Army Rangers over a beer in Thailand, but it is a lie, can I get him arrested for impersonating an member of the US Army? There is no political expediency in this decision??? Absolute BS.

The FARC could file a complain that US secret agents impersonating FARC members and planning terrorist activities under that disguise. Maybe a court in Tehran or Rangoon would accept such a claim and demand an arrest and extradition of an US-american suspect who is currently in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Brit caught up in the same kind of thing

Karen Todner, Mr Tappin's solicitor and who has handled several high-profile extradition cases, discounted the testimony of the two convicted men.

"Ninety eight per cent of those accused of offences in America enter into plea agreements and become co-operative witnesses because few people can afford - in terms of time and money - to face a trial.

"The whole system is set up to ensure that people plead guilty," she said.

The act requires the US only to show "reasonable suspicion" that the intended subject committed a crime before they can be removed from Britain, a lower threshold than British authorities, who have to show "probable cause" in order to bring an American to trial.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[hammered]

Brit caught up in the same kind of thing

Karen Todner, Mr Tappin's solicitor and who has handled several high-profile extradition cases, discounted the testimony of the two convicted men.

"Ninety eight per cent of those accused of offences in America enter into plea agreements and become co-operative witnesses because few people can afford - in terms of time and money - to face a trial.

"The whole system is set up to ensure that people plead guilty," she said.

The act requires the US only to show "reasonable suspicion" that the intended subject committed a crime before they can be removed from Britain, a lower threshold than British authorities, who have to show "probable cause" in order to bring an American to trial.

The new British extradtion treaty with the US establishesd the Uk as effectivley a subservient partner or colony of the US in temrs of extradition. The UK negotiatited away its duty to provide protection to its own citizens allowint them to be put into a "justice" system where because of the plea bargaining guilt is more likely to occur whatever the details of the case unless the defendent is incredibly wealthy, well connected or favoured by some news agency. The trial by media is also another aspect that is detrimental to fair trial.

The US isnt alone in having such problems with its legal system

Edited to add: the Russians wont understand and will remember this. US hegemony is diminishing rapidly in this region.

Edited August 23, 2010 by hammered

[Thai at Heart]

Edited to add: the Russians wont understand and will remember this. US hegemony is diminishing rapidly in this region.

I have a feeling you may be right. Whilst I understand it is "nice" to be able to go around the world and round up all the suspected people accused of doing "bad" things, there are legal precedents around the world that should be adhered to.

This is why there are laws about how you do such things, and on this one, expediency has won out over legal right and wrong. Bending the rules to get the "right" result will only end up diminishing the legal standing of the US and in this situation Thailand. A win today in this situation will be remembered long into the future.

[hammered]

Edited to add: the Russians wont understand and will remember this. US hegemony is diminishing rapidly in this region.

I have a feeling you may be right. Whilst I understand it is "nice" to be able to go around the world and round up all the suspected people accused of doing "bad" things, there are legal precedents around the world that should be adhered to.

This is why there are laws about how you do such things, and on this one, expediency has won out over legal right and wrong. Bending the rules to get the "right" result will only end up diminishing the legal standing of the US and in this situation Thailand. A win today in this situation will be remembered long into the future.

Extraditing someone via entrapment is always goping to be questioned and many actual court cases fall because of this. That is the main point of the Bout case. It gets hidden in a lot of other emotive stuff, but at the end of the day it is entrapment

[Robby nz]

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged Abhisit to adopt an appropriate stance on the Bout case to maintain good ties with both the US and Russia.

Was wondering what he consideres "an appropriate stance"?

[Jingthing]

Edited to add: the Russians wont understand and will remember this. US hegemony is diminishing rapidly in this region.

Actually, the more recent reports are showing the EXACT opposite of that. SE Asia is turning to the USA to balance the threat of Chinese domination. No mention of Russia.

[Jingthing]

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged Abhisit to adopt an appropriate stance on the Bout case to maintain good ties with both the US and Russia.

Was wondering what he consideres "an appropriate stance"?

Is that anything like the infamous "wide stance" at airport bathrooms? How wishy washy can you get, appropriate stance. Either you give up the perp or you don't. There is no halfway.

[jdinasia]

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit urged Abhisit to adopt an appropriate stance on the Bout case to maintain good ties with both the US and Russia.

Was wondering what he consideres "an appropriate stance"?

Is that anything like the infamous "wide stance" at airport bathrooms? How wishy washy can you get, appropriate stance. Either you give up the perp or you don't. There is no halfway.

The "appropriate stance" is for the government to give the subject a wide berth and let the courts decide. The appeals court has decided .......

[Jingthing]

You're right JD, sorry for getting carried away with thoughts about wide stances, the flesh is weak.