US Should Talk To Moscow To Discuss The Extradition Of Viktor Bout: Pm Abhisit

[webfact]

US Should talk to Moscow: PM

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Abhisit orders the Foreign Ministry to encourage the US and Russian to discuss the extradition of Viktor Bout

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he had instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to encourage Russia and the US to engage in direct talks over the extradition of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

"Each side has its own desire in this matter and they just keep telling Thailand what they want. We are in the middle. In fact, we have no direct involvement and we have no benefit to gain or lose," the prime minister said.

Abhisit insisted that extradition of the suspect to face charges in the United States would proceed in line with the Thai judicial process.

He said there had been distorted claims about interference in the Thai justice system, which hurt the country's image and adversely affected international relations.

"It is clear that the government does not have any matter to bargain for interference in the justice system,'' he said.

The premier was referring to an allegation by Jatuporn Promphan, an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party, that Abhisit's close aide, Democrat Party MP Sirichoke Sopha, persuaded Bout to say publicly that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was behind an arms-smuggling incident in March, when a cargo plane loaded with weapons was seized at Don Mueang Airport.

Abhisit said it was not the first time that Jatuporn had not spoken the truth.

On Friday, Bout's wife Alla read a note from Bout at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. The message insisted Bout was innocent, and confirmed he met with Sirichoke in prison in April.

Asked to respond to a request from Bout's lawyer not to extradite the Russian because of fears for his safety, Abhisit said yesterday it would depend on a court decision on Washington's request for public prosecutors to withdraw further cases against Bout. "As long as this case exists, we cannot extradite Bout,'' he explained.

Bout's lawyer Lak Nitiwattanacijan said yesterday he would meet with Bout tomorrow for him to sign a letter to the prime minister opposing his extradition and requesting Abhisit ensure strict adherence to the country's laws in dealing with the Russian's case.

On August 20, the Court of Appeals ruled to extradite Bout - who is dubbed the "Merchant of Death" - to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals and officials, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles, and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.

Abhisit yesterday dismissed reports that Sirichoke introduced himself as a prime minister's aide when he talked to Bout. The prime minister said he asked Sirichoke about the allegation and the MP insisted he introduced himself to Bout as an MP.

Abhisit defended Sirichoke, saying the MP spoke Bout not out of self-interest but as part of his MP's duty to find information for national interest.

Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the cloud over the allegation against Sirichoke would be removed once Bout's wife revealed the tape that recorded the conversation between him and Bout. He said Sirichoke should also clarify how the tape was recorded since it would be solid evidence.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet, a former Appeals Court president, said he was 100-per-cent confident there was no interference in the country's justice system, because the extradition verdict was issued two months ago, before it was made public. He said Thailand had to make Russia understand the Thai justice system is not influenced by the US.

Prasopsuk criticised Sirichoke for interfering in the matter, saying he was known as an aide of the PM, so there was the risk it would be seen as politicisation of the case.

Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also criticised Sirichoke, saying he had put the country at risk. The party had received complaints from Thai businessmen in Russia who feared bilateral relations between Russia and Thailand would suffer if the Thai government chose one side or the other.

"No matter the PM is going to extradite Bout to the US or not, the country is deemed to be losing,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-29

[cougar52]

I am confused, aren't you all confused ? The prison offical said there was no tape, Bout's wife said there is no tape, but then we hear from Jatuporn say there is a tape, which is denied by the PM. However, now we hear from the P.M.'s own party saying there is a tape??????????

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the cloud over the allegation against Sirichoke would be removed once Bout's wife revealed the tape that recorded the conversation between him and Bout. He said Sirichoke should also clarify how the tape was recorded since it would be solid evidence.

[c4charlie]

"Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated." Allegedly one of the most prolific arms dealers in the world, who speaks six? languages but can’t understand English? Hmm…

[webfact]

Bout's extradition delayed because US withdraws additional charges: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the extradition of Viktor Bout was delayed because the US government withdrew an additional charge against the suspected arms merchant.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said the court need to first consider the implication of the US decision to withdraw an additional charge against Bout first.

Abhisit insisted that the Thai government has not and will never interfere in the judicial process of the case.

-- The Nation 2010-08-29

[thaikahuna]

Bout's extradition delayed because US withdraws additional charges: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the extradition of Viktor Bout was delayed because the US government withdrew an additional charge against the suspected arms merchant.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said the court need to first consider the implication of the US decision to withdraw an additional charge against Bout first.

Abhisit insisted that the Thai government has not and will never interfere in the judicial process of the case.

-- The Nation 2010-08-29

Seems to me that someone is sleeping with someone else in this case. Just who is sleeping with who is what we don't know for sure.....

[Credo]

If there is no interference in the Judiciary, then no one should be talking to anyone. The court has a request, it should decide based on the facts and then the decision carried out.

Sorry, Thailand, but lots of people and countries get caught in the middle of lots of things. Goes with the territory.

[Cnxforever]

Finally the PM makes some sense! Bout is not Thailand's problem - he has broken no law here and has not been charged with any crime in Thailand. Send him back to Russia and let the The US and Russia sort it out!

[cougar52]

Just who is lying?????? "Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated." Allegedly one of the most prolific arms dealers in the world, who speaks six? languages but can’t understand English? Hmm…

This comes from http://www.viktorbout.com

Victor Bout is a dynamic, charismatic, spontaneous, well-dressed, well-spoken, and highly energetic person who can easily communicate in several languages including Russian, Portuguese, English, French, Arabic, among several others. He is a born salesman with undying love for aviation and eternal drive to succeed.

And another question is why did this Sirichoke person go to the prison, ??did not he or the P.M. not see the conflict of interest of an official of the Government interviewing a prisoner without his legal rep. and in secret????

I think with all said Thailand would be better off with just forgeting about the whole deal with the U.S. After all it seems like entrapment to me from the onset with the help of the Thai's.

Also, if Mr. Bout did not understand English well , how in the hel_l did he agree with the U.S. agents to the U.S. plan.

Edited August 29, 2010 by cougar52

[mca]

Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated.

Politicians. So full of shit they could fertilize a rose farm single handed

Edited August 29, 2010 by mca

[FarangCravings]

Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated.

Politicians. So full of shit they could fertilize a rose farm single handed

Speaks very fluent English maybe the MP could not understand thw word PM's Aide cause Bouts English seems to be as good as Abhisits

[aka_jack]

Why dont russia follow up with counter charges and request extradition ! that would make all this very interesting !

[geriatrickid]

Finally the PM makes some sense! Bout is not Thailand's problem - he has broken no law here and has not been charged with any crime in Thailand. Send him back to Russia and let the The US and Russia sort it out!

You may wish to rethink your position. If any shipments to a country under sanctions transited via Thailand, then Thailand is indeed implicated. More specifically, arms shipped to Sri Lanka have been alleged to have been routed through Thailand, Are you aware that Thailand currently has a major embarrassment on its hand with the Canadian and Australian governments? The recent arrival of a vessel carrying Tamil Tiger killers in Canada was via a vessel that was purchased inThailand and that the Royal Thai navy claims it could not track. However, the Australian navy was tracking the vessel and brought it to the attention of Thai authorities. it was Australia that was supporting the Canadian effort to track the smuggling vessel not the Thais. The passage of the Tamil Tiger murderers demonstrates why Thailand is a regional hub for the shipment of illegal drugs, weapons and humans. Anything can get through. Need another example? Consider the case of the Phuket killer that magically escaped from Phuket and arrived safe and sound at LHR last week.

No, sorry, but I believe Thailand has stepped in Mr. Bout's poop and the stench is causing a lot of people to point at Mr. Abhisit's government.

As an aside, the US government pours tens of millions of $US into the Thai tourist economy with its USN shore leaves, The USN leaves behind schools and clinics. The US Feds have provided much needed support for medical research, vaccination and healthcare programs in Thailand. Some Thai exporters benefit from some trade treatieswith the USA. At this time the Russian government contributes nothing. In the big picture, I think courts should be allowed to do their job and Mr. Abhisit should not be scared of the Russians. What's the worse they will do? Keep the Russian mafiosas and Uzbehki hookers from going to Pattaya? OOOO there's a tragedy.

Edited August 29, 2010 by geriatrickid

[Hakuchi]

   Some Thai exporters benefit from some trade treatieswith the USA.  At this time the Russian government contributes nothing. In the big picture,  I think courts should be  allowed to do their job and Mr. Abhisit should  not be scared of the Russians. What's the worse they will do? Keep the Russian mafiosas and  Uzbehki hookers from going to Pattaya? OOOO there's a tragedy.

What have Uzbehki hookers to do with Russia?

Just keep the American military back home, than no one will target their helicopters, the blowback because US troops leave behind death and destruction.

[Cnxforever]

Finally the PM makes some sense! Bout is not Thailand's problem - he has broken no law here and has not been charged with any crime in Thailand. Send him back to Russia and let the The US and Russia sort it out!

You may wish to rethink your position. If any shipments to a country under sanctions transited via Thailand, then Thailand is indeed implicated. More specifically, arms shipped to Sri Lanka have been alleged to have been routed through Thailand, Are you aware that Thailand currently has a major embarrassment on its hand with the Canadian and Australian governments? The recent arrival of a vessel carrying Tamil Tiger killers in Canada was via a vessel that was purchased inThailand and that the Royal Thai navy claims it could not track. However, the Australian navy was tracking the vessel and brought it to the attention of Thai authorities. it was Australia that was supporting the Canadian effort to track the smuggling vessel not the Thais. The passage of the Tamil Tiger murderers demonstrates why Thailand is a regional hub for the shipment of illegal drugs, weapons and humans. Anything can get through. Need another example? Consider the case of the Phuket killer that magically escaped from Phuket and arrived safe and sound at LHR last week.

No, sorry, but I believe Thailand has stepped in Mr. Bout's poop and the stench is causing a lot of people to point at Mr. Abhisit's government.

As an aside, the US government pours tens of millions of $US into the Thai tourist economy with its USN shore leaves, The USN leaves behind schools and clinics. The US Feds have provided much needed support for medical research, vaccination and healthcare programs in Thailand. Some Thai exporters benefit from some trade treatieswith the USA. At this time the Russian government contributes nothing. In the big picture, I think courts should be allowed to do their job and Mr. Abhisit should not be scared of the Russians. What's the worse they will do? Keep the Russian mafiosas and Uzbehki hookers from going to Pattaya? OOOO there's a tragedy.

What has all this got to do with Thailand and the Bout case? He has not commited a crime in Thailand and by the time he arrived here there was no arrest warrant out for him anywhere. You might wanna do some more research - Victor Bout is not charged with or wanted on any arms trafficking charges - not here and not in the US! The man is being held without charges in a Thai prison since 2 years. The charges where invented by the Americans after the illegal entrapment in a Thai hotel and there is still no mentioning of arms trafficking in the extradition charges because there is not a shred of evidence. Justice must be justice and it can not be bent and twisted until it fits the American political flavor of the day!

The arms shipment through Bangkok was a setup and nothing else - the Thai authorities where tipped off by US "intelligence" but the whole charade has blown up in their face - or do you really think an illegal arms deal / transport would be so stupid and stop to refuel at an American friendly - military run - airport (Don Muang) and give their real destination (Sri Lanka) in their flight plan? The investigation into the shipment leads to New Zealand and then ends in the sand of a tiny pacific island only a government can set up such an operation otherwise the managers of the different shell companies involved would have been arrested and charged by now. But nothing has happened - the incident was conveniently "forgotten" by all involved.

[Scott]

Please stay on topic.

[steppenwolf108]

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but it's well deep in the DNA of the whole Country and in its history.

Instead of stepping up and taking a stand of its own as an independent Country with is own laws, Thailand is acting like the typical bar dancer: wait and see who will win the bid!

Another low, but guess we are not surprised about it!

[Changian]

Seems to me that someone is sleeping with someone else in this case. Just who is sleeping with who is what we don't know for sure.....

The number of known unknowns seems to be decreasing with every new revelation in this never ending soap, which just leaves the unknown unknown factors to focus on.

[yellow1red1]

Why dont russia follow up with counter charges and request extradition ! that would make all this very interesting !

good one ! thanks for the laugh. if i ever own a country do you hire out as strategist?

some of the relevations in this thread will have some posters in the other Bout threads choking on their noodles, but won't stop the spewing,

maybe they get paid?

[yellow1red1]

Finally the PM makes some sense! Bout is not Thailand's problem - he has broken no law here and has not been charged with any crime in Thailand. Send him back to Russia and let the The US and Russia sort it out!

thought I had this one nailed, but now am confused

Bout is alleged to have committed a crime in Thailand right?

He agreed to sell arms to US agents right?

that was not the crime right?

at the meeting he signed off that the weapons would be used against US planes right?

that was the crime right?

did he verbally sign off, in writing, or by body language, like sipping a vodka or something?

does that plane that going to Sri Lanka have anything to do with this?

does Bout speak english or not?

was it astute or stupid for the PM's aide to visit bout?

is there a tape recording or not?

did it not say the delay in sending him was because the US had other charges pending?

does it now say the delay in sending him is because the US dropped the other charges??

Will clearing up this issue put Thailand back on its feet?

this all reminds me of when i was addicted to watching Dallas;

i can't wait for the next nation editorial!

Is Thailand a MESS or what?

like columbo 'one more thing'

please, what was the standards for the Thais to arrest him at the start?

Edited August 29, 2010 by yellow1red1

[asiawatcher]

I wish someone would just put him on a plane? There is enough damning evidence already so get rid of him. US is more beneficial to Thailand than Russia (Pattaya Mafia may disagree) and I can't see any gains to be had either way. But extradition based on 'suspicion' I mean - they either have the evidence of they want to 'milk' him and that appears to be Russia's beef... Just put him on the plane so we don't have to worry about any more 'tapes', 'no tapes', fluency in 'English' and so on.

[chantorn]

"Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the cloud over the allegation against Sirichoke would be removed once Bout's wife revealed the tape that recorded the conversation between him and Bout. He said Sirichoke should also clarify how the tape was recorded since it would be solid evidence."

Oh my god, the tape thing is REAL. There is a TAPE.