elef Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Bangkok Post 19-08-2008 Link Protesters seek Thaksin extradition BangkokPost.com Thousands of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters gathered outside the British embassy on Tuesday to demand that the British government extradite ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand to face criminal charges. About 7,000 anti-government protesters demonstrated peacefully in front of the embassy and shouted "Thaksin, go to jail." The protesters were led by PAD core-leader Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang. The move came after Mr Thaksin and his wife Potjaman skipped bail and failed to report for a hearing on the Ratchadaphisek land case last week by fleeing to Britian. Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered at CentralWorld shopping centre in Pathumwan since 9am before heading to the embassy on the corner of Withayu and Ploenchit roads at 10am. Security at the embassy were stepped up while iron barricades were placed around the area, especially at its entrances. About 500 police officers were expected to patrol the rally. ------------------ IMO this will have the opposite effect, PAD provoked the military to the coup d'etat and it shows that Thaksin will not get a fair trial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Bangkok Post 21-08-2008 Link Asylum bid By Aekarach Sattaburuth Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife are seeking political asylum in Britain, just 10 days after fleeing to London from Beijing. Mr Thaksin also has called for unity within the People Power party, urging PPP members to stand behind their leader, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. His lawyer Watchara Sangpratum yesterday confirmed Mr Thaksin and his wife Khunying Potjaman were applying for asylum and that the couple will not show up at the Supreme Court tomorrow to defend themselves in the Ratchadaphisek land case. The last defence witness is scheduled to testify tomorrow, and Khunying Potjaman is due to appear in her defence. On Tuesday, thousands of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied outside the British embassy, demanding London deny the pair political asylum and extradite them to face criminal charges in Thailand. The Shinawatra family was photographed shopping in Guildford, Surrey on Aug 12 after the pair jumped bail in the Ratchada case. They flew to London from Beijing after attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, instead of returning to Bangkok as required by their bail conditions. Mr Thaksin is accused of abusing his authority as prime minister to aid his wife's purchase of 33 rai of prime land in the Ratchadaphisek area from the Financial Institutions Development Fund with a bid of 772 million baht, far lower than the market price of about two billion baht. A deciding factor for the asylum seekers is thought to have been the three-year jail term the Criminal Court handed down to Khunying Potjaman on July 31 for tax evasion in another case. Mr Watchara said Mr Thaksin had assigned a legal team to file libel and document forgery charges against five PAD leaders, for posting arrest warrants for him and his wife at various locations. Mr Thaksin might also sue the Royal Thai Police Office for overstepping its authority, he said. The publicity surrounding the arrest warrants sparked a rift in the PPP, with 200 party MPs and candidates on Monday sending Mr Samak an open letter criticising him for failing to stop police distributing wanted notices for Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman to police stations around the country. A source close to Mr Thaksin said the prime minister had called him by phone and explained that the police were just doing their job. Mr Thaksin himself called key faction members in a bid to put the issue to rest, several key members confirmed yesterday. Nisit Sinthupai, a PPP executive member and MP for Roi Et, confirmed Mr Thaksin called for unity within the party. He said Mr Thaksin urged party members to support Mr Samak, saying the prime minister had done his best. News of Mr Thaksin's call was passed to him by Newin Chidchob before they attended the party meeting on Tuesday, Mr Nisit said. The leader of PPP's Isan Pattana faction, Nakhon Phanom MP Paichit Sriworakhan, said Mr Thaksin phoned every faction. "He wanted calm, so that the government can continue to administer the country," he said. Northern PPP MPs said Mr Thaksin called during their discussion on Monday. They quoted Mr Thaksin as saying he had passed through many troubles, but the warrants caught him by surprise. A group of northern MPs is planning to visit him in London in September after the 2009 budget is passed. Mr Newin will fly to London to meet Mr Thaksin in the next few days to clear misunderstandings over the "gang of four", a close aide to Mr Newin said. The gang's existence was alleged by MPs of the Isan Pattana faction, who said top people in the party were trying to cash in on state projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 PAD is demanding the govmt cancel Mr T's and Pokemon's passports. In response, Mr T is trying to sue PAD for calling him bad names or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Nisit Sinthupai, a PPP executive member and MP for Roi Et, confirmed Mr Thaksin called for unity within the party. He said Mr Thaksin urged party members to support Mr Samak, saying the prime minister had done his best. "done his best" That was quick... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 I've been hearing that there are fairly large crowds (est of 10k) protesting outside of the UK Embassy the past few days, and anyone going in-out of the Embassy being harassed. Supposedly enough folks to force the coppers to close Wittayu. According to a British lawyer friend, he thinks that the possibility of extradition is next to nil as the crimes are not serious enough (i.e., tort/civil vs criminal) to warrant action on the part of the UK. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 The Nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 The Nation 21-08-2008 Link No plan to revoke Thaksin's passport or seek his extradition By The Nation Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that he has no plans to revoke passports of fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra or to ask Britain to extradite him. Thaksin jumped bails on a trial which he was accused of abusing his power to help his wife; Pojaman, to purchase a plot of land. The couple and fled to England last week. About 2,000 protesters rallied outside the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, demanding that it cancel his passport and work to extradite him from Britain, where the multimillionaire owns several properties and the Manchester City football club. Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said on Thursday that Samak will have a final say whether to revoke Thaksin's passports or not. Responding on questions whether he will revoke Thaksin's passport or seek his extradition, Samak said on Friday, "I have no policy to revoke his passport or doing anything on that. Thaksin's ouster by the military followed months of huge street protests which accused him of massive corruption and trying to subvert the country's fledgling democracy. -------- Easier with big boss in London???.... :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 -------- Easier with big boss in London???.... :evil: That's an interesting question. In case Mr. T. tries to conspire against Samak and/or his cronies he can take is passport away and ask for his extradiction... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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