Thai government looking for measures to extradite Thaksin
Thailand has requested the Fijian government to temporarily arrest ousted ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after learning that he is now in Fiji. Thailand has no extradition treaty with Fiji, and application of an extradition request depends on voluntary cooperation.
Thaksin Shinawatra was the first prime minister in Thailand’s history to lead an elected government through a full term in office. But after more than five years in power, he was ousted in a military coup in September 2006, accused of corruption and abuse of power.
He was in Tonga earlier this week and met with HM King George Tupou V and Princess Pilolevu Tuita. The millionaire and his group arrived by private jet at the Fua’amotu International Airport. The Dubai-based former premier was reportedly to have visited the South Pacific nation, seeking asylum in the country. However, Thaksin denied the reports.
In the wake of the department’s report, the Justice Ministry is planning to raise public awareness about the prescribed procedures for a pardon, in order to clear up misunderstandings about the signature campaign that has been fuelling the red shirts.
The government might now be planning government-to-government negotiations to bring back the former prime minister to Thailand since it had not received cooperation from Interpol and other countries