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Supreme Court issues arrest warrant against Thaksin

Thaksin Shinawatra

SINGAPORE: The People’s Alliance for Democracy in Thailand pledged on Monday to continue mobilising people against Prime Minister Samak Sunderavej and his alleged patron and former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, now in exile in Britain.

This was indicated by an Alliance leader Chamlong Srimuang after a state-run TV channel in Bangkok reported Mr. Thaksin’s statement from London that he would stay in exile in Britain. Mr. Chamlong said the opposition forum of activists would carry forward its protest, even if Mr. Thaksin were to finally seek political asylum in Britain. Mr. Thaksin’s latest move was announced shortly after the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders issued arrest warrants for him and his wife when they failed to turn up for trial at the appointed hour.

They were to appear in court in a case relating to alleged corrupt practice in the purchase of land when Mr. Thaksin was Prime Minister before being overthrown in a military coup in September 2006.

Mr. Thaksin, who was at the U.N. at the time of the coup, stayed in self-imposed exile until he chose to return to Thailand after Mr. Samak assumed office in the wake of a coup-ending general election. The latest warrants were based on a finding that Mr. Thaksin and his wife had failed to abide by the conditions on which they were allowed to leave Thailand during the pendency of the case. By nightfall on Monday, the Thai authorities were exploring the possibility of seeking Mr. Thaksin’s extradition, after the state-run TV channel reported he was seeking asylum in Britain following Monday’s developments in Bangkok.

Hasan Suroor reports from London:

Mr. Thaksin has decided to defy the arrest warrant issued against him by Thailand’s Supreme Court and not return home, sparking speculation he might seek political asylum here.

In a statement here, Mr. Thaksin, who has been living mostly in the U.K. since he was ousted in a military coup in 2006, alleged he had decided not to return as his “political enemies in Thailand” were out to get him.

“What happened to me and my family and my close relations resulted from efforts to get rid of me from politics. These are my political enemies. They don’t care about the rule of law, facts or internationally recognised due process,” he said.

Mr. Thaksin, who is facing corruption charges and was due to appear in court on Monday, apologised to the people of Thailand for his decision not to return, saying: “If I am fortunate enough, I will return and die on Thai soil, just like other Thais.”

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