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| Southeast Asia |
| Toxin: wanted for terrorism |
| 2010-05-26 |
| [Straits Times] A Thai court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges, which carry a maximum penalty of death, in connection with recent violent protests. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government has accused Thaksin of inciting unrest and bankrolling the mass rallies by the opposition 'Red Shirts', many of whom seek the return of the former telecoms tycoon. 'A court found there was enough evidence so it issued an arrest warrant,' Naras Savestanan, deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), told reporters after the closed-door hearing at the Criminal Court. 'Now it's the attorney general's job to enforce the warrant,' he said. The tycoon-turned-premier was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile, mainly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for corruption. If found guilty, Thaksin could in theory face the death penalty, but the warrant appears aimed at boosting attempts to extradite Thaksin, who has found sanctuary in several countries. The government has exerted pressure on countries he has visited and moved to freeze his finances. Abhisit said the court ruling and the severity of the charge would help the government's efforts to have Thaksin extradited. 'It will make our work with foreign countries easier,' he told reporters. 'We still have to monitor his movements and seek cooperation in line with existing agreements. As of now many countries are banning him, but not all.' The DSI, tasked with investigating violence surrounding the anti-government demonstrations by the Red Shirts, said on Monday it had submitted evidence 'which show Thaksin's coordinating role' in the unrest. Thaksin last week denied he was the 'mastermind of the terrorists'. |
| Posted by:Fred |