Navy Chief : Thaksin’s phone-in will not affect Govt’s work
The Navy Commander has expressed his belief that the former Prime Minister’s phone-in will not affect the government’s operation and that Thai people will use their discretion when receiving information through the media.
In response to the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s planned phone-in on March 12 from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong, the Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran deemed the information to be included in his speech as merely a personal viewpoint. He concurrently voiced his confidence that all Thai citizens would be capable of exercising their judgment and referring to past experiences while hearing such controversial statement. The Navy Chief also assured that the move would not disrupt the government’s administration by any means.
As for the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest against the Prime Minister and Cabinet members during their provincial visit, Admiral Kamthorn reminded that every individual has the right to express opinion as long as it is in compliance with the law. In addition, he believed that the majority of Thai citizens understand and realize the government’s determination in driving the country forward.
National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Navy Chief : Thaksin’s phone-in will not affect Govt’s work
Defense Minister to visit Chiang Mai, no worries about UDD protest
Defense Minister to visit Chiang Mai, no worries about UDD protest
Defense Minister Gen.Prawit Wongsuwan will be visiting Chiang Mai province today (March 10th) to acknowledge problems of the locals while declining to comment on former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s frequent phone-ins to his supporters.
Prior to his provincial visit in Chiang Mai, Gen.Prawit said that he would observe operations of military personnel there and listen to local people's problems in order to find solutions for them without paying special attention to particular problems. The minister said he was not worried about protests against him by the red-clad United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters.
Gen.Prawit further stated that he might not need to make any special orders if Mr Thaksin would return to Thailand since there are existing legal procedures to deal with the fugitive former prime minister. He also said Mr Thaksin's phone-in is a personal matter.
National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009
Thai-Hong Kong extradition treaty to completed soon
Thai-Hong Kong extradition treaty to completed soon
An extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong is soon to be completed but may not come up in time for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s speech on 12 March.
The Sunday Morning Post, a local newspaper in Hong Kong reported that the extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong was due to be completed soon.
Director-General of the Office of the Attorney-General's International Affairs Department Sirisak Tiyaphan said that the cooperation between Thai and Hong Kong was to bring criminals using loophole of the law to jump off their cases back to their home countries.
The treaty is known as one of the bids to bring the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand. However, the treaty may not be in time with the speech that the ousted Prime Minister will deliver at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong on 12 March.
A legal source said that there have been constant negotiations on the extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong, but the process has been speeded up since last year. It is certain that the treaty will include Mr Thaksin in the list although the treaty in general is not initially made for any specific purposes.
Mr Phongthep Thepkarnchana, the personal Spokesperson of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that Mr Thaksin will not go to give his speech on the stage at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong on 12 March but will deliver it via video-link instead.
Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister and acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that the government would negotiate with countries, where traces of Mr Thaksin were found, to narrow down movements of the ousted Prime Minister.
Mr Panitan said that Mr Thaksin would be forced to go to some small countries and become less powerful until he had to return to Thailand.
Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban asserted on the treaty that he always welcomed Mr Thaksin's return. Mr Suthep also said that Mr Thaksin’s phone-in talk during the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) rallies was acceptable since Thailand is a democratic country.
National News Bureau of Thailand
9 March 2009