Monday, November 16, 2009

Gov't ready to arrest Thaksin, if he flies over Thailand's airspace: Deputy PM

16/11/2009

BANGKOK, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is ready to arrest fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, if he flies over the country's airspace, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has warned Monday.

The Thai government already informed airline companies concerning Thailand's readiness to immediately arrest Thaksin, Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.

Thaksin left Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh on his private jet on Saturday after spending several days in the country.

Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov. 4

A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

And, on Nov. 12 the Cambodian Foreign Ministry ordered Mr. Kamrob Palawatwichai, the first secretary of the Thai Embassy in Cambodia, to leave Cambodia within 48 hours.

After learning the Cambodian order, Bangkok responded by expelling a first secretary at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok ordering him to leave Thailand within 48 hours.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.

He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.

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