วันพุธที่ 11 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2552

Cambodia Rejects Thai Request to Extradite Former Leader

By VOA News
11 November 2009

Cambodia has rejected a request for the extradition of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now visiting the Southeast Asian nation.

On Wednesday, Thai diplomats presented Cambodian officials with a request to detain and extradite Mr. Thaksin. He arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday, where he has been appointed economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia responded with a diplomatic note rejecting the request.

Mr. Thaksin fled Thailand more than a year ago to avoid a two-year jail sentence for corruption.

The Cambodian government has said it considers Mr. Thaksin's conviction to be politically motivated.

In response to Cambodia's decision, the Thai government has threatened tear up its extradition treaty with Cambodia and to review other joint agreements if Mr. Thaksin is not sent back.

Relations between the two neighbors have been strained for more than a year because of a territorial dispute.

There are concerns that soured relations between the two neighbors could spill over to a Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting that is being held in Singapore on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

On Thursday, Thaksin is scheduled to deliver a speech to 300 Cambodian economic experts. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.

Following Mr. Thaksin's appointment to the Cambodian government, both Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors.

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