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Latest update: 25/05/2010
- terrorism - Thailand - Thaksin Shinawatra
Thai court issues warrant for Thaksin on terrorism charges
A Thai court has approved an arrest warrant for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges following government accusations that he incited unrest and financed the mass protests by opposition "Red Shirts" in Bangkok over recent weeks.
AFP - A Thai court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges in connection with recent deadly street protests, an official said.
The government has accused Thaksin of inciting unrest and bankrolling the mass protests in Bangkok by the anti-government "Red Shirt" movement.
"A court found there was enough evidence so it issued an arrest warrant," Naras Savestanan, deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation, 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 DSI, tasked with investigating violence surrounding the anti-government demonstrations, said on Monday it had submitted evidence "which show Thaksin's coordinating role" in the unrest.
The street rallies, which were broken up last week by the army, descended into several outbreaks of violence that left 88 people dead since mid-March.
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. Many Red Shirts seek the return of the former premier.
The government has exerted pressure on countries he has visited and moved to freeze his finances.
Terrorism charges carry a maximum penalty of death in Thailand, but the warrant appears aimed at boosting attempts to extradite Thaksin, who has found sanctuary in several countries.
Thaksin is idolised by many of the "Red Shirt" protesters for his populist policies, including cheap healthcare and village funds, but Thailand's elite see him as corrupt, authoritarian and a threat to the revered monarchy.
Thaksin last week denied he had undermined peace talks between protesters and the government, saying he was not the "mastermind of the terrorists".
His legal adviser, Pichit Cheunban, said Tuesday he would inform the ex-premier of the court verdict and "discuss what to do next."
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Comments (3)
Thaksin/Thailand/thedeath of a nation
As each day passes the Thai people are told that the western media is not to be trusted as they are only pro redshirts and anti the king ,the sad part is that by repeating these baseless allegations daily and with no response from western editors the people believe them to be true. The redshirts only ever wanted the system to be fair to all people and those that brought down the elected government in 2008 by storming the government building firing guns at the police and closing the airport against the emergency decree where brought to justice, but they were promoted to government positions and rewarded,redshirts are branded terrorist for doing the same thing(but their government was elected by the people not by some military general doing deals. It is sad that for whatever reason the west seems to condone the Thai governments use of firepower against mainly unarmed people, with all the available videos available there only a few showing redshirts with weapons mostly handguns,but reports of soldiers firing on people are dismissed as terrorists dressed as soldiers . . Thailand is ruled not by an elected government but by a military who use a Pm as a mouth piece, as demonstrated by the fact he was restricted to a military base throughout the unrest,people wondered why there was no military coup? Well you cannot have a coup against yourself.Now people are held without charges either real or imaginary and most of the charges are “throw enough mud and some of it will stick”. The government states that it is there to uphold the Royal house of Thailand ,but it changed the constitution so that the kings rightful heir (the rightful heir is the heir either we/you like them or not)may not (will not)succeed him ,As it stands now the Privy Council could approve a General or the Pm to be the next King .95% of redshirts support the King at present but if the people do not get justice then blame has a habit of going in an upward direction,some yellow shirts are beginning to wonder if this government is telling all the truth and not just being selective.
dont be saying out...thaksin is not terrorism
I disagree to hurry to say out, that our former PM, Mr.Thaksin Shinawatra is now terrorism. I dont think it's a good idea to accuse him like that,as the court will not yet judge him. If it's just talking or saying for fun, that's bad. Under democratic system, we need to give every one have their own freedom under the law, but this, the current thai govt tried to use all medias in thailand to accuse him, Mr.Thaksin.that's not fair. The best all thai ppl should be listen, and keep quiet, and wait till the court judge him,it's really best to do like that.
Mr.Abhisit is not so good compare with the others MP in his Democrat party. Hurry to accuse people before the court judges.
So sad to thai ppl.
During Thaksin's rule as
During Thaksin's rule as Prime Minister, corruption soared to an unprecedented high and with evil genius. All major business contracts with the government were done as per his demands or orders under his cronies’ supervision. We lost an unparalleled chunk of budget that was desperately needed for poverty reduction and social development as they have gone to his family’s and cronies’ pockets. Those people who were against or damaged by corruption were and have been afraid to speak out due to real threats such as those happened to Lawyer Somchai’s case who disappeared without trace and some policemen were suspected to be involved.
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