(BangkokPost.com, with Agency reports)
The red, diplomatic passport of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be revoked as the first step in a long process to try to extradite him from England to face corruption charges at home.
"We will act promptly. This is our priority," Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said.
History, however, suggests it will be many years before Mr Thaksin is sent home from London - if ever.
Britain is a bolt-hole for many wealthy ex-politicians and businessmen keen to exploit generous visa rules and a long-winded extradition process.
A Supreme Court arrest warrant issued on Monday meant the government could cancel the 59-year-old ex-premier's diplomatic travel document, which he and his wife are entitled to hold because he is a former prime minister.
"The extradition procedure is difficult, complicated and time consuming and we cannot predict the timetable," a Thai government spokesman said.
"We have to prove that what he did in Thailand was wrong under British law," prosecutor Kosonlavat Intujunyong said.
A team of lawyers has been appointed to begin research on the case. The team is waiting for the formal signature of the attorney-general, due to return from an overseas trip this week.
The Ratchadaphisek land trial will proceed against Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman in their absence, but by law all other trials against the former premier will not proceed until he can appear personally before the court.
In a statement justifying his decision to jump bail, Mr Thaksin said the political enemies who engineered his removal in a 2006 coup were meddling in the courts, making it impossible for him to receive a fair hearing.
This had the sound of a submission to an English court, which traditionally would resist extradition if it felt foreign courts were prejudiced against an applicant.
There is speculation Mr Thaksin might seek UK political asylum as part of a defence against extradition.
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The red, diplomatic passport of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be revoked as the first step in a long process to try to extradite him from England to face corruption charges at home.
"We will act promptly. This is our priority," Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said.
History, however, suggests it will be many years before Mr Thaksin is sent home from London - if ever.
Britain is a bolt-hole for many wealthy ex-politicians and businessmen keen to exploit generous visa rules and a long-winded extradition process.
A Supreme Court arrest warrant issued on Monday meant the government could cancel the 59-year-old ex-premier's diplomatic travel document, which he and his wife are entitled to hold because he is a former prime minister.
"The extradition procedure is difficult, complicated and time consuming and we cannot predict the timetable," a Thai government spokesman said.
"We have to prove that what he did in Thailand was wrong under British law," prosecutor Kosonlavat Intujunyong said.
A team of lawyers has been appointed to begin research on the case. The team is waiting for the formal signature of the attorney-general, due to return from an overseas trip this week.
The Ratchadaphisek land trial will proceed against Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman in their absence, but by law all other trials against the former premier will not proceed until he can appear personally before the court.
In a statement justifying his decision to jump bail, Mr Thaksin said the political enemies who engineered his removal in a 2006 coup were meddling in the courts, making it impossible for him to receive a fair hearing.
This had the sound of a submission to an English court, which traditionally would resist extradition if it felt foreign courts were prejudiced against an applicant.
There is speculation Mr Thaksin might seek UK political asylum as part of a defence against extradition.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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