Nov 11, 2009
AFP
PHNOM PENH - THAILAND was set to formally ask Cambodia on Wednesday to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra, deepening a row over Phnom Penh's appointment of the fugitive former Thai premier as an economic adviser.
Thaksin, who was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position and was welcomed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodia has vowed to refuse any request from its larger neighbour for the extradition of the billionaire tycoon, saying that the charges levelled against Thaksin in Thailand were politically motivated.
Thai foreign ministry officials said diplomats would hand the extradition papers to Cambodian authorities early on Wednesday. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors from each other's countries last week.
'The papers were conveyed to our embassy in Phnom Penh late Tuesday and we believe they can be submitted to the Cambodia foreign ministry tomorrow,' senior Thai Foreign Ministry official Panich Vikitsreth told AFP. 'We believe our request will reach the Cambodian foreign ministry during the period of time that Thaksin stays there.'
Thaksin is due to give a speech to 300 Cambodian economics experts on Thursday. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.
Thaksin, who was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position and was welcomed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodia has vowed to refuse any request from its larger neighbour for the extradition of the billionaire tycoon, saying that the charges levelled against Thaksin in Thailand were politically motivated.
Thai foreign ministry officials said diplomats would hand the extradition papers to Cambodian authorities early on Wednesday. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors from each other's countries last week.
'The papers were conveyed to our embassy in Phnom Penh late Tuesday and we believe they can be submitted to the Cambodia foreign ministry tomorrow,' senior Thai Foreign Ministry official Panich Vikitsreth told AFP. 'We believe our request will reach the Cambodian foreign ministry during the period of time that Thaksin stays there.'
Thaksin is due to give a speech to 300 Cambodian economics experts on Thursday. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.
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