Thailand to send arrest warrant against Thaksin to 187 countries

Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gives a traditional greeting at a press conference in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Feb. 28, 2008. (Xinhua File Photo)

Copies of Thailand's court arrest warrant for convicted ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges will be sent to police in 187 countries, the Bangkok Post's website quoted a senior Thai official as saying on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of representatives from three concerned agencies to discuss means to get Thaksin's extradition, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Tharit Pengdit said the authorities have stepped up joint efforts to extradite Thaksin back to Thailand.

The Royal Thai Police Office's foreign affairs division will circulate the warrant as Thailand's Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will contact its counterparts overseas. The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry will coordinate their efforts, Tharit said.

The countries to be notified of the warrant include Montenegro, where Thaksin now has citizenship, Tharit said.

Tharit said he could not set a time frame for Thaksin's extradition since this would depend on how those countries respond to Thailand's request.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September, 2006, in accusation of massive corruption, and kept in exile since then. Thaksin returned to Thailand in February, 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.

Source: Xinhua