Manchester City's Thaksin Shinawatra faces extradition calls from Thai protestors

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 by Editor

Turmoil continues to surround Manchester City owner Thasin Shinawatra after thousands of protestors gathered outside the British Embassy in Bangkok demanding the extradition of the former Thai prime minister.

Anger: Protesters called for Thaksin to face jail - Manchester City's Thaksin Shinawatra faces extradition calls from Thai protestors
Anger: Protesters called for Thaksin to face jail Photo: AP

About 7,000 protesters from the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement rallied peacefully in the Thai capital, carrying posters and shouting "Thaksin go to jail".

Thaksin has been issued with an arrest warrant after he failed to appear in front of a Thai court over corruption allegations. The situation has overshadowed City's start to the Premier League season, with reports claiming Thaksin has been forced to borrow money from former chairman John Wardle in order to pay wages and other outgoings.

Around £800 million of Thaksin's assets have been frozen by Thai authorities. And until those funds are released, Thaksin's plans to transform City into one of Europe's leading clubs will remain on hold.

In a letter to Ambassador Quinton Mark Quayle, the PAD called on the Home Office to turn down any request for asylum from Thaksin. Thailand has not yet requested the extradition of Thaksin, who still carries a Thai diplomatic passport. He has so far not been granted asylum or special treatment in the UK.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "It is our long-standing policy to neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request has been received for a particular individual.

"Every case is considered on its merits, in line with our international commitments and the terms of UK extradition legislation."

The protesters were led by Sondhi Limthongkul, a key figure in the PAD which orchestrated mass street protests leading to Thaksin's ousting from office in the bloodless coup. Last week, Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that a corruption trial against Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman, could proceed even though the couple fled the country.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/2585557/Manchester-Citys-Thaksin-Shinawatra-faces-extradition-calls-from-Thai-protestors---Football.html



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