PM Abhisit: No need to negotiate with Thaksin, affirms extradiction

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Saturday there is no need for his government to negotiate with ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in ending political unrest in the country, and reaffirmed his government's commitment to extraditing the ex-premier.

Mr. Abhisit’s comments followed Mr. Thaksin’s Friday video broadcast United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters that he rejected the government’s offer to hold talks.

Prime minister Abhisit also dismissed rumours that Mr. Thaksin, convicted and on-the-run ex-premier was in the Cambidian capital, adding fuel to rumours that Mr. Thaksin could be influencing Cambodia’s part in the recent border incidents.

The prime minister said officials are trying to determine probing the exact whereabouts of Mr.Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, and will try to extradite him to Thailand to face his jail sentence in the country.

Mr. Abhisit’s personal spokesman, Thepthai Senpong had earlier alleged that Mr. Thaksin was in Phnom Penh.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is inspecting the issue of Mr. Thaksin’s location to extradite him to Thailand to face sentence in the country.

Mr. Abhisit said the situation at the border had eased to a certain extent, and that he did not want fighting to happen again, but the government must affirm the kingdom's right in the disputed area.

The talks with Cambodia will defuse tensions and eventually solve the problems, he said.

Meanwhile, the red-shirted anti-government UDD demonstrators now protesting at Government House promise to hold a ‘massive’ demonstration on Wednesday to bring down the coalition government.

Mr. Abhisit said his government is willing to amend law and constitution to develop democratic system in the country but opposition political parties have refused to cooperate so the demonstrators should also protest against the opposition.

Regarding next week’s planned rally, Mr. Abhisit said his government is confident it can control the situation and that he hopes persons committed to democratic values and practices would not want to see any political changes through violence.

Meanwhile, UDD core leader Jatuporn Prompan denied that Mr.Thaksin is in Cambodia.

Mr. Jatuporn, who is also a member of parliament from the Opposition Puea Thai Party, said Mr. Thaksin is at a location thousands kilometres distant from Thailand with a three-hour time difference. (TNA)