PM may ask China to help snare Thaksin

Thaksin will address the Foreign Correspondents' Club on Monday. The move was seen in Bangkok as an attempt to demonize the Abhisit-led government, according to an informed source at the Government House.

The Chinese Embassy, which has been informed about the prime minister's comment in the afternoon, has immediately notified Beijing which has taken matter seriously. It was the first time that Abhisit has said specifically mentioned China about the extradition of Thaksin.

Thailand and China signed in 1993 the extradition treaty but it does not have the jurisdiction over Hongkong. However, a team of Thai lawyers at Ministry of Justice is preparing the case in order to file an official extradition of Thaksin in the near future.

"We are checking on legal details whether we can ask for his extradition. If it is possible, then we have to take action," Abhisit said. "We want all Thais to be under the same law."

Abhisit was asked by reporters- as the former PM is always on the move - would he contact China in advance on Thaksin's extradition? Abhisit admitted that not knowing Thaksin's address was one of the problems and he would have to check on his whereabouts with related agencies.

The PM was asked if he thought Thaksin's speech would be an inappropriate one. Abhisit said it is appropriate for the country to offer some rights to Thaksin. But Thailand would have to clarify his comments if he was to make accusations against it. However, Abhisit said, he did not believe Thaksin as a Thai would accuse Thailand.

In the past several months, Thaksin has been using Hongkong as a base to launch concerted multi-pronged campaigns against the Abhisit government. The Chinese government has been monitoring and watching closely Thaksin's activities in Hongkong.

The informed source said that China has told the Thai government that Beijing would allow Thaksin's activities in Hongkong to undermine the excellent China-Thai relations.

If there is an official request from Thailand for the extradition of Thaksin to China then the government of Hong Kong could take action against Thaksin as his actions undermined China-Thai relations. In this case, he could be first extradited to China before Beijing proceeds to transfer him back to Thailand.

"The Thai government appreciates the goodwill of Chinese government," he said.

Since he was banned from UK and travel restrictions imposed on him as a fugitive at the end of last year, Thaksin's international space has been receding fast. He has kept his whereabouts secret known only to his family and nomimees. He was recently given an honorary citizen of Nicaragua which entitles him to hold this country's passport.