Law enforcement officials will today begin the process to extradite fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra following court approval yesterday for a warrant for his arrest on a terrorism charge for the unrest in Thailand in recent weeks.
"I was the prime minister who won two landslide victories, then was ousted by a coup before being framed for theft and as I am fighting peacefully for justice. I have now been branded terrorist," he said.
The Criminal Court backed a warrant to arrest Thaksin on terrorism charges after a request from the Department of Special Investigation.
In its judicial decision, the court found sufficient evidence to suspect Thaksin's involvement in terror activities.
The warrant was based on Articles 135/1, 135/2, 135/3 of the Criminal Code which were cited in conjunction with Articles 83, 84, 85 and 86.
The three key provisions refer to terrorism-related offences, including the use of force to endanger life and freedom, causing the destruction of public transport systems and inflicting serious harm to the economy with the aim to pressure the government.
The offences also cover threats to carry out terror attacks and activities abetting terrorism, such as stockpiling arms and training.
Accomplices accused of abetting terrorism face the same punishment as offenders.
Penalties for terrorism range from the death sentence to a minimum of three years jail. An offender can be fined from Bt60,000 to Bt1 million.
Those convicted of abetting terrorism face a jail term from two up to 10 years and a fine of up to Bt200,000.
The four auxiliary provisions cited in the warrant deal with the legal classification of offend?ers and accomplices.
DSI director general Tharit Pengdit said he would met today with the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to outline steps to be taken to bring Thaksin back to face justice.
Thaksin was convicted in 2007 under the anti-graft law for a conflict of interest over the Ratchada land scandal and sentenced to serve a two-year jail term. However, many countries feared that conviction was "political" and had not cooperated with previous requests to extradite Thaksin, Tharit said.
But he was optimistic that the terrorism charges would boost chances of getting the former PM back in custody.
"I believe terrorism, which is an international offence, will convince the international community to be more cooperative in arresting Thaksin," he said.
Commander of the Police's International Affairs Division Major General Therdsak Rujirawong said the warrant for Thaksin on terrorism would receive due attention from foreign law enforcement agencies, once it was circulated by Interpol.
After his legal adviser Pichit Chuenban called to inform Thaksin of the court ruling, the former PM issued a statement following his Twitter message.
In the statement, circulated by his other lawyer Noppadon Patama, he said had been set up for the charges, which were not beyond anticipation from the "perverted" justice system.
He blamed his legal predicament on a conspiracy by his opponents to deny him justice. A double standard was prevalent between two groups of Thais, he claimed. This is evident because the red shirts were demanding justice and democracy but had been killed and maimed instead, he said. This alluded to the yellow shirts enjoying lenient treatment for their protests.
He denied being involved in terrorism, saying throughout his political career, he has been a steadfast supporter of non-violence and the democratic system with the King as head of state.