Abhisit orders the Foreign Ministry to encourage the US and Russian to discuss the extradition of Viktor Bout
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he had instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to encourage Russia and the US to engage in direct talks over the extradition of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
"Each side has its own desire in this matter and they just keep telling Thailand what they want. We are in the middle. In fact, we have no direct involvement and we have no benefit to gain or lose," the prime minister said.
Abhisit insisted that extradition of the suspect to face charges in the United States would proceed in line with the Thai judicial process.
He said there had been distorted claims about interference in the Thai justice system, which hurt the country's image and adversely affected international relations.
"It is clear that the government does not have any matter to bargain for interference in the justice system,'' he said.
The premier was referring to an allegation by Jatuporn Promphan, an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party, that Abhisit's close aide, Democrat Party MP Sirichoke Sopha, persuaded Bout to say publicly that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was behind an arms-smuggling incident in March, when a cargo plane loaded with weapons was seized at Don Mueang Airport.
Abhisit said it was not the first time that Jatuporn had not spoken the truth.
On Friday, Bout's wife Alla read a note from Bout at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. The message insisted Bout was innocent, and confirmed he met with Sirichoke in prison in April.
Asked to respond to a request from Bout's lawyer not to extradite the Russian because of fears for his safety, Abhisit said yesterday it would depend on a court decision on Washington's request for public prosecutors to withdraw further cases against Bout. "As long as this case exists, we cannot extradite Bout,'' he explained.
Bout's lawyer Lak Nitiwattanacijan said yesterday he would meet with Bout tomorrow for him to sign a letter to the prime minister opposing his extradition and requesting Abhisit ensure strict adherence to the country's laws in dealing with the Russian's case.
On August 20, the Court of Appeals ruled to extradite Bout - who is dubbed the "Merchant of Death" - to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals and officials, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles, and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.
Abhisit yesterday dismissed reports that Sirichoke introduced himself as a prime minister's aide when he talked to Bout. The prime minister said he asked Sirichoke about the allegation and the MP insisted he introduced himself to Bout as an MP.
Abhisit defended Sirichoke, saying the MP spoke Bout not out of self-interest but as part of his MP's duty to find information for national interest.
Sirichoke also denied Bout's wife claim he introduced himself as the PM's aide. It was a misinterpretation, he said, since the talk was in English. Bout did not understand English well and the interpreter may have mistranslated.
Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the cloud over the allegation against Sirichoke would be removed once Bout's wife revealed the tape that recorded the conversation between him and Bout. He said Sirichoke should also clarify how the tape was recorded since it would be solid evidence.
Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet, a former Appeals Court president, said he was 100-per-cent confident there was no interference in the country's justice system, because the extradition verdict was issued two months ago, before it was made public. He said Thailand had to make Russia understand the Thai justice system is not influenced by the US.
Prasopsuk criticised Sirichoke for interfering in the matter, saying he was known as an aide of the PM, so there was the risk it would be seen as politicisation of the case.
Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also criticised Sirichoke, saying he had put the country at risk. The party had received complaints from Thai businessmen in Russia who feared bilateral relations between Russia and Thailand would suffer if the Thai government chose one side or the other.
"No matter the PM is going to extradite Bout to the US or not, the country is deemed to be losing,'' he said.