Net Closes in on Thaksin - China Asked to Find and Extradite Ex PM

The Thai consul in Hong Kong is asking Beijing to trace the whereabouts of convicted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and extradite him to Thailand, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The move comes before Thaksin's planned speech to the international media in Hong Kong on Monday.

''We are finding out the legal aspects about what we can do ... we think there are no problems because the case [against Thaksin] has been finalised [in court]. Once we know his whereabouts exactly, and with the country agreeing to the extradition process, we will push ahead,'' the prime minister told reporters.

Asked whether Thaksin would be brought back to Thailand on Monday, he said: ''We're trying to work it out in time,'' but that it depended to a large extent on the facts about Thaksin's wrongdoings and also cooperation with Chinese authorities.

Thaksin is preparing for another public appearance on Monday when he plans to give a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong on how to solve the global economic crisis.

Former legal consultant to Thaksin and ex-foreign minister Noppadon Pattama insisted he would only talk on economic issues without touching on politics and the current Asean Summit.

Source - The Bangkok Post