Thailand Wants Interpol to Arrest former Thai Prime Minister

A criminal court in Thailand has approved a warrant of arrest for former Prime Thai Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is in exile in an unknown country. Thai authorities have asked the Interpol for assistance in his arrest and extradition.

The warrant was approved Tuesday on terrorism charges in connection with the violent clash between the 'Red Shirts' protesters and government troops. The request for help from the international police agency would be sent "so any country that knows of his whereabouts can notify Thailand, so Thailand can begin the extradition procedure," said deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Thaksin denied the charges that were made as basis for the issuance of the arrest warrant saying he had advocated peaceful protest and not violence. He also denied he was financially supporting the protesters. The former Prime Minister doubted the Interpol will execute the order, saying "Interpol have their own criteria to judge, that is... to not be politically motivated. This is clearly politically motivated and there is no ground," he said Thaksin's lawyers are asking the court in Thailand to revoke the arrest warrant while Thai authorities have asked countries he has visited to freeze his funds and turn him over for extradition. "It's best for Thaksin to return and fight it out in the court, which will deal with the case fairly," government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said. "The government is just following the legal process." Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup but has wide support among the Red Shirt protesters whose rallies in the capital began peacefully in March but disintegrated into deadly street clashes. The fugitive Prime Minister had openly criticized the Thai government led by Abhisit Vejajjiva of mishandling the political unrest which resulted in the death of close to a hundred people and injury to thousands who have participated in the violent confrontation.