BANGKOK: Thailand's junta desires Britain to extradite ousted chief Yingluck Shinawatra, consistent with a recent request noticed by means of AFP, in a move denounced as "political".
Yingluck, whose elected govt used to be toppled in a 2014 coup, fled the rustic in August 2017 after being charged over her govt's failed rice policy.
She used to be sentenced in absentia a month later to 5 years in jail for failing to stop graft within the programme — a case lambasted by means of her supporters as a part of a junta effort to power the ex-premier's circle of relatives out of politics.
Reports placed her in Dubai and then London, as rumours swirled that she used to be in the hunt for asylum in Britain. Images of her purportedly in Japan, Singapore and China have cropped up on social media and in native studies.
The govt "hereby requests the extradition of Miss Yingluck Shinawatra, a Thai citizen, believed to reside within the United Kingdom," said a letter from the Thai embassy in London noticed by means of AFP on Thursday.
Britain, which has an extradition agreement with Thailand, does now not comment on the immigration standing of any individual.
But Pheu Thai, the birthday celebration previously led by means of Yingluck, said the request dated July 5 used to be authentic.
Yingluck and her brother Thaksin — additionally a former high minister who lives in exile — include one facet of Thailand's fractured political panorama.
Chaikasem Nititsiri, a senior member of Pheu Thai, said he does now not imagine the extradition request might be honoured on account of the nature of the charges in opposition to Yingluck.
"This case is clearly political since it began," he said.
The wealthy Shinawatras are wildly popular within the nation's rural heartlands, where citizens wooed by means of their welfare schemes have helped them dominate elections for the previous decade.
But they've been branded corrupt opportunists by means of Bangkok's army-allied elite, who have used coups, courtroom rulings and protests to bring down their administrations.
Thailand's junta has promised elections might be held early subsequent year however even with the polls, democracy might be limited.
The junta drafted a charter that curbs the facility of politicians and calls for an higher house whose members are appointed now not elected.
Yingluck, whose elected govt used to be toppled in a 2014 coup, fled the rustic in August 2017 after being charged over her govt's failed rice policy.
She used to be sentenced in absentia a month later to 5 years in jail for failing to stop graft within the programme — a case lambasted by means of her supporters as a part of a junta effort to power the ex-premier's circle of relatives out of politics.
Reports placed her in Dubai and then London, as rumours swirled that she used to be in the hunt for asylum in Britain. Images of her purportedly in Japan, Singapore and China have cropped up on social media and in native studies.
The govt "hereby requests the extradition of Miss Yingluck Shinawatra, a Thai citizen, believed to reside within the United Kingdom," said a letter from the Thai embassy in London noticed by means of AFP on Thursday.
Britain, which has an extradition agreement with Thailand, does now not comment on the immigration standing of any individual.
But Pheu Thai, the birthday celebration previously led by means of Yingluck, said the request dated July 5 used to be authentic.
Yingluck and her brother Thaksin — additionally a former high minister who lives in exile — include one facet of Thailand's fractured political panorama.
Chaikasem Nititsiri, a senior member of Pheu Thai, said he does now not imagine the extradition request might be honoured on account of the nature of the charges in opposition to Yingluck.
"This case is clearly political since it began," he said.
The wealthy Shinawatras are wildly popular within the nation's rural heartlands, where citizens wooed by means of their welfare schemes have helped them dominate elections for the previous decade.
But they've been branded corrupt opportunists by means of Bangkok's army-allied elite, who have used coups, courtroom rulings and protests to bring down their administrations.
Thailand's junta has promised elections might be held early subsequent year however even with the polls, democracy might be limited.
The junta drafted a charter that curbs the facility of politicians and calls for an higher house whose members are appointed now not elected.
Thailand wants Britain to extradite former PM
![Thailand wants Britain to extradite former PM]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
August 02, 2018
Rating:
