Justice Minister confirms credibility of Thai justice

BANGKOK, 8 November 2009 (NNT) – Justice Minister, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, has expressed his belief in the credibility people around the world have towards the Thai judicial system despite recent comments by the Cambodian leader on the case of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In response to the criticism, Mr Pirapan deemed that if the news report was true, it would be inappropriate for the Cambodian leader to express such opinions. However, he believed that Thais and people worldwide still had confidence in the Thai judiciary.

As for the extradition process to bring Mr Thaksin back to Thailand, the minister stated that the treaty between Thailand and Cambodia remained effective and was in process. He reaffirmed the extradition procedure would be definitely taken and it was the duty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow the case in compliance with the policy given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The Royal Cambodian government has appointed self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin as its economic advisor and personal advisor of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. Phnom Penh vowed not to extradite Mr Thaksin to Thailand if the former prime minister traveled to Cambodia.