BANGKOK- Several thousand protesters gathered outside the British Embassy yesterday to demand that London extradite former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to face criminal charges at home.
Thaksin and his wife fled to Britain last week rather than face the charges against them before the Supreme Court, which has issued warrants for their arrest. Thaksin explained his decision to flee in an open letter saying that he could not expect a fair trial in Thailand.
Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 military coup while abroad but later returned to Thailand to face a slew of court cases involving alleged corruption and abuse of power.
About 7,000 demonstrators, by police count, rallied peacefully in front of the embassy, carrying posters and shouting “Thaksin go to jail.”
“Thai justice is fair! Britain please no asylum for thieves,” read one of scores of banners carried by the crowd.
Thailand has not yet requested extradition of Thaksin, who owns several homes in England as well as the Manchester City football club.
Thaksin still carries a Thai diplomatic passport. He has not sought political asylum and British officials have said that legal proceedings in Thailand would not necessarily affect his immigration status there.
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