No interference in courts: govt says

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday to counter claims by deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that the Thai judicial system had suffered political inference.

It said the justice system was one of three main pillars in Thai sovereignty and had consistently evolved from traditional law from over a century.

Unlike the two other "pillars" - the legislature and the executive - the judicial system had never been "interrupted" in Thai political history, it said.

Thaksin, in a handwritten statement issued from London, where he fled on Sunday, claimed the justice system had suffered interference and was using double standards when handling cases he was accused of graft.

He claimed that people who took power during the 2006 military coup intervened in the justice system to get him out of politics.

"People and agencies in the justice system were disgraced as they were being used for political purposes," he said.

But the Foreign Ministry said that people in the justice system were selected by a 'democratic' inner system that was independent and free from intervention. "So that's the reason why Thai society has faith in their justice," it said.

The Foreign ministry, rather than the Justice ministry, rushed to counter Thaksin claims after opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thaksin's statement could damage the Thai justice system's reputation and creditability.

But analysts say Thaksin's remarks appear to be designed to maximise his chance of winning asylum in the UK.

Serious doubts about the independence of Thailand's courts would be a reason to grant Thaksin political asylum in United Kingdom, if he applied for it. Or it could be a reason for UK courts to deny any request for extradition.

The Foreign ministry is also looking at termination one of Thaksin's diplomatic passports. But Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said yesterday that could only happen if police or other agencies lodged an official petition with the ministry seeking that.

Asked if bureaucratic red tape in Thailand could spoil chances of getting Thaksin extradited promptly, Tej said extradition was a long and complex process for British courts.

"We cannot intervene in justice systems in other countries, or our own," he said.

Meanwhile, the Democrats' 'Shadow Cabinet' yesterday discussed legal consequences from Thaksin fleeing abroad.

Spokesman Sirichoke Sopha said the Supreme Court could continue the trial on the Ratchadaphisek land deal without the Shinawatras because the defendants told the court earlier hearings could be held without them being present.

But other graft cases that had reached the court and matters being investigated by the National Counter Corruption Commission could not proceed without Thaksin's presence because they were serious offences which penalties up to life in prison.

These cases could go on for 20 years and judges would have to issue arrest warrants to get the Shinawatras to testify in court.

Meanwhile, reports in the UK have suggested that Thaksin was "uncomfortable". The Guardian reported yesterday Thaksin had indicated he would stay away from Manchester City's Uefa Cup qualifier Danish side FC Midtjylland last night as he had to consider the first stages of a legal battle to avoid being extradited back to Thailand. And this negative publicity could upset Man-City fans.