Phay Siphan: Cambodia doesn not extradite Thaksin because Cambodia is an independent nation

Translated by Khmerization

Cambodia has given reasons why it did not extradite fugitive ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra at the request of the Thai government, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Phay Siphan (pictured), spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said Cambodia cannot accept the extradition demand from the Thai government because Cambodia is an independent and sovereign nation. "In short, we must separate the two cases. The first case is the case of the sovereignty and independence of Cambodia and the case of Cambodian autonomy that we have explained in our government's statements twice already. Especially the last statement in response to the comments by the Thai Attorney-General who wants Cambodia to explain why Cambodia does not want to extradite Mr. Thaksin who was an ex-Prime Minister ousted by a coup d'etat. We have told (the Thai side) that as a sovereign and independent nation, we (Cambodia) have the rights not to extradite (M.r Thaksin) in accordance with the spirit of the agreements or the extradition treaty between Cambodia and Thailand", Mr. Phay Siphan said.