Extradite the guilty and the accused
I fully agree with DPM Chalerm Yoobamrung's request that Myanmar authorities arrest Major-General Na Kham Mwe, leader of a Karen rebel group and our fifth-wanted drug kingpin, and extradite him to Thailand to face charges. Drug smuggling is a serious crim
But Na Kham Mwe’s point that Chalerm should seek Thaksin’s extradition is well-taken. All are equal before the law, and corruption is, like drug smuggling, a serious crime both in Thailand and Dubai. Worse, the major-general hasn’t been found guilty yet, and so must, by law, be presumed innocent, whereas the former prime minister has been convicted by a court of law.
Chalerm says the two cases differ because Thaksin’s conviction was politically motivated, which may well be – but as Chalerm doesn’t have the authority to overrule the courts, the verdict must stand until legally overturned. Also, the major-general says that the warrant for his arrest was issued in 2003 – so is our seeking extradition now, after nine years’ delay, politically motivated as well?
Chalerm should not act like Cornelius Vanderbilt, who said: “Law! What do I care about the law? Hain’t (don’t) I got the power?” Instead, he should do more than give lip service to one far wiser than he: “If the country does not follow the rule of law, it will not survive” (HM the King), and follow rule of law in both cases.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
