Thailand seeking lese majeste suspect extradited from UK

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) - Police are cooperating with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in requesting the U.K. government to extradite a lese majeste suspect to face a trial in Thailand, said deputy national policechief Police General Ake Angsananond. Police General Ake and concerned authorities held a meeting and discussed the progress on how to bring Chatwadee Amornchat, aka London Rose, to stand a trial in Thailand on charges of lese majeste. The Criminal Court on June 16 issued a warrant for her arrest. Chatwadee is wanted for posting messages on social media that are deemed insulting the Thai monarchy. Police have been cooperating with the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the latter to revoke her Thai passport after learning that she has applied for a British citizenship, said Police General Ake. Police Major General Pisit Pao-in, an advisor to the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, said the U.K. government has to extradite Chatwadee to Thailand if her passport is revoked. However, if she is allowed to change her citizenship, then it is the duty of the Thai Office of the Attorney General to request the U.K. government to extradite her, said Police Major General Pisit. Meanwhile, Police General Ake said progresses have also been made in other major crime cases such as the use of war weapons against anti-government protesters from late last year until May this year. He said warrants for the arrest of a bomber, who hurled a bomb at protesters loyal to People’s Democratic Reform Committee at Bangkok’s Victory Monument and for those involved in clashes at the Ramkhamhaeng University have been issued. Police are hunting the suspects, he added. (TNA)