Thailand rejects Bout extradition

And where is the UN? Why does America have to be the one to pursue characters like this?

Maybe because its americas business, or maybe because america applied to have him extradited??? Maybe america didnt have to and neither did the un, maybe he has oil hidden somewhere unlike the most deserving place on this planet burma, you know the place where no-one can make a buck, uk included!!!!

BKKSTAN wrote: And where is the UN? Why does America have to be the one to pursue characters like this?

Oh, yes, the international courts, like The Hague, international conventions like The Hague Convention and Geneva Convention that America does not recognise, by not being signatories to them?

Why is it America that is going after Bout? It is because it is in America's own interest and if it was not, America would not care to do anything about him.

What was Bout's crime? Oh, yes, in the extradition case, it is supplying arms to an organisation, Farc, not recognised by Thailand as a terrorist organisation. Not in this case is that he delivered arms to places, like Afghanistan, but wait, wasn't America supplying the predecessors of the Taleban in Afghanistan? Were they prosecuted in the US or handed over to another country or an international tribunal? Oh, that is right, that was in America's interest and sanctioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee, CIA = US Government. I wonder how many of those same US Government supplied weapons are currently being used AGAINST the US military and their allies?

Maybe the 'problem' of Thailand being a sovereign nation and following its laws, not yielding to America's political and military power, might be a result of the failed attempt to bully Thailand into being actively involved in America's wars of this decade, e.g. not allowing foreign forces to operate in war/military operations from their soil and suffering economic consequences for it. Imagine the outrage that Americans would have at another country demanding the use of its soil for the prosecution of an illegal war against another country. Would America hand over Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and others responsible for an illegal war over to another country or to the international courts? I think not.

Is Bout a scum bag, who should be put away for the rest of his life? Yes. Should Thailand bow to America's political and military power when it is not in accordance with Thai law? Absolutely not!

''United Nations agencies and several Western governments have reported that Mr Bout has delivered arms to dictators and warlords in Africa and Afghanistan, allegedly breaking several UN arms embargoes in the process.''
My point was directed to why the UN has not taken action against him,if in fact he has broken UN arms embargos!
I do understand that America is pursueing their interests and accept that Thailand is serving theirs!

No quarrel there!

Stan, sorry for being a little defensive on the side of Thailand. I made the mistake of thinking this thread was denigrating into another one of those threads beating up on Thailand, the Thai Government and all things Thai as so many active threads appear to have.

Does the UN actually have any authority to extradite and try individuals? I doubt it, as it is not a sovereign government. Anyway, the UN is toothless and unable to even make the most insignificant government do anything, unless actual nations vote to do so AND back it up with actions, not just words.

Ur not saying that Thailand is like Burma and N Korea and wanting a bit of action before signing off on an extradition.

NO NO NO.

Lets see a favourable reduction in sanctions to Burma to allow the precious jewelery ( gems etc ) that are mined in Burma and processed in Thailand and exported to the US. Apparantly this sanction has cost Thailand Millions !

rick wrote:Does the UN actually have any authority to extradite and try individuals? I doubt it, as it is not a sovereign government. Anyway, the UN is toothless and unable to even make the most insignificant government do anything, unless actual nations vote to do so AND back it up with actions, not just words.

I totally agree!

I think the system in Thailand is working but because of possible backroom dealing the extradition of Viktor Bout is being delayed. I’m don’t want to say that Thailand is acting like a typical third world nation in trying to get something out of this, even the super powers do this from time to time. As an American I have strong feelings about people that support people with weapons that use those weapons on civilian populations (attacks on airliners, car bombings in public places and genocide of civilian populations.
Viktor Bout has supplied rouge regimes and terrorists that do these things and in my book that make him an enemy of humanity.

when 1st arrested, i figured this guy has way too much money and wouldn't be in jail long, and escape, or judicial mistake and released.........oops. i'm quite surprised he is still here. not surprised he is not getting extradited, for the obvious, negative reason.

i can't think of anything the thai gov't could ask of usa for his extradition, as the usa already give thailand anything they ask for and look the other way on everything. since one of the only SE Asian friends, well, supposeded friend, the usa have in the region.

"The judges have rejected the request to add to the case a letter by the Colombian Foreign Minister to the effect that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, whom Bout has allegedly tried to sell arms to, is a terrorist organization. The Thai judges agreed that FARC is a political organization."

I wonder if those Thai judges view the revolutionary separatist movement in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat as a political organization.