MPs back cross-border crime treaty

Parliament yesterday approved by a solid majority Thailand being a signatory to the International Treaty Against Trans-border Crime.

Doubts were raised by the Opposition whether the treaty would really enable Thailand to extradite fugitives running away from corruption charges, and asked the government to clarify this.

Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana, speaking as caretaker foreign minister, said the treaty did not cover personal corruption which was local and not trans-border.

Four hundred and fifty-five MPs voted in support of Thailand becoming a signatory to the convention. Pongthep said Thailand would benefit in many ways and presented details of the treaty to the House yesterday. He said it was important to tackle transnational crime as many criminal syndicates operated across borders and created a negative impact on society, the economy and national security.

Pongthep said no single state could effectively deal with the problem by itself. Thailand had been targeted by drug-related transnational crime as well as human trafficking, with the kingdom being mostly a recipient country for these crimes as many offenders found it easy to enter and exit the kingdom.

There were other trans-border crimes for which Thailand had become a base too, said the deputy premier.

Thailand, said Pongthep, would also benefit from an improved image in the eyes of the international community. He added there were four specific trans-border crimes covered by the treaty: being a member of a trans-border criminal syndicate; dirty money laundering; corruption; and obstruction of the judicial process with an imprisonment penalty of four or more years.

It would enable Thailand to extradite fugitives coming under these categories from other signatory states and vice versa. There would also be more cooperation including academic exchange, joint economic development and protection of those affected by trans-border crimes from revenge or threats.

During the House session yesterday, some MPs suggested ensuring reform of related Thai law to conform with the new treaty to which Thailand had become a signatory. Senator Veeravit Kongsak, an appointed senator, said it was not enough to have more anti-corruption laws as good government needed to be promoted as well.

Democrat Party-list MP Watchara Petchtong asked if those who committed corruption violations in Thailand and were fugitives abroad could be extradited under the treaty or not.

Pongthep said they could not, as long as their offences were not trans-border.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/11/14/mps-back-cross-border-crime-treaty/