Human Rights Group Attacks Thaksin’s City Deal

Manchester City’s new owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s hold on the FA Premier League
club is under threat after a leading human rights group challenged his takeover.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims Thaksin is “a human rights abuser of the
worst kind” and should not have passed the league’s ‘fit and proper person’
test.

The HRW has subsequently written to the FA Premier League asking how a man
with Thaksin’s background passed the league’s ‘fit and proper person’ test which
the FA Premier League requires all club owners to pass.

Thaksin, the Thai prime minister from 2001 to 2006, completed his takeover of
Manchester City last month and denies the allegations against him.

Thaksin’s lawyer, Noppadol Pattama, refuted the charges saying that they were
completely unfounded.

‘The civil and human rights charges against him have never been proven. My
client deserves to be treated as an innocent man, until proven guilty. So far
there hasn’t been any solid evidence against him.’

The FA Premier League confirmed it has received the letter, and responded
with a statement vigorously defending its position. 

‘It is important to realise that the Premier League takes its
responsibilities surrounding the governance of its clubs very seriously. The fit
and proper person test means anyone convicted of a range of offences would not
be permitted to become a director, or a shadow director, at a club.

‘But what needs to be made clear is that in the first place we accept the
primacy of UK and European law. This determines who may, and who may not,
legally reside in the UK, own and acquire assets and engage in commercial and
other activities.

‘We have responded to Human Rights Watch to assure them of the above facts
and to underline that we will always operate within the law and will take into
account any evidence as verified by the appropriate legal process.’

The former Thai Prime Minister faces charges of conflict of interest and
dereliction of duty following a land deal conducted by his wife, Pojamarn, in
2003.

If convicted, the Thai government could request his extradition from the UK.
However, this would almost certainly not be granted, because the request would
probably be seen as being politically motivated.