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| Southeast Asia |
| Victor Bout: Jug in Thailand is ''worse than Guantanamo'' |
| 2009-03-07 |
| A RUSSIAN businessman dubbed the 'Merchant of Death' for allegedly arming dictators and warlords said on Friday there is no proof showing he's the world's biggest arms dealer and accused the US of pressuring Thailand to extradite him. Viktor Bout, a former Soviet air force officer, also complained of inhumane treatment at a Thai prison that he said was cramped, hot, uncivilised and 'worse than Guantanamo'. The 41-year-old Bout has long been linked to some of Africa's most notorious conflicts, allegedly supplying arms to former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. He is purportedly the model for the arms dealer portrayed by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 movie Lord of War. He has been jailed in Thailand since his arrest in Bangkok a year ago and is accused of conspiring to arm Colombian rebels. Bout's extradition hearing started in June but it has been repeatedly postponed by a shifting cast of attorneys and defence witnesses who have failed to appear. His hearing was again delayed on Friday because his wife complained she was sick and could not testify. The hearing will resume on Monday with the defence planning to call Bout to testify. Shackled at the ankles with his face pressed against the bars of a holding cell, Bout shouted to reporters ahead of Friday's hearing. 'If they say I am the biggest arms dealer - so, where is the proof?' Bout said at Bangkok's Criminal Court, calling the accusations against him 'lies and rumours'. When asked by reporters if he felt politics were behind his arrest, Bout shouted, 'It's a theatre!' Dressed in an orange prison uniform, Bout also yelled at guards who tried to prevent him from speaking during a 10-minute exchange with reporters in French, English and Russian. One of Bout's lawyers, Lak Nitiwatanavichan, told the court Bout was illegally detained and requested his immediate release. Judges said they would consider the motion. The United States is seeking the extradition of Bout, who was arrested March 6, 2008, at a Bangkok luxury hotel. Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration posed as rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, looking to buy millions of dollars in weapons. Bout was charged with conspiracy for allegedly trying to smuggle missiles and rocket launchers to Farc, which is a US-designated terrorist organisation. He was later indicted in the US of four terrorism-related charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Thai prison that he said was cramped, hot, uncivilised and 'worse than Guantanamo'. Like Moscow in summer. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-03-07 12:40 |