Wikileaks alleged Russia bribed Bout witnesses

Article by “The Nation” from 2/12/2010

Source: http://goo.gl/u1cZv

Article from The Guardian 1/12/2010


WikiLeaks cables allege Russia bribed Viktor
Bout witnesses




Alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is flanked by Thai police. US diplomats
allege Russia bribed witnesses to block his extradition to the US, according to
WikiLeaks cables
Photograph: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex Features

Russia tried to block the extradition of the suspected international arms trafficker
Viktor Bout from Thailand to America by bribing key witnesses, the US claims.
Diplomats in Bangkok alleged in cables released by WikiLeaks that Bout's "Russian 
supporters" had paid witnesses to give false testimony during his extradition hearing.
Dubbed the "merchant of death", Bout was seized by the Thai authorities in March 2008 but 
only extradited to the US on 16 November this year. The US accuses him of conspiring to 
sell millions of dollars of weapons to Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) rebels 
to kill Americans. The Kremlin strongly opposed his extradition.

The Russian businessman, accused of running arms-trafficking networks around the world, 
maintains he is innocent in a case that turned into an undignified tug-of-war between 
Washington and Moscow.

In a cable written on 13 February 2009, US diplomats said that in the year after Bout's 
arrest, extradition proceedings in Thailand were "going in the way we want" – albeit at a 
"painfully slow" pace.

More recently, however, the case had taken a worryingly wrong turn: "There have been 
disturbing indications that Bout's ... and Russian supporters have been using money and 
influence in an attempt to block extradition," the diplomats reported.

Bout's claim was that he had flown to Thailand on official government business. American 
agents posing as Farc rebels arrested him in a sting operation in a Bangkok hotel after 
he allegedly agreed to sell them millions of dollars of weapons.

On 12 February 2009, the US ambassador in Bangkok, Eric John, raised his concerns about 
the case in a meeting with Thailand's prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva. He warned that 
the extraditions proceedings had become "tainted as a result of the efforts by Bout's 
associates to bribe Thai officials".

John said the Americans had uncovered several examples of influence and corruption. 
These included the false testimony by a witness, an attempt to procure the personal 
secretary of the crown prince of Thailand to testify on Bout's behalf, and "evidence 
of bribery schemes gathered throughout the world".

Abhisit gave a noncommittal response, promising to examine any irregularities. In 
August 2009, the judge ruled Bout could not be extradited in a stunning setback to 
the US embassy and its "Bout team".

The ruling – appealed against by the US – prompted John to write a cable urging US 
President Barack Obama to telephone Abhisit and initiate "a serious discussion of our 
concerns over the implications of the Bout verdict".

"We believe Potus [president of the US] involvement on Bout would have a significant 
effect here," he pleaded.

The ambassador suggested a gambit to shame Moscow if Bout was freed to go back to 
Russia. "We should consider asking the Russians to prosecute Bout if, in the end, 
he walks here in Thailand. At the very least perhaps we could force the Russians 
to publicly refuse to do so."

Other cables reveal that Bout's fleet of aircraft – allegedly used to deliver 
arms to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo – are currently rusting at an airstrip 
in the United Arab Emirates. On 7 January 2010, the US consulate reported several 
of his Soviet cargo planes were stuck at the "sleepy" Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) airport.
"The airport is also working to distance itself from its reputation as a transport 
facilitator for clients such as international arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who used 
the RAK airport as a base of operations. The Wing Air aircraft once linked to Viktor 
Bout are grounded and effectively abandoned," it said.

Another cable chronicled the unstoppable rise in Russia's international arms sales – 
up from $6.7bn (£4.3m) in 2006 to at least $8bn in 2007. It said Moscow exported large 
quantities of weapons to, among others, Iran, Syria and Venezuela, and was prepared 
to entertain the "grandiose regional visions" of Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez.
The then US ambassador in Moscow, William Burns, admitted that Russia was unwilling 
to establish "an expert-level dialogue on arms sales" with Washington and was "deeply 
cynical" about any US attempts to curb Russian arms exports.
"Russia attaches importance to the volume of the arms export trade, to the diplomatic 
doors that weapon sales open, to the ill-gotten gains that these sales reap for corrupt 
senior officials and to the lever it provides the Russian government in stymieing 
American interests."

On this topic the US had few instruments of persuasion, Burns added: "Russian officialdom 
and the public have little, if any, moral compunction about the arms trade, seeing it 
instead as a welcome symbol of Russia's resurgent power and strength in the world."

Article from Scoop - Independent News 5/12/2010




Wikileaks: Russian Bribes "Infected" Bout's
Extradition Case
Sunday, 5 December 2010, 7:41 pm
Article: Richard S. Ehrlich



Wikileaks: Russian Bribes "Infected" Bout's Extradition Case to U.S.

By Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The U.S. Ambassador to Thailand warned that bribes, lies and a 
plot to have two U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested in Bangkok had 
"infected" the extradition trial of alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to New 
York, and the envoy suggested Thailand arrange testimony to correct the problems, 
according to two U.S. cables released by Wikileaks.

"There have been disturbing indications that Bout's xxxxxxxxxx and Russian supporters 
have been using money and influence in an attempt to block extradition," said a cable 
by U.S. Ambassador Eric John, with "x's" masking the identity of who the ambassador 
suspected.

"The most egregious example was the false testimony of xxxxxxxxxx that Bout was in 
Thailand as part of government-to-government submarine deal," his cable said, 
apparently indicating a different concealed name.
"Bout's associates had been able to influence testimony given by xxxxxxxxxx," 
said the cable released by Wikileaks on Wednesday (December 1).
Bangkok later extradited Mr. Bout on November 16 to New York where he is awaiting 
trial for an alleged plot to kill Americans in Colombia with surface-to-air missiles 
and other weapons, which he agreed in 2008 to sell to the two DEA agents who posed 
as guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Mr. Bout pled not guilty in New York after Russia's foreign ministry denounced 
Thailand for the "illegal extradition."

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied Moscow's complaint that Bangkok kneeled 
to U.S. pressure, and said his decision to expel the Russian was correct.
The U.S. cable, titled: "SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES PM ABHISIT AND DEFENSE MINISTER 
ON VIKTOR BOUT EXTRADITION CASE," was flagged "SECRET BANGKOK 000385," dated February 
13, 2009, and "Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John."

Copies were sent to the U.S. State Department, the American Embassy in Moscow, the 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations, DEA's headquarters in Washington, the U.S. Defense 
Secretary, Department of Justice, Pacific Command in Hawaii, the CIA and National 
Security Council.

"Expressing growing concern about the extradition proceedings, the Ambassador then 
described evidence showing that the extradition proceedings against Bout have become 
tainted as a result of the efforts by Bout's associates to bribe Thai officials," the 
cable said, without elaborating on how many Thais were involved or their role in the case.

In a second cable, dated August 13, 2009, Ambassador John said there were 
"significant indications that the Russians were trying to use bribes to influence the 
outcome of the case."

The first cable's use of the past tense verb -- "infected" -- made it appear that at 
least one bribe may have already been paid by February 2009 when it said:
"After listening to the evidence provided by the Ambassador suggesting that bribery 
had infected the Bout proceedings, Abhisit committed to addressing any 'irregularities' 
in the extradition case through the 'appropriate channels.'

"At the conclusion of the meeting, the Prime Minister sought the identity of the 
individuals involved in the bribery schemes, and the DOJ [U.S. Department of Justice] 
Attache, who accompanied the Ambassador to the meeting, supplied an aide to the PM 
with the requested information," the first cable said.

"In particular, the Ambassador detailed...a scheme to arrest and thereby embarrass 
two U.S. diplomats -- i.e., DEA agents assigned to the Bout investigation -- on 
meritless charges of participating in illegal recordings of Bout on the day of his 
arrest," the first cable said without elaborating.

During their February 12, 2009 meeting, Ambassador John complained to Thailand's 
prime minister that Bangkok failed to extradite an Iranian to America in 2008, 
and warned against making the same mistake twice.

"The Ambassador also reminded the PM of the recent case of Jamshid Ghassemi, in 
which the Thai authorities denied a U.S. extradition request under apparent 
pressure from Iran, and stressed the importance of avoiding a similar result here."

Mr. Ghassemi is under indictment in San Diego, California, for alleged violations 
of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and money laundering, relating to his 
conspiracy to acquire accelerometers which could be used in missile navigation.

The next day, Ambassador John met Thailand's defense minister.
"During a February 13 introductory call, the Ambassador highlighted to Minister 
of Defense Prawit Wongsuwan the importance the USG [U.S. government] places on 
the Bout extradition proceedings," the first cable said.

The submarine mentioned in the first cable referred to confusing statements 
during Mr. Bout's trial when a Thai reportedly testified that he thought an 
unidentified Russian would arrive in Bangkok to discuss a possible submarine 
sale to Thailand -- but it was unclear if Mr. Bout was the Russian involved, 
or if the deal even existed.

Ambassador John also asked Thailand to arrange someone to testify at the 
trial to correct the problems.

"In particular, the Ambassador suggested that testimony from an authoritative 
witness from the Royal Thai Navy or the Ministry of Defense should be offered 
to repudiate the xxxxxxxxxx statement and make clear that the RTG [Royal Thai 
government] supports the extradition request," the first cable said.

Mr. Bout's lawyer denied his client was the unidentified Russian linked to 
any submarine, and the topic disappeared from subsequent updates on the case.

The last word of both cables is simply "JOHN" indicating Ambassador John 
signed off on the wording, with some references to himself in third person.

"When he (Ambassador John) came to meet me, he did not have any doubts or put 
pressure," Prime Minister Abhisit said on Thursday (December 2), responding 
to the release of the cable by Wikileaks.

"He simply expressed concern over reports that 'influential people' may try 
to interfere in the case.

"I gave assurances to him that there will be no interference on the case, 
and if the U.S. diplomat has any doubts, the Thai government will verify 
the case for him," Mr. Abhisit said.

In the August 13, 2009 cable, also released by Wikileaks on Wednesday 
(December 1), Ambassador John revealed how the U.S. demand for Mr. Bout's 
extradition was faltering.

Expressing his desperation, the ambassador's second cable said the U.S. 

State Department "should seriously consider asking Belgium, which issued an 
arrest warrant for Bout in 2002 for money laundering and conspiracy; Colombia, 
in the case of the FARC; and African countries which have suffered greatly 
from Bout's arms trade in the past, to weigh in with the RTG (Royal Thai 
government)," to strengthen the U.S. extradition request.

"I can't comment on allegedly classified documents," U.S. Embassy Press 
Attache Walter Braunohler said on Thursday (December 2) in response to 
e-mailed questions about the cables.

"We are committed to continued engagement with Thailand and with other 
countries around the world. Our relationships are still guided by national 
and mutual interests, and mutual respect. And to the extent that the trust 
inherent in this engagement has been compromised, we will work as hard as 
we can to rebuild this trust," Mr. Braunohler said.

"Undoubtedly, the illegal extradition of Bout is a result of the unprecedented 
political pressure on the Thai government and the judicial authorities by the 
United States," a Russian foreign ministry statement said on November 16, 
when Mr. Bout was suddenly bundled onto a plane in Bangkok for a secretive 
extradition flight to New York.

The Russian Embassy did not respond to e-mailed questions about the cables.

*****
Richard S Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based journalist who has reported news from 

Asia since 1978. He is co-author of "Hello My Big Big Honey!", a non-fiction book 

of investigative journalism. His web page is
http://www.asia-correspondent.110mb.com

(Copyright 2010 Richard S Ehrlich)

Article from Bangkok Post 3/12/2010

Source: http://goo.gl/ezsNA

Foreign Ministry to clarify WikiLeaks memos


The Foreign Ministry's Department of Information has been assigned to explain a 
secret US embassy memo sent to Washington, released by WikiLeaks, expressing 
dissatisfaction and criticism of the Thai court's decision to initially refuse 
the extradition of Viktor Bout last year.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the department will publicly clarify the 
issue for the Thai public as well as the international community, and give 
the accurate details.

"We have to look thoroughly into the [leaked US] memo and clarify it point 
by point," Mr Kasit said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the leaked classified information 
will not have much effect on Thailand.

"We don't have any secrets," Mr Suthep said. "What happens in Thailand, we tell 
the media and the people."

Mr Suthep also said that this issue would not lead to problems between Thailand and 
Russia. The government had followed legal procedure in the Viktor Bout extradition 
case. Moscow had also demanded custody of the former Russian soldier and accused  
weapons dealer.

The leaked five-page US diplomatic memo posted on the web by Wikileaks contained a 
summary, updates and analysis of the case, and steps planned by the embassy's "Bout 
team" to help the US in its appeal against the Criminal Court's ruling, and the 
embassy's suggestions about what Washington should do in the case.

"We would encourage the Thai government to issue a public statement expressing d
isappointment in the judges' decision, its intention to win on appeal, and a 
reiteration of Thailand's commitment to both the struggle against international 
terrorism and to its extensive law enforcement relationship with the United States," 
the memo said.

It said the document came from US ambassador to Thailand Eric John on Aug 13, 2009 -  
two days after the Criminal Court first refused the US request to extradite Bout.
The memo made it clear that the ambassador had expressed his thoughts on the matter 
to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya at a meeting in Malaysia.

Article from China Post 6/12/2010

For the time being, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has survived the disclosure of confidential

cables from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok to the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. The two

cables filed in February were related to the high-profile case of Viktor Bout, who was eventually

extradited to the U.S. last month.

The cables revealed how the U.S. former ambassador Eric John put forwarded the U.S. government’s

concern on Thailand’s judicial process over Bout and the way Abhisit responded. The Thai leader

answered the envoy’s enquiries with straightforward replies and expressed a full confidence in the

country’s administration of justice. The lengthy process was criticized by both the U.S. and Russia.

The latter thought Washington interfered and pressured Bangkok.

For the Thais, most interesting was how Abhisit responded to the U.S. diplomatic enquiries at a

critical moment. It also begs comparisons with other Thai leaders in a similar situation. Those who

are familiar with Abhist know that he would be able to respond with factual answers to any

enquiries with confidence and charm (some would say with a deadpan but nice face).

At coffee shops around Bangkok last week, questions were raised on what would be the scenario

if the same incident took place under other Thai prime ministers, say, Thaksin Shinawatra or

Samak Sundrajavej who have a penchant for loose talks.

Answers were unanimous — there would be lots of comments spurned from these leaders’ reactions

by the U.S. diplomats. “No problem” would be the quick and universal response from the Thais to

all diplomatic enquiries.

These cables harked back to the past when WikiLeaks was not in existence. Indeed, one of the

most quoted leaks within the top Thai policymakers came from former Prime Minister Banharn

Silapa-archa during his ASEAN chair at the fifth summit in 1995.

During the three-day summit, the Thai prime minister used “No problem” several times as

replies to enquiries as well as new initiatives proposed by his ASEAN colleagues during

the closed door discussions.

One of the AEAN leaders was smart enough in structuring his dialogues and presentations during

the discussion in such ways that Banharn’s replies would always be “No problem.” There could

have been more of such answers if the two interpreters, who remained anonymous, did not skip

them. In the Thai language, “No problem” does not mean much at all. It is an assurance that the

statements are heard but need follow-ups diligently. However, as a reply, when translated into

English, means “yes” and all obligations that derive from affirmative answers must fall through.

Of course, there are a lot more to come — 2939 cables left in all, not to mention additional ones

from the U.S. consular office in Chiangmai. They covered the most colorful period of Thai politics

and culture from September 2004 under Thaksin up until Feb. 26, 2010, with more from 1989 and

1998. The partial database released with the listing of dates of release plus expected generalized

topics were based on coded “tags” but without any titles or text yet. Apart from Thaksin, other

prime ministers in power including Samak Sundraravej, Somchai Wongsawat and General Surayudh

Julanonda would also be featured in these cables. Certainly, views and wide-ranging references to

taboo institutions and issues could be expected.

Luckily WikiLeaks only contacted the Western media which dwell on key issues affecting U.S.

foreign policy and global politics. That was the key reason the cables linked to Bout were disclosed

in the first place as it depicted the tension of U.S.-Russia relations over his extradition.

However, the revelations made on the Western and Middle Eastern leaders have already increased

blood pressure among the Asian leaders. One must concur that the amount of cables generated by

the U.S. embassy on Thailand demonstrated the great American interest in the country. Compared

with other countries in the Asia-Pacific, Thailand ranked sixth after Japan (5697), Taipei (3456),

China (3297), Indonesia (3059). Other two ASEAN members, Vietnam and Burma, were ranked

2325 and 1864 respectively.

At this juncture, two issues must be discerned, who have access to the leaked cables and the timing

of release. Those who read them could easily stir up hornet nests in the country on every issue and

aspect. For instance, a Western journalist, who knows Thai politics and sensitivities very well, can

literally cause havoc over here by zeroing on specific references at any point during the past five and

half years. Even just one word of description of a particular person could have a great ramification

in the land of gossips and whispers.

The timing of release of next cables and subject matters can certainly add fuel to the fire concerning

domestic politics and institutions. The concerned authorities must be prepared for any fallout by acting

rationally not hysterically as in previous cases of unexpected revelations. Abhisit must consider himself

extremely lucky as his opponents so far were unable to capitalize on the leaks by attacking him. His

comments on Bout portrayed him in a good light because they showed consistency — no difference from

his published statements in the media during the trial. However, there is no guarantee that would be

the case in weeks and months to come. Nobody knows the entire contents of what the American

envoys put in black and white about him and his country.

For the time being, the Thai media and curious watchers of Thai politics would have to wait until

WikiLeaks placed all cables on its websites and unless some explosive comments on private individual

in Thailand are made public.

Source: http://goo.gl/jhv5S

Article by Elitestv.com of 6/12/2010

Source: http://goo.gl/H89Di

Wikileaks and Thailand