January 27, 2005

PM confirms arrest of top rebel; Kuala Lumpur angry

POST REPORTERS and AFP

Chae Kumae Kuteh, a leading member of the separatist Mujahedeen Islamic

Pattani party (MIP), who has been in refuge in Malaysia for the past

decade, has been arrested in Malaysia and may be extradited, Prime

Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Malaysia quickly criticised Mr Thaksin, saying he should follow

diplomatic channels if he wanted Chae Kumae extradited.

Mr Thaksin confirmed widespread rumours in the far South over the past

several days that Chae Kumae had been arrested in Malaysia.

He said the Malaysian authorities had coordinated with Bangkok in

conducting a joint investigation of the suspect.

The man would possibly be extradited to Thailand if found to hold Thai

nationality. Chae Kumae, also known as Doromae Kuteh, is believed to

have dual nationality.

Calling Chae Kumae ``the mastermind of the many attacks in the South'',

Mr Thaksin said he believed the suspect was also a security threat to

Malaysia and the process of verifying his nationality should not take

long.

``With these developments, we believe troubles in the South will end

and the region will be peaceful again after the general election,'' he

said.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, reacting to Mr Thaksin's

remarks, said: ``This is not the way to cooperate with each other.''

Asked about Mr Thaksin's statement that Thailand's most-wanted man had

been arrested in Malaysia, Mr Hamid told a press conference: ``We can't

react to a news report. Whatever it is that needs to be done, there are

proper channels between Malaysia and Thailand.

``If they use the proper channels then Malaysia would react

accordingly. There are rules pertaining to extradition.''

Asked whether he could confirm the arrest, Mr Hamid replied: ``No.''

``If Thailand wants to know about any arrest they should contact their

counterparts. It should not be done in ... requests through the

media.''

In Kuala Lumpur, an intelligence official said the country's Special

Branch intelligence arm arrested Chae Kumae a week ago. ``He is being

detained under the ISA to assist investigations,'' the official told

Reuters, referring to the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite

detention without trial.

Mr Thaksin also revealed that another key insurgent leader, Sapae-ing

Basor, had offered to surrender on condition he was granted bail.

Mr Thaksin believed Mr Sapae-ing had been in hiding somewhere along the

border.