Cambodia's King Pardons Thai Engineer Convicted Of Spying

[webfact]

Thai engineer pardoned

Cambodia's king Friday pardoned a Thai engineer who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for spying on fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight scheduled, Associate Press reported.

in a case that soured relations between the neighbors.

AP quoted Cambodian Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith as saying that Sivarak Chuthipong would be released from prison Monday following his pardon by King Norodom Sihamoni.

-- The Nation 2009/12/11

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[LawnGnome]

Well of course he did. I'm sure it happened as soon as Thaksin's "investment donation check" cleared....

I actually think most Thai people will recognize this for what it is - a farce.

[JFitzgerald]

The actors in this stage play have flubbed their lines for Act III, Scene 2

They've jumped ahead and are reading the lines from Act IV, Scene 1

The pardon has been granted before it was even requested.

[TAWP]

And the pardoning can only be given after 1/3 of the sentence has been served, was it not?

"Screw the rules, we have a country to disrupt."

Watch his smiling pictures from a few days ago. He was already informed of it back then.

[LawnGnome]

The actors in this stage play have flubbed their lines for Act III, Scene 2

They've jumped ahead and are reading the lines from Act IV, Scene 1

The pardon has been granted before it was even requested.

Of course. The charge, the trial, the verdict, and the pardon were all known in advance. That way, the trial can be used as a tool to educate the public on the wisdom of the Cambodian government's decision....

Money from Takki Shinegra doesn't hurt the cause either.

This is all about money. Nothing else, just money.

[h90]

Well of course he did. I'm sure it happened as soon as Thaksin's "investment donation check" cleared....

I actually think most Thai people will recognize this for what it is - a farce.

A farce which let appear Thai Soap Operas logical and reasonable.

PT is asking Kasit to resign because of the damage he has done for the Thai Engineer.

What a nonsense.....

What will happen 2010??

Thaksin+Chavalit dressed as Batman and Robin will rescue Thai people from Nordkorea.

Kim Il will complain about the lack of democracy in Thailand and appoint Thaksin as Economos advisor.........

[LawnGnome]

Cue Thaksin's comments on the situation. I am sure he will play the "humble card" (Yeah right...lol)

[mizzi39]

How many other TV members predicted this would be the outcome? Guess it wasn't Mr. T to the rescue like sooooo many predicted.

[h90]

The actors in this stage play have flubbed their lines for Act III, Scene 2

They've jumped ahead and are reading the lines from Act IV, Scene 1

The pardon has been granted before it was even requested.

:D

A bit sloppy with the timeline.....

But that happens in mature democracies like Cambodia......Hun Sen was a bit too fast to order the royal pardon.

[geovalin]

Please close this post immediately for 2 reasons:

1-

Some TV members could be impolite with the Cambodian monarch (LawnGnome is not so kind) and if you accept such insulting remarks against Cambodian monarch it would be outrageous.

2-

We could make some comparisons which would be outrageous as well.

I DO NOT INTEND TO BE OUTRAGEOUS. I respect all the monarchs, well at least the Asian ones.

:-)

[Samuian]

This case is just hilarious!

It shows the thinking of it's inventor,

cause there is such an incredible sort of "coincidence"

involved that this could not have been just an "honest mistake"

by the Khmer Justice System as well as this incident was staged at

the time his "excellency from Dubai" was on his road trip to Tango with Hun Sen!

But it shows the blind desperateness of this man, who dares to move anything,

even get some innocent Engineer arrested,

causing much unnecessary harm and stress to completely uninvolved

people. He looks more and more like a really poor loser!

The big question, after al remains unsolved: was it all set up right from the beginning for some nice bonus?

The paralells to the mans very own pardon is just breathtaking, looks like someone is going to lose his marbles...

getting more desperate, day by day - but then who could ever again trust someone like him?

Edited December 11, 2009 by Samuian

[slimdog]

Some TV members could be impolite with the Cambodian monarch (LawnGnome is not so kind) and if you accept such insulting remarks against Cambodian monarch it would be outrageous.

It would also be illegal. Lese Majeste extends to all Monarchs.

Criminal Code section 133

Whoever, defaming, insulting or threatening the Sovereign, Queen, Consort, Heir-apparent

or Head of Foreign State, shall be imprisoned as from one year to seven years or fined as

from two thousand to fourteen thousand Baht, or both

[Rumfoord]

And the pardoning can only be given after 1/3 of the sentence has been served, was it not?

"Screw the rules, we have a country to disrupt."

Watch his smiling pictures from a few days ago. He was already informed of it back then.

"1/3 of the sentence" - this information is coming from where?

"Screw the rules, we have a country to disrupt.""? who did this.?

wasn't a main issue for the thai side that cambodia the disrespect the thai justice system by refusing to extradite Thaksin to Thailand?

[TAWP]

Slimdog>> The law has rarely or never been used in that way however.

Edited December 11, 2009 by TAWP

[TAWP]

"1/3 of the sentence" - this information is coming from where?

"Screw the rules, we have a country to disrupt.""? who did this.?

wasn't a main issue for the thai side that cambodia the disrespect the thai justice system by refusing to extradite Thaksin to Thailand?

- Reported here, hence the question-mark.

- Cambodia surely is disrupting Thailands internal affairs. If you don't agree with that, well...then I presume you put less value on Thaksin than most red do.

[A_Traveller]

The Cambodian King may issue a pardon at his discretion irrespective of time served.

Regards

[Jingthing]

Congrats to the so called spy and his family. I don't think this farcical scenario furthers Takkis cause, nor does it hinder it. A mere blip and it is a good thing the pawn man didn't have to suffer long for this silly game.

[Splatter]

Some TV members could be impolite with the Cambodian monarch (LawnGnome is not so kind) and if you accept such insulting remarks against Cambodian monarch it would be outrageous.

It would also be illegal. Lese Majeste extends to all Monarchs.

Criminal Code section 133

Whoever, defaming, insulting or threatening the Sovereign, Queen, Consort, Heir-apparent

or Head of Foreign State, shall be imprisoned as from one year to seven years or fined as

from two thousand to fourteen thousand Baht, or both

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing.

Thank you for pointing this out so well.

[jonclark]

Irresepective of the hows and whys of the whole thing, at least now the mother of the engineer will at least have some peace, as i'm fairly sure that she has been unwillingly thrust into a diplomatic row and the glare of the media spotlight and now hopefully she can retire and get on with her life.

As for the pardon. Maybe his majesty, was just sick of the whole thing tit for tat bulls**t and just wanted to end it. Either way I think all both Thai and Cambodian should be grateful for his release and as hopefully an end to this diplomatic farce is reached.

It'll be interesting though to hear the thoughts of the engineer when he returns to Thailand.

[george]

Update:

Thai engineer pardoned

PHNOM PENH: -- Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni has pardoned a Thai man who was convicted earlier this week of spying.

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, said Sivarak Chothipong would be released Monday.

Sivarak was arrested in mid-November after the authorities accused him of passing on flight details of Thailand's fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to a diplomat at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

"This is a humanitarian gesture," Khieu Kanharith told the German Press Agency dpa. "For us this gesture is not to please Thailand, but for humanitarian issues, and we know that the man executed the order (given) by Bangkok."

-- Deutsche Presse-Agentur 2009-12-11

[Rinrada]

ere we go again...

Cambodia- 1 LOS - Nil....will we have/see a draw?

[Scott]

One post has been deleted with references to the Cambodian Monarch that are most likely not true. Others are under review. Unless you have specific information about the laws in Cambodia, please refrain from stating definitively that a PM can order a Monarch to do anything.

Oh, a 2nd post is on it's way and warnings will now be issued.

A modest amount of decorum is requested in this thread.

[JFitzgerald]

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, said Sivarak Chothipong would be released Monday.

As far as has been reported, Monday was coincidentally also the day that the 3 requests for a pardon were going to be submitted.

One from Chavalit, one from a group of PTP MP's, and one from Sivarak's mother.

None of them had been turned in yet, as far as all available news reports go.

[LawnGnome]

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, said Sivarak Chothipong would be released Monday.

As far as has been reported, Monday was coincidentally also the day that the 3 requests for a pardon were going to be submitted.

One from Chavalit, one from a group of PTP MP's, and one from Sivarak's mother.

None of them had been turned in yet, as far as all available news reports go.

Amazing Cambodia!

[A_Traveller]

The Cambodian legal position is clear. The Crown has the authority to issue a pardon, however as stated within the Cambodian Constitution, 'The Crown shall reign, but not govern' [Article 7]. Any pardon will be subject to a process of review [even quickly] and a recommendation to the Crown would be made, which would under normal circumstances be through the office of the Prime Minister. It is then within the Royal Prerogative to issue a pardon, or in theory decline, though I can't recall such a situation.

Regards

/Edit amend constitutional 'quote'//

Edited December 11, 2009 by A_Traveller

[webfact]

Cambodian king pardons Thai national convicted of spying

BANGKOK, Dec 11 (TNA) - Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni on Friday pardoned a Thai engineer sentenced seven years in Cambodian jail for espionage charge, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said on Friday.

Mr Khieu told international media that Prime Minister Hun Sen had requested the royal pardon for the Thai national on Thursday and King Sihamoni signed it Friday morning.

He said Mr Siwarak Chutipong will be released from the Cambodian jail on Monday.

A Cambodian court sentenced Mr Siwarak, an employee of Cambodia Air Traffic Service, to seven years prison and fined him 100,000 baht (US$3,000) for releasing flight details of Thailand's fugitive ousted premier

Thaksin Shinawatra when he visited Phnom Penh last month on his first trip there after being appointed economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

"This morning Hun Sen said that if the man wants to continue working in Cambodia, he is welcome." Mr Khieu was quoted as saying by Agence France Presse (AFP), a French news agency.

Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of Thailand's opposition Puea Thai party, allied to Mr Thaksin, said earlier that he and other party members of parliament would submit letters seeking a royal pardon for Mr Siwarak to the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok Friday morning, while a third letter is being sent to Mr Siwarak's mother, now in the Cambodian capital, for her signature.

Mr Prompong however cancelled the plan but instead headed to the Thai Foreign Ministry in Bangkok, submitting a letter urging the resignation of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya following the ruling of Cambodian court on Mr Siwarak's case, suggesting that Mr Kasit is himself in some way responsible.

Seri Mutratan, deputy director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs General Affairs Division received the letter from Mr Prompong.

The spokesman said following the verdict of the Cambodian court that Mr Siwarak was found guilty, no one in the Thai Foreign Ministry showed responsibility, even though the Thai first secretary in Phnom Penh Kamrob

Palawatwichai and other foreign ministry officials were involved in the matter.

Mr Prompong urged Mr Kasit and Mr Kamrob to show their responsibility to Mr Siwarak's family, charging that their behaviour violated Cambodian law and had negative impact on the relations of the two neighbouring countries.

Mr Prompong also demanded that Mr Kasit resign from his post, while urging Mr Kamrob to apologise to Mr Siwarak's family.

The spokesman added that if no action is taken, he will propose that the party raise the issue against the foreign minister in a House debate and will lodge a complaint against Mr Kamrob to concerned agencies to probe whether his actions have broken Thai state officials' discipline. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/12/11

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[NCFC]

"Hun Sen may issues a pardon at his discretion and orders the Cambodian King to sign them.

It is simply that way in Cambodia."

I think you are treading on very dangerous ground. Some might consider these remarks LM.

Mods, this thread should be closed or certain posts deleted.

[JFitzgerald]

Hun Sen had requested the royal pardon for the Thai national on Thursday and King Sihamoni signed it Friday morning.

So now we know at least who submitted the request.

Interesting that Hun Sen's request would pre-date even the victim's dear mother's request.

[Scott]

Just another reminder. Let's use the appropriate decorum and respect in referencing the Cambodian Monarch.

Within limits, it's open season on Hun Sen and Thaksin, however, the Cambodian Monarch was gracious enough to grant this person a pardon and to do it very expeditiously.

[A_Traveller]

Hun Sen had requested the royal pardon for the Thai national on Thursday and King Sihamoni signed it Friday morning.

So now we know at least who submitted the request.

Interesting that Hun Sen's request would pre-date even the victim's dear mother's request.

Just to clarify, the process would normally go through the Prime Minister's Office irrespective of source. However, Hun Sen may have decided to offer clemency of custodial sentence concomitantly with the hearing thereby ensuring that any 'credit' was in his purview, not any applicant [be they military ranked former PM's of Thailand or not] whilst reducing the cross border tensions from this incident with the incumbent government in Thailand.

Regards

Edited December 11, 2009 by A_Traveller