Cambodia's King Pardons Thai Engineer Convicted Of Spying

[animatic]

Never really seen eye jowels much... not under 75-80 years oid,

looks tired for sure.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Takki looks so ugly and is a fugitive criminal and apparently too poor to afford plastic surgery!

(Apologies; I just wanted to make an empty superficial post myself; see how it feels. )

[BigWheelMan]

This is news to me.

I had no idea that Cambodia has a Monarchy.

Is this a Monarchy in the true sense like Thailand or the UK?

[Publicus]

Takki looks so ugly and is a fugitive criminal and apparently too poor to afford plastic surgery!

(Apologies; I just wanted to make an empty superficial post myself; see how it feels. )

Apologies certainly are required and are generously accepted. 

[mrparanoid]

While I can appreciate that readers of a Thailand-based forum would tend to take a Thai-centric view of things, it is astounding to me that save for the above no-one seems to even consider the possibility that the Cambodian government had (and has) issues of its own with the present Thai government in general, its Foreign Ministry in particular and with the staff of its embassy in PP, and that its (the Camb gov) actions might be motivated thereby.

It was, as poster above pointed out, not a timetable that was stolen, it was an actual flight plan, as in longitude/latitude, path the plan would take. Possibly someone in the Thai government wanted to ascertain if the route went through Thai airspace. In an case. most definitely proprietory information and not legal to hand over to outside entitites let alone foreign governments.

More to the point, the audacity of doing this is typical of a long-standing pattern of behavior with which the Camb govt has gotten increasingly fed up.

For the poster who asked about the Thai diplomat on the reciving end, he was expelled from the country and the Camb govt made very clear in its press release that the only reason he had not been arrested was becaue he had diplomatic immunity. They particulalry stressed that they were showing proper respect for diplomatic protocal as that is exactly what they feel the Thai embassy and govt, in their dealings with their Cambodian counterparts, consistently fail to do.

[LaoPo]

Maj Gen Kattiya Sawasidpon said Saturday that Thaksin, Chavalit and other Pheu Thai MPs would witness the ceremony of the release of Sivarak Chutipong.

and here comes Major General Kattiya now on his triumphant white horse... from his own extremist and gun-toting website...

to save Thailand from the evil forces of democracy and restore Thaksinocracy.

How come I smell a multiple banned former member here....? Same style...same manners

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

I didn't know that Fiji and Vanuatu belonged to the Asian hemisphere now.

Since when ?

LaoPo

[animatic]

Takki looks so ugly and is a fugitive criminal and apparently too poor to afford plastic surgery!

(Apologies; I just wanted to make an empty superficial post myself; see how it feels. )

Apologies certainly are required and are generously accepted.

Comic relief, via non sequeteur is a long standing tradition.

[rixalex]

How come I smell a multiple banned former member here....? Same style...same manners

Could just be paranoia you are smelling.

Anyway, I believe correct protocol is to privately inform a moderator with any suspicions you may have. Publicly posting this sort of speculation is usually considered flaming.

[lakeside]

Pheu Thai MPs expected to meet Thaksin in Phnom Penh tomorrow

The Nation

Published on December 13, 2009

Cambodian immigration officers have been ordered to welcome a group of Pheu Thai MPs who are expected to meet former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in Phnom Penh tomorrow.

Pheu Thai Chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has told his close aides he will not fly to Phnom Penh to see the release of the Thai engineer convicted for spying.

In the Thai border province of Sa Kaew, Cambodian officers, who asked not to be named, said yesterday that immigration officers in Poipet and other officers from Banteay Meanchey had a meeting on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's instructions to prepare for the visit by Pheu Thai MPs and Thaksin supporters.

Thaksin posted on Twitter that he had "asked permission to travel to exchange ideas with leaders of three countries in Asia for seven to eight days. I will try to keep in touch through Twitter or SMS as well as radio," he said.

"I'm sleepy now. I have a flight early in the morning but I haven't meditated. Good night. I might not be available for a talk tomorrow. Let's talk again on Sunday."

He did not mention the countries on his itinerary.

Maj-General Kattiya Sawasdipol said Thaksin, Chavalit and other Pheu Thai MPs would witness the release ceremony of Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong.

Air Chief Marshal Sumet Phomanee, Thaksin's pre-cadet classmate and a Pheu Thai member, said it was likely that Thaksin would go to Cambodia but declined to confirm the trip.

Sumet dismissed Prime Minister Abhisit's Vejjajiva threat to try to arrest Thaksin if he flies into Thai airspace, saying Thaksin has his own security measures and would not necessarily pass over Thailand.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Cambodian officers and Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, the mother of Sivarak, had asked Pheu Thai MPs to visit the country and bring Sivarak back to Thailand. But the party had not decided whether to take up the invitation.

Prompong as well as Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama refused to confirm whether Thaksin would visit Cambodia soon.

Prompong and Chavalit's close aide, Lt-General Pirat Swamiwa, said Chavalit would not make the trip to Cambodia to pre-empt criticism that he did things for publicity.

Sivarak was granted a pardon by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Friday, three days after he was sentenced by a Cambodian court to seven years in jail for leaking Thaksin's flight information during a previous visit.

After Sivarak was sentenced, the Pheu Thai Party and Chavalit proposed to help him by writing letters seeking a royal pardon.

Some Pheu Thai sources said Pheu Thai MPs would leave Suvarnabhumi Airport at 7.45am for Cambodia to observe Sivarak's discharge from prison.

[LaoPo]

How come I smell a multiple banned former member here....? Same style...same manners

Could just be paranoia you are smelling.

You wanna bet ?

Hmmm...no need Mr. Rixalex since you would have lost..... he's banned already. -JFitzgerald-

I smell more....

LaoPo

Edited December 13, 2009 by LaoPo

[rixalex]

How come I smell a multiple banned former member here....? Same style...same manners

Could just be paranoia you are smelling.

I smell more....

Open a window perhaps.

[Moonrakers]

And so Takki arrives just in time for the 'spys' release. Of course, I am sure that it is nothing but coincidence

[Credo]

It seems that Mr. Abhisit and Kasit weren't invited. Of course they didn't do anything to warrant an invitation. Guess they will have to stay home and cry in their fruit juice.

[Scott]

One post deleted for flaming.

[baht&sold]

Thaksin has tete-a-tete with 'spy' in cambodia

By The Nation, Agencies

Published on December 14, 2009

Sivarak flies home today; ex-PM's second visit certain to stoke tension between neighbours

Fugitive ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra swooped into Phnom Penh yesterday and headed directly to the prison holding the Thai engineer convicted of spying, in a move destined to further strain ties with Cambodia.

Sivarak Chutipong, who was sentenced by a Cambodian court to seven years jail for leaking the flight plan of Thaksin's previous trip but was pardoned by Cambodia's king on Friday, will return to Thailand this afternoon, his mother Simarak na Nakhon Panom said.

Yesterday's meeting appeared to be the first time Sivarak had met Thaksin whose visit, the second in about a month, is certain to further stoke tension between the neighbouring countries. It has also been confirmed yesterday that Thaksin had requested Sivarak's pardon in a phone call to Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Amid speculation in Thailand that the Sivarak saga was a political manipulation to reboost his image, Thaksin was driven straight from the airport to Prey Sar prison. Some 300 special forces troops were deployed along the route of his motorcade and around the penitentiary's compound.

Thaksin was seen entering the facility's entrance and having a chat with Sivarak, who is due to be released today on a royal pardon from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

Sivarak's attorney Khieu Sambo said Thaksin met briefly with Sivarak, asking about his health and the names of those who ordered him to commit espionage.

Thaksin recently claimed the Thai government wanted his flight plan because it was plotting to use F-16 to attack his airplane.

Thaksin's stint in Phnom Penh last month as an economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government has drawn strong protest from the Thai government, as Thaksin is running from a two-year jail term in Thailand for corruption and abuse of power.

His reappearance further puts Thai-Cambodian ties on the line as the Hun Sen government has rejected the Thai requests to extradite Thaksin promptly. According to their extradition treaty, Cambodia should forward the request to its courts for consideration.

Thailand protested by recalling its ambassador and Cambodia followed suit. Both countries later expelled first secretaries.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thaksin played a role in winning Sivarak's freedom by calling Cambodia's prime minister and asking for leniency, There is widespread suspicion in Thailand that the secret agent case was orchestrated to allow Thaksin to step in behind-the-scenes to secure Sivarak's royal pardon - a move that would promote Thaksin's image among his supporters back home and embarrass the Thai government, which has bitter relations with Hun Sen.

Sivarak's mother and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, chairman of the Thaksin-linked opposition party in Thailand, submitted a written request for the pardon to Hun Sen, who forwarded it to the king, Khieu Kanharith said.

Thaksin spoke to Hun Sen by telephone to request the pardon, Khieu Kanharith claimed.

Thaksin is scheduled to be present today at an informal ceremony at Hun Sen's residence to hand over Sivarak to his mother. He will conduct one or two economic workshops during his stay.

Acting Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said Bangkok would submit a new request for Thaksin's return.

"The Thai government will follow the same procedure as last time. When people wanted for crimes in this country travel to a neighbouring country we will ask them to detain them and request extradition," Panitan told reporters.

The Foreign Ministry is also considering whether to again appeal to the Cambodian government to send Thaksin back.

-- The Nation 14 Dec 2009

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[baht&sold]

and if H90 is suspended (again) I will raise CAIN.

[Sabre]

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.

For those of you who have failed to notice, there is a deeper lesson in all of this, that Thaksin is surely trying to communicate to the Thai people.

There is, I would say, at least one feature of the Cambodian idea of constitutional monarchy that Thaksin would like to replicate at home.

In Cambodia, it is Hun Sen - the Prime Minister - who calls the shots and it is (seemingly) the Monarch who dutifully follows suit.

The Cambodian King issued a pardon, after Hun Sen asked for it. Hun Sen asked for it, because Thaksin asked for it.

This is an object lesson in how Thaksin would like to see things working back home.

The all-powerful PM for life, the figurehead Monarch, at best just 'rubber stamping' the PM's decrees.

No wonder he and Hun Sen are being all chummy ... he is saying to the Thai people - "Look at how well things work in Cambodia. Why can't -our- democracy function just as effectively? All you have to do is get rid of the democrats and the old power clique, and everyone would get along famously".

It seems too contrived to just be a coincidence.

[Siripon]

The Cambodian king, presumably King Sihanouk, the present king's father, gave him the honorary title 'Somdet' which in Thailand is used to refer to members of a royal family.

Would the moderators allow us to refer to Thaksin as Tacky rather than Takki as surely this latest episode with him flying in to greet the 'spy' shows him sinking to new depths in tastelessness?

[Scott]

No, you may not refer to him as Takky. Posts will be deleted.

Let's try to keep the thread based on the subject at hand. Some of the unflattering aberrations of name spelling detract from what a poster is saying.

[BangkokJazz]

I've always found real names to be better. For instance, even though it takes a little longer I always write in full - Thaksin "fugitive from justice for crimes against Thailand" Shinawatra.

[webfact]

4 off-topic posts and replies to it deleted

If you want your post to live please stay on topic

Thank you

[Credo]

While the present government jumps up and down and screams, Thaksin manages to get something done. Interesting.

[Siripon]

While the present government jumps and down and screams, Thaksin manages to get something done. Interesting.

I haven't seen any jumping up and down from the government- only measured responses to absurd remarks from Hun Sen and set ups by Thaksin.

70% of Thais think the whole spy thing is a set up, you've failed again Thaksin.

[Ricardo]

Thaksin has tete-a-tete with 'spy' in cambodia

By The Nation, Agencies

Published on December 14, 2009

Sivarak flies home today; ex-PM's second visit certain to stoke tension between neighbours

Fugitive ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra swooped into Phnom Penh yesterday and headed directly to the prison holding the Thai engineer convicted of spying, in a move destined to further strain ties with Cambodia.

Sivarak Chutipong, who was sentenced by a Cambodian court to seven years jail for leaking the flight plan of Thaksin's previous trip but was pardoned by Cambodia's king on Friday, will return to Thailand this afternoon, his mother Simarak na Nakhon Panom said.

Yesterday's meeting appeared to be the first time Sivarak had met Thaksin whose visit, the second in about a month, is certain to further stoke tension between the neighbouring countries. It has also been confirmed yesterday that Thaksin had requested Sivarak's pardon in a phone call to Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Amid speculation in Thailand that the Sivarak saga was a political manipulation to reboost his image, Thaksin was driven straight from the airport to Prey Sar prison. Some 300 special forces troops were deployed along the route of his motorcade and around the penitentiary's compound.

Thaksin was seen entering the facility's entrance and having a chat with Sivarak, who is due to be released today on a royal pardon from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

Sivarak's attorney Khieu Sambo said Thaksin met briefly with Sivarak, asking about his health and the names of those who ordered him to commit espionage.

Thaksin recently claimed the Thai government wanted his flight plan because it was plotting to use F-16 to attack his airplane.

<snip for brevity>

-- The Nation 14 Dec 2009

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Hopefully the Cambodian authorities can get on with releasing and repatriating the unfortunate Thai victim, now that their economic-adviser has had his photo-opportunity, and chance to interrogate the prisoner.

Does anyone have any information as to why it took 300 special-forces to secure DL's presence and route ? Were they expecting an airborne-attack, or is the prisoner so very dangerous, or were there some important people also travelling with the motorcade ?

[hammered]

While the present government jumps and down and screams, Thaksin manages to get something done. Interesting.

I haven't seen any jumping up and down from the government- only measured responses to absurd remarks from Hun Sen and set ups by Thaksin.

70% of Thais think the whole spy thing is a set up, you've failed again Thaksin.

Interesting number. Who knows whether it si a set up or a situation that Thaksin tried to take advantage of in reality, but the way it has been handled it and reported it has made it seem more like a set up than not.

I actually thought that Thaksin had played the PR around this quite well but seemingly not from those figures. The government with a very weak hand have done as well as they could by saying little and broadly welcoming the relesase. Interesting poltics again but at some point all this nonsense has to come to an end one way or another. The current poltical situation is unsustainable

[Samuian]

And so Takki arrives just in time for the 'spys' release. Of course, I am sure that it is nothing but coincidence

...and is going to see him in jail, calling Hun Sen to"help" for his ROYAL pardon, His Mum goes: "Only Thaksin can help"

it stinks, stinks so much of one of the cheap Thaksin screenplay's, when he himself still was a projectionist in his dad's cinemas.

It'is after all so obvious, his "Economic adviser" camouflage didn't help much, it was all about this stunt!

promoting himself as the good guy, with a big heart... all about HIS PARDON !!!!!

"They taken all my life savings!!!!" say's it all!

[Ricardo]

Sivarak's mother and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, chairman of the Thaksin-linked opposition party in Thailand, submitted a written request for the pardon to Hun Sen, who forwarded it to the king, Khieu Kanharith said.

Thaksin spoke to Hun Sen by telephone to request the pardon, Khieu Kanharith claimed.

-- The Nation 14 Dec 2009

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

While the present government jumps and down and screams, Thaksin manages to get something done. Interesting.

Manages to get something done, by working through his influential friends rather than via legal or diplomatic-channels, so that's what is meant by 'true democracy' and 'justice' in his elite world-view.

[BangkokJazz]

For myself, regardless of who was involved, I am glad the man was released, and will be sent home. I am sure his family is happy as well.

[animatic]

The same people that put him in jail got him released, so they could look like heroes.

Total BS stem to stern, top to bottom.