Jump to content

Cambodia To Charge Thai MP In Border Incident: PM


Recommended Posts

Posted

Cambodia to charge Thai MP in border incident: PM

by Suy Se

PHNOM PENH, December 29, 2010 (AFP) - Cambodia said Wednesday it would charge a Thai ruling party politician and six others whom it accused of illegally entering its territory after they were arrested in a disputed border area.

The incident is likely to renew diplomatic friction between the neighbouring countries, which have a long-standing border dispute.

Democrat Party lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth was detained along with a group of journalists and members of the royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement while inspecting contested territory from Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo province.

"They were measuring Thai territory inside Cambodian territory. So Cambodia has the right to arrest them," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech at a government meeting on rural development.

He said the seven would be taken from the border in northwestern Banteay Meanchey province to the capital Phnom Penh where they would be charged and then locked up awaiting trial.

"They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," he said.

Hun Sen said he hoped that the incident would not affect relations between the two countries.

"I hope Prime Minister Abhisit (Vejjajiva) will understand the Cambodian judicial system," he said, adding that the arrests were "not revenge" against Thailand.

A Thai government spokesman in Bangkok said Abhisit was aware of the incident and trying to coordinate with Cambodia to resolve the situation.

"Now it's in the process of negotiation between local officers from both countries to release our people," said Panitan Wattanayagorn.

The Thai-Cambodia border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Relations between the two countries have been strained following a series of deadly border clashes in July 2008 over land surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple after it was granted UN World Heritage status.

Last month the Yellow Shirts held a rally outside parliament in Bangkok, calling on the Thai government to take a tougher stance against Cambodia over the border issue.

In October Cambodia accused Thai authorities of playing "dirty games" and concocting evidence that anti-government "Red Shirts" -- the arch rivals of the "Yellow Shirts" -- had received weapons training on its territory.

Thailand was outraged when Cambodia hired ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a hero to many of the Reds, as an economic adviser in November 2009.

The move led to both countries withdrawing their ambassadors and relations were not fully restored until Thaksin resigned in August.

Relations had appeared to be improving recently after Hun Sen and Abhisit held a series of meetings on the sidelines of international and regional summits.

afplogo.jpg

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-29

  • Replies 46
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

Cambodian authorities confirm 7 Thais, including MP, arrested after illegally crossing border into Cambodia; PM Hun Sen says they will appear in court Thursday: AP /MCOT

Posted

"... "They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," he said.

Hun Sen said he hoped that the incident would not affect relations between the two countries.

"I hope Prime Minister Abhisit (Vejjajiva) will understand the Cambodian judicial system," he said, adding that the arrests were "not revenge" against Thailand."

What's there to understand? What an idiot! But what stupidity of the Thai's for entering a disputed area - <deleted> were they thinking? Stupid is as stupid does. Another Forest incident.

Posted

None of them are diplomats. It's an MP and some private citizens. They have no special status outside of Thailand.

Perhaps, however, they thought the same thing as you did!

Posted

My guess is they were intentionally trying to force an incident. The Thai government now is in a tight spot. They wanted to simply ignore the border issue until after the election. Now they can't.

The Thai government can't simply accept Cambodia's right to arrest a Thai national in the disputed area. If they do, that would basically be an acknowledgment that Cambodia has sovereign rights to that region, and it isn't really disputed. So now Abhisit must respond in a way that says Thailand will not accept Cambodia's right to put these men on trial, as they committed no offense. Not sure what was really going on behind the scenes with Thailand and Cambodia, but it would seem this action was meant to derail something that was going the way some people didn't like.

My guess anyway. We'll see how it develops. I sure don't believe this was an accident, and I am quite certain the seven of them knew the consequences going in. They wanted this for whatever reason.

Posted

"Cambodia has released Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth, Veeera Somkwamkid, co-leader of the Thailand Patriot Network and the other five Thais arrested earlier today, Charoen Kanthawong, chairman of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said on Wednesday afternoon. He said their release had been confirmed by secretary-general to the foreign minister Chavanont Intharakomalsut." quoted. Google the quote for more.

Posted

Thanks to Cambodia's 3G- RT @Panich_Democrat "I might not b so convenient to tweet but we are safe. Thnks 4 yr concern." /via@veen_NT

Oh they have 3G overthere?

Posted

Thanks to Cambodia's 3G- RT @Panich_Democrat "I might not b so convenient to tweet but we are safe. Thnks 4 yr concern." /via@veen_NT

Oh they have 3G overthere?

A little of 4G also. That might all change if the two countries can settle some of there differences. That will give Thailand time to teach them how to stifle progress and make a profit at it. The Government wants to control it and we will all have 3g by 2015. The rest of the world will be on 5G.B)

Posted

THAI-KHMER TIES

Democrat MP among 7 arrested by Cambodia

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

med_gallery_327_1086_1985.jpg

Panich

Panich, yellow shirts face charges after viewing border

MP Panich Vikitsreth of the ruling Democrat Party and six yellow-shirt activists including Veera Somkwamkid will be tried and held in prison in Phnom Penh today, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly said after they were arrested yesterday while inspecting the Sa Kaeo border.

"I believe that the location where I was inspecting is under Thai sovereignty," Panich told The Nation by phone. "The 46th boundary monument that indicates the territory of the two countries is situated in the area."

Panich said his group was walking in a paddy field when eight or nine Cambodian soldiers took them into custody at 11am.

The disputed area in Ban Nong Chan village of Sa Kaeo's Khok Sung district has been claimed by Thailand and Cambodia for decades after a group of Cambodians fled from war to settle there.

Ban Nong Chan residents regard Sri Pen Road as the de facto boundary line and refrain from crossing over to the Cambodian side.

Panich, who is a member of the House committee on boundary affairs and a former vice foreign minister, said he needed to inspect the disputed area after locals complained that Cambodians occupied Thai territory.

Panich's group also included activist Samdin Lertbutr of the Dharma Army Foundation, who has close connections with Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Nationalist Veera claimed Cambodia intruded on to Thai soil at many places, including the areas adjacent to the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. Veera and his group were briefly held by Cambodian authorities in August when they also were inspecting the disputed area near Ban Nong Chan.

Panich made a phone call to inform Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party's headquarters in Bangkok about his arrest.

Maj-General Walit Rojanapakdi, commander of the Burapha Task Force, which oversees the area, assigned a team to negotiate with Cambodian authorities on releasing Panich and his group.

After the talks at the local level failed, the group was sent to Phnom Penh to begin undergoing prosecution for illegal entry, said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai foreign minister. The ministry would try its best and provide legal assistance to help the Panich group return home, he said.

Hun Sen said: "They were measuring Thai territory inside Cambodian territory. So Cambodia has the right to arrest them."

He said the seven would be taken from the border in the northwestern province if Banteay Meanchey to the capital, where they would be charged and then locked up awaiting trial.

"They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," Hun Sen was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.

He said he hoped the incident would not affect relations between the two countries.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over border disputes in recent years after Thailand moved to block Cambodia's proposal to list Preah Vihear as a world heritage site. The temple was ruled by the International Court of Justice in 1962 as situated inside Cambodia, but Bangkok has argued that the surrounding areas belong to Thailand.

Negotiations to settle the boundary conflict have moved at a snail's pace, as the Joint Boundary Commission cannot proceed with talks without approval from Parliament.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2010-12-30

Posted

Comment # 1

These Thai guys are lucky. If they were Cambodians caught by Thai army, they would had been shot in the back without any warning.

Comment # 2

We read since a few weeks that the Thai Ultra Nationalists are in the area to create incidents. Previously, Thai army was monitoring them to avoid that. Why, yesterday, did the Thai army allowed them to act?

Comment # 3

The Cambodian soldiers should be more clever than the Thai ones and not shoot or capture the trespassers. Just push back with a simple kick in the ass.

Posted

PM holds urgent meeting over arrest of 7 Thais by Cambodia

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday held an urgent meeting of security agencies over the arrest of Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and six other Thais by Cambodia authorities.

The meeting was held at the Government House at 9 am.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Supreme Commander Gen Kitti Jakkrabatra, Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and National Security Council Secretar-General Thawil Pliensri as well as Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2010-12-30

Posted

PM said bilateral relations unaffected.? Really?

Yes, relations unaffected, really, if Thai PM remains wise and understands that he could be manipulated by crazy Thai nationalists.

All of us know that they acted intentionally to be captured, to create an incident which could degenerate.

Posted

Thai PM Calls for Immediate Release of Thais Captured by Cambodia

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has demanded the immediate release of seven Thai nationals being held by Cambodian authorities for allegedly entering the country illegally. One of the seven is Democrat MP Panich Vikitset. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to meet with his Cambodian counterpart to discuss the matter this afternoon.

tanlogo.jpg

-- Tan Network 2010-12-30

footer_n.gif

Posted

*Forrest

*No apostrophe in 'Thais'

No offence but it's a good idea to get your spelling and grammar right when accusing others of stupidity.

"... "They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," he said.

Hun Sen said he hoped that the incident would not affect relations between the two countries.

"I hope Prime Minister Abhisit (Vejjajiva) will understand the Cambodian judicial system," he said, adding that the arrests were "not revenge" against Thailand."

What's there to understand? What an idiot! But what stupidity of the Thai's for entering a disputed area - <deleted> were they thinking? Stupid is as stupid does. Another Forest incident.

Posted

Comment # 1

These Thai guys are lucky. If they were Cambodians caught by Thai army, they would had been shot in the back without any warning.

Comment # 2

We read since a few weeks that the Thai Ultra Nationalists are in the area to create incidents. Previously, Thai army was monitoring them to avoid that. Why, yesterday, did the Thai army allowed them to act?

Comment # 3

The Cambodian soldiers should be more clever than the Thai ones and not shoot or capture the trespassers. Just push back with a simple kick in the ass.

Comment # 1 - Really? Do you have any evidence to support this assertion? It seems a little extreme. I thought the Cambodian-Thai border was quite porous in places with locals going back and forth on a daily basis.

Comment # 3 - Why would that be more clever?

Posted

Thailand urges Cambodia to free detainees in border incident

BANGKOK, December 30, 2010 (AFP) - Thailand's premier on Thursday demanded the immediate release of seven Thais, including a ruling party politician, who were detained by Cambodian troops near the countries' disputed border.

"Cambodia must release all seven Thais immediately," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters. "Cambodia should not take this case to court as it will further complicate the issue."

The seven, including Democrat Party lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth, appeared in a court in Phnom Penh on Thursday for questioning, a day after being detained by Cambodian authorities, who said they had entered its territory illegally.

They were taken to the Phnom Penh municipal court under tight security in the morning for a hearing that was closed to the media, according to an AFP reporter. By mid-afternoon there was still no announcement by the court.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday the seven, who also include members of the royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement, would be charged and put in jail to await trial.

In an attempt to secure their release, the Thai foreign minister was due to travel to Cambodia to meet his counterpart later Thursday.

"Cambodia must take into consideration that if they want cordial ties they should rely on negotiations. If not then there is a problem for both sides," Abhisit said.

He warned that it would be unacceptable to Thailand if Cambodian soldiers had intruded into its territory to make the arrests. Abhisit said he had tasked Panich with seeking information about the border issue.

The two countries have a long-standing dispute over their border, which is not fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since a series of deadly border clashes in July 2008 over land surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple after it was granted UN World Heritage status.

Deputy Thai premier Suthep Thaugsuban, however, acknowledged that the seven Thais were on Cambodian territory when arrested.

"Panich and his entourage passed the border police checkpoint and border police followed them by car to ask them to return, but they were already on Cambodian soil," he said.

afplogo.jpg

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-30

Posted

Comment # 1

These Thai guys are lucky. If they were Cambodians caught by Thai army, they would had been shot in the back without any warning.

Comment # 2

We read since a few weeks that the Thai Ultra Nationalists are in the area to create incidents. Previously, Thai army was monitoring them to avoid that. Why, yesterday, did the Thai army allowed them to act?

Comment # 3

The Cambodian soldiers should be more clever than the Thai ones and not shoot or capture the trespassers. Just push back with a simple kick in the ass.

Comment # 1 - Really? Do you have any evidence to support this assertion? It seems a little extreme. I thought the Cambodian-Thai border was quite porous in places with locals going back and forth on a daily basis.

Comment # 3 - Why would that be more clever?

#1

17 March 2010

TWO Cambodian nationals are feared to have been shot and killed by Thai soldiers in separate incidents in Banteay Meanchey province’s Thma Puok district along the border with Thailand, officials said on Monday.

One man was shot dead by Thai soldiers in Banteay Meanchey province’s Thma Puok district on Saturday after straying into Thai territory to cut down trees, provincial governor Oung Ouen said.

Semptember 2009

Oddar Meanchey officials Sunday accused Thai soldiers of shooting a Cambodian teenager and burning him alive.

Yon Rith, 16, was killed after Thai armed forces accused him of illegally felling trees, said Thon Nol, governor of Samrong district in Oddar Meanchey province.

Thon Nol said Yon Rith was first arrested and then burned. Another teenager from the same village in Kon Kreal commune, 18-year-old Mao Kleung, was also shot and seriously wounded, he said, but villagers managed to carry him to Cambodian territory, and he is is now in an Oddar Meanchey hospital.

#3

I feel that a simple bawling out is wiser than to kill people or to put them in jail with the risk of escalation.

Posted

THAI-CAMBODIAN TIES

Main obstacle is Veera : Suthep

Negotiations with Cambodia to free seven Thais including a Democrat MP, have not gone well mainly because one of the group has previously been arrested for illegally entering Cambodia, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday.

He was referring to a yellow-shirt leader, Veera Somkwamkit, who is known for his strong views on the Preah Vihear controversy and border disputes.

"The negotiation is facing more difficulties because Khun Veera has been held by Cambodian soldiers for entering a nearby site," Suthep said.

Veera was earlier detained by Cambodian soldiers after being spotted on Cambodian soil. He was freed after lengthy negotiations.

On Wednesday, the Cambodian soldiers took into custody MP Panich Vikitsreth and six yellow-shirt activists including Veera while they were inspecting a paddy field in Ban Nong Chan village of Sa Kaeo's Khok Sung district. The site has been claimed by both countries for decades following the settlement in Ban Nong Chan by a group of Cambodians fleeing the war.

The seven are now in prison in Phnom Penh and are scheduled to appear in court today.

Suthep told reporters that Panich and his team appeared to enter about 200-300 metres into Cambodia.

A senior security source meanwhile said that the site is a disputed area claimed by both countries, the area into which the group entered appeared to be behind the disputed line, deeper into Khmer territory.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2010-12-30

Posted

One should be very careful about the company they keep. I think the MP now knows that.

Personally, I steer clear of drug dealers and ultra-nationalistic people. Both are likely to get you into trouble.

Posted

"... "They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," he said.

Hun Sen said he hoped that the incident would not affect relations between the two countries.

"I hope Prime Minister Abhisit (Vejjajiva) will understand the Cambodian judicial system," he said, adding that the arrests were "not revenge" against Thailand."

What's there to understand? What an idiot! But what stupidity of the Thai's for entering a disputed area - <deleted> were they thinking? Stupid is as stupid does. Another Forest incident.

These thais are not clowns, they were there in a " disputed area " to create trouble giving the fact that one of them had been arrested before for illegal entry in Combodia.. :annoyed:

Posted

My favourite line is this one:

"They will be sent to the court on Thursday and when the court charges them, they will be jailed in Prey Sar prison," he said.

'When" the court charges them, not "if" the court charges them?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.




  • Topics

  • Popular Contributors

  • Latest posts...

    1. 0

      Former Village Head Shot Dead by Friend in Sakhon Nakhon

    2. 15

      DOGE: Wall of Deceits

    3. 5

      Thailand Live Wednesday 5 March 2025

    4. 0

      Decomposed Body Found Dumped in Forest Near Chonburi Road

    5. 5

      Thailand Live Wednesday 5 March 2025

    6. 0

      Factory Worker Killed as Lorry Turns Across Her Path in Chachoengsao

  • Popular in The Pub

×
×
  • Create New...