Concern Over New Border Protest Against Cambodia By Thai Patriots Group

[webfact]

Concern over new border protest

By The Nation

'Patriots' to mass at Sa Kaew to demand release of arrested Thais

A nationalist group plans to stage a protest against Cambodia today near the border in Sa Kaew province over the arrest of seven Thais last week, including a Democrat MP.

The Thai Patriots Group, a faction that split with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), claims that Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and six other Thais, including PAD member Veera Somkwamkid, were arrested on Thai soil - so they will demand that Cambodian authorities release them immediately.

Thai police and troops are expected to block the group from getting close to the border and limit any negative impact on bilateral relations.

Panich, Veera and five other Thais were arrested last Wednesday while visiting Thai villagers near the Sa Kaew border.

Panich claims he was arrested while visiting Thai villagers on Thai soil.

But Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya admitted that the seven Thais were inside Cambodia when they were arrested.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdee confirmed yesterday that the seven had encroached on Cambodian land.

He said the Royal Survey Department and Foreign Ministry officials had inspected the disputed area and confirmed that the seven Thais were on Cambodian soil.

Thani said Panich and his group could defend themselves in the Cambodian Court, and argue that they did not intend to encroach on Cambodian territory.

argument over land titles

Chaiwat Sinsuwong insisted yesterday the seven Thais were arrested in Thailand because the villagers were holding Nor Sor 3 land titles.

"The Thai government is distorting information by saying they were arrested in Cambodia. We would like to call on the Thai government to urgently help the seven Thais," Chaiwat said.

He said his group would leave Government House at noon for Sa Kaew, where they would organise a mass protest.

Chaiwat said his group would also demand that the Thai government file a lawsuit against Phnom Penh for unlawfully arresting Thais, and thus violating the Geneva Convention.

Karun Saingarm, another leader of the Thai Patriots, said local villagers at the spot where the seven were arrested were calling on the Thai government to issue them full land deeds, but state officials had refused to do this.

Karun said the government claimed the area was occupied by Cambodian troops. He said the Thai government's inaction was tantamount to accepting the 1:200,000-scale map of Cambodia and this would lead to Thailand losing the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre block near Preah Vihear Temple.

Also yesterday, the Thai Patriots submitted a letter to First Army Area Commander Lt-General Udomdej Sitabutr, urging him to help the seven Thais and protect Thai sovereignty at the disputed area.

The letter also informed the First Army Area of the group's plan to hold a protest near the Sa Kaew border.

Meanwhile, Charnvit Kasetsiri, former rector of Thammasat University, warned that the problem could escalate and harm bilateral ties with Cambodia.

He noted that the seven Thais did not inform local Army officials of their visit to the disputed area in Sa Kaew so their move was seen as a plan to stir up nationalistic feelings that could hurt ties between the two countries.

Also yesterday, Komsan Phothikong, deputy rector of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said Panich could lose his House seat if he is convicted of encroaching on Cambodian soil by the Cambodian court.

Komsan said if Panich gets a jail term and is not released on bail, he may be regarded as having lost his MP status.

Komsan said the Election Commission would have to invoke Articles 91 and 106 of the Constitution to seek a ruling from the Constitution Court on Panich's status, if the MP was convicted by the Cambodian court.

Komsan said although the alleged crime did not happen in Thailand, articles in the charter aimed to prevent people with tainted backgrounds from becoming public representatives.

"For example, if an MP steals in the US and is jailed, or if an MP enters Japan illegally and is jailed in Japan, he will also lose his MP status," he said. But Komsan noted that Panich might argue that his arrest by Cambodian authorities was unlawful.

-- The Nation 2011-01-03

[Siam Simon]

Abhisit must surely despair at the assortment of idiots that he's obliged to work with.

[Credo]

Extreme patriotism won't help. Neither will this group or the ones already in jail.

Not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, that's for sure.

[Prapoj]

"The Thai government is distorting information by saying they were arrested in Cambodia. We would like to call on the Thai government to urgently help the seven Thais," Chaiwat said.

Now Kasit is on Hun Sen pay roll?

[geovalin]

Very impressive article on the topic:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/45184/thai-mp-arrested-by-cambodian-authorities/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BangkokPundit+%28Bangkok+Pundit%29

The real problem is not these seven morons.

It's that:

The two men who were killed were part of a group of eight who crossed into Thailand; another group of 13 loggers crossed the border the same day, four of whom were arrested by Thai authorities and later released, Touch Ra added.

On Monday, Hor Namhong met with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. Among other things, they discussed the shootings of Cambodian loggers by Thai border guards, and Hor Namhong said Kasit had agreed to press Thai authorities to be more lenient with Cambodian trespassers.

If the only result of Hun Sen's angriness is to make the world aware of the killing of Cambodian civilians by Thai army, it's a success.

[Prapoj]

Very impressive article on the topic:

http://asiancorrespo...ngkok+Pundit%29

The real problem is not these seven morons.

It's that:

The two men who were killed were part of a group of eight who crossed into Thailand; another group of 13 loggers crossed the border the same day, four of whom were arrested by Thai authorities and later released, Touch Ra added.

On Monday, Hor Namhong met with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. Among other things, they discussed the shootings of Cambodian loggers by Thai border guards, and Hor Namhong said Kasit had agreed to press Thai authorities to be more lenient with Cambodian trespassers.

If the only result of Hun Sen's angriness is to make the world aware of the killing of Cambodian civilians by Thai army, it's a success.

Is this a fact?

There was no mentioning of any death until you point it out.

If there were any shooting, I am sure Thai press would have reported it already.

Hence I reserved my right to believe you, yet.

[geovalin]

Very impressive article on the topic:

http://asiancorrespo...ngkok+Pundit%29

The real problem is not these seven morons.

It's that:

The two men who were killed were part of a group of eight who crossed into Thailand; another group of 13 loggers crossed the border the same day, four of whom were arrested by Thai authorities and later released, Touch Ra added.

On Monday, Hor Namhong met with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. Among other things, they discussed the shootings of Cambodian loggers by Thai border guards, and Hor Namhong said Kasit had agreed to press Thai authorities to be more lenient with Cambodian trespassers.

If the only result of Hun Sen's angriness is to make the world aware of the killing of Cambodian civilians by Thai army, it's a success.

Is this a fact?

There was no mentioning of any death until you point it out.

If there were any shooting, I am sure Thai press would have reported it already.

Hence I reserved my right to believe you, yet.

Phnom Penh Post is a VERY reliable newspaper.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010122745661/National-news/government-to-probe-thailand-over-border-shootings.html

It happens often. I have plenty of examples in my records like this 16 years old teen burnt alive by Thai soldiers in 2009.

You look to believe Thai press...

:-)

State to probe Thailand over border shootings

Monday, 27 December 2010 19:01 Cheang Sokha and James O’Toole

E-mail Print PDF

Foreign minister Hor Namhong has announced plans to send a diplomatic note to Thailand inquiring about the shooting of two Cambodian loggers by Thai troops last week.

The men, aged 17 and 37, were shot last week in Thailand’s Sisaket province after crossing the border from Oddar Meanchey province’s Trapaing Prasat district. The incident marks the sixth shooting this year in which Cambodian loggers have been killed by Thai security forces, according to local rights group Adhoc.

“Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send a diplomatic note to Thailand about the violent shootings of loggers crossing into Thailand,” Hor Namhong said yesterday.

“I will use serious words to emphasise that the shooting is a cruel act and is unbecoming of a civilised country.”

Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said, however, that the shooting last week had in fact been initiated by the Cambodian loggers.

“It was a routine patrol, and [Thai forces] came across some people illegally ... logging, and as they approached them to stop them, they were fired upon by their guards, who were armed, so the patrol had fired back in defence,” Thani said yesterday.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, dismissed this claim as a “pretext” and an “excuse” that Thailand has used repeatedly following such shootings.

Last week, Hor Namhong met with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. The two reportedly discussed the shootings of Cambodian loggers, and Hor Namhong said Kasit had agreed that Thai authorities would be more lenient with trespassers.

Thani said the two had agreed to differentiate between subsistence farmers and hunters and those who are caught logging illegally or trafficking in human beings. While those in the former group will not be prosecuted for crossing the border illegally, Cambodia and Thailand will cooperate to combat the latter, Thani said.

[geovalin]

Officials say 16-year-old burned alive

Monday, 14 September 2009 15:02 Thet Sambath

Soldiers kill boy caught logging in Thailand, district governor says.

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.

Officials on Sunday denounced the violence as "cruel" acts carried out on unarmed villagers.

"Why did they burn a person alive? [The armed forces] should have arrested them if they did anything wrong in Thailand," said Pich Ratana, a Cabinet official in Oddar Meanchey.

"Our armed forces did not shoot Thai citizens when they were hunting animals in the Cambodian forest. They just arrested them and sent them back, but Thai soldiers do cruel things to innocent Cambodians," Pich Ratana said.

Thon Nol said officials would discuss the incident today.

"We are looking for all measures to assist the victims as well as actions on the Thai authority," Thon Nol said.

Thai Embassy officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Nanh Sovann, a Cambodian military officer who has worked with the Thai military, said Sunday he had heard of the incident but was waiting to see an official report before intervening.

The victim's family recovered his charred body and took it to their village for a funeral the day he was shot, Thon Nol said.

Thai officials have previously taken a heavy hand against Cambodians accused of illegal logging on Thai territory, particularly along the Oddar Meanchey border.

In August, 12 Cambodians were arrested along the border on suspicion of illegally logging.

Their disappearance initially prompted fears they had been killed, but the Thais have since revealed the men are in detention.

Two other men, however, were discovered dead last month. The Thai military said soldiers fired on the group in self-defence.

[asiawatcher]

Abhisit must surely despair at the assortment of idiots that he's obliged to work with.

Yep - that kinda says it all. And whose story do you believe? Foreign Ministry says they were in Cambodia, the Thais (of course) claim they were in Thailand and the comment about stirring up 'nationalism' is real. Thai's love that stuff! Thai rak Thai. But if they were in Thailand then why didn't Thai troops resist the Cambodian soldiers arresting? Muddied waters continue with this political football.

[Orac]

Abhisit must surely despair at the assortment of idiots that he's obliged to work with.

Yep - that kinda says it all. And whose story do you believe? Foreign Ministry says they were in Cambodia, the Thais (of course) claim they were in Thailand and the comment about stirring up 'nationalism' is real. Thai's love that stuff! Thai rak Thai. But if they were in Thailand then why didn't Thai troops resist the Cambodian soldiers arresting? Muddied waters continue with this political football.

It is one thing to be obliged to work with idiots but, according to an AFP report, "Abhisit said he had tasked Panich with seeking information about the border issue."

Granted he didn't tell him to get together with a bunch of ultra-nationalist nutters and go and invade Cambodia but there is a limited amount of involvement here.

[geovalin]

Abhisit must surely despair at the assortment of idiots that he's obliged to work with.

Yep - that kinda says it all. And whose story do you believe? Foreign Ministry says they were in Cambodia, the Thais (of course) claim they were in Thailand and the comment about stirring up 'nationalism' is real. Thai's love that stuff! Thai rak Thai. But if they were in Thailand then why didn't Thai troops resist the Cambodian soldiers arresting? Muddied waters continue with this political football.

It is one thing to be obliged to work with idiots but, according to an AFP report, "Abhisit said he had tasked Panich with seeking information about the border issue."

Granted he didn't tell him to get together with a bunch of ultra-nationalist nutters and go and invade Cambodia but there is a limited amount of involvement here.

Bangkok Pundit writes:

Initially, when BP thought they were arrested on disputed territory – seriously how could Panich state they were on Thai soil and be so wrong – it seemed that Hun Sen was up to his old tricks of antagonizing the Abhisit government. Yes, Hun Sen couldn’t force the 7 to the border, but if they were in a disputed area then the Cambodians could hardly arrest the 7 Thais, but now it has been confirmed they were 1 kilometre on the Cambodian solider so many questions arise. Was Abhisit aware when he made his statements demanding Cambodia release the Thais that they were actually in Cambodian territory? Why did he send Panich on this fact-finding mission? Why then did Panich take the PAD activists with him? Why didn’t they alert and coordinate their visit with the Thai military?

Let's try to guess:

To befriend with PAD, Abisith sent or agreed with Panich's action. He hoped it would be unnoticed by Cambodian authorities. Too bad! The boomerang came back. Abisith lost twice:

He lost his old friends from the PAD.

He lost his new friend Hun Sen.

[webfact]

Activists urged to avoid further conflict, not rally at Cambodian border

BANGKOK, Jan 3 – Both the Foreign Ministry and the Army Region 1 commander on Monday urged the yellow-clad activists of the Thailand Patriot Network not to rally tomorrow at the border, saying the move could sabotage talks between Thai and Cambodian authorities over the release of seven detained Thai nationals.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai foreign minister, spoke in response to the news that the so-called ‘patriots’ would protest tomorrow at Sa Kaeo province over the arrest of seven Thais by Cambodian soldiers as they inspected the border.

The seven, including Democrat Party member of parliament Panich Vikitsreth, and members of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement, were charged in a Phnom Penh Court with illegal entry and illegally entering a military base, crimes with penalties of up to six months and one year.

Mr Chavanond said the MP's wife was allowed to visit her husband at Prey Sar prison, Monday, and Thai embassy officials in Phnom Penh carried food and clothing when they visited.

Regarding little progress in helping the detainees, Mr Chavanont said the ministry has done its best but the long holiday limited possibilities to help.

The foreign ministry aide asked the Thailand Patriot Network to not rally as it will likely cloud the negotiations.

"Cambodia may think that Thailand is using politics to pressure it," noted Mr Chavanond.

"Helping the seven Thais is [our] priority. The border demarcation issue is a [distinct] matter being dealt with by a committee and it will take years to settle the [issue]," Mr Chavanond said.

It is reported that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will discuss the matter in Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting and may visit Cambodia to discuss the border dispute with his Cambodian counterpart.

Mr Abhisit however dismissed reports of his visit to Cambodia, saying he can meet Mr Hun Sen at regional pact meetings.

Meanwhile, Thailand Patriot Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwoung said Monday that his supporters at Government House will leave Bangkok at noon to join the Sa Kaeo rally and are expected to arrive at night.

Mr Chaiwat declined to disclose the specific protest site, but pledged that the rally will be held as planned to demand the release of the seven and act against Cambodia as they were arrested in Thailand.

At the same time, Army Region 1 commander Lt-Gen Udomdej Sitabutr on Monday urged those who will rally on Sri Pen Road along the border to consider the long-term impact of their action on the attempt to resolve the conflicts of the two countries.

If many join the protest, there is possibility that some may get stray into Cambodia, causing more problems, Gen Udomdej said.

He advised the protesters to present their complaint letter to concerned authorities in the provincial seat to avoid igniting further conflicts.

The army commander was confident that Cambodia will cooperate with Thailand in inspecting the area where the seven were arrested under the terms of their existing agreement. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-03

[geovalin]

Activists urged to avoid further conflict, not rally at Cambodian border

BANGKOK, Jan 3 – Both the Foreign Ministry and the Army Region 1 commander on Monday urged the yellow-clad activists of the Thailand Patriot Network not to rally tomorrow at the border, saying the move could sabotage talks between Thai and Cambodian authorities over the release of seven detained Thai nationals.

!!! Sabotage of the honeymoon between the 2 countries, it's exactly what the "Patriots" wish.

They expect a martyr, a guy who will provoke the Cambodian soldiers so much that he'll be shot.