Two Foreigners, One Thai Arrested Near Thai-Cambodian Border For Spying On Military Bases

[webfact]

Three arrested near Thai-Cambodian border for spying on military bases

BANGKOK, June 10 -- Three men -- a Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian -- were arrested by the Thai military for spying on this country’s military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket.

Police in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and a unit of Special Forces Rangers based in the province arrested the three men, identified as Suchart Muhammad, 32, a Thai national; Ung Kimtai, 43, a Cambodian national, and Nguyen Tengyang, 37, a Vietnamese national.

The three men were detained at Phum Srol village at 5pm on Tuesday while they were driving to find Thai military base locations and shelters for villagers in the province.

Their pickup truck with a Bangkok license plate was seized.

Pol Col Sompoj Khomprang, superintendent of Kantharalak district police station, said the arrest followed a military intelligence report that the three were driving around the province gathering information on military bases and bunkers built for local residents along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The authorities also found a Cambodian military map and a Thai map with different scales and four mobile phones, he said.

There were ten digit numbers written down on the map of Thailand which were only understand among the three, an apparent code.

Urine tests administered by the authorities found that Mr Suchart and Mr Ung Kimtai tested positive for methamphetamines. Both confessed to having used the drug earlier.

The three suspects were charged with espionage threatening Thailand’s national security, while Mr Suchart, as the driver, and Mr Ung Kimtai both faced additional charges of drug abuse.

After the arrest, an official of Cambodian Consulate-General in Sa Kaeo province visited the trio for ten minutes to seek options to help them. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-10

[rkidlad]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

[hellodolly]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

You are giving it far more credit than it deserves.

[JUDAS]

I wonder if anyone has actually picked up a 'phone and tried to call the 10 digit secret code numbers

[webfact]

PM: Thailand not to extradite Cambodian spies

BANGKOK, 10 June 2011 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced that Thailand will not extradite recently arrested Cambodian spies to Cambodia since they must be prosecuted under Thai laws.

Prime Minister Abhisit stated that the extradition will not be made since many documents and maps showing strategic points of the Thai side were found with the culprits upon the arrest. He added that Bangkok will inform Phnom Penh that such an action is not acceptable.

Asked if the Cambodian spies will be used to negotiate for the release of Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon now detained in Prey Sar Prison or not, the prime minister responded that the issue is being considered in detail.

Prime Minister Abhisit noted that the arrest of Cambodian spies in Thailand provides a very good evidence to attest that Thailand has never invaded Cambodia as the latter has been claiming, but on the other hand, Cambodia is carrying such a mission against Thailand.

The prime minister also disclosed that the government will report the arrest of Cambodian spies in Thailand to the World Heritage Committee and the International Court of Justice; however, he believed that it might not bring any impact.

-- NNT 2011-06-10

[webfact]

PM: Three arrested for spying will be prosecuted under law; more investigation needed to find motivation, international community to be informed /MCOT

PM says Thai authorities were just enforcing the law in the arrest of 3 spies believed to be working for Cambodia /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Thailand Not to Return Suspected Spies to Cambodia

The prime minister affirms that Thailand will not return three Cambodians arrested for suspected spying to Cambodia and they will be charged in Thai court.

Yesterday, three Cambodian citizens were arrested near the Thai-Cambodian border in Kantharalak District in Si Sa Ket Province.

Thai authorities alleged that the three were gathering information on the strength and locations of the Thai military forces deployed along the border.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has commented on the arrest, saying that the suspects will be not be handed over to Cambodia as requested by Phnom Penh.

Instead, they will be prosecuted under the Thai law.

The premier added that strategic maps were found on the arrested Cambodians.

The Thai government is also planning to lodge a formal protest with Cambodia for sanctioning the espionage.

When asked whether the suspects will be used to barter for Cambodia's release of jailed activists Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, Abhisit said all the details are being reviewed at the moment.

The prime minister also pointed out that the arrest is a proof to the international community that Thailand is not the aggressor in the border conflict as accused by Cambodia.

He said the Thai government will also report the incident to the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee and the International Court of Justice.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-10

[ESB7]

What did the rest of Europe think when Hitler started his march through Europe.........this is just the tip of the iceberg

[RedNIvar]

I say keep the Cambodian here, ship the Vietnamese guy to Cambodia and send the Thai to Vietnam. That's fair.

I wonder if the 10 digit number starts with 08x-xxx-xxxx.

[webfact]

PM: Three arrested for border spying will be prosecuted under law

BANGKOK, June 10 -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the three men arrested for spying along the Thai-Cambodian border will be prosecuted in accord with the law, but that investigation was needed to determine their motivation. He reaffirmed that the international community to be informed about the incident.

Three men -- a Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian -- were arrested by the Thai military for spying on this country’s military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket.

Police in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and a unit of Special Forces Rangers based in the province arrested the three men, identified as Suchart Muhammad, 32, a Thai national; Ung Kimtai, 43, a Cambodian national, and Nguyen Tengyang, 37, a Vietnamese national.

The three men were detained at Phum Srol village at 5pm on Tuesday as they appeared to be driving systematically to locate Thai military base and bomb shelters for villagers in the province.

Mr Abhisit said that the new case would proceed under the law, but he could not speculate on progress of talks with the Cambodian authorities on exchange of prisoners, to bring back two the Thailand Patriots Network activists jailed in a Khmer prison on espionage charges, saying that the issue should be considered carefully.

A Cambodian court on Feb 1 ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Mr Veera was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.

"We will inform Cambodia that these moves are unacceptable. We will inform the international community, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, that the incident shows the ill intention of Cambodia. The international community will see that Cambodia's claim that Thailand invaded its territory is not true," the premier said, noting on the contrary that Cambodia had invaded Thailand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-10

[jeanpierre]

i am manuell from barcelona i know notting

[Scout666]

"There were ten digit numbers writtendown on the map of Thailand which were only understand among the three, an apparent code."

I would prefer (read: hope) to believe that the authorities would recognise a telephone number or, at least have it checked. The "code"however could really be something as simple as a grid reference which, should not come as too much of a surprise given that the "code" was written on a map. A 10 figure grid reference would be accurate enough to pin down a bunker entrance or more easily a gun emplacement for example.

Just a thought.

Edit due to 'joined up writing' being just that.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Scout666

[OzMick]

Mr Thai Muslim may be in for a tough time - very little chance of being exchanged and more severe charges which could lead to a fatal injection.

[Buchholz]

Mr Abhisit said that the new case would proceed under the law, but he could not speculate on progress of talks with the Cambodian authorities on exchange of prisoners, to bring back two the Thailand Patriots Network activists jailed in a Khmer prison on espionage charges, saying that the issue should be considered carefully.

A Cambodian court on Feb 1 ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Mr Veera was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.

"We will inform Cambodia that these moves are unacceptable. We will inform the international community, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, that the incident shows the ill intention of Cambodia. The international community will see that Cambodia's claim that Thailand invaded its territory is not true," the premier said, noting on the contrary that Cambodia had invaded Thailand.

Interesting that, unlike Veera and Ratree, these 3 actually had descriptions of what their alleged espionage entailed. Those 2 were sent to prison for 8 years and 6 years for offenses that were, AFAIK, never described as anything further than "spying."

Oh well, these three will get equal or lengthier, based upon their more involved espionage activities, prison sentences here.

Wanna trade, Hun Sen?

Also, bad timing on HS's part... what with their cases just filed with the UN and whatnot detailing how Thailand's supposedly the aggressor.

.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Buchholz

[dumpling]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

I was thinking more a joke, what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

FEEL FREE TO ADD PUNCHLINE!

Edited June 10, 2011 by dumpling

[webfact]

Thailand arrests three 'border 'spies'

BANGKOK, June 10, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand has arrested three men on suspicion of spying near its disputed border with Cambodia, accusing its neighbour Friday of "violating" its territory.

One Thai, one Cambodian and a Vietnamese man were picked up in Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket province on Tuesday evening carrying maps with military facilities marked on them, police said.

Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a bitter dispute over their shared border that has seen 28 people killed in two outbreaks of fierce fighting this year, and the row has since moved to the United Nations' highest court.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the alleged spying activities were unacceptable.

"I am confident this information benefits us because foreign countries can see that the Cambodian government is violating Thai territory," Abhisit told reporters while campaigning in Bangkok for next month's election.

The suspects have denied they were spying in the area, the police officer who made the arrest told AFP.

Police said they confiscated both Thai and Cambodian maps and mobile phones.

The three are being held in prison and the Vietnamese and Cambodian nationals have requested consular assistance, police added.

Cambodia last month launched a legal bid at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague seeking to force Thailand to pull troops from a disputed strip of land near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

The court ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia but both Phnom Penh and Bangkok claim ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) patch of nearby territory.

Cambodia in April asked the ICJ to clarify its initial ruling.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-06-10

[Pi Sek]

Obviously a fake trio - it's all a ruse and Abhisit personally paid these guys to drive around and get arrested, just so that they could say "sorry, yeah, we were spying in preparation for Hun Manet's invasion of Thailand next month" in time for the ICJ judgement.

^^

There will be people already posting such rubbish on an Internet forum somewhere.

[Pi Sek]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

I was thinking more a joke, what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

FEEL FREE TO ADD PUNCHLINE!

A Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian went to Si Sa Ket but were caught spying. The RTA asked them what their plans were.

The Thai told them that he was looking at a new place to be become the hub of espionage. The local area commander demanded his tea money, agreed on a future rate for repeat offences, gave him a wai and sent him on his way.

The Vietnamese told them that he was checking out what the capitalist Thai was doing so he could report on the joys of communism when he got home. He got deported, after paying some tea money.

The Cambodian said < FILL IN THE GAP - MAYBE THAIVISA CAN OFFER A PRIZE >

[Misterwhisper]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

Yes indeed. It's title is: "Thailand - The Movie"; watch it in a theatre near you soon! I hear it's also one of the top contenders at the upcoming Razzie Awards...

[sydneyjed]

'The UnBourne Identity'

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

[RickBradford]

what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

Very cheap dog-meat somtam?

[SantiSuk]

Top operatives obviously. Very professional of them to have popped a few tabs earlier!

[dumpling]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

I was thinking more a joke, what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

FEEL FREE TO ADD PUNCHLINE!

A Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian went to Si Sa Ket but were caught spying. The RTA asked them what their plans were.

The Thai told them that he was looking at a new place to be become the hub of espionage. The local area commander demanded his tea money, agreed on a future rate for repeat offences, gave him a wai and sent him on his way.

The Vietnamese told them that he was checking out what the capitalist Thai was doing so he could report on the joys of communism when he got home. He got deported, after paying some tea money.

The Cambodian said < FILL IN THE GAP - MAYBE THAIVISA CAN OFFER A PRIZE >

like it ......

[PeeKay]

Wow! It's like something out of a B-movie.

I was thinking more a joke, what do you get when a Thai a Vietnamese and a Cambodian go to Si sa ket?

FEEL FREE TO ADD PUNCHLINE!

A Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian went to Si Sa Ket but were caught spying. The RTA asked them what their plans were.

The Thai told them that he was looking at a new place to be become the hub of espionage. The local area commander demanded his tea money, agreed on a future rate for repeat offences, gave him a wai and sent him on his way.

The Vietnamese told them that he was checking out what the capitalist Thai was doing so he could report on the joys of communism when he got home. He got deported, after paying some tea money.

The Cambodian said < FILL IN THE GAP - MAYBE THAIVISA CAN OFFER A PRIZE >

The Cambodian said, "What do you mean arrested? My map shows I'm still in Cambodia".

[12DrinkMore]

"There were ten digit numbers writtendown on the map of Thailand which were only understand among the three, an apparent code."

I would prefer (read: hope) to believe that the authorities would recognise a telephone number or, at least have it checked. The "code"however could really be something as simple as a grid reference which, should not come as too much of a surprise given that the "code" was written on a map. A 10 figure grid reference would be accurate enough to pin down a bunker entrance or more easily a gun emplacement for example.

Surely not GPS coordinates?????

Na, impossible, they would have thought about that.

[arrowsdawdle]

Three guys in a pickup truck. Guilty for spying. No trial. Have they access to legal representation? All quite pat. But why would this story make sense when Google Earth Professional could accomplish the same thing, at least preliminarily, from the comfort of home with coordinates and hi res photos? Not enough detail or current enough images? Universities have access to real time imaging for agricultural research on such things as erosion, salinity, spectral brightness, etc. And why would Hung Sen want to swap prisoners? First, why would Hung Sen care about a Thai and a Vietnamese? Second, Even if Hung Sen actually did something as patently stupid as to collaborate with such an unnecessary scheme, for him to entertain any possibility of a prisoner swap would be tantamount to an admission of culpability. Surely, if he sent them they got the Mission Impossible speech and knowledge of them will be disavowed.

[ratcatcher]

Just who do we really have here?

MCOT says: 1 Thai , 1 Vietnamese, 1 Cambodian

National News Bureau of Thailand says: 3 Cambodian Spies

TAN Network says: 3 Cambodians

AFP says: 1 Thai, 1 Cambodian, 1 Vietnamese

The Nation says: 1 Thai, 1 Cambodian, 1 Vietnamese

The "Other" paper doesn't even make a mention

The thick plottens.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

"My name is Jao......Jao Boon Dee - Zoon Zoon Hok Krueng"

[witsawakorn]

I wonder if anyone has actually picked up a 'phone and tried to call the 10 digit secret code numbers

Its more likely that they are ten digit Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) coordinates I would think given that they were written on a map!!

[Tanaka]

"There were ten digit numbers writtendown on the map of Thailand which were only understand among the three, an apparent code."

I would prefer (read: hope) to believe that the authorities would recognise a telephone number or, at least have it checked. The "code"however could really be something as simple as a grid reference which, should not come as too much of a surprise given that the "code" was written on a map. A 10 figure grid reference would be accurate enough to pin down a bunker entrance or more easily a gun emplacement for example.

Surely not GPS coordinates?????

Na, impossible, they would have thought about that.

Who?