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

[whybother]

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.

Guilty??? .... Arrested.

Google Earth pictures are updated about once a year (at most). I don't think they would get much info on troop movements or placements over the last couple of months.

Since when do universities ... particularly in Thailand ... get real time access to satellites for their research?

I agree on the prisoner swap. Hun Sen will let them rot in a Thai prison. There is little chance that he would acknowledge that they'd been working for the Cambodians.

[maprao]

Google earth would have probably given more info than they could have obtained on the ground!

[sirchai]

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

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.

Seems that people need to use Meth to get along with each other in Kantharalak district....:jap:

[sirchai]

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.

Guilty??? .... Arrested.

Google Earth pictures are updated about once a year (at most). I don't think they would get much info on troop movements or placements over the last couple of months.

Since when do universities ... particularly in Thailand ... get real time access to satellites for their research?

I agree on the prisoner swap. Hun Sen will let them rot in a Thai prison. There is little chance that he would acknowledge that they'd been working for the Cambodians.

They had some serious telephone numbers of nice gigs. Isn't that reason enough to get arrested?

[KeyserSoze01]

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

You are giving it far more credit than it deserves.

More like the cartoon network.

Having maps and cells phones is hardly enough evidence to convict anyone of espionage.

Oh wait, we are talking about Thailand, correct? No evidence needed.

[whybother]

Three guys in a pickup truck. Guilty for spying. No trial. Have they access to legal representation?

Guilty??? .... Arrested.

They had some serious telephone numbers of nice gigs. Isn't that reason enough to get arrested?

Just commenting on arrows comment about them being "Guilty for spying. No trial".

They were arrested. There wasn't a trial and they haven't been found guilty of anything yet.

[radiochaser]

"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.

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) map grid coordinates???

[aaacorp]

please give us thos 10 digits so we can work on it... are they 4 8 15 16 23 42 ???

if yes then i think they are just fan of the Hanso fundation and will just reset the time...much better maybe

[folium]

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!!

A 10 figure grid reference identifies a 1m square and is a typical GPS grid reference.

An MGRS map reference would normally be prefixed by a 2 letter grid square designator, and a 2 letter square identifier (without these the grid numbers would be meaningless). Looks like therefore a 10 digit GPS readout.

Edited June 10, 2011 by folium

[khaowong1]

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

Are you kidding, they would be way too easy..

I can hear it now. " Hello, Somchai's noodle stand, how can I help you?"

[swerver]

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!!

A 10 figure grid reference identifies a 1m square and is a typical GPS grid reference.

All you 40 posts before are missing the point.

It is a setup by the Thai General proving that Thailand needs its own Homeland Security Ministry under control of the Thai Army. By arresting these 3-hiredhands he shows the Thai people that their safety and security cannot be left in the hands of a bunch of corrupt money hungry civilians, and at the same time hoping to attract Homeland Security gung ho Obama's attention who has just signed off on its extension for the US, so Obama who is scouring the world to send the Rambo US military can send them to Thailand as Thaksin ones proposed in a letter to George W. Bush to help Thaksin to control the Thai people in case of disturbances against him in which he could not depend on the Thai military - after all he was a Thai Police Colonel, not a Thai Army Colonel. Unfortunately for Thaksin George W. Bush had other things on his dinner plate than to bother with Thailand, which still would be there another day, and that other day maybe on the horizon and BushBama is just the boy to take care of it this time. LOL in LOS.

Edited June 10, 2011 by metisdead
Font normalized, please use default forum font.

[webfact]

Three men arrested over spying charges

By The Nation

Three men have been arrested for allegedly collecting information about military installations and shelters on Thai soil for Cambodia. The trio is made up of a Cambodian, a Thai and a Vietnamese citizen.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that these arrests should benefit Thailand in its efforts to solve the demarcation dispute with Cambodia.

"This clearly shows Cambodia's intent and disputes its claims that Thailand was the first to start using force and incursion. The arrests, on the other hand, show that Cambodia has been active militarily [against Thailand]," he said.

He added that Cambodia would be officially informed about the arrests and said that Thailand would not accept this kind of behaviour.

"Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti [as chief negotiator handling the Preah Vihear dispute] has told me that he will use the arrests at the [international Court of Justice] trial and other arenas," he added.

"The arrests will be used in all arenas to show the world community Cambodia's real intent. We still have time to supply relevant information to the World Heritage Committee working on the Preah Vihear temple, or possibly to the ICJ which is currently trying to resolve the demarcation issue,"

All we need to do now is verify the facts, which I am sure are favourable for Thailand [over the demarcation and Preah Vihear temple issues]," he said

The three men arrested on Tuesday were identified as Thai national Suchat Muhammad, 32; Cambodian Eung Kimthai, 43; and Vietnam national Wieng Terng Yang. Apart from spying charges, Suchat faces additional charges of drunk driving and Kimthai for drug abuse.

Among the suspects' possessions, soldiers found two maps each of Thailand and Cambodia, four mobile phones and a piece of paper containing 10digit numeric codes that could only be understood by them. The men were nabbed while travelling in a pickup truck in Si Sa Ket province. Cambodia authorities have offered to detain the three men, but the Thai military said the suspects would be tried under the law.

-- The Nation 2011-06-11

[webfact]

Thailand informs Cambodian, Vietnamese embassies on spy arrest

BANGKOK: - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Friday said his ministry informed the Cambodian and Vietnamese embassies in Bangkok about the arrest of their nationals for alleged spying, affirming that legal action would be taken under Thai law.

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

Mr Kasit said he instructed the Department of East Asian Affairs to continue to inform both embassies on details of the arrest and gave assurances that the case would proceed in accord with Thai law without any political intervention.

However, he would coordinate with police and the Office of the Attorney-General for the facts related to the case.

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.

Regarding the possibility of exchanging those detained with two Thai activists now being jailed in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges, the Thai foreign minister said it remains to be seen how the judicial procedures runs its course.

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.

Mr Kasit said that in according to Thai law, a prisoner must serve at least two thirds of his or her jail term before an exchange of prisoners could be possible.

Thailand was ready to cooperate with Cambodia over the matter as the government did in the past, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-11

[webfact]

Cambodia issues statement claiming Thai PM staged arrest of suspected spies to pave way for attack /TAN_Network

PM hasn't seen Cambodian statement and says Foreign Ministry will have to issue updates on espionage case /TAN_Network

[webfact]

PM: Thai FM will clarify on spy case to concerned agencies

BANGKOK, June 11 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Saturday that he had assigned Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya to clarify on the arrest of three men -- a Thai, a Cambodian and a Vietnamese -- apprehended earlier this week on charges of alleged spying of Thai paramilitary bases and bunkers built for Thai villagers at the Thai-Cambodian border to concerned agencies.

Mr Abhisit told journalists the clarification would be made after the Phnom Penh government reportedly issued a statement saying that it has never sent spies to gather intelligence in Thailand and alleged that the ongoing charges were made up by the Thai government on a pretext to invade Cambodia.

Although he had not yet seen the statement, Mr Abhisit said he has ordered Mr Kasit to clarify the matter to concerned offices.

On Friday, Mr Kasit said his ministry had informed the Cambodian and Vietnamese embassies in Bangkok about the arrest of their nationals for alleged spying, affirming that legal action would be taken under Thai law. The trio were identified as Suchart Muhammad, 32, a Thai national; Ung Kimtai, 43, a Cambodian national, and Nguyen Tengyang, 37, a Vietnamese national, and were arrested Tuesday evening at a Thai border village in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket.

Mr Kasit said on Saturday the Thai government is willing to exchange the arrested Cambodian and the Vietnamese with two Thai activists now detained in Cambodia on espionage charges, but under the Thai law a prisoner must serve at least two-thirds of jail term before an exchange of prisoners could be possible.

A Cambodian court ruled on February 1 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.

Thailand has always cooperated with Cambodia, Mr Kasit said, adding that it would be better to wait for the Thai judicial process regarding the apprehended three men proceeded before the government issued further statement. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-11

[Fookhaht]

Three guys in a pickup truck. ...

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. .....

Your first five words explain it all.

We're not talking Agent 007 here. More like the bumbling detectives of Naked Gun 2-1/2. Worse. Three different nationals, running around at the border in a pick up with Bangkok plates, high on amphetamines, Thai and Cambodian maps spread out. These were the wannabee Three Amigos, set out to singlehandedly gather all the intelligence Cambodia would need to invade Kantharalak today and Bangkok tomorrow.

Your Google Earth and university real-time imaging couldn't have been further from their minds. Probably paramount in their thinking was, "At lunch, should we stop for spicy curry, pho, or caw?"

[webfact]

Cambodia slams Thai 'spy' arrests

PHNOM PENH, June 11, 2011 (AFP) - Cambodia has accused Thailand of "deceitful fabrication" after Thai police arrested three men on suspicion of spying near the neighbours' disputed border.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia wishes to assert that the above fabrication is only a pretext to justify future aggression against Cambodia," said a foreign ministry statement released on Friday.

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.

On Friday Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the alleged spying activities were unacceptable and accused Phnom Penh of "violating Thai 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, according to Thai police.

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

Cambodia said it "categorically rejects this deceitful fabrication by the Thai authorities and prime minister, intending to mislead the public and malign Cambodia", adding it had no need to spy.

Last month the country 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.

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

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-06-11

[Buchholz]

Court jails Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese for spying

Si Sa Ket - The Ganthalak district court Tuesday sentenced a Thai, a Cambodian and a Vietnamese to two years in jail each on charge of spying along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The three were identified as as Thai national Suchart Muhammad, 32, Cambodian Ung Kimtai, 43, and Vietnamese Nguyen Teng-yang, 37.

They were arrested on June 7 on the Ganthalak-Khao Phrawihan Road in Tambon Khao Phrawihan in Ganthalak district while driving a pick-up truck.

The court convicted them of spying on the locations of the military bases and bunkers of the civilians along the border.

Weerawat Thongsut, the defence lawyer, said the three defendants will appeal against the ruling.

-- The Nation 2011-09-06