Authorities Rush To Free Thai Tourists Arrested In Laos On Espionage Charges

[webfact]

Authorities Rush to Free Thai Tourists Arrested in Laos

Three Thais are facing espionage charges in Laos during their trip in Champasak, Pakse Province.

On July 22, three tourists, including 41-year-old Samart Yaothani, 34-year-old Thanwa Supakam and 32-year-old Worapon Kamsena, were arrested and charged with espionage after they took a photo of a Laotian radar military base.

Ubon Ratcha Thani Governor, Surapon Saipan, said that he has instructed Sirithorn District Chief Thorntan Shinkomut to coordinate with Pakse authorities to bring the three Thais home.

In the initial stage, Champasak Governor Sornchai Sripandorn indicated that the Thais do not understand Laotian, and so mistakenly took a prohibited photo around the military base.

However, the entrance of three tourists was legal. He insists that they would be released soon.

He also warns all tourists to be careful when taking photos.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-29

[webfact]

3 Thai tourists arrested in Laos

Three Thai tourists have been arrested by Laotian soldiers in Laotian city of Pak Se while they took photos near a military camp since Sunday and their friends and relatives haven't heard from them since, the alleged victims' friend revealed Wednesday.

Chiang Rai resident identified only as Ore told reporters that Thanwa Supakham, 34, Samart Yaothani, 41, and Worapol Khamsena, 36, obtained a 10day permit to drive their Isuzu pickup truck around Laos and departed since July 21.

However, they telephoned on Sunday that they were arrested in Pak Se, after they took photos near a military camp and a radar station on mountain accidentally.

Hearing no more from the three men, their families and friends were now worried and tried to ask for help from the Laotian Embassy in Thailand and the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry but there was no progress, she added.

-- The Nation 2011-07-29

[KKvampire]

Laos defense,, The army is pathetic a single brigade could overthrow it

Edited July 29, 2011 by KKvampire

[edgarfriendly]

hopefully whilst being detained these tourists will be forced to overstay their visa/permit and suffer extortionate fines and intimidation because of that.

Then get falsely accused of shoplifting before being detained longer before coughing up 40-50,000 baht for translation/extortion fees.

Then get 'fined' for littering or some other illegal move blatantly 'committed' by everyone around them.

Then they can come back and badmouth just how awful all foreign countries.foreigners are and how much they love being back at home. where its safe.

....before selling their spy pics to the new govt.

ef

[LuukKoeyKorat]

Surely they were arrested for filming the LACK of military equipment - possibly too embarrassing for the Lao government??

[aaacorp]

Laos defense,, The army is pathetic a single brigade could overthrow it

Not sure China would let this happens.....

[rogerdee123]

Laos defense,, The army is pathetic a single brigade could overthrow it

Not sure China would let this happens.....

It didn't happen the last time the Thai military squared off against the Lao over a border dispute.

[nowork114]

Laos defense,, The army is pathetic a single brigade could overthrow it

Not sure China would let this happens.....

It didn't happen the last time the Thai military squared off against the Lao over a border dispute.

Look it up here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai%E2%80%93Laotian_Border_War

Of course the famous Gen. Chavalit was behind the failure ...

[Thai at Heart]

Look it up here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai%E2%80%93Laotian_Border_War

Of course the famous Gen. Chavalit was behind the failure ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai%E2%80%93Laotian_Border_War

Ownership of the village of Ban Romklao on the border of Phitsanulok Province and three small border villages on the edge of Uttaradit Province was left unclear. This is the same map underlying the Cambodian–Thai border dispute.)

Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was the commander of the Royal Thai Army at the time of the war and was criticized for engaging in it against the wishes of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Seems like deja vu all over again. Insanity and repeating actions comes to mind.

[RedNIvar]

Thailand seems to lack the capability of walking the talk. Time and again I hear Thai's claim to be able to crush their Cambodian, Laos neighbors at will. However when push comes to shove they seem to take an ass whopping. Laos may be militarily inferior, but if we base on past records this does not stop them from teaching Thailand a lesson.

There might be some truth to this, we just don't know.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand seems to lack the capability of walking the talk. Time and again I hear Thai's claim to be able to crush their Cambodian, Laos neighbors at will. However when push comes to shove they seem to take an ass whopping. Laos may be militarily inferior, but if we base on past records this does not stop them from teaching Thailand a lesson.

There might be some truth to this, we just don't know.

Thailand likes to pride itself on having better equipment. Unfortunately, as one military super power found out, that doesn't count for much when fighting in this part of the world.

[nowork114]

... i wonder when the photos of the Laotian Radar Base will be published on 1st page of Thai Rath

[kuffki]

Why are so many going little nuts?

Try to take a photo of any military base radar in any country in the world and see what happens to you.

In some countries you will be simply shot without questions asked.

Laotian military strength is not in question here.

What is in question is why would regular tourist want to take a photo of military base radar?

[Thai at Heart]

Why are so many going little nuts?

Try to take a photo of any military base radar in any country in the world and see what happens to you.

In some countries you will be simply shot without questions asked.

Laotian military strength is not in question here.

What is in question is why would regular tourist want to take a photo of military base radar?

In the age of satellites, why does anyone need to take a picture? Couldn't they just ask the yanks for a picture?

[djlest]

In most countries a sign will be erected saying

NO PHOTOS HERE

DO NOT TAKE PICS HERE

NO CAMERAS ALLOWED

If these were present then the Thai Tourists should get whatever Laos feels like dishing out...

I myself many moons ago was with my mother in Cyprus - where she grew up in a military base as her father was in the RAF

We drove past and, you guessed it - she snapped a few pics... about half an hour later the army descended on us and removed the film from our cameras... then let us go on our merry ways...

[RickBradford]

It's only 10 years since a bunch of Brits were arrested in Greece for photographing military aircraft ..... at an air show.

It usually means somebody in the power structure is trying to make a point.

[a99az]

The question is why was a tourist taking photos of a Laotian radar military base?

[Nisa]

The real question is: How many Thais does it take to take 1 picture?

[caribbeanman]

Laos defense,, The army is pathetic a single brigade could overthrow it

Not sure China would let this happens.....

vietnam neither

[caribbeanman]

Thailand seems to lack the capability of walking the talk. Time and again I hear Thai's claim to be able to crush their Cambodian, Laos neighbors at will. However when push comes to shove they seem to take an ass whopping. Laos may be militarily inferior, but if we base on past records this does not stop them from teaching Thailand a lesson.

There might be some truth to this, we just don't know.

Thailand likes to pride itself on having better equipment. Unfortunately, as one military super power found out, that doesn't count for much when fighting in this part of the world.

you also need to remember something, Laos is not alone in this world, if thailand ever dare to touch them then , thailand will must to face vietnam, and i don't think that that's what Thailand wants.

[geriatrickid]

Missing from the story is who these Thais are. Where are they employed and what is their relationship to the Thai military?

Wouldn't it be interesting to know that aspect of the story?

[rreddin]

In most countries a sign will be erected saying

NO PHOTOS HERE

DO NOT TAKE PICS HERE

NO CAMERAS ALLOWED

If these were present then the Thai Tourists should get whatever Laos feels like dishing out...

I myself many moons ago was with my mother in Cyprus - where she grew up in a military base as her father was in the RAF

We drove past and, you guessed it - she snapped a few pics... about half an hour later the army descended on us and removed the film from our cameras... then let us go on our merry ways...

There is often a pictorial sign in addition to the written warning, the meaning of which is quite clear. Them not understanding the Laos language does not ring true. There are sufficient similarities between the two languages for them to understand the meaning of the signs. It looks very much as if they knew what they were doing.

[Bagwan]

I suggest that the Thai Ministry of Mental Health gets involved. Surely these people know it is against the law to take photos, even in Big C.

I note that three Thai tourists were arrested, The report includes the names three of them. Who are the others?

[webfact]

UPDATE

Laos Frees 3 Thais Arrested in Sawannaket

Laos has released three Thai tourists who have been detained in Laos since July 24 for taking pictures near a Laotian military camp.

Deputy governor of Mukdahan Sommai Preechasilp rushed to welcome home three Thai nationals who have been detained in Laos since July 24.

Three tourists - Samart Yaothani, Thanwa Supakam and Woraphon Kamsena - were arrested when they took photos near a Laotian radar military base in Laos's Sawannaket District.

After they were released, the three Thais thanked the Laotian officials for their care during their detention in Laos.

In addition, Samart said in an interview that he is extremely happy to be able to return home.

He admitted he cannot understand Laotian and had mistakenly wandered too close to the military base.

He urged other Thai tourists to be more cautious when they holiday in Laos.

In addition, Sommai thanked the Laos People Democratic Public and Sawannaket officials for rushing to their rescue.

He too urged tourists to equip themselves with the knowledge of the destination country's prohibitions to avoid breaking the law unintentionally.

After the three Thai were arrested, the Foreign Ministry cooperated with the Thai embassy in Vientiane and the Thai consulate general in Sawannaket District to provide legal aid to the tourists.

The Laotian court ruled to fine the three individuals 12 million Laotian kips or the equivalent of 12,000 Thai baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30