PM Yingluck To Seek Pardon For 2 Thai Activists Jailed In Cambodia

[webfact]

PM to seek pardon for activists

By Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

Hopes high for Veera, Ratree as Thai MPs and Cambodian officials plan soccer match in Phnom Penh

The visit of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Phnom Penh next week, followed by a friendly soccer match between Thai MPs and Cambodian officials, and maybe a visit there by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, would strengthen ties between the two neighbours, Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday.

It might even help secure the release of two Thai nationalist activists held by the Cambodians.

Yingluck was scheduled to visit Cambodia on September 15, to introduce herself as the new prime minister of Thailand and to mend diplomatic relations damaged during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

The prime minister would discuss many topics to improve relations as well as ask for a royal pardon for activists Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, imprisoned in Phnom Penh on espionage charges, Jatuporn said.

Veera and Ratree were arrested with five other Thai nationals, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, on December 29 last year while inspecting a disputed border area near Sa Kaew province's Ban Nongchan.

They are being held in Prey Sar prison near Phnom Penh after being sentenced to eight and six years jail, respectively, on charges of espionage.

The previous government failed in several attempts to have them released due to sour relations over the boundary dispute. Nationalists Veera and Ratree accused Cambodia of violating Thai sovereignty in many areas along the border.

Veera's brother Preecha yesterday met Pheu Thai Party spokesman Promphong Nopparit to ask for help from the party in gaining freedom for the two activists, notably Veera who is not in good health. Preecha will fly to Phnom Penh today to visit Veera. "As we have a new government with good relations with Cambodia, I hope it can help my brother," Preecha said.

Jatuporn said Pheu Thai MPs planning the friendly soccer match with Cambodian officials on September 24 will also seek ways to help Veera and Ratree.

"I expect the two will be released soon as Prime Minister Yingluck and the MPs intend to help them when they visit Phnom Penh for the game," he said. "The improved relations between the two countries is now paving the way for good things."

The government supports the initiative by Jatuporn to kick off the friendship soccer match with Cambodia, deputy spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said yesterday.

The match would take place in Phnom Penh between Pheu Thai MPs and Cambodian officials to raise funds to help Thai activists Veera and Ratree and victims of the bloody crackdown in May last year, he said.

"But it is hard to say whether the match would help release the two Thai activists since we could not intervene in Cambodia's judicial process," he said.

The soccer match is being co-ordinated by fugitive pop singer star and red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong who is now on the run from terrorism charges for his role in protests against the previous government.

"Relations have improved dramatically after the victory of Pheu Thai, but we are talking about how to improve the ties even further,"

Anusorn said. "Sport is one way to help reconcile people of the two countries," he said. "It is absolutely better than war."

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly invited former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Cambodia on September 23-24, but it was unclear whether he would accept the invitation and join in the game.

Hun Sen himself would lead the Cambodian team and Thai MPs had invited Thaksin and hoped he would agree to lead their team, according to Jatuporn.

Jatuporn said the Pheu Thai MPs are planning similar matches with other neighbouring countries including Laos, Vietnam, Burma and Malaysia.

-- The Nation 2011-09-09

[Siripon]

Will the Thai team expect to be given red cards?

Hun Sen said Veera must serve two thirds of his sentence before he can be pardoned, surely we don't want to see double standards?

Veera and Ratree are truly political footballs in this case.

[random]

Hopefully Veera stays where he is,

[webfact]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

[hammered]

This political triumph for Yingluck and humiliation of the Dems has been set up for a while and the PAD will enjoy the humiliaition the Dems get too

[DP25]

mend diplomatic relations damaged during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

There are no relations to mend as the entire border "crisis" was orchestrated to split the PAD from the Democrats before the election

[hammered]

mend diplomatic relations damaged during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

There are no relations to mend as the entire border "crisis" was orchestrated to split the PAD from the Democrats before the election

What? The PAD and Dems split when the Dems and their mates bascially decided to prosecute the nuts off of the PAD so people might think they were even handed in their prosecution drives (not controversial analysis but genrally accepted), and when the Dems showed they had no interest in trying to get Thaksin back to jail, and think back to someone getting shot in the head. The PAD have hated the Dems for ages now and the border crisis had nothing whatsoever to do with being orchestrated to split the Dems from the PAD. The PAD are revelling in the Dems defeat at the election and their inability to stand up to the PTP now

[Siripon]

Support for the PAD has been derisory for some time now, now Suriyasai etc have broken away from Somsak to form the Green Party. If they were serious they'd have called themselves The Transparent Party.

I don't know if releasing Veera will humiliate the Democrats, rather it just confirms Hun Sen's closeness to Thaksin, an association that many Thais are suspicious of.

[Jessi]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Good! Throw him in Jail where he belongs

[Buchholz]

Maybe during the orchestrated release, some information on just what evidence of espionage there was might come out because other than walking through scrubland, no evidence of the serious charge was ever released at the time.

[pepi2005]

That's pretty much the only (concrete) activity we have seen from this new government so far:

the whitewashing of the Thaksin clan and his fellows.

No need to pay taxes for his children or his ex-wife, Red Shirts (activists or even terrorists, we will never know) in the parliament, Chalerm vows to achieve 'amnesty' for Thaksin (a convicted criminal), Yingluck seeks 'amnesty' for the hardcore Red Shirts (who are most probably terrorists too, otherwise they would already be back).

UNBELIEVABLE!

Needless to say that Thaksin will be back in December (as he already promised) and then, everything will go on exactly as before.

But then, these are "The Miracle Years of Amazing Thailand".

Edited September 9, 2011 by pepi2005

[Orac]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Good! Throw him in Jail where he belongs

Pity that he never got round to issuing that International Arrest Warrant that they could have applied

[hanuman1]

Maybe during the orchestrated release, some information on just what evidence of espionage there was might come out because other than walking through scrubland, no evidence of the serious charge was ever released at the time.

Standing up for convicted criminals? You would make a good Red Shirt!

[OzMick]

"Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said ...........since we could not intervene in Cambodia's judicial process."

it's a pity that they don't feel the same away about Thailand's judicial process.

Arisman, Thaksin, PTP MPs..............I suppose a charge of consorting with criminals could apply, but Arisman and Thaksin have enough charges waiting already.

Sorry DP, but I have to agree with the Hammer. the border incursions were not an attempt to split the Dems and PAD, they were to destabilise the Democrat government in the lead up to the elections. I still wonder what would have happened if the Democrats had declared war on Cambodia - a proven way for an unpopular govt to get re-elected; ask Maggie.

[moe666]

It apear now that the PTP are in office the border confrontations have ceased. I guess Thaksin and Hun Sin struck a deal to cause trouble while the Dems where in office. I would wonder what the payoff to Hun Sin will be.

[chuang]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Abhisit thinks he is still the PM of thailand....poor chap..

[DP25]

Sorry DP, but I have to agree with the Hammer. the border incursions were not an attempt to split the Dems and PAD, they were to destabilise the Democrat government in the lead up to the elections. I still wonder what would have happened if the Democrats had declared war on Cambodia - a proven way for an unpopular govt to get re-elected; ask Maggie.

There weren't bosom buddies like they had been in the past but the hostility stepped up to an entirely new level during the conflict. The purpose wasn't necessarily to get the PAD leadership to do anything, but to get the millions of sympathizers to start rethinking just before the election. PAD stepped up protesting and calling for the removal of the government, massive nationwide vote no campaign, spreading widespread doubts about the ability of the government to protect the border, calling the Dems just as bad as Thaksin etc. 6 Million fewer people voted in this election than in 2007, and they weren't PTP supporters that stayed home. The destabilization by Cambodia prior to the election was a success.

[mca]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Adding " We were so inept at it ourselves we're now asking his own sister and cronies to do it for us."

[animatic]

This political triumph for Yingluck and humiliation of the Dems has been set up for a while and the PAD will enjoy the humiliaition the Dems get too

Co-opting PAD, all part of the big plan. Reel them in now.

Likely going back to Sondhi 'miraculously surviving' 170 bullets in his car....

It's been all play acting ever since. If you want them to not come back or miss next time play ball.

The oil deal is too big to not play hardball.

[Buchholz]

Maybe during the orchestrated release, some information on just what evidence of espionage there was might come out because other than walking through scrubland, no evidence of the serious charge was ever released at the time.

Standing up for convicted criminals? You would make a good Red Shirt!

Asking for information is not standing up for convicted criminal.

Unlike the case with your Thaksin, there's less than a dirth of evidence that was presented.

.

[animatic]

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Abhisit thinks he is still the PM of thailand....poor chap..

No, he's the Shadow PM of Thailand, and as such it's his duty to

state disagreement with government points that he deems incorrect.

The Dems have always done a much better job in opposition that

PPP PTP ever did, because they actually understand the job.

[Ricardo]

It apear now that the PTP are in office the border confrontations have ceased. I guess Thaksin and Hun Sin struck a deal to cause trouble while the Dems where in office. I would wonder what the payoff to Hun Sin will be.

In a nutshell, oil/gas-rights.

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on govt to pursue arrest of Thaksin if he shows up for football match between Thai and Cambodian leaders /TAN_Network

Abhisit thinks he is still the PM of thailand....poor chap..

Disagree, he knows and is acting as though, he is the leaders of the Opposition. Quite right too.

[Buchholz]

Hopefully Veera stays where he is,

Sorry to disappoint, but it appears the bogus dog and pony show of Hun Sen is quickly getting ready to close the curtain.

.

Edited September 11, 2011 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

PM: expected to convince Cambodia to release two imprisioned Thais

BANGKOK, 10 September 2011 (NNT)-Foreign Minister Mr. Surapong Torwijakchaikul said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had been prepared to speak with her Cambodian counterpart Somdech Hun Sen for the release of Mr. Veera Somkwamkid and Ms. Ratree Pipatanapaiboon.

According to Mr. Surapong, the Cambodian trip is among the premier’s courtesy visit to the 10 ASEAN nations. Ms. Yingluch has begun the first leg of her trip to Brunei Darussalam today. The Foreign Minister claimed that the trips had been prioritized in an alphabetical order rather than their connection to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as understood.

It is expected that while the premier is paying the Cambodian Prime Minister a visit, she will also ask for the release of the two remaining Thais, who have been held behind bars for illegal entry. Mr. Surapong said he was hopeful the Prime Minister would be able to bring both Mr. Veera and Ms. Ratree home.

However, he added that whether the two of them would have to comply with Cambodian punishment or not it would depend on the deliberation of Cambodian government.

-- NNT 2011-09-10

[Buchholz]

And just like Hun Sen's last orchestrated fake spy play to benefit his ol' pal, Thaksin...

Thaksin to join Chavalit, Pheu Thai MPs to see Thai engineer released

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will fly to Phnom Penh to see the Thai engineer released by the Cambodian government.

Maj Gen Kattiya Sawasidpon said Saturday that Thaksin, Chavalit and other Pheu Thai MPs would witness the ceremony of the release of Sivarak Chutipong.

Sivarak was convicted in the spy charge and received a royal pardon by the Cambodian King on Friday.

-- The Nation 2009/12/12

Guess who's coming to town?

[Buchholz]

Thaksin to visit Cambodia

BANGKOK, 10 September 2011 (NNT)- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has a plan to travel to Cambodia next week.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadol Pattama revealed that the former PM has been invited by the Royal Academy of Cambodia to give a lecture on Asian and world economies to parliamentarians from different countries on September 19.

Mr. Noppadon said Mr.Thaksin had not accepted the invitation yet. Noppadon added that if Mr.Thaksin agrees to take up Cambodia's offer, his visit to Phnom Penh will be brief. The former PM will not stay there until the September 24 friendship football match between Pheu Thai and Cambodian MP's.

-- NNT 2011-09-11

[Buchholz]

The Foreign Minister claimed that the trips had been prioritized in an alphabetical order rather than their connection to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as understood.

I understand the Foreign Minister needs to have an English-language translator to speak with non-Thais, but surely someone can explain the A,B,C's to him so that he knows that B, I, C is not alphabetical. Otherwise people might surmise that Surapong got his Foreign Minister position mainly because he's Yingluck and Thaksin's cousin.

The prime minister began her official overseas trips in Brunei on Saturday. She is scheduled to make her first official visit to Indonesia on Monday, and on Thursday she will visit the Cambodian capital.

from:

Thai PM to seek release of two Thai activists jailed in Cambodia

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/thai-pm-to-seek-release-of-two-thai-activists-jailed-in-cambodia_153732.html

Edited September 11, 2011 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

Abhisit thinks he is still the PM of thailand....poor chap..

No, he's the Shadow PM of Thailand, and as such it's his duty to

state disagreement with government points that he deems incorrect.

The Dems have always done a much better job in opposition that

PPP PTP ever did, because they actually understand the job.

With respect, The Democrats have had a rather longer time in opposition so it's not much of a suprise that they do a better job at it. The only problem is they don't realise that the other half of the equation as an effective opposition is to stop being an opposition, i.e get elected. Now that part they're not so good at...................

[Orac]

Thaksin to visit Cambodia

BANGKOK, 10 September 2011 (NNT)- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has a plan to travel to Cambodia next week.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadol Pattama revealed that the former PM has been invited by the Royal Academy of Cambodia to give a lecture on Asian and world economies to parliamentarians from different countries on September 19.

Mr. Noppadon said Mr.Thaksin had not accepted the invitation yet. Noppadon added that if Mr.Thaksin agrees to take up Cambodia's offer, his visit to Phnom Penh will be brief. The former PM will not stay there until the September 24 friendship football match between Pheu Thai and Cambodian MP's.

-- NNT 2011-09-11

I am a bit confused how an invite that has not yet been accepted translates to "Thaksin to Visit Cambodia".

[elgato]

As long as Yingluck is seeking pardons, I'll bet she has another name for the list