Thai Activists Veera And Ratree Not Being Freed: Cambodia

[webfact]

THAI-KHMER TIES

Veera and Ratree not being freed: Cambodia

By THE NATION

Cambodia yesterday denied that two Thai nationalists, Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, were being released from a Cambodian prison, saying the two associates needed to complete two-thirds of their sentence before a royal pardon could be granted.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry in a statement said the news reports that authorities in Phnom Penh would free Veera and Ratree as a gift for the official visit of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today were false and unfounded.

"The ministry wishes to reconfirm that the case of these two Thai nationals will be processed in accordance with the laws of Cambodia and that they will have to serve at least two-thirds of their prison term before a royal pardon could be considered," it said.

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

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.However, a high-ranking Cambodian Cabinet source told Kom Chad Luek he's confident Veera and Ratree would soon be pardoned, though not now. He said Phnom Penh didn't want to be seen as applying different standards to two Thai governments.

Veera is the leader of the Thai Patriot Network (TPN). He is extremely anti- Thaksin Shinawatra and champions the protection of Thai territory from Cambodia's claims. He said Cambodians have occupied Thai soil in many locations along the border including the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple.

Yingluck said she would raise the case of Veera and Ratree for discussion with her Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to secure their early release. She has not yet received notification from Phnom Penh that the pair would be released on the same day she was in Cambodia.

It is up to authorities in Phnom Penh to decide on the fate of the two Thai activists, she said. "If they are really freed, I would be glad. It's my duty to take care of all Thais," she told reporters.

Government Spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang said the Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed there was no release of the two Thai nationals during the visit of Yingluck.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a member of the TPN, said it would be a big disgrace for the previous government under the Democrats' Abhisit Vejjajiva if Veera and Ratree really got freedom during or soon after Yingluck's visit to Cambodia.

Abhisit had failed in several attempts over the past months to bring them back, he said.

THAI PATRIOT NETWORK 'DOES NOT OWE YINGLUCK ANYTHING'

However, the TPN did not owe Yingluck anything for the return of his nationalist comrades, he said.

"It would never change our stance and perspective on the national interest," said Chaiwat, who is an active member of the yellow shirts.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, tweeted his gratitude to Yingluck's government for the efforts to help Veera and Ratree.

"If Veera and Ratree were really freed, the credit should go to this government," he said. "Life and freedom are the most important things."

TPN spokesman Soontorn Rakrong said the group would continue its mission to protect Thailand's territory and sovereignty regardless of which government was running the country or how it helped the group's activists.

"Veera and Ratree have sacrificed a lot for the country, and it is the government's responsibility to help Thai activists. Assistance to individuals does not mean we have to stop our activities. A reward for the benefit of individuals must not be paid at the cost of the national interest," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-15

[webfact]

INN: DPM Chalerm claims there will be good news about Veera and Ratree soon; says law is obstacle to extraditing Thaksin from Cambodia /TAN_Network

[rubl]

"The ministry wishes to reconfirm that the case of these two Thai nationals will be processed in accordance with the laws of Cambodia and that they will have to serve at least two-thirds of their prison term before a royal pardon could be considered," it said.

Sivarak Chutipong, who was sentenced by a Cambodian court to seven years jail for leaking the flight plan of k. Thaksin's trip, served a month in jail, most of it awaiting sentencing.

"Amid speculation in Thailand that the Sivarak saga was a political manipulation to reboost his image, Thaksin was driven straight from the airport to Prey Sar prison. Some 300 special forces troops were deployed along the route of his motorcade and around the penitentiary's compound.

Thaksin was seen entering the facility's entrance and having a chat with Sivarak, who is due to be released today on a royal pardon from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2009/12/14/politics/Thaksin-has-tete-a-tete-with-'spy'-in-ca-30118453.html

Makes you wonder about the circus around the k. Veera and k. Ratree.

[webfact]

Cambodia Denies Reports of Processing Royal Pardon Appeal for 2 Thai Detainees

Cambodia has dismissed reports by the Thai media that it is processing a royal pardon appeal for two Thai detainees arrested on espionage charges.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry has released a statement denying reports by the Thai media that the Cambodian government is in the process of considering a royal pardon appeal for two Thai nationals, Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who are being detained in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges.

Cambodia claimed the reports are false, while reiterating that the Thai detainees must serve two thirds of their sentences before being allowed to seek a royal pardon from the Cambodian monarch.

Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thanee Thongpakdi said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra might bring the issue of Veera and Ratee to discussions during her visit to Cambodia today.

He added that his ministry has not received confirmation on reports that the two have been released by the Cambodian authority.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-15

[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

Act II, Scene I of the play, "Magnanimous Display of Helping Fake Spies", is about to begin...

Thaksin to visit Cambodia

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

the two associates needed to complete two-thirds of their sentence before a royal pardon could be granted

now on to Act II, Scene II of the play, "Magnanimous Display of Helping Fake Spies", is about to begin...

which is intriguingly inserted to make mention of an obstacle Thaksin faces with his pardon. Cambodia will ultimately relent on that specific requirement and eventually release the 2 jailed Thais (probably quite soon and with great flourish, same as the first bogus spy charge case quoted above).

The cries will then go up, "If Cambodia can removes that obstacle, why can't Thailand?"

.

[Buchholz]

It is up to authorities in Phnom Penh to decide on the fate of the two Thai activists, she said. "If they are really freed, I would be glad. It's my duty to take care of all Thais," she told reporters

It doesn't any more magnanimous than that from Yingluck.

When the 2 were put in jail, her PTP co-horts basically said, let 'em rot in hell.

Now a few months later, it's all "it's my duty to take care of all Thais"...

Now, I'll be all jai dee and get them released...

Good grief, can't they come up with a better scriptwriter than copying their screenplay from December 2009?

Phhffttt

.

Edited September 15, 2011 by Buchholz

[hammered]

And it twists back the other way with Hun Sen reminding PTP they cant expect everything (without something?). Of course allowing for another sudden twist in patriot games.

[rubl]

And it twists back the other way with Hun Sen reminding PTP they cant expect everything (without something?). Of course allowing for another sudden twist in patriot games.

"Meanwhile, the quick pardon for Mr Sivarak has left the Puea Thai party in an awkward position. The news about Mr Sivarak’s freedom came just hours before the party’s planned submission of letters for the royal pardon to the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok yesterday."

http://asiancorrespondent.com/26266/how-did-the-thai-engineer-receive-his-pardon/

[Arkady]

Let these two idiots rot in jail till they have completed two thirds of their sentences. They got exactly what they asked for and refused to take the easy way and admit they were in Cambodia like the others who were released almost immediately.

[rubl]

Let these two idiots rot in jail till they have completed two thirds of their sentences. They got exactly what they asked for and refused to take the easy way and admit they were in Cambodia like the others who were released almost immediately.

Let those two TPN members stay in jail for a while, I agree. I don't agree with 'take easy way and admit to be in Cambodia'. Clearly (?) a stretch along the border is disputed and a Thai should not admit 'this is Cambodia', just like a Cambodian shouldn't admit 'this is Thailand'. That would set dangerous precedents.

I would also really dislike for k. Thaksin to have to go to Prey Sar prison again to collect a fellow Thai. Like that time when he had to pick up the engineer who looked at his flight plan. Now that was a crime of the same order. The engineer got seven years and was pardoned a week after his sentence was announced. Rumour has it k. Thaksin phoned his 'eternal friend' PM Hun Sen. K. Veera's mother has asked both Pheu Thai and k. Thaksin April this year to help her son as the then Abhisit government was unable to influence the Cambodian 'judicial' system

"BORDER DISPUTE

Veera sentenced to eight years in Cambodian jail"

Edited September 15, 2011 by rubl

[Buchholz]

Let these two idiots rot in jail till they have completed two thirds of their sentences. They got exactly what they asked for and refused to take the easy way and admit they were in Cambodia like the others who were released almost immediately.

Seems fair. That would mean Thaksin does only 15 months behind bars for the same sort of denials and refusals.

.

Edited September 15, 2011 by Buchholz

[webfact]

THAI-CAMBODIAN TIES

Hun Sen to seek reduced jail terms for Veera and Ratree

By The Nation, Agencies

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised visiting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday that he would seek reduced jail terms for two Thai activists imprisoned for espionage, but insisted a royal pardon could be considered only after they had served two-thirds of their sentences.

During their meeting in Phnom Penh, Yingluck had asked Hun Sen to seek a way to help Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who are serving eight and six years, respectively.

They were arrested in December while inspecting a disputed border area near Sa Kaew's Ban Nongchan village.

The prime ministers also discussed overlapping maritime claims, trade, investment, and a plan to issue third-country tourists with a single visa for the two countries, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said.

The two leaders agreed to comply fully with an International Court of Justice (ICJ) injunction to withdraw troops from a disputed border area adjacent to Preah Vihear Temple and allow Indonesian observers to monitor a cease-fire, he said.

Yingluck and Hun Sen assigned their defence ministers to decide details of the Preah Vihear peacekeeping operation and the withdrawal of troops from the ICJ-determined demilitarised zone.

The ICJ issued provisional measures ordering a troop withdrawal pending an interpretation of its 1962 judgement on the temple as requested by Cambodia. The court ruled in 1962 that the temple is situated in Cambodia, but Thailand argues that its adjacent land belongs to Thailand.

Hun Sen told Yingluck that if the ICJ decides that the disputed 4.6 sq km near Preah Vihear belongs to Thailand, Cambodia will hand it to Thailand unconditionally, Hor Namhong said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-16

[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

==========================================================================

Act II, Scene I of the play, "Magnanimous Display of Helping Fake Spies", is about to begin...

Thaksin to visit Cambodia

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

the two associates needed to complete two-thirds of their sentence before a royal pardon could be granted

now on to Act II, Scene II of the play, "Magnanimous Display of Helping Fake Spies", is about to begin...

which is intriguingly inserted to make mention of an obstacle Thaksin faces with his pardon. Cambodia will ultimately relent on that specific requirement and eventually release the 2 jailed Thais (probably quite soon and with great flourish, same as the first bogus spy charge case quoted above).

The cries will then go up, "If Cambodia can removes that obstacle, why can't Thailand?"

Today, the curtain opens for Act III, Scene I of the play, "Magnanimous Display of Helping Fake Spies" with a slight twist in the cookie-cutter script... while proclaiming an inability to change the obstacle, 2/3 of a shortened sentence results in a release soon.

Hun Sen to seek reduced jail terms for Veera and Ratree

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised visiting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday that he would seek reduced jail terms for two Thai activists imprisoned for espionage, but insisted a royal pardon could be considered only after they had served two-thirds of their sentences.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/09/16/national/Hun-Sen-to-seek-reduced-jail-terms-for-Veera-and-R-30165432.html

Edited September 15, 2011 by Buchholz

[Siripon]

Yes, what's the chances they get released when big brother turns up today? That would be a snub to Yingluk-

'You're not important enough to release these pawns to, let the real PM get the credit'.

Perhaps.....

[Buchholz]

.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's also said that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had promised to find ways for the early release of two Thai activists jailed in a Cambodian prison.

--BNO News / Sept. 16, 2011

.

[Arkady]

Let these two idiots rot in jail till they have completed two thirds of their sentences. They got exactly what they asked for and refused to take the easy way and admit they were in Cambodia like the others who were released almost immediately.

Let those two TPN members stay in jail for a while, I agree. I don't agree with 'take easy way and admit to be in Cambodia'. Clearly (?) a stretch along the border is disputed and a Thai should not admit 'this is Cambodia', just like a Cambodian shouldn't admit 'this is Thailand'. That would set dangerous precedents.

I would also really dislike for k. Thaksin to have to go to Prey Sar prison again to collect a fellow Thai. Like that time when he had to pick up the engineer who looked at his flight plan. Now that was a crime of the same order. The engineer got seven years and was pardoned a week after his sentence was announced. Rumour has it k. Thaksin phoned his 'eternal friend' PM Hun Sen. K. Veera's mother has asked both Pheu Thai and k. Thaksin April this year to help her son as the then Abhisit government was unable to influence the Cambodian 'judicial' system

"BORDER DISPUTE

Veera sentenced to eight years in Cambodian jail"

Actually they would have done better to admit they were in Cambodia like the others who actually called Abhisit's aide to leave a message that they had just into Cambodian territory that was posted on Youtube. As it is, their stubbornness is going to end up as a massive coup for Thaksin who will go to Cambodia to get them freed and force them to prostrate themselves in pathetic gratitude to him.

After Abhisit came to power, the yellow shirts did almost as much to help Thaksin as the red shirts with their public petulance out of spite for only being given one cabinet seat. The one they did get went to Kasit who was a disaster for the country and did untold damage to the Democrats. How would it have been if the yellows had been given more cabinet seats? As with everything else in Thailand it was all about who gets to stick his nose into the trough to thieve public funds but was dressed up to appeal to pea brained nationalists.