Two Thais Jailed In Cambodia: No Transfer For Veera, Ratree

[webfact]

No transfer for Veera, Ratree

Two Thai nationalists jailed in Cambodia for “spying” do not qualify for a transfer to serve their terms in Thailand as their charges are a security concern, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said yesterday.

Pracha’s statement kills any chance of yellow-shirt activists Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon being released from prison in Cambodia soon. The pair were jailed on charges of espionage, receiving eight and six years respectively in December 2010.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly initiated an idea to exchange the pair for Cambodian nationals jailed in Thai prisons when he met Thai Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha last week.

Currently, there are 39 Thais detained in Cambodia, while more than 2,200 Cambodians are jailed in Thailand.

Thailand and Cambodia signed an agreement on the transfer of prisoners that came into force in 2009, but it was not an agreement to exchange prisoners, Pracha said.

Prisoners qualified for transfer under with the agreement must serve at least a third of their jail term first and their charges must not involve security matters, he said.

“Basically the cases of Veera and Ratree are not qualified for transfer and so far the Justice Ministry has not yet received a request from concerned parties,” Pracha said.

The prisoner transfer could only be conducted with the consent of three concerned parties; the prisoners themselves, their countries of origin and the host country where they were sentenced, Pracha said. Thailand has similar agreements with 31 countries around the world.

Since the agreement with Cambodia, Phnom Penh requested the transfer of four prisoners detained on charges of smuggling drugs and two had already been sent to Cambodia, he said.

Phnom Penh is now requesting the transfer of five more prisoners and all qualify, Pracha said, noting the five did not include any charged with spying.

Attempts to free Veera and Ratree failed several times during the previous government due to poor relations. The new government has sparked hopes as it was on good terms with leaders in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen promised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra when she visited Cambodia early this month he would seek ways to reduce the jail terms of the Thai activists as the chance of a royal pardon was slim. Officials said they would only qualify for a royal pardon once they have served two thirds of their jail term.

-- The Nation 2011-09-27

[Arkady]

At least we were spared last week from the spectacle of these two idiots being forced to grovel in front of Thaksin in gratitude for having them pardoned like the last one. Leave them there till all their teeth have dropped out.

[diehard60]

I agree!!!!! Let them stay till the end of their term. they deserve it and more.

[rubl]

The other newspaper quotes FM Suraporn from NewYork as saying PM Hun Sen had shown an intention to help and would help reduce the jail terms to allow the two jailed to apply for a Royal pardon.

No comment

[phiphidon]

The other newspaper quotes FM Suraporn from NewYork as saying PM Hun Sen had shown an intention to help and would help reduce the jail terms to allow the two jailed to apply for a Royal pardon.

No comment

Well funningly enough, if you believe the OP Hun Sen promised that very thing to the PM

Hun Sen promised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra when she visited Cambodia early this month he would seek ways to reduce the jail terms of the Thai activists as the chance of a royal pardon was slim. Officials said they would only qualify for a royal pardon once they have served two thirds of their jail term.

So if the jail terms are reduced the quicker they will be able to apply for a Royal pardon - So why No Comment?

[rubl]

The other newspaper quotes FM Suraporn from NewYork as saying PM Hun Sen had shown an intention to help and would help reduce the jail terms to allow the two jailed to apply for a Royal pardon.

No comment

Well funningly enough, if you believe the OP Hun Sen promised that very thing to the PM

Hun Sen promised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra when she visited Cambodia early this month he would seek ways to reduce the jail terms of the Thai activists as the chance of a royal pardon was slim. Officials said they would only qualify for a royal pardon once they have served two thirds of their jail term.

So if the jail terms are reduced the quicker they will be able to apply for a Royal pardon - So why No Comment?

The 'seek ways to reduce jail terms' by a PM sounds a bit suspicious. Having said that the flight engineer Siwarak who endangered the Cambodian sovereign state by spying on it's citizen Thaksin, was sentenced to seven years and got pardoned a few days after having been sentenced and spent most of the time in jail in arrest awaiting sentencing.

Edited September 27, 2011 by rubl

[webfact]

Minister Affirms Shortened Sentences for Two Jailed Thais

The foreign minister says the Cambodian government will push for reduction of jail terms for the two Thai activists currently imprisoned in Cambodia.

The minister hopes by reducing their sentences, they will be eligible for an amnesty before the original date.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed to help secure an amnesty for two Thai activists, Weera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon.

The two Thais have been detained in a Cambodian prison on espionage and illegal entry charges.

Surapong said Hun Sen will help pave the way to reduce the jail sentences Weera and Ratree are facing.

The foreign minister hopes by reducing the prison sentences, the two will meet Cambodia's requirements for a royal pardon.

According to the Cambodian law, Weera and Ratree are required to serve at least two-thirds of their prison terms before a royal pardon could be considered. Weera has been sentenced to eight years in jail and Ratree to six.

Surapong explained that Weera and Ratree have been indicted on national security-related charges and, therefore, could not be freed under a prisoner exchange agreement with Cambodia.

Surapong is still in New York, representing Thailand at the United Nations General Assembly.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-27

[ToffeEFCpower]

The trial should be judged a mistrial and the Thais sent back for trial by a Thai court. After all they are Thai and Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

[phiphidon]

The 'seek ways to reduce jail terms' by a PM sounds a bit suspicious. Having said that the flight engineer Siwarak who endangered the Cambodian sovereign state by spying on it's citizen Thaksin, was sentenced to seven years and got pardoned a few days after having been sentenced and spent most of the time in jail in arrest awaiting sentencing.

Is that right, Thaksin is a Cambodian national as well now? Oh you mean that Siwarak, who handed details of Thaksins private flights to thai officials? Considering the democrat governments' unhappy relationship with Cambodia at that/any time, I suppose a cambodian handing any information to the Thais would be greeted with suspicion, wouldn't you?

[hanuman1]

The trial should be judged a mistrial and the Thais sent back for trial by a Thai court. After all they are Thai and Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

I'll have half an ounce of whatever you're on.

[ToffeEFCpower]

The trial should be judged a mistrial and the Thais sent back for trial by a Thai court. After all they are Thai and Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

I'll have half an ounce of whatever you're on.

[rubl]

The 'seek ways to reduce jail terms' by a PM sounds a bit suspicious. Having said that the flight engineer Siwarak who endangered the Cambodian sovereign state by spying on it's citizen Thaksin, was sentenced to seven years and got pardoned a few days after having been sentenced and spent most of the time in jail in arrest awaiting sentencing.

Is that right, Thaksin is a Cambodian national as well now? Oh you mean that Siwarak, who handed details of Thaksins private flights to thai officials? Considering the democrat governments' unhappy relationship with Cambodia at that/any time, I suppose a cambodian handing any information to the Thais would be greeted with suspicion, wouldn't you?

I don't make things up, my dear friend, I thought you know. It seems that long time ago there was a theNation article and I just stumbled over a Khmer blog entry referencing it. Here's the blog entry, you find theNation article. That's fair, isn't it

"A Cambodian prosecutor told a Cambodia court Tuesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is a Cambodian citizen so his flight schedule could not be made public."

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2009/12/thaksin-is-cambodian-citizen-cambodian.html

I also found this

"Sivarak denied the charge in the court hearings but the court ruled that he was guilty -- and sentenced him to seven years in jail -- on grounds that Thaksin was an honorary Cambodia citizen and since his personal security could have been threatened by Sivarak's alleged action."

http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/ThaiTalk/2009/12/13/entry-1

BTW this one is also fun:

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

[moe666]

Why do red shirts care about yellow shirts in a Cambodian prison

[whybother]

The trial should be judged a mistrial and the Thais sent back for trial by a Thai court. After all they are Thai and Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

I'll have half an ounce of whatever you're on.

Toffe is just repeating what the 2 Thais charged with murdering the Australian are arguing to avoid being extradited.

[RedQualia]

The trial should be judged a mistrial and the Thais sent back for trial by a Thai court. After all they are Thai and Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

And so all foreigners should be sent back to their home countries for trial, because the people in their home countries are the only ones who have the right to try their own.

But then that Brit kickboxer dude -- what's his name? Atwater, or something like that? -- was just extradited by Britain, back to Thailand, for trial. So how's that work? Thais are the only ones who have the right to try their own, AND the right to try someone who is British? And same thing for the (I think) Canadian child molester? Or maybe he was a mass murderer, or just someone who liked to hack people up.

Not poking fun at you at all. Just noting that throughout the world, historically, people are tried in the country/state in which they commit the crime. No one else seems to have pointed this out to you thus far.

And indeed, the Thai government might actually be passing judgment on these yellow shirts by leaving them in the Cambodian prison they have worked so hard to be in, and which they so richly deserve. They had no business stirring up sh*t with Cambodia in the first place. Just trying to make yellow shirt trouble, is all. Was that not obvious to everyone when they were doing it? Let them keep the troubles they've made. Indeed, be generous, and let them have a bit more.

Edited September 28, 2011 by RedQualia

[phiphidon]

The 'seek ways to reduce jail terms' by a PM sounds a bit suspicious. Having said that the flight engineer Siwarak who endangered the Cambodian sovereign state by spying on it's citizen Thaksin, was sentenced to seven years and got pardoned a few days after having been sentenced and spent most of the time in jail in arrest awaiting sentencing.

Is that right, Thaksin is a Cambodian national as well now? Oh you mean that Siwarak, who handed details of Thaksins private flights to thai officials? Considering the democrat governments' unhappy relationship with Cambodia at that/any time, I suppose a cambodian handing any information to the Thais would be greeted with suspicion, wouldn't you?

I don't make things up, my dear friend, I thought you know. It seems that long time ago there was a theNation article and I just stumbled over a Khmer blog entry referencing it. Here's the blog entry, you find theNation article. That's fair, isn't it

"A Cambodian prosecutor told a Cambodia court Tuesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is a Cambodian citizen so his flight schedule could not be made public."

http://khmerization....-cambodian.html

I also found this

"Sivarak denied the charge in the court hearings but the court ruled that he was guilty -- and sentenced him to seven years in jail -- on grounds that Thaksin was an honorary Cambodia citizen and since his personal security could have been threatened by Sivarak's alleged action."

http://blog.nationmu...9/12/13/entry-1

BTW this one is also fun:

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

Indeed that news blog did report that Thaksin was a citizen of Cambodia and apparently was given a passport, and of course The Nation leapt upon it;

My link

Unfortunately that very same newsblog denied it in a later edition;

Cambodia denied a report that Thailand's disgraced former PrimeMinister Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted citizenship, an allegation that had drawn threats in Bangkok that the billionaire ex-politician could lose his native Thai nationality.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the allegation, which surfaced earlier this week on "Khmer Intelligence News," a Cambodian anti-government Web site, was untrue.

Also reported in the Asian Correspondent and various other sources

http://asiancorrespo...n-made-citizen/

Interestingly enough the other paper had Abihsit also taken in by this to the point where he said that he didn't know that Thaksin had changed nationality 'cos everyone knows Thais can't have dual nationality - he conveniently seemed to have forgotten his own Newcastle, England roots and his British passport before finally admitting it 10 days later.

http://www.guardian....ish-nationality