Thread: Three Thais arrested in Cambodia

Three Thais arrested in Cambodia
20/08/2010

Three Thai villagers have been arrested by the Cambodian border patrol police while hunting in Cambodia, 2nd Army chief Lt-Gen Veewalit Jornsamrit confirmed on Friday.

Citing reports from the governor of Surin province and the Suranaree Task Force, three Thai men were arrested after straying across the Thai-Cambodian border from Sangkha district of Surin province on Wednesday while looking for wild products and hunting animals.

They were identified as Sanong Wongcharoen, 37, Ling Pongphet, 39, and Laen Sapsri, all villagers of Village Group 7 of tambon Tatoom of Sangkha district. They each had a muzzle-loading gun.

Lt-Gen Veewalit said according to the latest report the three were detained at Along Veng and sent to Siem Reap on Friday morning.

The 2nd Army chief said the Surin governor had sent a letter to the Siem Reap governor to seek their release and the Suranaree Task Force had been instructed to hold talks with a Cambodian military commander identified as Maj-Gen Noun No.

He said it might take some time before they are released.

bangkokpost.com

3 Thais arrested by Cambodian police not spies: Army
วันศุกร์ ที่ 20 ส.ค. 2553



NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Aug 20 - The three Thai hunters arrested by Cambodian police on charge of spying while gathering forest products along the Thai-Cambodian border are not spies and their arrest has nothing to do with the two countries ongoing border dispute, a senior Thai army official said on Friday.

Second Army Region commander Lt-Gen Veevalit Chornsamrit made the assertation after three Thai men from Thailand’s northeastern border province of Surin were arrested by Cambodian border patrol police in Kanna village of Sangkha district six days ago during the heated border spat between the neighbouring countries.

The trio were identified as Sanong Wongchareon, Ling Pongphet and Lan Sapsri. All were charged by the Cambodian authorities with spying.

Gen Veevalit reaffirmed that the three mens are not spies as accused by Cambodia, but just ordinary local citizens who were armed only with homemade hunting guns with them.

He said the detainees are all safe and have been sent to Cambodia's Siem Riep province Friday morning for legal prosecution.

"The Cambodian authorities informed us that the trio can not yet be sent back to Thailand as they must face legal procedures in Siam Riep first and the process will take a while," the commander said.

Gen Veevalit reasserted that the arrest of the three has nothing to do with politics nor the border dispute and Cambodia has not set any conditions in exchange for the release of the Thai detainees.

"The villagers simply strayed while hunting for game," the Thai commander said. "Recently some Cambodians were discovered crossing into Thailand, which deported them back to their homeland, according to the Thai commander."

Gen Veevalit expressed confidence that Thai officials at operational level are now coordinating with their Cambodian counterparts to bring the trio back, while concerned authorities have also been instructed to warn residents along the border not to illegally enter the border areas to hunt or seek forest products to avoid a repeat of the incident.

Following concerns that border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia may affect the case of the three arrested men, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday that good cooperation at the operational level between the two countries could help ease the problem.

Thani Thangpakdee, deputy director-general of the Thai Foreign Ministry’s Department of Information, said on Friday the ministry has already instructed the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to provide assistance to the three arrested Thai nationals.

Tension at the Thai-Cambodian border flared up after UNESCO accorded the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the border dispute over the contested 4.6 sq km area of land near the temple claimed by both countries remains unresolved, leading to clashes between the militaries of the two kingdoms.

mcot.net

tit for tat comes to mind

Much a do about dought.

Surin governor: Three Thais detained in Cambodia on spy charges are in
difficulty;Thai officials to visit them to seek release

Surin governor: Three Thais detained in Cambodia on spy charges are in difficulty;Thai officials to visit them to seek release

Originally Posted by hazz

tit for tat comes to mind

My thoughts (and words) exactly.

The problem is that these things can get silly and escalate so easily.

Talks to release Thai trio in Cambodia take place Monday


Talks to release Thai trio in Cambodia take place Monday


วันอาทิตย์ ที่ 22 ส.ค. 2553

• • 

BANGKOK, Aug 22 - Negotiations for the release of three Thais recently arrested in Cambodia will be held Monday with Cambodian authorities, said Rapee Phongbuphakij, governor of the northeastern border province of Surin.

The three men, charged by Cambodia with spying, were arrested eight days ago by Cambodian police while they were gathering forest products along the border. All of them are natives of Surin.

Senior Thai officials have said the trio are not spies and that their arrest has nothing to do with the ongoing border dispute between the two nations.

Mr Rapee said he had talked by telephone to the three men now jailed in Siem Reap, and they had asked for the Thai government's assistance in gaining their release. They complained of hardships while in prison, the governor said, noting that he had ordered officials who would negotiate with the Cambodian officials to also give clothing and medicine to the detainees.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman, Buranat Samutarak, asked Thai residents of the border areas to refrain from movements along the Thai-Cambodian border, for the situation in which the two countries are locked remain tense.

He asked them to be confident that the Thai government was trying its best to help the detainees. But if another invasion was made, despite under the Thai sovereignty, it would be hard to guarantee the safety of Thais and the situation could become worse.

Spokesman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Prompong Nopparit, said the party had sent a team to follow the trio case. He said the ongoing Thai-Cambodian problem will make the release of the three men more difficult, and criticised Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for doing nothing regarding the issue. (MCOT online news)

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Originally Posted by hazz

tit for tat comes to mind

My thoughts (and words) exactly.

The problem is that these things can get silly and escalate so easily.

However I think the business elite of thailand have a greater vested interest in cheap exploitable Cambodian labour in thailand, than the political elite of cambodia have in the money these cambodians send home. That should keep things relatively cool

Surin Governor Rapee Pongbhuppakit revealed that Cambodian authorites will decide today whether or not to charge three Thai suspects arrested last week.

It is still unclear what charges could be brought against them.

They were arrested on Cambodian soil after they reportedly lost their way.

Cambodian authorities had first claimed they were suspected of espionage.

Thai-ASEAN News Network

Hun Sen orders release of Thai men
24/08/2010

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the release of three Thai men arrested last week for entering Cambodian territory illegally to hunt and forage, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister, confirmed on Tuesday.

Mr Chavanond said Hun Sen has ordered the Siem Reap governor to release the three men.

They were expected to be released in two to three days after documentation is complete, he said.

Mr Chavanond said the Thai-Cambodian relations were expected to improve after ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra resigned as an economic adviser to Cambodia.

This would lead to better cooperation between the two countries, and an easing of tension along the border, he said.

bangkokpost.com

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/93966.html


Cambodia releases three Thai villagers: Surin deputy governor


วันอังคาร ที่ 24 ส.ค. 2553

• • 
  
  

BANGKOK, Aug 24 – Surin deputy governor Somkiart Sangkhaosutthirak said on Tuesday that Cambodian authorities have released three Thai villagers after a week in detention and that the trio will be handed over to Thai authorities at the Chongsangam border checkpoint in Thailand's northeastern province of Si Sa Ket Tuesday afternoon.

The trio--Sanong Wongcharoen, Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri--are natives of Surin. They have been detained by Cambodian authorities on charges of illegal entry into the neighbouring country and possessing firearms.

Their release was secured after negotiations between the Thai and Cambodian authorities. Secretary to Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said earlier that the Cambodian authorities assured Thai officials that the three Thai detainees would not be taken to Cambodian court and would be released soon.

Senior Thai officials said the trio are not spies and that their arrest while collecting forest products has nothing to do with the two countries ongoing border dispute.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday the Thai and Cambodian ambassadors are expected to resume their duties today after the two countries decided to reinstate them following a resignation of Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra from his posts as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday.

Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Thai Ambassador to Cambodia is due to return to Phnom Penh to resume his post on Tuesday, Mr Chavanont said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday the Cambodian authorities have announced that Mr Thaksin has resigned from his position as adviser to the Cambodian government and thus no longer has any connection with the government.

As a consequence, the situation leading to the earlier recall of the Thai ambassador from Phnom Penh has effectively been resolved. In this regard, the Foreign Minister has instructed Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Thai ambassador to Cambodia, to return to Phnom Penh to resume his duties today (August 24).

Tensions between the two neighbouring kingdoms flared after Cambodia appointed Thailand's convicted ex-premier as its economic adviser last November 2009, saying it would not extradite Mr Thaksin if asked by Thailand to do so.

Thailand retaliated against Cambodia by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh and reviewing cooperation programmes with Cambodia.

Cambodia, in reciprocation, recalled its ambassador to Bangkok. (MCOT online news)

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1033881

INN: Cambodia Not Releasing 3 Thai Nationals

UPDATE : 25 August 2010

The INN new agency is reporting that Cambodia will be trying the three Thai nationals arrested for trespassing on Cambodian soil instead of sending them back to Thailand as earlier reported. INN claims that officials are denying that there was an order by Prime Minister Hun Sen to release the suspects.

Cambodian Prime Minister dismisses reports of release of three Thai detainees : National News Bureau of Thailand

Cambodian Prime Minister dismisses reports of release of three Thai detainees

BANGKOK, 25 August 2010 (NNT) — Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has dismissed reports that his government has ordered the release of the three Thai detainees charged with espionage.

According to Cambodian local media reports, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the government would not interfere with the court’s ruling in the case of the three Thais charged with illegally entry into Cambodia and possession of firearms.

The Cambodian Prime Minister’s address refuted Thai Foreign Ministry secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut’s most recent statement that Cambodia would release the three Thai detainees within two to three days.

Meanwhile, Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitchai returned to Phnom Penh to resume his post on Tuesday, while the Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand returned to Thailand yesterday.

Not quite 'tit for tat'.

At least they didn't get tied to a wooden cart and then get burned alive

PM assigns Foreign Ministry to help three Thais jailed in Cambodia


PM assigns Foreign Ministry to help three Thais jailed in Cambodia


วันพุธ ที่ 15 ธ.ค. 2553

• • 
  
  

BANGKOK, Dec 15 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday he has assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help three Thai foragers who were sentenced to 18 months jail term in Cambodia for illegal entry into Cambodian territory.

Mr Abhisit said the trio had been prosecuted in Cambodia in accordance with that country's legal process and the government is trying find legal remedies to help them.

"I have asked Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya about this and it was affirmed that the ministry is currently following the situation. We're studying how we can benefit from the agreements made between Thailand and Cambodia regarding this issue," said Mr Abhisit.

A collaboration has been made on the matter at a local level, the prime minister added.

The trio -- Sanong Wongcharoen, Ling Pongphet, and Laen Sapsri from the northeastern province of Surin's Sangkha district -- were arrested in August by Cambodian border patrol police, after they strayed across the border, and were charged by Cambodia with spying while hunting and foraging for food in the forest along the border.

Senior Thai officials had earlier said the three men were not spies and their arrest had nothing to do with the border dispute between the two nations. (MCOT online news)

Its Catch 22.

If they really were spys, then the Thai government will try to help them, thus confirming they are spys and so the Cambodians will keep them in prison.

If they are just poor villagers doing a bit of hunting, then nobody will care about them and so the Cambodians will keep them in prison.

Cambodia releases 3 Thais detained for illegal entry: Thai Foreign Minister


Cambodia releases 3 Thais detained for illegal entry: Thai Foreign Minister


วันจันทร์ ที่ 20 ธ.ค. 2553

• • 

PHNOM PENH, Dec 20 – To mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia, three Thai villagers jailed in Cambodia for illegal entry were pardoned and released on Monday, visiting Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Monday.

The trio--Mr Sanong Wongcharoen, Ling Pongphet and Lan Sapsri--, natives of Surin province, were arrested in August by Cambodian border patrol police on charges of spying while collecting forest products along the border.

Mr Kasit confirmed the release of the three villagers before departing the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh for Bangkok after his two-day visit.

The Thai foreign Minister earlier held bilateral talks with his counterpart Mr Hor Nam Hong before meeting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for an hour and a half Monday morning.

Speaking to journalists before leaving for Bangkok in the afternoon, Mr Kasit said the two countries agreed to resolve any conflict through peaceful means and that talks will be held regularly to prevent any further conflict. Neither would engage in wars of words through the media, to prevent misunderstanding.

The Thai foreign minister said that internal political groups of each country may [sometimes] hold violent, conservative and patriotic ideas which are normal, but that each country must be careful not to do anything to cause provocation or pressure. Officials from both countries at all levels should meet for talks on listing the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage, so there will not be any further argument at the next meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Bahrain in June next year.

The foreign minister affirmed his stance in negotiating with Cambodia that Thailand will adhere to the negotiation framework in 2008 and the 2000 Thai-Cambodian MoU on border demarcation.

If the negotiations fail, the issue will be brought to the International Court of Justice to consider the border issue only, not the issue of the Preah Vihear temple ruins themselves, which the court ruled in 1962 as belonging to Cambodia, he added.

Mr Kasit said that the ministry has prepared two teams. The first team will look into the land boundaries if the issue goes to the International Court of Justice and another team will look into marine boundary and will propose a negotiation framework to Parliament around March 2011.

In other issue, the Thai foreign minister said the Thai government will resume its suspended assistance programmes under the earlier cooperative framework, including education and training scholarships, road and dam construction, and building railway links from Poi Pet to Sisophon. (MCOT online news)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...-frees-3-thais

Cambodian king pardons 3 jailed Thais

• Published: 20/12/2010 at 03:47 PM
• Online news: Local News

Three Thais who were sentenced to 18 months in jail in Cambodia for entering the country illegally while foraging for food along the border were released on Monday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Monday.

The three villagers had been given a royal pardon, Mr Kasit said after a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.

Their return to freedom marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia, he said.

The trio were identified as Sanong Wongcharoen, Ling Pongphet and Lan Sapsri, all of Surin province.

They were arrested in August by Cambodian border patrol police while collecting forest products along the border and charged with illegal entry, amid allegations of spying.

Mr Kasit confirmed their release before departing Phnom Penh for Bangkok at the end of his two-day visit.

He said the three were in Siem Reap and by would be taken to Phnom Penh this afternoon, where they would placed in the custody of Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The three men were expected to return home with Gen Prayuth on Tuesday, Mr Kasit said.

Gen Prayuth flew to Cambodia on Monday for a two-day official visit. He was accompanied by 1st Army commander Lt-Gen Udomdet Leebut and 2nd Army commander Lt-Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon.

The purpose of the visit is for Gen Prayuth to introduce himself after being made Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, to strengthen military ties between the two countries and to discuss problems over the Preah Vihear temple with Cambodian military leaders.

Gen Prayuth said before departing Thailand that no Thai troops had been withdrawn from the disputed area on the Cambodian border, but some deployments had been changed to avoid confrontation with Cambodian troops.

"If there is a change in the situation, the people can rest assured that there will not be any intrusions on to Thai soil," he said.

During his visit, Mr Kasit met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Nam Hong before meeting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for an hour and a half in the morning.

Mr Kasit said after the meeting that the two countries agreed to resolve any conflict through peaceful means and that talks will be held regularly to prevent any further conflict. Neither would engage in wars of words through the media, to prevent misunderstanding.

He also said that officials from both countries at all levels should meet for talks on the listing of the ancient Hindu Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site, so there will not be any further argument at the next meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Bahrain in June next year.

He confirmed that Thailand will adhere to the negotiation framework agreed in 2008 and the 2000 Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding on border demarcation.

If negotiations fail, the issue would be taken to the International Court of Justice to consider the border issue only, not the issue of the Preah Vihear temple ruins themselves, which the court ruled in 1962 as belonging to Cambodia, he added.

Mr Kasit said that the ministry has set up two teams.

The first team will look into the land boundaries if the issue goes to the International Court of Justice, and the other team will look into the marine boundary and will propose a negotiation framework to parliament around March next year.

In other issues, Mr Kasit said the Thai government will resume its suspended assistance programmes under the earlier cooperative framework, including education and training scholarships, road and dam construction, and building railway links from Poi Pet to Sisophon.