Cambodia : Govt denies Red Shirt presence

[Mid]

Govt denies Red Shirt presence
Cheang Sokha
Friday, 18 June 2010

Ministers accuse Thais of ‘spreading baseless information’ on fugitives’ location.

THE Council of Ministers on Thursday vociferously denied a Thai news report that allegedly claimed Red Shirt leaders Arisman Phongruangrong and Suphorn Atthawong were hiding out in a casino in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town.

A statement from the council’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit also accused Thai officials and media outlets of repeatedly “spreading baseless information” that could threaten the health of bilateral relations, citing previous reports that have also drawn its ire.

“Once again, Cambodia earnestly requests the Thai Administration and media to put an end, once and for all, to such provocative attitude of spreading baseless information, which would mislead the national and international public opinion and unnecessarily put good bilateral relations between the two countries at risk,” the statement reads.

“Numerous false reports have been fabricated again and again by Thai Vicious Circle aimed at discrediting the Kingdom of Cambodia.”

Numerous false reports have been fabricated again and again.

The statement goes on to say that Cambodia embraces ahimsa, a principle of nonviolence rooted in Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

“Cambodia believes in Truth and Ahimsa (non-violence) and strictly sticks to the principle of peaceful coexistence,” it reads.

“She bears no malice towards others and also believes that hatred breeds hatred, greed and violence would inevitably lead to one’s own ruin.”

The statement says the news report about Arisman and Suphorn aired on Thailand’s ASTV, a news station, and that it made “reference to an unverified information given by the Thai National Security Section”.

The ASTV report is compared to a report appearing in Thailand’s The Nation newspaper in late May that quoted the commander of a Thai army ranger company as saying that a group of Cambodian migrant labourers might have been trying to transport alleged “bombmaking materials” to Muslim insurgents in Thailand’s restive southern provinces.

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said on May 31 that all of the migrant labourers had been cleared of wrongdoing, and that the materials in question were being toted in a cart by children who lived in the border region.

“Of late,” reads Thursday’s council statement, “within a period of less than one month, that is from 31 May 2010 to 16 June 2010, two false reports about the suppressed and disbanded red shirts have been fabricated against Cambodia.”

Tith Sothea, a member of the Press and Quick Reaction, said Thursday that the media reports “might worsen the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand, who are currently involved in a dispute along the border”.

Chawanon Intharakomansut, secretary to Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya, could not be reached for comment on Thursday, nor could ministry spokesmen.

phnompenhpost.com

[Mid]

Ministers scold Thai officials
Cheang Sokha
Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Council accuses Thailand of misleading media about Red Shirts’ whereabouts

THE Council of Ministers on Tuesday again accused Thai officials of fuelling reports that Red Shirts are hiding out in the Kingdom, after the daily newspaper The Nation reported that leaders of the antigovernment group might be planning “underground operations” from Cambodian soil.

A story published Tuesday by The Nation stated that “many senior red shirts are reportedly hiding in Cambodia while allegedly plotting a third red-shirt rally and even underground operations in the coming months”.

Tith Sothea, a spokesman for the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers, said that the article constituted evidence that the Thai government was deliberately misleading its national press.

“Thailand should be honest with Cambodia, and should contact Cambodia to get the true information,” Tith Sothea said.

“It is a shame that the Thai government continues to use the media to publish fake information that could provoke trouble with Cambodia.”

Earlier this month, a report by ASTV, a Thai news station, said Red Shirt leaders Arisman Phongruangrong and Suphorn Atthawong were hiding in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town.

In response, the Council of Ministers issued a statement that “false reports have been fabricated again and again by the Thai Vicious Circle aimed at discrediting the Kingdom of Cambodia”.

Last week’s statement also criticised a May 31 report quoting a Thai military official as saying that a group of Cambodian migrant labourers might have been trying to transport alleged “bomb making materials” to Muslim insurgents in Thailand’s restive southern provinces.

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn referred questions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesmen for which could not be reached for comment.

Also Tuesday, the Banteay Meanchey’s provincial police chief accused Thai officials and soldiers of attempting to clear a section of disputed border territory for the construction of a customs office, saying that an excavator had appeared Saturday at the Boeung Trakoun border crossing between Banteay Meanchey and Sa Kaeo provinces.

Hun Hean said Cambodian and Thai officials had discussed the matter, and that the Thai officials had ultimately decided to halt the planned clearance work.

“There was a tense discussion before we reached an agreement to stop their activities,” Hun Hean said. “If they do not stop, then we will use armed forces to force them to stop.”

phnompenhpost.com

[Mid]

Arisman claims he is in Thailand

Fugitive Arisman Pongruangrong has claimed he is still in Thailand and has sometimes visited Bangkok.

In his radio interview published by Khaosod Wednesday, Arisman said police would not arrest him.

"I'm still here in Thailand. Sometimes I went to Bkk. Police saw me but wouldn't arrest me."

nationmultimedia.com

[StrontiumDog]

Bangkok Post : Arisman 'seeks Cambodian visa'

Arisman 'seeks Cambodian visa'

• Published: 26/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Fugitive red shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong has reportedly recently filed an application for a Cambodian visa from the country's consulate in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.


Arisman: Reportedly hiding in Siem Reap

Mr Arisman, who allegedly entered Cambodia earlier, reportedly wants to obtain a Cambodian visa so he can extend his stay in the country.

Sa Kaeo governor Sanit Intharasuksri said he had contacted the Cambodian consulate to tell its staff that Mr Arisman might have used a fake exit stamp from Thai immigration when applying to enter Cambodia.

Thai immigration officials have no record of Mr Arisman leaving or re-entering the country, so it was not possible for him to obtain the stamp legally for the visa application.

Mr Sanit said he had been told by Cambodian officials that they may not have realised the Thai immigration stamp on Mr Arisman's passport could be a fake and processed the application without question.

Informed sources say Mr Arisman has been in hiding Siem Reap with his bodyguard. He allegedly hired someone to file the visa application in Aranyaprathet on his behalf.

The Department of Special Investigation has indicted 25 red shirt protesters and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra politicians, including Mr Arisman, on terrorism charges, which carry a maximum penalty of death.

Mr Arisman led hundreds of protesters in storming the parliament during the red shirt demonstration on April 7.

A week later, scores of police raided a Bangkok hotel, where Mr Arisman and other red shirt leaders were staying, but police failed to arrest him after he was lowered from the third floor to supporters waiting below.

[Mid]

PM, Hun Sen to discuss Arisman case
26/10/2010

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday said he will discuss the plan to extradite fugitive red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong to face indictments in Thailand with Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

"We [the Thai government] have enough information and evidence that Mr Arisman is in Cambodia," Mr Abhisit said.

He said he had talked with Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier about Mr Arisman trying to obtain a Cambodian visa.

On the country's widespread flooding, Mr Abhisit said the government will allocate a budget of five billion baht to help families in flood-hit areas.

"Each family will receive 5,000 baht. The process of receiving the money will be straightforward as families will only need to show their house registration copies to authorities," he said.

bangkokpost.com

[StrontiumDog]

PM says he will seek extradition of Arisman

PM says he will seek extradition of Arisman

By Piyanart Srivalo
Chatchawan Sopaphan
The Nation
Published on October 27, 2010

Arisman

It is now proven that he is in Cambodia: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he would seek the extradition of fugitive red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong during a meeting later this week with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

The prime minister said he thought there was sufficient evidence to prove that Arisman was now in hiding in Cambodia. He said the Cambodian leader had earlier promised to cooperate in arresting people wanted under Thai law.

Abhisit's remarks came after the latest developments in the pursuit of Arisman, a crooner-turned-politician who is described as a key figure in the red shirts' hard-line wing.

Arisman recently applied for a Cambodian visa as part of his attempt to travel to a third country, according to Governor Sanit Naksuksri of Sa Kaew province, on the border with Cambodia.

However, First Army Region commander Lt-General Udomdej Sitabutr said Arisman appeared to have used a passport with falsified Thai immigration stamps, which was a criminal offence.

Abhisit said yesterday he would raise the matter during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Hanoi, which starts tomorrow and runs until Saturday.

"He told me earlier that if there was evidence, he was ready to cooperate. There will be extradition like the few earlier cases," the prime minister said, referring to some red-shirt figures who were arrested and sent back by the Cambodian authorities.

The premier said Thai authorities would "certainly" seek cooperation from their Cambodian counterparts in Arisman's case. He said the fugitive red-shirt leader's presence in Cambodia was now confirmed, and was "not just hearsay".

He said Thailand would stress that neighbouring countries with cordial relations needed to cooperate with each other on issues of security importance.

The Sa Kaew governor said yesterday that Arisman had someone apply for a visa from the Cambodian Consulate in Sa Kaew's Aranyaprathet district.

"The Cambodian Consulate - unaware who he was - issued the visa on October 24," he said, citing information from the consulate.

The governor said there was no record of Thai immigration stamping of Arisman's travel documents, but he had learned that the Cambodian immigration authorities had admitted him into their country.

During the red shirts' rally last year, Arisman led protesters who stormed into the venue of the Asean Summit being held at a Pattaya hotel, forcing the event to be cancelled.

Earlier this year, when the red shirts held another major rally, Arisman led marches on Parliament, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency, and on the office of the Election Commission, forcing it to bring a dissolution case to court against the ruling Democrat Party.

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1036567

Red-shirt Fugitive's Fake Visa Case under Investigation

UPDATE : 26 October 2010

The Sa Kaew governor has assigned officials to investigate speculation surrounding a fugitive red-shirt leader's fake visa to Cabmbodia.

Meanwhile, Sa Kaew's deputy immigration police chief has stated that Cambodia has canceled the red shirt leader's visa.

Sa Kaew Governor Sanit Naksuksri disclosed that investigators have been assigned to look into speculation surrounding the Cambodian Consulate in Arunyaprathet district allegedly issuing a visa for fugitive red shirt leader Arisaman Pongruangrong.

Arisaman is wanted by Thai authorities on terrorism charges.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry has scheduled a meeting with the Cambodian ambassador to discuss the issue.


Meanwhile, Sa Kaew's deputy immigration police chief Benjapol Rodsawasd stated that the Immigration Bureau has sent a letter to the Cambodian Consulate in Arunyaprathet district, notifying Cambodian officials that Arisaman is wanted by the Thai court and he is forbidden to leave the country.

In the latest development, Arunyaprathet's Cambodian Consulate has canceled Arisaman's Cambodian visa.

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30140981.html

Passports of nine red shirts leaders revoked

Foreign Ministry revoked passports of nine runaway red shirts leaders at the request of police.

Thanee Thongpakdee, deputy ministry spokesman said that the revocations were on line with the the court's issuing of arrest warrants on the group following the political crisis in March and April.

The revocation takes effect immediately, Thanee said but declined to reveal the names.

However a police source revealed the nine as Arisamun Pongruengrong/Suporn Attawongse/Payap Pankaet/Pol Lt Col Wapot Apornrat/Adisorn Piengket/Aree Krainara/Chinawat Haboonpat/Aree Krainara/Kanyapak Maneejak/Samruen Prachamrue.

[Mid]

see that the Foreign Minister still has a passport , a diplomatic one if you please

[Thaihome]

see that the Foreign Minister still has a passport , a diplomatic one if you please

Let's see one similar from Kasit.

TH

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30141104.html

Phnom Penh to verify Arisamun's whereabouts : Panithan

By The Nation

Cambodia has promised to check into reports that a runway red shirt leader; Arisamun Pongruengrong, is taking shelter in Cambodia, Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said Friday.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen informed his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva during a meeting in Hanoi on Thursday that his government will report back to Thailand about the investigation into the reports.

Both premiers met in a bilateral meeting on the sideline of Asean Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Arisamun is among many pro-Thaksin movement leaders who escaped arrests after their protests at Rachaprasong area ended in May. Singer-turned-red shirt Arisamun reportedly escaped to Cambodia and is trying to go to a third country.

Panithan added Hun Sen also expressed concerns on the situation of ongoing floods in Thailand.

[Mid]

Tea Banh insists Arisaman is not in Cambodia

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh said Saturday that fugitive red-shirt leader Arisaman Pongruangrong is not in Cambodia right now.

Tea Banh was speaking to Thai reporters after attending the General Border Meeting with the Thai side in Chon Buri.

When asked whether Arisaman was in Cambodia now, Tea Banh initially replied: "I don't know."

When pressed on whether Cambodia would extradite Arisaman if he is in Cambodia, Tea Banh replied: "I said I don't know. And in saying I don't know means he is not in Cambodia. If he is in Cambodia, we must now."

nationmultimedia.com

[Norton]

I said I don't know. And in saying I don't know means he is not in Cambodia. If he is in Cambodia, we must now."

Huh.....

[Mid]

วันเสาร์ ที่ 30 ต.ค. 2553

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh rushed to hospital due to cholecystitis after attending Thai Cambodian General Border Committee in Pattaya

mcot.net

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...ot-in-cambodia

Fugitive red shirt 'is not in Cambodia'

DEFENCE MINISTER SPEAKS OUT

• Published: 31/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh yesterday denied that red shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong was in hiding in his country.

The remark came in the wake of a report from Thai authorities that Mr Arisman entered Cambodia with a fake exit stamp from Thai immigration.

Mr Arisman is wanted on charges of terrorism in connection with political violence during the red shirt protests.

When asked if Mr Arisman was in Cambodia, Gen Tea Banh said he did not know.

When asked if Cambodia would extradite Mr Arisman if he was hiding there, he said:

"That I said 'I didn't know' means he's not in Cambodia. If he is, we would have known about it."

He also said the matter had already been discussed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at the Asean summit in Hanoi.

When asked about a report by Thai authorities that a group of red shirt supporters underwent weapons training in Cambodia, he said he was not comfortable discussing the issue.

He said certain issues were delicate and too sensitive to address.

Gen Tea Banh, who was attending the 7th meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) in Pattaya, also said there was no reason for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to travel to Cambodia in any official capacity after he resigned as an economic adviser to Hun Sen.

"He has quit and he has no reason to be in Cambodia," Gen Tea Banh said.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday that Thailand and Cambodia had reached no agreement to reduce or withdraw troops around Preah Vihear temple.

He said a redeployment of troops is likely in the future depending on the border situation which has been calm over the past months.

He said the priority of the troop redeployment would be to increase the safety of people along the common border.

A source close to the GBC said yesterday that Cambodia had rejected Thailand's proposal to pull out some of the troops.

Thailand and Cambodia have deployed about 3,000 soldiers each in the area. Bilateral ties have been difficult since June 2008 amid a continuing border conflict over land surrounding the temple.

According to the source, under the redeployment plan, joint guidelines will be drawn up to minimise confrontation.

Several pacts have been signed at the GBC meeting to boost bilateral co-operation on various issues including combating crime, bolstering trade and improving public health.

[Mid]

Hun Sen meets Abhisit in Hanoi
Cheang Sokha
Sunday, 31 October 2010


Prime Minister Hun Sen (third from right) joins hands with ASEAN and regional leaders on Saturday at the ASEAN-Australia Summit, a sideline event of the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi.
Photo by: AFP

Prime Minister Hun Sen has reaffirmed that Cambodia did not provide weapons training to Thai Red Shirt activists during a meeting with Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi.

The Prime Minister also denied reports that Red Shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong had taken refuge in Cambodia and applied for a Cambodian visa at a consulate in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said upon returning from Hanoi.

“Before the meeting, the Thai media repeatedly published news that Abhisit would raise the issue of Arisman and the Red Shirts with Hun Sen,” Hor Namhong said.

“But when meeting with Samdech Hun Sen, Abhisit did not raise even a word about these issues – Samdech raised the matter.”

Thai media reported last month that 11 Red Shirt activists arrested in the country’s Chiang Mai province claimed to have received weapons training in Cambodia as they prepared plots to assassinate Abhisit and other Thai public figures.

These reports have been vigorously denied by Cambodian officials

phnompenhpost.com

[StrontiumDog]

http://asiancorrespondent.com/siamvo...-pongruangrong

Interview with Thailand's most wanted - Arisman Pongruangrong


Dec. 09 2010 - 06:45 am
By Andrew Spooner

Since he fled the occupied Ratchaprasong area in Bangkok in mid-May 2010, Arisman Pongruangrong has proven to be one of the most elusive Red Shirt leaders. As someone who has not been afraid to call for the Red Shirts to directly and violently confront the forces of the Thai government, he is now also one of the most wanted.

Now on the run in an unknown second country, there are numerous credible rumours that for the Abhisit regime Arisman is now considered only second to Thaksin Shinawatra as an enemy of the state. He is clearly a hunted man.

At the end of November I had the opportunity to interview Arisman about his present circumstances, what happened at Ratchaprasong and what he believes the future may hold for Thailand.

In publishing this interview here I have deliberately avoided making any judgement or comment. I would rather readers draw their own conclusions and make their own comments.

As the interview is quite lengthy it will be released in two parts. There is a plan to release a Thai version at some point in the future.

How are your personal living circumstances right now?

My living circumstances are quite comfortable. But it is very tricky to be involved in any political activity because I don’t want to create any problems for the country where I am staying. I can still do some activity but am very limited. I also have to change where I stay very often.

How is your physical health and mental well-being?

My physical health is pretty good as I’ve lost 5kg. I feel strong because I have lots of time to exercise. My mental well-being is not as good as before but I am spending quite a bit of time reading the history of various revolutions from around the world. Countries like France, Russia, China, India, Europe and Cambodia and Laos.

What have you been learning about these revolutions?

Each revolution teaches us that to achieve democracy you have to deal with biggest problem. In Thailand this would be the Amart institution, and let's be clear, I don’t mean the monarchy. This Amart has a grip on power and needs to be removed so that real democracy can come back. We need to have a constitution that reflects the wishes of the people and a system where voters can directly elect their prime minister. This would prevent anyone changing the PM. If we have an appointed PM, like we have now, the PM can be changed anytime even if it goes against the will of the people.

Do you feel your life is under threat of that you might be targeted by the Thai govt?

It’s quite human to be afraid in this situation and I believe that the government has sent someone to hunt me down. At this point, if I was assassinated by the Thai government, there is little I could do about it. But I want to tell everyone that there should be no more deaths. We must fight to the end and the fight for democracy has always led to losses. Nowhere on earth has achieved democracy without some kind of armed rebellion against those who suppress democracy. Therefore, the struggle for democracy must join together armed rebellion and a mass movement. Examples of this are China, France, Russia. These days fear doesn’t rule my life. Although the thought of being killed is still scary. I am more afraid for the safety and well-being of my family.

Has your family had any specific threats?

In the first three months after Ratchaprasong the government sent people to pressure my family into revealing where I was hiding. They even sent someone to my 11-year-old son’s school to ask questions about my whereabouts. But they’ve not threatened to physically harm my family because there are a lot of people always in the house.

When the people working for the government attempted to question my son at his school the school authorities refused them access. My son also recently received an award for good behaviour from his school and during the ceremony the government sent their people there to shout abuse at him. Thankfully my son hasn’t been too affected by all this.

I am very angry though I know my family are very strong. They understand why I am doing this and they know I am not a terrorist or a murderer.



And what about more specific threats towards you from either the government or the PAD?

It’s pretty clear that the government want to get rid of us because they believe that the Red Shirts are moving towards being armed. In reality, we don’t have any arms. We only have 670,000 registered members of the democracy development organisation that was set up by the People’s Power Party (PPP). That is why the government is quite concerned because they are afraid we will ask people to fight for democracy. We are not violent but the government has proved they are as they have attempted to kill us. For example, when they tried to arrest me at the SC Park hotel by throwing stun grenades and shooting 33 live rounds into my room this reveals that they really want to kill me. At that time I successfully escaped (pictured right) and they’ve tried a few more times to kill me as well. The PAD has no reason to threaten me. It’s only the government who want me to disappear. The DSI [Thai version of FBI] have employed a special unit to attempt to assassinate me. They’ve been seen at hotels where I’ve been staying.

Do you have any concrete evidence that the DSI are trying to assassinate you?

There is no solid evidence but my lawyer recognised members of the DSI at the hotel where I was staying overseas.

During the time when the Red Shirts occupied the Ratchaprasong area you made a speech threatening to burn down the city - do you regret this?

The purpose of my speech was to attempt to dissuade the army from either attacking us or staging a coup. If there was a coup I wanted the army to be warned that people might fight back by using petrol against heavily armed troops. That they wouldn’t just be able to just kill us. I don’t regret giving this speech because I wasn’t provoking people to burn down the city for no reason but only as a defensive action because the Red Shirts had no arms.

Was burning the Central World department store justified?

The Red Shirts didn’t burn down Central World. It was a government action in order to justify the shooting of the Red Shirts. Most of the places where the fires were set were already under government control when they were started. There were no Red Shirts there. The army started the fires.

What can you tell us about the Black Shirts?

I don’t really have any information about the Black Shirts. I don’t know who they are or where they are from. I believe, though can’t say for certain, that they were either soldiers or police officers who supported our struggle for democracy. I don’t think every soldier or police officer was able to accept the action of the government to attack unarmed civilians. So far, the government has been unable to arrest any Black Shirt. In fact, I want to know who they were.

What did you think about the involvement of Seh Daeng?

He was a soldier who sacrificed himself for his love for democracy and who was very concerned about the safety of the Red Shirts. He had no intention to conduct any violence against either soldiers or policemen but there were some high-ranking soldiers who wanted to portray that both Seh Daeng and the Red Shirts were terrorists. I want to re-affirm that the Red Shirts do not like violence.

Do you think violence will be necessary to change Thailand and Thai politics?

These days the government is using violence against the people so, of course, one day the people will have had enough and will use violence against the government. I believe in the theory that nowhere changes in a completely peaceful way. This has never happened anywhere on this planet. It just doesn’t exist. If we are not armed we will lose because we can’t fight back. Actually, the Red Shirts never wanted to harm anybody, we just called for a new election and to amend the constitution via a parliamentary process. We just want people’s votes to be respected.

Are you suggesting that the Red Shirts adopt an armed strategy?

I would rather ask that the soldiers and police officers who respect democracy join us in our struggle. Even though we have the masses behind us we won’t form an armed element to fight the army. We’ve never had one and it is almost impossible to have one. It would be great, from my perspective, to have a guerilla force but I cannot see how that is going to happen because we don’t have the funds to arm and train people. Our main hope is that the army and police mutiny.

Do you know if any senior army officers have sympathy for the Red Shirts?

I don’t know and I have no evidence that any senior officers are sympathetic. It’s hard to find a general who would sacrifice themselves for democracy. However, I do believe that 60-70 percent of the ordinary army ranks would like to join us. They are just waiting for a brave general to give the word.

You can follow Andrew Spooner on Twitter - [at]andrewspooner

[Butterfly]

he is a liar, typical Thai, living in denial