Phnom Penh court to be asked to postpone trial of two Thais
BANGKOK, Jan 29 -- A Thai activist group will submit a letter requesting the Phnom Penh court to postpone the trial of two Thais now detained in the Cambodian capital on charges of trespassing and espionage, as it is still unable to collect sufficient evidence to fight the charges, an academic who is legal adviser to the group said Saturday.
Thai Patriots Network (TPN) legal advisor Wanwipa Charoonroj said members of the group were unable to survey the area where the two Thais -- Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon -- were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 because permission was not granted by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban although Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had ordered related government agencies to help facilitate their travel to the disputed border area.
Mr Veera is the sole Thai detainee still being held in Prey Sar Prison while Ms Ratree was granted bail and is staying at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh pending a defense against the charges.
The duo is scheduled to appear for trial Tuesday and as time is running out the group plans to request the Cambodian court to postpone the trial so it can collect evidence to fight the case and prepare to submit bail for Mr Veera, she said.
TPN coordinator Tossapon Kaewtima said his group will meet next week to finding ways to exert more pressure against the Thai government and to also follow up progress from various agencies including the United Nations in Bangkok, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Royal Thai Police Bureau on rescuing the two Thais.
Originally, seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on that day. Five were released last Friday and returned to Bangkok the following day after the court ruled them guilty of illegal entry and intentionally trespassing into Cambodian territory. The five were sentenced to nine-month suspended jail terms and fines of one million riel (US$250) each. (MCOT online news)
Thai Patriots Network (TPN) legal advisor Wanwipa Charoonroj said members of the group were unable to survey the area where the two Thais -- Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon -- were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 because permission was not granted by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban although Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had ordered related government agencies to help facilitate their travel to the disputed border area.
Mr Veera is the sole Thai detainee still being held in Prey Sar Prison while Ms Ratree was granted bail and is staying at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh pending a defense against the charges.
The duo is scheduled to appear for trial Tuesday and as time is running out the group plans to request the Cambodian court to postpone the trial so it can collect evidence to fight the case and prepare to submit bail for Mr Veera, she said.
TPN coordinator Tossapon Kaewtima said his group will meet next week to finding ways to exert more pressure against the Thai government and to also follow up progress from various agencies including the United Nations in Bangkok, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Royal Thai Police Bureau on rescuing the two Thais.
Originally, seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on that day. Five were released last Friday and returned to Bangkok the following day after the court ruled them guilty of illegal entry and intentionally trespassing into Cambodian territory. The five were sentenced to nine-month suspended jail terms and fines of one million riel (US$250) each. (MCOT online news)
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