Both sides 'scrambling to be the hero'

November 19, 2009
The Nation

The government and the Thaksin camp have been scrambling to play the hero amid speculation that the alleged Thai "spy" being detained in Cambodia might be released soon. The suspect's mother was said yesterday to be preparing to visit her son. She was being assisted by the government, but Thaksin's aide Noppadon Pattama claimed she also sought help from the fugitive ex-PM to get her boy home.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed that tension between the two countries had eased.

He said the Thai government was coordinating efforts to enable Simarak na Kakhon Panom to go to Phnom Penh and visit her son.

The woman had her passport issued at the Foreign Ministry's passport branch in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday and could go to Cambodia immediately after getting the green light from the neighbouring country.

Siwarak was arrested last week and charged with stealing details of Thaksin's flight schedule during the ex-PM's controversial visit to Cambodia. The flight data was deemed confidential information detrimental to national security.

Phnom Penh detained Siwarak in a Phnom Penh prison but allowed him a first visit by consular officials on Tuesday.

Abhisit said the Thai government was ready to give the suspect legal assistance, as he had denied all the charges. However, the prime minister was optimistic the situation would continue to improve.

Asked if Thaksin was helping, Abhisit said: "I don't know what others are doing. I can only say that the government is doing its best to help the man and I believe the situation will get better."

He also denied knowledge about Siwarak's Phnom Penh workplace, Samart subsidiary Cambodia Air Traffic Services, which has faced an alleged clampdown.

He said the Foreign Ministry was checking reports the firm was having problems with Cambodian authorities.

But overall, Abhisit seemed upbeat. "It looks like what many initially feared were serious problems are not as serious as expected," he said.

Asked if Cambodia would pardon Siwarak to help Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh politically, Abhisit said a pardon in accordance with Cambodia's justice system was possible. "But I don't know anything about Chavalit [preparing to go to Cambodia and bringing Siwarak back to Thailand]."

Noppadon claimed Thaksin had contacted "senior people in Cambodia" after receiving the call for help from the suspect's mother.

"He can't interfere with Cambodia's justice system but he promised to help her out of humanitarian reasons. He has made some calls to senior people in Cambodia," he said.