BANGKOK, Dec 14 (TNA) - Thai engineer Siwarak Chutipong, convicted by a Cambodian court on for espionage, arrived in his motherland Monday after being granted a royal amnesty by Cambodia's monarch, reasserting that his case was definitely not set up for political reasons.Mr Siwarak, freed after Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni granted him hid royal pardon, arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Monday afternoon with his mother, Simarak Na Nakhonpanom, together with opposition Puea Thai MPs and party spokesman Prompong Nopparit who picked him up at Phnom Penh.
Mr Siwarak said on arrival that the case was not a set up as rumours swirled, as the Thai first secretary to Phnom Penh Kamrob Palawatwichai was involved in the case.
The Thai diplomat was expelled from Cambodia after he was found asking Mr Siwarak for Mr Thaksin's flight plan.
The engineer said he could not force the diplomat to call him, and urged Mr Kamrob to tell the public the truth.
"Since I was arrested, I had not talked to Mr Kamrob," said Mr Siwarak," he said, complaining that the former first secretary should have called his mother during the arrest or said something to the public.
Regarding accusations that his mother was part of a setup arrest, Mr Siwarak reasserted that no mother wants to risk her son's life in such a case.
Mr Siwarak said he has a good job and does not want to be in either a Thai or a Cambodian jail, but said that despite the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs help for him, due to the diplomatic row between the two countries, his mother opted to seek help from Mr Thaksin and the opposition.
The Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) employee was arrested by Cambodian police on November 12 on charges of espionage--passing to Mr Kamrob information on the flight details of Mr Thaksin during his first visit to Cambodia after being appointed economic adviser to the Cambodian government.
A Cambodian Court sentenced Mr Siwarak to seven years jail term and fined Bt100,000 (US$3,000) but was released following the Cambodian kin's royal pardon.
Before his release, Mrs Simarak and the fugitive Thai premier visited Mr Siwarak at Preysar Prison Sunday evening.
On Monday morning Mr Siwarak, his mother and Puea Thai MPs met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who gave him the official letter of royal amnesty.
Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva congratulated Mr Siwarak on his release, reiterating that his government is ready to restore relations with its neighbour, but Cambodia must solve the problem at its root, which is "Mr Thaksin."
Mr Abhisit commented after news reports that Mr Siwarak will urge the government, as he returns to Thailand, who asked for Mr Thaksin's flight schedule.
The premier said that the issue should not be politically intensified as Mr Siwarak had pleaded not guilty during the trial and that Thailand had no need for the data as the government had it already.
"I want to ask persons who try to magnify the issue what do they need, why they want Thailand to have problems with its neighbour," said Mr Abhisit. "Mr Siwarak has already been freed and the fact is there, but some people are still trying to politicise the issue".
Mr Abhisit added that his government is ready to clarify the matter in the House if the opposition Puea Thai Party raises it in a no-confidence motion early next year.
Regarding Mr Thaksin's comments on his Twitter page accusing the government of using Mr Siwarak as a tool, Mr Abhisit said it is just Mr Thaksin's opinion, He asked the ex-premier back who has he used in the matter.
The Thai premier added that it is not difficult to restore relations with Cambodia as long as the neighbour listens to Thailand that the problem is caused by Mr Thaksin and solve it at its root.
Mr Abhisit reasserted that Thailand still wants to restore relations with Cambodia, but that relation must be made upon trust and respect between the two kingdoms.
The Thai premier admitted that there is sign from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urging Thailand to send its ambassador back to Phnom Penh, but Thailand has replied to the Cambodian premier that the diplomatic spat was not caused by recalling the ambassador.
He said Thailand was obliged to express its stance after Cambodia had insulted the Thai judicial process as well as violated international agreement.
The Thai premier said he just wants to see every country follow the commitment made together and international practices.
1 comment:
Cambodia has no trust for this Thai government. They are the flip-flopper themselves. They are good at pointing finger. What has he achieved so far since he become a prime minister beside causing all the animosity?
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