Bangkok Post
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has rejected a request for bail for the five other Thais still in detention at Prey Sar prison, Information Department director-general Thani Thongpakdi said on Friday.
Mr Thani, citing a report from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, said the defence lawyers immediately filed an appeal. The result was expected next week, he said.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday allowed conditional bail for two of the Thais - Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and Narumol Chatvaratana - prompting hope that at least three others would also be released.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said after the two were released that three more Thais were expected to be freed on bail today.
However, the same Phnom Penh court today denied bail for all five still being detained at Prey Sar prison, without giving any reasons They are Thai Patriots Network (TPN) coordinator Veera Somkwamkid, his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, Samdin Lertbutr, Tainae Mungmajon and Mr Panich's aide Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevin.
The Cambodian court gave permission for Karun Saingam, a lawyer of the Thai Patriots Network, to visit the five at the prison. The date and time for the visit had yet to be fixed.
Mr Thani said he believed the court granted bail for Mr Panich and Ms Narumol for health and humanitarian reasons. He said Mr Panich suffered from high blood pressure and Ms Narumol had a thyroid problem.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had been informed of the court's decision today, Mr Kasit's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said.
Members of the TPN, a splinter group of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, continued to rally at gate No 4 of Government House on Phitsanulok road on Friday, pressuring the government to do more to help the seven Thais, who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29.
The seven have been charged with trespassing on Cambodian territory and intruding into a military zone on Dec 29. Mr Veera and Ms Ratree have also been charged with spying. Mr Veera was previously arrested by Cambodian officials and charged with illegal entry.
TPN core members were still undecided whether to move their protest to Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province in the hope of forcing the closeure of the Khlong Luek-Poi Pet checkpoint, a vital commercial entry point for Cambodian and Thai traders, and for Thai gambers heading to the Poipet casinos.
Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul said he had ordered the Sa Kaeo governor to be on the alert. He urged the TPN to call off any plan to move to Sa Kaeo, saying it could affect efforts being made to get the other Thais freed.
Nearby Sa Kaeo residents are also vocally opposed to the closure of the border.
The New Politics Party called on the government to revoke the memorandum of understanding on the border signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 and to press Cambodia to release the five Thais.
Representatives of the New Politics Party, founded by the yellow-shirt PAD, went to Government House to submit a letter to Mr Abhisit this morning.
They demanded the government revoke the 2000 MoU on the Thai-Cambodian border and the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Commission, as they believed Cambodia violated Thai sovereignty.
They wanted the Cambodian government free all seven arrested Thais unconditionally.
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