Thai nationalists angered by border arrests

Tue, 4 Jan 2011
Ron Corben, Bangkok
Radio Australia News

Thai nationalists are continuing to call for the release of seven Thais who were arrested by the Cambodian military last week.

A protest rally in Sa Kaew province bordering Cambodia has called for the immediate release of the group, led by a Democrat Party parliamentarian, Panich Vikitsreth, who were members of a committee overseeing Thai-Cambodian border issues.

The group were investigating claims Cambodian land encroachment.

Werasak Samrit, a businessman and a co-leader of the pro-nationalist group 'The Network of Thai People to Protect our Nation', has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program those detained were on Thai territory when held by Cambodian troops.

"[Cambodia says] say Thai people entered her territory - but actually it's in Thai territory, actually it Thai territory," he said.

"We're waiting for the government to solve this problem, but the government neglect, ignore this problem, just to say that Thai people have entered into Cambodian area. That's not true but actually it's in Thai side, because we have evidence that we report to our Thai government but the media don't present to the people."

A diplomatic flurry that included a personal appeal by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen failed to see the group's early release.

Hun Sen insists legal action will be taken, and Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh said the seven trespassed into Cambodia.

But Mrs Pratanapa, a member of the patriot group charged the Cambodian military of 'kidnapping' the Thais

"They kidnap our people seven people and also one is a representative of the parliament of the government," she said

"They tell lies, they said that the seven people were at this school which is on the area of the Khmer territory border, but, no, our people just like to prove their land and border of the Thais and Cambodia where it is."

Thai troops say they will block any protest near the border, while the Thai Foreign Ministry has called on the group to avoid actions that would undermine delicate talks seeking to have the seven released from Cambodia.