[Thai] PM hoping 5 [border trespassers] will get bail this week

January 17, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

But Veera and colleague may face tough fight to counter espionage charges by Cambodia

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva voiced optimism yesterday that the case involving seven Thais arrested late last month for illegal entry into Cambodia could be settled this week.

The PM said he knew of no complications within the Khmer judicial system or political factors that may upset the outcome.

He said the government would try its best to get the five Thais still detained in Prey Sar prison freed on bail.

"Look at Cambodia's recent statement. I'm confident that the case will be solved soon in the courtroom," Abhisit told reporters.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said last week that "the Cambodian court is proceeding with this case in accordance with Cambodia's immigration law, taking into consideration the current good relations between Cambodia and Thailand, without any animosity toward the Thai people.

"The court is still considering the case of five other Thai culprits," it said.

The statement was issued after the court rejected bail requests for five detainees on Friday. The court earlier granted bail to Panich Vikitsreth, an MP with the ruling Democrat Party, and activist Narumol Chitwaratana on health grounds.

Abhisit said a lawyer would submit an appeal today for a court decision on the five remaining detainees. Legally speaking, the appeal could drag out the case since the court is likely to take more time to reconsider the bail request.

Furthermore, two of five remaining detainees - yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid and his aide Ratree Pipatanapaiboon - have been charged with espionage, a tough blow, which could see them jailed for up to 10 years. They were accused of collecting information that could harm Cambodian security.

Unlike Panich, who told the court that he crossed the border by accident, Veera and other activists from the Thai Patriots Network did not accept they crossed into territory that was under Cambodian sovereignty. They insist that the area they inspected on the day they were arrested belongs to Thailand. Veera did not even accept the interpreter arranged by the court for his testimony last week.

Veera is familiar with the issue as he was held briefly by Cambodian local authorities after entering the same disputed area near Sa Kaew province's Ban Nong Chan in August last year.

He and his group claim the area belongs to Thailand but has been occupied by a Cambodian community for more than 30 years. He wants the Thai government to use force to kick these people off the disputed land.

A Thai government source said the case of Veera and other "patriots" was really complex because they knew exactly what they were doing and wanted to challenge Cambodian authority.

"It seemed he knew where to go [across the border] and had realised the consequence of this from the beginning," the source said.

Indeed, information from Thai authorities helped Cambodia to "pin" Veera and his group down. Thai officials insist that they walked 55 metres into territory under Cambodian sovereignty. So, the Cambodian court is unlikely to let them walk free easily.

Abhisit looks to want Veera and his colleagues released as soon as possible in order to relieve political pressure on the government. The Thai Patriots Network has been protesting outside Government House since the group was arrested and its leaders have threatened to stage a major rally later this month. Political pressure from the group has limited Abhisit's bargaining power in dealing with Cambodia.

On the other hand, Phnom Penh knew very well it held significant cards in its hand. The longer it holds them, the more bargaining power it has. Hun Sen won't play a card until he can achieve his goal - to settle the bigger dispute over the Preah Vihear temple. Abhisit's government still opposes Cambodia's management plan for World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear. The government has invited Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to visit Bangkok to discuss the matter but he has yet to respond.