Thai seven face a long wait for bail

Intrusion not intended, Panich informs hearing

7/01/2011
Bangkok Post and DPA

Seven Thais arrested in Cambodia for trespassing will be detained at least until Monday as they wait to apply for bail.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said yesterday bail requests were expected to be made on Monday because today was a holiday in Cambodia. Consideration of bail had to be decided within five days of the request being made, he said.

The government has ordered officials to seek bail for the group arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec29 after they crossed the border at Khok Sung district in Sa Kaeo and entered Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.

The group include former vice minister for foreign affairs Panich Vikitsreth and Veera Somkwamkid, a leading member of the People's Alliance for Democracy. Mr Panich is now a Democrat MP for Bangkok.

They appeared yesterday before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which is considering whether to look into charges that the seven entered Cambodia illegally and unlawfully entered a military base. The charges carry a combined maximum jail sentence of 18 months.

Mr Thani denied that some of the seven also were facing charges of espionage. The Foreign Ministry had been informed of just two charges, he said.

The seven are being held at Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The accused said nothing as they were led into the courtroom for yesterday's preliminary hearing, which was closed to reporters. No date has been set for their trial.

Mr Panich was examined first when proceedings opened at 8am, followed by two women identified as Narumon Chitvarattana and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon. Mr Veera and the three others were examined later in the day.

The examinations ended last night.

Mr Panich told the court he had "unintentionally" crossed into Cambodia, his Cambodian lawyer, Ros Aun, said.

"The purpose of his visit to the border was to address the complaints of [Thai] villagers," Ros Aun said, adding the villagers claimed a border marker had been moved by Cambodians and encroached on Thai territory.

In video footage shown on YouTube early this week and later in the Thai media, Mr Panich appears to be talking on the phone to his secretary to ask that an aide to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva be informed that the group had crossed into Cambodia.

In addition to seeking bail for the seven men and women, the government wants to settle the case in a way that will not affect relations between the two countries.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said yesterday Mr Panich's case was "separate from our diplomatic relations".

He declined to speculate on whether the group would be granted bail or whether Prime Minister Hun Sen would request a pardon for them if they are convicted.

"Right now, it's in the hands of the court, so we cannot say any more than that," he said.

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang insisted yesterday the government must strongly protest to Phnom Penh that the arrests were inappropriate.

He criticised the government for admitting the group had illegally entered Cambodian territory. It was a serious mistake to make accusations against fellow Thais, Maj Gen Chamlong said.

He insisted the group had been arrested in Thai territory because some Thais held title deeds over land in the area. But the Royal Thai Survey Department on Wednesday confirmed that the group was 55 metres inside Cambodia when arrested.

1st Army commander Udomdej Seetabutr said yesterday he believed the seven had not realised they were on Cambodian soil.

"They had good intentions," Lt Gen Udomdej said.

"The boundary is unclear and they might not have thought about the consequences."

Border demarcation talks have stalled over continual delays in the Thai parliament on approving the latest round of negotiations.