Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
A group of Thai Yellow Shirt activists will travel to Phnom Penh on Monday for talks with government spokesman and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, a day ahead of the trial of a key Yellow Shirt figure.
Activist Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary, Ratree Taiputana Taiboon, are set to stand trial at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday in a high-profile case that has strained diplomatic ties.
“I’m not sure about the purpose of Mr Veera’s representatives requesting a meeting with me,” Khieu Kanharith said today.
“Maybe they want to understand the Cambodian government’s stance on the issue.”
The two were part of a group of seven Thais – including Panich Vikitsreth, a lawmaker from the country’s ruling Democrat Party – who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers in Banteay Meanchey’s O’Chrou district.
All seven were charged with illegal entry and unlawfully entering a military base.
On January 21, five of the Thais were convicted on the charges and released after their nine-month jail sentences were suspended, bringing the case one step closer to a conclusion.
Next week, Veera and his secretary will be tried on those charges, as well as an espionage charge which carries a punishment of up to 10 years in jail.
Also today, the Thailand Patriot Network, a nationalist splinter group, submitted a request to the Thai government requesting that it help extradite Veera from Cambodia.
The letter was submitted by Sunthorn Rakrong, a TPN coordinator, through Kiatfa Laohapornsawan, a vice minister attached to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Office, the Bangkok Post reported.
“Concerning the extradition of Mr Veera, we have to wait the court’s verdict,” Khieu Kanharith said.
“If the spying issue is involved the extradition will be more complicated.”
Koy Kuong, spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Bangkok has already pledged to respect the ruling of the Cambodian court, adding that Cambodia has not yet received any request from Thailand to extradite Veera.
“We work government to government, but the request for the extradition was made in Thailand so we don’t have a headache with them,” Koy Kuong said.
“We cannot make any comment on what has not happened.”
Yellow Shirt protesters have rallied in central Bangkok this week in a bid to push the Abhisit government to take a stronger stance in border disputes with Cambodia.
3 comments:
pouch ah hunsen chea pouch PUPIT
IF WART KEAV KIRY SVA RA: BE LONG TO KHMER, WHY THE HELL HUNSEN N THE LOOSER GOVERMENT removed the cement SIAM aggression ??? (PRA SAT PREA: VI HEAH)
IT'S MEANS HUNSEN N THE GOVERMENT IS A LOOSER AND TO THE FUTURE siam WILL DO A LOT MORE LIKE THIS ONE...
pouk ah ngob eang kmean ban ka...!!!
DO WHAT SIAM SAID CAUSE moron ARmy AFRAID TO DIE
what! put them all in prey sar prison!
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve alot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder cambodian K5,1997events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder cambodians? Why? and Why?
If you are so good why do about 90%cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionair and millinor? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good Why do you block KI from cambodians?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions vietnameses are living permantly in cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? and Why
Every where, I walk in Cambodia I see vietnamese speak vietnamese every where, why? why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for ethernity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his belove Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent. The country is getting smaller and shamer by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet.
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