BANGKOK, Feb 18 (MCOT online news) -- The Thai Patriots Network (TPN) has sacked Nathaporn Toprayoon as its legal advisor overseeing the cases of two Thais --Veera Somkwamkid, a key network activist and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, both jailed in Cambodia--and network representatives will visit them in prison to ask for their final decision on appeal attempt, according to leading TPN activist Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
Mr Nathaporn said Thursday that he has received a request from the families of Mr Veera, network coordinator, and Ms Ratree, asking the network to drop the plan to appeal their cases and submit a request seeking an intervention from international organisations in the case.
He said their families were worried about their living circumstances in the Cambodian prison and wanted them back to Thailand as soon as possible so that they would ask the Thai government to seek a royal pardon from the Cambodian king.
Mr Chaiwat said his group had not yet been told by the prisoners' families that the two would not appeal their verdicts and would seek a royal pardon from the Cambodian king instead.
TPN members have not yet met the two, but will stick to their principle, which is to help them in fighting the case, Mr Chaiwat said.
Mr Chaiwat said his group had contacted the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh asking it to facilitate TPN leaders meeting with the two on Feb 25 and to “respect their decisions.”
The Cambodian court on Feb 1 ruled that the two were guilty of espionage, illegal entry and trespassing in a military zone. They were sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine for Mr Veera and a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine for Ms Ratree.
An appeal could be filed within 30 days.
Mr Chaiwat said the TPN committee stripped Mr Nathaporn of his role as legal advisor after the group found that they “couldn’t work well with each other,” and gave no further details.
Meanwhile, Mr Nathaporn said in an telephone interview that he actually has not been officially appointed by TPN as the network's legal adviser.
Mr Nathaporn said he volunteered to help in the cases of Mr Veera and Ms Ratree because he knew Mr Veera personally.
He said the TPN has no right to dismiss him as part of the legal advisory team as he was not appointed and has never attended network meeting except in Mr Veera's case that he join the two or three meetings.
He said it was unfair to eject him just because he told a truth different from the network's ideals.
Mr Nathaporn added that Mr Veera and Mr Ratree had signed letters giving power of attorney naming him as their proxy in legal matters related to the case so that only two of them have rights to dismiss him
Mr Veera and Ms Ratree's families were scheduled to hold a press briefing on Saturday over the matter, but time and place would announce later.
6 comments:
What's the rush. Let them enjoy time in khmer prison, a place where all Thais should call home.
Thai, Thailand should know the fact that you had evolved from the Khmer, Thai should see Khmer temples almost every where in Thailand. This proved that formerly Khmer territory. Thai should stop argue with Khmer and invade Cambodia. Khmer and Thai have the same culture and salute to Buddha.
This clearly showed that the Yellow Shirt (TPN) runs the country of Thailand.
cambodia is not about ah stinky veera, the pad thug, ok! respect the law, ok!
Dream on, pad Thai !!! It's the only thing that gives them a purpose to life, what a shame.
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don't Cambodia goverment transparency explain to cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian army are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian army you are decide the fade of your nation, Cambodian army as well as cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs,lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionairs, millionairs who sell out the country to be rich and make cambodian people suffer everyday as cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol ( Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education
Smart Khmer Girl Ms.Rattana Keo,
Post a Comment