Tea Banh non-committal over pardon

29/03/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh said he has no idea when Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon will be granted a royal padon.

He said this in an interview with the Bangkok Post in Phnom Penh.

Gen Tea Banh said procedural steps must be taken in seeking a royal pardon for the convicts, adding that he did not know if Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had forwarded the petition for a royal pardon filed by Mr Veera and Ms Ratree to the king.

Nobody can tell how the decision would be and when they would be released, he added.

"It's not that anybody can easily ask ask to be released. The Cambodian justice process cannot be interfered with," he said.

Gen Tea Banh said this when asked to comment on Veera and Ratree's petition for a royal pardon.

Gen Wichit Yathip, a former deputy army chief and a close aide to former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, said the Democrat-led government should seek help from people who could talk to Cambodia in order to help the two.

"But the government and the Foreign Ministry have never asked Gen Chavalit or me for help," Gen Wichit said.

Gen Wichit was in Phnom Penh today to take part in the opening of Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra hotel of Thai businessman Supachai Veeranarong. The opening ceremony was chaired by Gen Tea Banh.

However, Gen Chavalit did not attend the event, but sent his wife Khunying Phankrue to represent him.

Mr Veera and Ms Ratree were sentenced to eight and six years in jail respectively after being found guilty of illegal entry and espionage.

They and five other Thais were arrested on Dec 29, initially for illegal entry.

The five other Thais, found guilty on illegal entry, have been freed after their remaining eight months jail sentences were suspended.