Veera's mum begs Thaksin to help free jailed pair

Wilaiwan Somkwamkid, centre, mother of Veera Somkwamkid, is greeted by Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit, left at the party’s office. Mrs Wilaiwan, accompanied by her son, Preecha, right, is seeking the help of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in securing Veera’s release from Prey Sar prison in Cambodia.

5/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Family members of jailed Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon have sought the help of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to secure their release from prison in Cambodia.

Veera's mother Wilaiwan and younger brother Preecha and Ratree's niece Warisa Thongngern have submitted a letter to Thaksin through the Puea Thai Party in the hope that he would be able to help the two.

The families believed Thaksin had previously helped arrange the release of Thai air traffic controller Sivarak Chutipong, who was also charged with espionage, after he passed details of Thaksin's flight plans to the Thai embassy in 2009.

Mrs Wilaiwan said her family had waited for four months for the present government to help her son. Mr Preecha, Veera's younger brother, last month submitted a letter through Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva seeking help, but no progress had been made, she said.

Thaksin's aide in Thailand, Noppadon Pattama, received the letter on behalf of his boss. He said he would send it to Thaksin by email.

He believed Thaksin, who he said was now in a Middle Eastern country, would discuss the matter with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Thaksin was briefly a special adviser to Hun Sen, a controversial appointment.

Veera and Ratree are serving time in Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh. They were sentenced to eight and six years in jail respectively for spying and illegal entry.

Five other Thais who were arrested at the same time on Dec 29 last year for illegal entry were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. They were freed after the court suspended their remaining eight-month jail terms.

Meanwhile, the Thai Patriots Network yesterday decided to withdraw from Veera and Ratree's case.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, the leader of the Thai Patriots Network, said the network would leave the case in the hands of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Veera and Ratree have signed a document empowering Karun Saingam, a member of the network's legal team, to represent them.

Mr Chaiwat said Mr Abhisit had tried to drive a wedge between the families of the two and the network.

He said the network would not interfere in the decision of the families to seek help from Thaksin.

"If they believe it will speed up the release, it is fine. The government and the Foreign Ministry aren't sincere in helping either of them," he said.

"I think anyone can help. It is not a slap to the face of the government. We feel sympathetic towards the families of Veera and Ratree who want them to be released as quickly as possible," Mr Abhisit said.