[Thai] Govt works to assist four miners held in Cambodia

27/03/2012
Bangkok Post

Government officials are trying to help four miners arrested on illegal entry charges near the Thai-Cambodian border opposite Sa Kaeo province.

The four Thais - mining contractor Saran Panpetch, 42; his wife Suriya, 42; and their workers Bai Sodachan, 24; and his wife Wanwisa, 24 - were arrested by Cambodian troops in Thmor Puak district of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province opposite Sa Kaeo's Ta Phraya district late on Saturday night.

The four Thais have been charged with illegal entry, Yutthana Nutchanart, chief of Ta Phraya district, said.

Cambodian troops seized two pickups carrying power generating and mining equipment from the Thais.

Pol Lt Col Benjapol Rodsawat, deputy chief of Sa Kaeo immigration police, said he had heard that Mr Saran had sought permission for the visit.

He reportedly contacted Cambodian officials in Boeung Trakuan area of Thmor Puak district to allow his team to bring in mining and other equipment through the Boeung Trakuan-Ta Phraya border pass to conduct mining activities in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province.

Mr Saran's team had not notified Thai authorities about his plans to enter Cambodia, said Pol Lt Col Benjapol.

The four Thais were with a Cambodian police major and two other Cambodian border patrol officers when troops from Cambodia stopped and searched them in Banteay Meanchey.

The soldiers arrested them on illegal entry charges after they failed to produce travel documents, Pol Lt Col Benjapol said.

The arrests were made in front of the Cambodian border patrol officers accompanying them.

Pol Lt Col Benjapol said a Cambodian official told him the four were due to be taken to the provincial court in Banteay Meanchey's Sri Sophon district yesterday afternoon. No word was available on the outcome of the court appearance.

Several Thai agencies have been in contact with Cambodian authorities to try to find ways to help the four, Pol Col Benjapol said.