Foreign Ministry: Thai charged with gaining secret information affecting Cambodia's national security

BANGKOK, Nov 18 (TNA) - Cambodian authorities filed charges Wednesday against a Thai engineer, accusing him of acquiring secret information which affects Cambodia's national security, according to the secretary of Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chavanond Intarakomalyasut.

Siwarak Chutipong, 31, an employee of Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS), was arrested in the Cambodian capital on spying charges last week after he was found releasing the flight schedule of fugitive ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra to a Thai embassy official in Phnom Penh.

Mr Chavanond said that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs had prepared a lawyer for Mr Siwarak, but it depends on him whether he wants to use the ministry's or his personal lawyer.

He said the ministry is now preparing legal materials to help the defendant against the Cambodian accusations, but that will be done under Cambodian legal procedure.

Foreign ministry official Thani Thongphakdi, deputy information director, said the ministry has received official notification from Cambodia of the charge, but details cannot be revealed now as the matter is now in court.

Mr Thani said that the foreign ministry is providing a Cambodian lawyer for Mr Siwarak as Cambodian law indicates that only Cambodian attorneys are allowed to represent a client in court.

He said that the lawyer is experienced in human rights issues, adding that the Thai Justice ministry has dispatched its senior officials to help take care of the case.

Following news reports that opposition Puea Thai Party chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyuth will fly to escort Mr Siwarak back to Thailand, Mr Thani commented that the incident happened due to the visit to Phnom Penh of the convicted ex-premier, and that whoever gives a hand to help Mr Siwarak is doing good, but must not make the story more complicated.

The deputy director-general added that deputy director general of the Consular Affairs Department Mathurapojana Ittharong visited Mr Siwarak’s family in Nakhon Ratchasima province to offer moral support and later took them ready passports for their trip to Phnom Penh to visit the defendant if they are allowed by Cambodian authorities.

Meanwhile, opposition member of parliament Jatuporn Prompan, also a leading member of the co-called ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) revealed that the Cambodian authorities have got three clear pieces of evidence which indicate Mr Siwarak’s guilt and is a danger to Cambodia's national security.

Mr Jatuporn said the three items of evidence are the flight schedule, an audio clip of conversation between Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and the first secretary of Thai embassy to Phnom Penh, and an audio clip in which the first secretary instructed Mr Siwarak to steal Mr Thaksin's flight schedule.

The Puea Thai MP said that Cambodia considers that Thailand has interfered in its domestic affairs as it considers that the flight schedule is related to its national security.

Mr Jatuporn urged the Thai foreign minister to admit what he had done before the Cambodian authorities expose the audio clip to the public, which he said will destroy Thailand’s credibility, as well as his own.

The Puea Thai MP added that former premier Thaksin has coordinated with Cambodian authorities about the case and has been told that the legal procedure will be rapidly conducted with the minimum punishment.

He said if Mr Siwarak is convicted with a suspension of imprisonment, the Cambodian authorities will inform Gen Chavalit to take the Thai engineer back to Thailand.