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| Panich Vikitsreth |
Ron Corben, Bangkok
Radio Australia News
A Thai parliamentarian charged with illegal entry into Cambodia, believes he is innocent and was in Thai territory at the time.
Panich Vikitsreth was one of seven Thais detained by Cambodian border guards on December 29, when they say they were investigating claims of Cambodian land encroachment.
The arrest, jail and court hearings have tested Thai-Cambodian relations, already strained by a dispute over claims surrounding the 900 year old Preah Vihear temple.
Panich, who spent 16 days in jail, has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program he remains convinced he is innocent and had not crossed beyond the disputed area into Cambodian territory.
"I always believed that I'm somewhere in Thailand, actually somewhere close to the border area, and where there is a disputed area, but I didn't expect that I was in another country," he said.
"I still believe today that I'm not in another country. But it's an area where of course there are disputes."
Critical local media comment followed the group's initial arrest, and this was exacerbated when You Tube footage purported to show the group crossing into Cambodia.
In footage based on the group's cameras Panich is seen walking towards Cambodia talking on a mobile phone for his secretary to inform Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of their whereabouts.
Panich claims the footage has been doctored and re-edited.
"What surprised me most is that the whole footage of 23 minutes they mix the sequence," he said.
"The sequence was wrong. I don't know how you want to put it but the sequence was wrong. It started off half way and then it came back to the beginning and then it went to the later part of our trip."
A joint boundary commission or JBC between Thailand and Cambodia works under a 2000 memorandum of understanding to establish the location of the border between the two countries.
But the Thai Patriot Network protesting in Bangkok wants the government to annul the MOU and reclaim the land, even by use of force.
Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire in 2008 and 2009 over cross border claims that resulted in casualties.
Panich says he wants to see greater diplomatic efforts to clarify the Thai - Cambodian border.
"Definitely what we want to see is no use of force - no use of military confrontation," he said.
"The best is to settle it on the table and to get this boundary across nearly 800 kilometres sorted out. So this is now in the process of this JBC which is going on right now."
4 comments:
He's not only a thief but also a liar. I'm not surprise. All Siem are liars anyway. Low life barbaric monkeys.
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve alot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder cambodian K5,1997events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder cambodians? Why? and Why?
If you are so good why do about 90%cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionair and millinor? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good Why do you block KI from cambodians?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions vietnameses are living permantly in cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? and Why
Every where, I walk in Cambodia I see vietnamese speak vietnamese every where, why? why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for ethernity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his belove Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent. The country is getting smaller and shamer by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet.
I can see Thais race are liar, twist, never admitted guilty, cheat, and gossip.
This Thais MP is a liar, he will be punished by lightening strike.
Keep this PM in Prey Sar Prison and throw away the key.
If he is dumb enough to walk into danger let him suffer the consequences.
This idiot is just a trouble maker.
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