Hun Sen to seek reduced jail terms for Veera and Ratree [-Hun Xen is the LAW afterall!]

September 16, 2011
The Nation, Agencies

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised visiting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday that he would seek reduced jail terms for two Thai activists imprisoned for espionage, but insisted a royal pardon could be considered only after they had served two-thirds of their sentences.

During their meeting in Phnom Penh, Yingluck had asked Hun Sen to seek a way to help Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who are serving eight and six years, respectively.

They were arrested in December while inspecting a disputed border area near Sa Kaew's Ban Nongchan village.

The prime ministers also discussed overlapping maritime claims, trade, investment, and a plan to issue third-country tourists with a single visa for the two countries, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said.

Panich plans Prey Sar prison return to visit Veera, Ratree

Panich: Spent month in Phnom Penh jail

29/03/2011
Anucha Charoenpo
Bangkok Post

Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, who along with six other Thais was convicted in January of illegal entry into Cambodia, is planning to visit the two who remain jailed in Phnom Penh.

Mr Panich, an MP for Bangkok, and four others were released from Prey Sar prison by the Phnom Penh Municipality in January after being handed suspended sentences.

But Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkhwamkid and his secretary, Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, were convicted of further charges of espionage and jailed for eight and six years, respectively.

Pending approval from the Cambodian government, Mr Panich, who spent a month in the prison while awaiting judgement, will accompany relatives of Veera and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon on the trip to Phnom Penh.

They will make the trip immediately after receiving this approval.

Accused Thai spies in court Wednesday

11/01/2011
Bangkok Post

Two of the seven Thais arrested in Cambodia for illegal entry have been additionally charged with spying and will be questioned in court at an extra session on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut confirmed on Tuesday.

The two are Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, an affiliation of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon.

Mr Chavanond said the additional spying charge could make it more difficult for the Thai government to help, particularly to get their release on bail.

He said the other five, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, have been charged only with illegal entry and trespassing on a military zone. The five had already testified to the court.

Poll: Most [Thais] baffled by [Thai] MP's border trip

7/01/2011
Bangkok Post

Most people really don't understand why a group of seven Thais, led by an MP, entered Cambodian territory and were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29, according to an Abac Poll survey.

The researchers polled 2,085 people over the age of 18 from 17 provinces nationwide between Jan 1 and Jan 6.

The pollsters reported today that 58.1 per cent of the respondents said it was not clear to them why the seven Thais made the trip into the disputed border area, 23.7 per cent believed they went there for the national interest, but 18.2 per cent thought their objective was to further their own interests.

Asked whether the incident had brought out the leadership qualities of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, 26.6 per cent agreed but most (73.4 per cent) thought otherwise.

Viet fishing boats illegally trespassing into Cambodian seas

22 August 2010
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Fishermen from Kampot province indicated that there are illegal Viet fishing boats that sneaked in to catch fishes inside Cambodian waters in Kampot province during night time.

Kampot fishermen indicated on 21 August that, hundreds of fishermen families living in 4 communes in Kampot district are facing hardship in their fishing because the amount of fish catch is very slim because Viet fishing boats came to catch them using electric shock and illegal large fish catching equipments at night time.

The Cambodian fishermen live in 4 communes in Kampot province: Koh Toch, Sre Koh, Keb and Trapaing L’pov communes. The Viet fishing boats usually enter Cambodian waters from night time until daybreak to catch fishes, crabs and shrimps by using fine fishnets and electric shock devices etc… Each night, about 10 of these Viet fishing boats are coming in.

Cambodian fishermen are blaming the Cambodian provincial fisheries officials of not paying attention to this problem even after the villagers have complained in the past.

Sma Lim, a 40-year-old fisherman from Sre village, Sre Koh commune, Kampot district and province, told RFA over the phone that: “When they (Viet fishing boats) did not come in yet, we were able to catch 4-10 kg of shrimps and such! Now, each night we couldn’t even catch 1 kg! We don’t want anything, just that these Viet fishing boats do not trespass like this! Otherwise, the small [Cambodian] fishermen will have nothing left!”

The fishermen sent a petition that bears the thumbprints of 300 to 400 families to report to the Kampot authority last week, however, there is not reply yet so far.

Keo El, a 46-year-old fisherman from Sre Koh commune, said: “Fishing nowadays is affected because of these Viet fishing boats trespassing into Cambodian territories. They use modern fishing equipments, electric shocking devices, and they dragged with their nets all night long, they take everything.”

RFA could not reach the director of the Kampot province fisheries department to obtain his reaction over the claims made by the fishermen above.

Nao Thuork, the chairman of the department of fisheries for Cambodia, explained that the claims made by these fishermen are not all true (sic!).

Nao Thuork confirmed: “I did receive [the petition], but it is not that much either! We sent our people to look also, but the waters are neighboring each other. But, they [Cambodian fishermen] kept on saying that the Viet boats trespassed and such! We do not allow them, if there were any trespasses, the number is very small! (sic!)”

Cambodia is currently after illegal fishing during the prohibited fishing season which lasts between June and October. During this season, large scale fishing is prohibited, as well as fishing through fine nets, electric shocking devices or grenades, in order to increase the fish population in 2010.

Thai spy plane trespassed into Cambodian airspace

19 May 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Chum Sib, district governor of Sampov Loon, Battambang province, told the Koh Santepheap newspaper over the phone in the morning of 18 May that a Thai spy plane flew along the borderline, but 5 km inside Cambodian airspace in the evening of 14 May. Chum Sib said that this Thai spy plane flew along the borderline but inside Cambodian airspace from Malay district, Banteay Meanchey province, up to Sampov Loon and Phnom Preuk districts, then it crossed back into Thai airspace near Phnom Ka-ngak which is facing Phnom Barang Thleak in Phnom Preuk district, Battambang province. Chum Sib said that he reported this incident already. General Uk Khnuot, the deputy commander for the Battambang province military region said that he is not sure about this trespassing of airspace by the Thai plane yet. He said that if there was Cambodian airspace trespassing, it wouldn’t escape the attention of his force. General Por Vannak, the commander of the Battambang military police, said that there was indeed trespass into Cambodian airspace, but the plane flew at high altitude.

Cambodian Official: Thai Troops Cross Border in Temple Dispute

By VOA News
15 July 2008

A Cambodian official says 40 troops from Thailand entered Cambodia Tuesday in the latest flare-up of a territorial dispute over an 11th century Hindu temple.

Hang Soth, the Cambodian official who manages the Preah Vihear temple, said the troops crossed the border hours after three Thai activists were arrested for illegally entering Cambodia to reach the ruins. The activists have since been released to Thai authorities.

Thai military officials deny their troops crossed the border into Cambodia. They say their troops have been deployed to the nearby area.

They also say one Thai soldier lost his leg to a landmine while on patrol near the temple.

Cambodians celebrate the decision made for Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site during a rally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 14 Jul 2008 .

The temple sits along the Thai-Cambodian border, and each side has long claimed the site as its own. The International Court of Justice granted sovereignty of the temple to Cambodia in 1962.

Thailand's foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, resigned last week, following a controversial decision he made to endorse Cambodia's bid to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to designate the temple as a World Heritage Site.

Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled last week that the endorsement should have first been approved by the legislature. The decision also had opposition lawmakers calling for Noppadon's impeachment.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.