12 Cambodian journalists visiting Thailand posing in front of the mass circulation Thai Rak Thai newspaper which has a daily readership of 1,000,000.Journalists deride Siem Reap camp claims
Published: 19/10/2010
Bangkok Post
Cambodian reporters have scoffed at recent allegations by the Department of Special Investigation that members of the red shirt movement have received weapons training in Siem Reap.
"We couldn't conceal it if it's true. Siem Reap is a renowned resort province in Cambodia with a lot of foreign tourists," Om Chandara, a senior reporter with the Angkor Wat newspaper told members of the Thai media yesterday at the Thai Journalists Association (TJA).
Om Chandara is one of 12 Cambodian reporters paying a one-week visit to Thailand as part of a Foreign Ministry exchange programme aimed at providing the Cambodian media with a better understanding of Thailand and its people. The programme was introduced after Thai-Cambodian relations took a turn for the worse in recent years.
Om Chandara said the DSI should not have leaked the claims made by the suspects who say they underwent arms training as it could cause misunderstandings between the two countries. The media from the two countries also should work more closely to make such matters clear to prevent a recurrence of the suspicions.
The DSI said last Monday its investigations had found that 39 Thai men had been trained to use weapons in Siem Reap for a mission to assassinate key public figures in Thailand, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.
The disclosure followed the arrest at a resort in Chiang Mai's Mae On subdistrict of 11 men suspected of involvement in a movement to destabilise national security, planning to kill prominent Thai figures and to overthrow the monarchy.
The 11 men are now under a witness protection scheme in exchange for any information which could lead to the arrest of accomplices.
Ath Bonny, deputy editor-in-chief of Bayon radio and television station, said the Cambodian media, officials and people had not paid any attention to the DSI's report and they do not believe their country had been used as a camp to provide weapons training for red shirt supporters.
"There must be some misunderstanding," Ath Bonny said.
He said even Thai diplomats at the embassy in Phnom Penh denied the report when Cambodian reporters contacted them for clarification.
Yung Khemara, a reporter from the DAP Media Centre, said the DSI report was causing misunderstandings between the two countries.
"It [the arms training for red shirts in Cambodia] doesn't look true to us," Yung Khemara said.
She said Thailand should stop releasing reports along these lines as they did neither country any good. Thailand and Cambodia also should forgive one another and forget the past in order to be able to move forward together to a bright future.
The Cambodian reporters asked the TJA to develop a website which reported on issues affecting the two countries so Thai and Cambodian reporters could use it as a reference whenever misunderstandings arise.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith led the media mission to Thailand and yesterday met with Mr Abhisit at Government House.
"We couldn't conceal it if it's true. Siem Reap is a renowned resort province in Cambodia with a lot of foreign tourists," Om Chandara, a senior reporter with the Angkor Wat newspaper told members of the Thai media yesterday at the Thai Journalists Association (TJA).
Om Chandara is one of 12 Cambodian reporters paying a one-week visit to Thailand as part of a Foreign Ministry exchange programme aimed at providing the Cambodian media with a better understanding of Thailand and its people. The programme was introduced after Thai-Cambodian relations took a turn for the worse in recent years.
Om Chandara said the DSI should not have leaked the claims made by the suspects who say they underwent arms training as it could cause misunderstandings between the two countries. The media from the two countries also should work more closely to make such matters clear to prevent a recurrence of the suspicions.
The DSI said last Monday its investigations had found that 39 Thai men had been trained to use weapons in Siem Reap for a mission to assassinate key public figures in Thailand, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.
The disclosure followed the arrest at a resort in Chiang Mai's Mae On subdistrict of 11 men suspected of involvement in a movement to destabilise national security, planning to kill prominent Thai figures and to overthrow the monarchy.
The 11 men are now under a witness protection scheme in exchange for any information which could lead to the arrest of accomplices.
Ath Bonny, deputy editor-in-chief of Bayon radio and television station, said the Cambodian media, officials and people had not paid any attention to the DSI's report and they do not believe their country had been used as a camp to provide weapons training for red shirt supporters.
"There must be some misunderstanding," Ath Bonny said.
He said even Thai diplomats at the embassy in Phnom Penh denied the report when Cambodian reporters contacted them for clarification.
Yung Khemara, a reporter from the DAP Media Centre, said the DSI report was causing misunderstandings between the two countries.
"It [the arms training for red shirts in Cambodia] doesn't look true to us," Yung Khemara said.
She said Thailand should stop releasing reports along these lines as they did neither country any good. Thailand and Cambodia also should forgive one another and forget the past in order to be able to move forward together to a bright future.
The Cambodian reporters asked the TJA to develop a website which reported on issues affecting the two countries so Thai and Cambodian reporters could use it as a reference whenever misunderstandings arise.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith led the media mission to Thailand and yesterday met with Mr Abhisit at Government House.
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