No decision made on 7 detained Thais after question by Cambodian court

People's Daily Online
January 07, 2011

Phnom Penh Municipal Court has not disclosed any decision on the seven detained Thais on Thursday after almost 12-hour additional inquest conducted by the investigating judge Chaing Sinat.

Chaing Sinat did not answer the phone called by reporters after the inquest session which was closed to reporters ended at 7:10 p. m. And no date has been set for their trial.

Ros Aun, the defense lawyer for Panich Wikitsate, a Democrat Member of Parliament for Bangkok, Ms. Naruemol Chitwaratana, house keeper and Ms. Ratree Paiputana Paiboon, vendor, told Xinhua after the additional question session that "after being questioned additionally on my clients, the judge still upholds the same charge--two cases--on my three clients."

The seven Thais were arrested on Dec. 29, 2010 by Cambodian border protection army for illegal entry into Cambodian territory in Banteay Meanchey province and now are being detained in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison.

On Dec. 30, the deputy prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Sok Roeun charged them with two cases - illegal entry and illegally entering a military base along the border, crimes which in Cambodia carry penalties of up to six months and one year, respectively and fine from 1 to 2 million Cambodian riels (250 U.S. dollars - 500 U.S. dollars).

Pich Vicheka, the defense lawyer for other four Thais-- Veera Somkwamkid, secretary general of People Network Against Corruption and Thailand Patriot Network core member, Samdin Lersbusya, secretary for Heaven and Earth Party, Kochpontorn Chusanaseree, assistant to Panich, and Taynae Moongmachon, pressperson-- told Xinhua after the additional questions that the judge has not made any decision on his four clients.

"I don't know yet if the judge charge my clients only the two cases or will have another additional charge," he said. "I do not get any final decision from the judge."

Neither Ros Aun nor Pich Vicheka knows when the court will set the trial date for the seven detained Thais, but they said they will submit the bail requests to the court soon.

The Cambodian-Thai border has never been fully demarcated. And the two sides have had border conflict just one week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008.

Since the conflict started, military standoff has been on and off along the two countries' border and several military clashes have already happened with recorded small causalities from both sides.

However, the border issue has been eased as the top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have held four meetings since September.

Source: Xinhua