Songkran: Questioned by defence head
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Published: 10/02/2011
Bangkok Post
An army private who was detained and later released by Cambodia has been questioned by his superiors including the army chief and the defence minister.
Pvt Songkran Thongchompu was captured during a clash with Cambodian soldiers in Si Sa Ket on Sunday.
He was released in Phnom Penh on Tuesday and taken to Aranyaprathet district in Thailand's Sa Kaeo province on the evening of the same day.
He was then immediately taken to the outpost of the army's Suranaree Task Force in Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket as senior army officers learned that Cambodian authorities asked the private to sign a document before his release.
A security source said Pvt Songkran's superiors asked him what had happened during his detention in Cambodia.
The private said he had been well treated but Cambodian authorities demanded that he sign a letter in exchange for his release.
"Pvt Songkran said it was a letter to ask Somdej Hun Sen [Cambodian prime minister] to help him return home," the source said.
The private was unable to read the letter as it was written in Khmer. The source said there was concern the private might have been made to sign a confession to the effect that Thailand had attacked and invaded Cambodia. "We must wait and see what happens," the source said.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha visited soldiers in Kantharalak district yesterday and spoke to Pvt Songkran.Gen Prayuth said he did not think Pvt Songkran had made a confession or signed a statement that could damage Thailand.
Pvt Songkran Thongchompu was captured during a clash with Cambodian soldiers in Si Sa Ket on Sunday.
He was released in Phnom Penh on Tuesday and taken to Aranyaprathet district in Thailand's Sa Kaeo province on the evening of the same day.
He was then immediately taken to the outpost of the army's Suranaree Task Force in Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket as senior army officers learned that Cambodian authorities asked the private to sign a document before his release.
A security source said Pvt Songkran's superiors asked him what had happened during his detention in Cambodia.
The private said he had been well treated but Cambodian authorities demanded that he sign a letter in exchange for his release.
"Pvt Songkran said it was a letter to ask Somdej Hun Sen [Cambodian prime minister] to help him return home," the source said.
The private was unable to read the letter as it was written in Khmer. The source said there was concern the private might have been made to sign a confession to the effect that Thailand had attacked and invaded Cambodia. "We must wait and see what happens," the source said.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha visited soldiers in Kantharalak district yesterday and spoke to Pvt Songkran.Gen Prayuth said he did not think Pvt Songkran had made a confession or signed a statement that could damage Thailand.
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