Veera escorted to court by Cambodian prison guards.BANGKOK, March 10 (MCOT)- The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh will ask two Thai Patriots Network activists convicted and detained for espionage to endorse the letters seeking royal pardon for them from the Cambodian monarch on Friday, the secretary to the Thai foreign minister said today.
Chavanond Intarakomalayasut, secretary to the Thai foreign minister, disclosed the information after the mother of Veera Somkwamkid met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday seeking the government’s help to secure the release of her son. She said Mr Veera was "seriously ill" while serving jail sentence in Preysar Prison as he has not been given appropriate medical treatment and nutrition.
Mr Veera and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were convicted by a Cambodian court on Feb 1 for espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. The 53-year-old activist was sentenced to an eight-year jail term while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term.
Mr Chavanond said the lawyers of Mr Veera and Ms Ratree have finished drafting the royal pardon documents in the Cambodian language and forwarded them to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh for translation into Thai.
Embassy officials will bring the letters to the two detainees on Friday so that they could read the details and endorse the papers.
The embassy would be able to send the royal pardon letters to the Cambodian foreign ministry within next week, said Mr Chavanond, adding that the Cambodian ministry will have to forward the letters to the Justice Ministry and then the Cambodia's Office of the Prime Minister.
Following recommendations regarding a prisoner exchange, the secretary stated the foreign ministry already considered that approach but later learned that such transfers do not cover national security cases and that both Mr Veera and Ms Ratree must first serve at least one-third of their jail time.
"Moreover, with the prisoner exchange, they would also have to [continue] imprisonment in Thailand," said Mr Chavanond. "So the ministry advised them to seek a royal pardon, an option which can proceed immediately. The two detainees agreed with the idea and have signed documents expressing their will to use such as approach."
Mr Chavanond added that he will visit Phnom Penh seeking to take Mr Veera from jail for medical treatment and is now awaiting a reply from the Cambodian authorities whether they will allow him to visit the convicts.
The prime minister asserted Thursday that Mr Veera's health problem is a cause of concern for his government, and that seeking a royal pardon is the better option to help them. (MCOT online news)
Chavanond Intarakomalayasut, secretary to the Thai foreign minister, disclosed the information after the mother of Veera Somkwamkid met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday seeking the government’s help to secure the release of her son. She said Mr Veera was "seriously ill" while serving jail sentence in Preysar Prison as he has not been given appropriate medical treatment and nutrition.
Mr Veera and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were convicted by a Cambodian court on Feb 1 for espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. The 53-year-old activist was sentenced to an eight-year jail term while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term.
Mr Chavanond said the lawyers of Mr Veera and Ms Ratree have finished drafting the royal pardon documents in the Cambodian language and forwarded them to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh for translation into Thai.
Embassy officials will bring the letters to the two detainees on Friday so that they could read the details and endorse the papers.
The embassy would be able to send the royal pardon letters to the Cambodian foreign ministry within next week, said Mr Chavanond, adding that the Cambodian ministry will have to forward the letters to the Justice Ministry and then the Cambodia's Office of the Prime Minister.
Following recommendations regarding a prisoner exchange, the secretary stated the foreign ministry already considered that approach but later learned that such transfers do not cover national security cases and that both Mr Veera and Ms Ratree must first serve at least one-third of their jail time.
"Moreover, with the prisoner exchange, they would also have to [continue] imprisonment in Thailand," said Mr Chavanond. "So the ministry advised them to seek a royal pardon, an option which can proceed immediately. The two detainees agreed with the idea and have signed documents expressing their will to use such as approach."
Mr Chavanond added that he will visit Phnom Penh seeking to take Mr Veera from jail for medical treatment and is now awaiting a reply from the Cambodian authorities whether they will allow him to visit the convicts.
The prime minister asserted Thursday that Mr Veera's health problem is a cause of concern for his government, and that seeking a royal pardon is the better option to help them. (MCOT online news)
3 comments:
No pardon is needed for Mr. Veera and his secretary. They both found guilty by Cambodian court. Furthermore Mr. Veera was so disdainful before the court. He insisted he's on Thai soil. Pardon denied at this time. Pardon maybe reconsidered after 2/3 of the sentenced time is served. Case closed.
In order for a convict considered to be pardoned, he/she must be remorseful of their wrong doing. In the court of law Mr. Veera and Ms Ratree never shown they are being remorse. In fact they both were very arrogant in front of the court and judges. Based upon the official recommendation: Pardon is denied. The case will be reviewed until at least 2/3 of sentencing time is served.
WesternObserver
Un thai en prison pour la même raison que je l'avais subi en 1977 à TRAT en Thailande .
En 1977 , j'avais quitté Pursat , province de Cambodge des Khmers Rouges , pour arriver en Thailande dans une zone montagneuse ( l'endroit que je ne connais pas ) .Les policiers thailandais m'avaient ramené au début dans un commissariat à Trat , pour enquête .
Au début , j'étais trop heureux d'arriver dans le pays Thai non communiste , après avoir échappé aux fous Khmer Rouges et espérant de retrouver la liberté .
Hélas ! ils m'avaient enfermé dans une grande case métallique avec les autres réfugiés khmers , un bol de riz avec la sauce de poisson.J'ai failli mourir dans cet endroit , car après un mois de marche dans cette chaine de montagne.
Tous les jours , j' avais reçu des insultes de la part des prisonniers thai : " Y HAH !Kamen deing ...ect " que j'avais rien compris .
La langue française et un peu d'anglais m'avaient sauvé des coups de pieds des prisonniers thai ,
car pour eux , les soldats khmers rouges sont souvent illettrés .
Voyons ! même entre prisonniers ! le prisonnier thai est mieux traité que le prisonnier khmer ! j'espère que ce VEERRA ! a subi le même sort que moi à l'époque !
Quatre ou cinq jours après , 2 policiers thais m'avaient ramené dans une voiture avec le visage bandé.
La destination : prison .
Motif : violation de frontière .
Et pourtant , j'avais dit que je me suis sauvé des Khmers Rouges , Dambân 7 , Je ne suis qu'un réfugié politique .
Il m'avais enfermé dans cet enclos , comme prisonnier pendant 3 mois , avant de me ramener dans le Camp de Réfugié d'Aranya Prathet .
Les policiers thailandais me fouillaient pour chercher l'or ou des dollars , mais hélas , je n'avais rien .
Moi , mon motif , c'était le prix de la liberté et sauver ma vie , mais ce thai , c'est l'agression ou sa fierté dans le club des Chemises Jaunes . On n'a pas le même motif.
Ce traumatisme , chez les thailandais en 1977 , m'avait bien marqué et je ne suis pas prêt à oublier.
Ah ! comme quoi l'histoire recommence ! le goût de la prison !
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