BANGKOK, June 10 - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya (pictured) on Friday said his ministry informed the Cambodian and Vietnamese embassies in Bangkok about the arrest of their nationals for alleged spying, affirming that legal action would be taken under Thai law.
Three men -- one Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian -- were arrested by the Thai military authorities for alleged spying on this country’s military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket.
Mr Kasit said he instructed the Department of East Asian Affairs to continue to inform both embassies on details of the arrest and gave assurances that the case would proceed in accord with Thai law without any political intervention.
However, he would coordinate with police and the Office of the Attorney-General for the facts related to the case.
Police in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and a unit of Special Forces Rangers based in the province arrested the three men, identified as Suchart Muhammad, 32, a Thai national; Ung Kimtai, 43, a Cambodian national, and Nguyen Tengyang, 37, a Vietnamese national.
The three men were detained at Phum Srol village at 5pm on Tuesday as they appeared to be driving systematically to locate Thai military base and bomb shelters for villagers in the province.
Regarding the possibility of exchanging those detained with two Thai activists now being jailed in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges, the Thai foreign minister said it remains to be seen how the judicial procedures runs its course.
A Cambodian court on Feb 1 ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Mr Veera was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine, while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.
Mr Kasit said that in according to Thai law, a prisoner must serve at least two thirds of his or her jail term before an exchange of prisoners could be possible.
Thailand was ready to cooperate with Cambodia over the matter as the government did in the past, he said. (MCOT online news)
-------------------------------------
Three men arrested for spying near Thai-Cambodian border
BNO News Crime
Share
By BNO News
BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- Three men were arrested by the Thai military for spying along the Thai-Cambodian border, MCOT Online news reported on Friday.
The three men - a Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian - were arrested for spying on Thailand's military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket. They were detained at Phum Srol village on Tuesday while they were driving to find Thai military base locations and shelters for villagers in the province.
Pol Col Sompoj Khomprang, superintendent of Kantharalak district police station, said the arrest followed a military intelligence report that the three were driving around the province gathering information.
The three suspects were charged with espionage threatening Thailand's national security, while two of them also face additional charges of drug abuse. Both of them confessed to having used methamphetamine earlier, after testing positive.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the three men will be prosecuted in accord with the law after an investigation takes place. He said that the new case would proceed under the law, but he could not speculate on progress of talks with the Cambodian authorities on exchange of prisoners, to bring back two activists jailed in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges.
A Cambodian court on 1 February ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Somkwamkid was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine, while Pipattanapaiboon was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.
Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council urged both sides to establish a permanent ceasefire after at least 10 people were killed.
Clashes resumed in February as both nations claim the lands surrounding the ancient Hindu Temple, which has been damaged due to the conflict. The Preah Vihear temple dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.
Three men -- one Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian -- were arrested by the Thai military authorities for alleged spying on this country’s military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket.
Mr Kasit said he instructed the Department of East Asian Affairs to continue to inform both embassies on details of the arrest and gave assurances that the case would proceed in accord with Thai law without any political intervention.
However, he would coordinate with police and the Office of the Attorney-General for the facts related to the case.
Police in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and a unit of Special Forces Rangers based in the province arrested the three men, identified as Suchart Muhammad, 32, a Thai national; Ung Kimtai, 43, a Cambodian national, and Nguyen Tengyang, 37, a Vietnamese national.
The three men were detained at Phum Srol village at 5pm on Tuesday as they appeared to be driving systematically to locate Thai military base and bomb shelters for villagers in the province.
Regarding the possibility of exchanging those detained with two Thai activists now being jailed in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges, the Thai foreign minister said it remains to be seen how the judicial procedures runs its course.
A Cambodian court on Feb 1 ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Mr Veera was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine, while Ms Ratree was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.
Mr Kasit said that in according to Thai law, a prisoner must serve at least two thirds of his or her jail term before an exchange of prisoners could be possible.
Thailand was ready to cooperate with Cambodia over the matter as the government did in the past, he said. (MCOT online news)
-------------------------------------
Three men arrested for spying near Thai-Cambodian border
BNO News Crime
Share
By BNO News
BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- Three men were arrested by the Thai military for spying along the Thai-Cambodian border, MCOT Online news reported on Friday.
The three men - a Thai, a Vietnamese and a Cambodian - were arrested for spying on Thailand's military bases and bunkers for the local population in the border province of Si Sa Ket. They were detained at Phum Srol village on Tuesday while they were driving to find Thai military base locations and shelters for villagers in the province.
Pol Col Sompoj Khomprang, superintendent of Kantharalak district police station, said the arrest followed a military intelligence report that the three were driving around the province gathering information.
The three suspects were charged with espionage threatening Thailand's national security, while two of them also face additional charges of drug abuse. Both of them confessed to having used methamphetamine earlier, after testing positive.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the three men will be prosecuted in accord with the law after an investigation takes place. He said that the new case would proceed under the law, but he could not speculate on progress of talks with the Cambodian authorities on exchange of prisoners, to bring back two activists jailed in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges.
A Cambodian court on 1 February ruled that Veera Somkwamkid, Thai Patriots Network coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were guilty of espionage, illegal entry, and trespassing in a military zone. Somkwamkid was sentenced to an eight-year jail term and a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine, while Pipattanapaiboon was handed a six-year jail term and a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine.
Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council urged both sides to establish a permanent ceasefire after at least 10 people were killed.
Clashes resumed in February as both nations claim the lands surrounding the ancient Hindu Temple, which has been damaged due to the conflict. The Preah Vihear temple dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.
1 comment:
Thailand mess with AN NAM-DAI VIET, you Thai people mess with fire ants...An Nam will make Thai Tea Ong in Preah vihear....
Post a Comment