A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Relatives of two Thais jailed in Cambodia seek govt cash help

Published: 21/11/2012
Bangkok Post
Writer: King-oua Laohong 

Relatives of two Thais imprisoned in Cambodia for illegal entry and espionage are requesting financial assistance from the government to cover the costs of travelling to visit them.
Pis-amphai Somkwamkid, the wife of Veera Somkwamkid, the coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, and Wichai Pipatanapaiboon, brother of Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, who is Veera's secretary, submitted their requests for financial aid yesterday.
The requests were lodged with the Justice Ministry's Rights and Liberties Protection Department, which has a so-called "Justice Fund" to provide financial assistance to relatives of imprisoned persons.
The requests would be considered by the committee governing the fund on Friday, said Pol Col Narach Sawetanant, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Department.
Pol Col Narach warned, however, that the fund's panel would likely not approve the request because it involved a foreign country.
He said the pair have been jailed in Cambodia for almost two years and his department, along with the Corrections Department, were in the process of requesting their transfer back to Thailand.
Thailand and Cambodia have a treaty on prisoner transfers.

Veera and Ratree were arrested with five other Thais, including then-Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, on Dec 29, 2010 while inspecting a disputed border zone near Sa Kaeo's Ban Nongchan area.
They are currently being held in Prey Sar Prison near Phnom Penh after being sentenced to eight and six years jail, respectively, on charges of espionage and illegal entry.
The Thai government has asked Cambodia several times to seek royal pardons for the pair, but Phnom Penh insists the two have to serve at least two-thirds of their prison terms before a royal pardon could be considered.

No comments: