Activist Veera stands firm arrest was on Thai soil

01 Feb, 2011
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK, Feb 1 – Thai activist Veera Somkwamkid, detained in a Cambodian prison for illegal entry to the neighbour’s territory and spying charges, on Tuesday denied all charges, asserting he was arrested on the Thai soil.

Veera Somkwamkid, coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, was taken from Prey Sar Prison Tuesday morning to stand trial as he was the only one still detained there, while his secretary, Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who was earlier granted bail, arrived at court by Thai embassy van.

Mr Veera stood firm on every question asked by the Cambodian court judge that he was detained by Cambodian soldiers while he was on Thai territory, while Ms Ratree conceded that a recorded video that Cambodian authorities seized and used as evidence for spying charge belonged to her, but the video recording was not for spying on Cambodian troop information as charged.

The Cambodian court also allowed two witnesses for the defense, members of the Thailand Patriots Network, to testify.

The court began questioning the plaintiff witnesses in the afternoon.

The two were among the seven Thais, including Democrat member of parliament for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth, who were arrested Dec 29 by the Cambodian authorities for illegal entry in Banteay Meanchey province.

The five have already returned to Thailand after receiving nine-month suspended jail terms from the Cambodian court for illegal entry and intentional trespass into Cambodian territory.

For Mr Veera and Ms Ratree, the Cambodian government prosecutor earlier added espionage against the duo, citing they gathered security information that could pose a severe threat to Cambodian security.

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said Tuesday that it is still unknown whether the court will deliver its verdict today or not, but the ministry stands ready to support the two Thais after the verdict is given.

Meanwhile, the leader of the ‘Yellow Shirt’ People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Gen Chamlong Srimuang said as he and PAD supporters have encamped at Government House since last Tuesday that the movement will intensify its campaign against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration no matter what the ruling of the Cambodian court is.

Gen Chamlong added the group will not accept the court's ruling and demand that Prime Minister Abhisit take responsibility over the matter.

The prime minister earlier rejected the PAD three demands including the withdrawal from the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, the revocation of the 2000 MoU signed with Cambodia and the pushing of Cambodians now living in border areas, which they claim belong to Thailand, back to their homeland.

In a related development, Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday reaffirmed Thailand has not lost its territory to the neighbouring kingdom, while urging all parties to solve Thai-Cambodian border dispute through negotiations not the use of force.

Gen Prayuth said Thai troops and ammunition have been standby along the Thai-Cambodian borders to protect the Thai sovereignty but stated clearly that the use of force was the last resort.

"We did not lose any land to the neighbour. Our troops are on alert along the border while the Cambodian forces are also ready," stated the Thai army chief.