Thai PM: Government will help obtain quick release of seven Thais jailed in Cambodia

BANGKOK, Jan 4 – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday reasserted that all parties concerned are working to help secure the release of seven Thais, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, detained in Cambodia, to prevent the problem from escalating.

Thai authorities have cooperated with Cambodia using all channels to end the problem as soon as possible, Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Panich and members of the so-called 'Yellow Shirt' People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement were detained by Cambodian troops last Wednesday as they inspected the border of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province with Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.

Referring to the video footage showing Mr Panich talking on a cell phone, saying he is in Cambodia and suggesting that the premier knew about it, the prime minister said that Mr Panich had just informed him that he would go to Prachinburi province to gather information about land occupancy problems facing local people, but he did not know who went with him.

Mr Abhisit said the video clip posted on YouTube was cut short to only one minute and that has caused confusion. In the full 4-minute clip, Mr Panich said he believed he was still in Thai territory and was on the way to Border Marker Number 46.

Seven Thais have been held in prison after they were charged by the court with illegal entry and illegally entering a military base along the border, crimes which in Cambodia carry penalties of up to six months and one year, respectively.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General to the Foreign Minister Chavanont Intarakomalsut said the border dispute must be verified under the process of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). Thai-Cambodian border markers Number 46 and 48 are still in dispute and the border demarcation process must go forward. However, the case of the seven Thais should not be mixed with the issue of border demarcation.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will clarify the situation of the seven at 8.30pm on Bangkok's state-owned television Channel 11 Tuesday, Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

Mr Kasit earlier reported to the Cabinet that the process to help seven Thais including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth detained in Cambodia was underway and the situation would be clearer in one or two days. Two lawyers are being appointed to defend the detainees against the charges.

The Cambodian court has scheduled the first hearing on Thursday at 8am.

Dr Panitan said the foreign ministry reaffirmed that the seven did not intend to trespass on Cambodian territory but they investigated the area after local residents complained that they could not work on their land. Mr Panich believed that the plot of land is located in Thai territory and did not intend to cause any adverse effects on the two countries’ relations, according to Dr Panitan.

However, the Royal Thai Survey Department has inspected the specific area where the Thais were arrested and its inspection report will be given later on Tuesday. (MCOT online news)