12/01/2011
Bangkok Post
Veera Somkwamkid did not testify when he was taken before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for examination on Wednesday morning, saying he would speak only through an interpreter provided by the Thai embassy, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said.
Mr Veera, a coordinator of the yellow-shirt Thai Patriots Network, and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon were taken to the court this morning to hear additional charges of espionage and face examination.
Mr Chavanond, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said the Thai embassy was happy to provide Mr Veera with an interpreter.
However, Cambodian court regulations allow only for the use of its own interpreters. The embassy would submit a request for an exemption. The final decision rests with the court, he said.
He had no information from Cambodia whether Ms Ratree had given testimony to the court.
It was also not known whether Mr Veera and Ms Ratree would need to appoint other lawyers in addition to the two Cambodian lawyers provided by the embassy.
Mr Chavanond said it would be clear in two days whether the five other Thai defendants, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, would be granted bail.
After the Cambodian court delivers its verdict in the case, the governments of the two countries would negotiate ways of helping the seven defendants.
A swap of prisoners could be one way out, but this would not be known until after the court had given its verdict, Mr Chavanond said.
Karun Sai-ngam, a member of the TPN's legal team, tried in vain to get permission to be in court for the questioning this morning.
The network's legal team was in Phnom Penh, ready to apply for the release of the seven Thais arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 on charges of illegal entry and trespassing on a Cambodian military zone.
The TPN released a statement today announcing the network will hold a mass rally in front of Government House tomorrow. The statement was read oput by core member Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
The yellow-shirt splinter group called for the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, saying they were negligent in not helping the seven Thais arrested by Cambodian soldiers.
The statement said they instead admitted the Thais had trespassed on Cambodian soil, in the hope they would get a royal pardon from the Cambodian king.
The network also demanded the government submit a letter to the United Nations asking that it "oppose" the Cambodian court's jurisdiction in the matter. The network claims the Cambodian court does not have the authority to consider the case against the arrested Thais.
In the statement, the Thai and Cambodian governments were asked to comply with the 4th Geneva Convention, to which both countries are signatories, which prohibits the arrest and trial of civilians in a disputed area.
Mr Chaiwat said the TPN would hold a mass rally outside Government House tomorrow to press the government to comply with its demands.
If the government doese not comply, the network would organise a rally in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province to press for the closure of the border checkpoint, he said.
The network would submit a letter to the UN and the office of the International Red Cross in Thailand to ask them to look into the plight of the seven Thais to make sure their rights are protected while being detained at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh.
