29 Oct, 2010
BANGKOK, Oct 29 - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has accepted Thailand's request to investigate reports claiming that anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) 'Red Shirt' leaders with outstanding arrest warrants on terrorism are hiding on Cambodian soil, according to acting Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.
Dr Panitan made the statement on Friday after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met for 15 minutes with his Cambodian counterpart at the summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday evening.
Apart from the inquiry regarding the Red Shirt leaders' hiding place in Cambodia, the two leaders have also discussed the progress of several joint projects and the management of border areas.
Their talk went well and Mr Hun Sen told Mr Abhisit that he will investigate the issue, Dr Panitan said in a telephone interview to television Channel 9 (Modernine TV)'s morning news programme.
Dr Panitan added the Cambodian premier expressed his concern regarding the widespread floods in Thailand which have claimed nearly a hundred lives and affected millions of people.
Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) earlier cited the confession of 11 men arrested in Chiang Mai on charges of being a national security threat, claiming that the Red Shirt arms trainings have been held in a Cambodian army camp.
The detainees told investigators they were UDD members and that they comprised 11 of the 39 men they say were recruited by Red Shirt leaders to undertake arms training in the neighbouring country.
Thai media also reported key Red Shirt leaders fled to Cambodia. Among was Arisman Pongruangrong.
DSI quoted the detained suspects as saying some of the trained men were selected by Mr Arisman to be his bodyguards while he remains in Cambodia.
The Cambodian government however strongly denied the accusation of Red Shirt arms training, saying the issue was raised for the benefit of Thai internal political affairs.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), however said on Thursday that Mr Arisman, who escaped prosecution on terrorism charges, entered Cambodia with fake exit stamp from Thai immigration. Police have already asked the foreign ministry to revoke his passport. (MCOT online news)
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