10 Jan, 2011
Source: (MCOT online news)
BANGKOK, Jan 10 -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Monday denied a report that Thai soldiers killed 20 Cambodians at the border in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, awaiting a Cambodian court's verdict on seven Thais detained in Phnom Penh since last month.
Mr Suthep said the government was trying its best to help the seven Thai nationals detained on Dec 29 as they inspected the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province adjacent to Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey.
The deputy premier said Thailand is pulling out all the stops through all legal means to secure the release of all those seven.
He said he would not comment on the issue as it might not help the case.
As far as he knew, Mr Suthep said, no bail request has been submitted as it depends on the team of lawyers and the Cambodian Court's procedures.
The seven, including Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Thai Patriots Network leader Veera Somkwamkid, were arrested by Cambodian soldiers as they inspected the border area.
The Cambodian court finished the first hearing on Thursday. The detainees face two charges -- one of illegal entry into the Cambodian kingdom, with assigned punishment of three to six months of imprisonment and deportation, and a second charge involving trespass into a Cambodian military area without permission, punishable by a three to six months jail term and Bt7,500-15,000 in fines.
Mr Suthep denied the report that Thai troops killed 20 Cambodians at the border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province, saying it was groundless. He questioned the motives of those who spread the unfounded rumour.
He said that in the past, Thai military had clashed with armed illegal logging groups which were later identified as Cambodians, but it was long ago and took place long before the seven Thais were detained by the Cambodian troops.
The deputy prime minister also denied using a prisoner swap as a measure to help the seven. He said Thailand and Cambodia had discussed the matter in the past and Cambodian authorities handed over prisoners to Thailand, but Thailand has yet sent any prisoner to Cambodia due to legal technicalities.
Meanwhile, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai Foreign Minister, said families of the seven detained Thais arrived in Cambodia on Sunday and have visited their relatives at Phnom Penh's Prey Sor Prison this morning.
The Thai Patriots Network lawyers have been waiting to meet Cambodian lawyers for detained Thais but have already talked to the families and Thai embassy officials at Phnom Penh, he said.
Mr Chavanond said the lawyer team and the embassy officials were waiting for the court action before submitting the bail bids to temporary free the Thais.
The Cambodian lawyer for the seven was at court this morning and abruptly left without giving interview to reporters waiting in front of the court.
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