Reds to play Cambodia govt at football

Sept 7, 2011
Bangkok Post

A team comprising Pheu Thai MPs and red-shirts will play a friendly football match against a Cambodian government team on Sept 24, list MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Wednesday.

The match will be held at a football field in Phnom Penh and Prime Minister HunSen will attend it, he said.

“We have been in contact with Cambodian MPs in arranging a friendly football match,” said Mr Jatuporn.

The planned visit to Phnom Penh by Pheu Thai MPs and co-leaders of the red-shirt United front for Democracy against Dictatorship is aimed at getting the release of Veera Somkwamkid and his assistant Ratree Pipattanapaibul from prison, he said.

The two Thais, members of the yellow-shirt Thai Patriots Network, are serving jail sentences after being convicted on charges of illegal entry and spying.

Mr Jatuporn said after sideline talks with Cambodian authorities on the issue, the red-shirts were told that Mr Hun Sen is willing to release the two Thais.

The Pheu Thai list MP said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government had nothing to do with the planned football match, which was initiated solely by the red-shirts people group.

There are also no conditions set for assisting in the release of Mr Veera and Mrs Ratree as the red-shirts had no problem with these two people.

They could both still criticise the Yingluck government after their release if they want to, he added.

“If other Pheu Thai MPs would like to join in this activity they would be most welcome.

"After the football match with Cambodia, the red-shirts might later visit Vietnam and Laos for friendly football matches there," Mr Jatuporn.