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| Cambodian border authorities watch representatives of the Thai Patriots Network andjournalists inspect the area close to where seven Thais were arrested for trespassing on Cambodian territory in Ban Nong Jan in Sa Kaeo yesterday. |
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| Thai Patriots Network members inspect the disputed border area. PHOTOSBYTHITI WANNAMONTHA |
6/01/2011
Bangkok Post
Trespass without intent to violate Cambodian sovereignty will be the key defence of the seven Thais detained in Cambodia on charges of illegal entry, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya says.
The Cambodian court will today begin hearing the illegal entry cases against the seven. Thai officials expect the trial will proceed quickly.
Two lawyers appointed by the Thai embassy to Cambodia will defend the seven. They will contend the suspects did not intend to violate Cambodian sovereignty. Rather, their intention was to look at land lots owned by Thais which are adjacent to the Cambodian border, Mr Kasit said.
During the trial, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Thai ambassador to Cambodia will ask the court to release them on bail, he said.
"If it is approved, they will be back home today," Mr Kasit said.
He said the Foreign Ministry would instruct the lawyers to base their defence on facts derived from video clips of the seven in the disputed area which have been widely seen in the media and on the internet.
The seven will need to admit they trespassed on Cambodian territory to a certain extent after ministry officials received information from the Thai military and the ministry's Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, which sent inspection teams to the scene on Dec 31, and Cambodian authorities.
Adisorn Pokmontri, an ambassador-level official, said the Thai and Cambodian governments wanted to settle the case amicably as bilateral relations between the two countries were gradually improving.
The seven, including Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and the leader of the Thai Patriots Network, Veera Somkwamkid, were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
A Cambodia court charged them with illegal entry and trespass into a Cambodian military area.
Members of the network rallied yesterday morning on Sripen Road in Ban Nong Jan to protest against the Cambodian government. They dispersed late in the afternoon after local officials allowed representatives to enter the disputed area and observe the spot where the seven were arrested.
About 300 supporters of the network, a splinter group of the People's Alliance for Democracy, turned up at the village and announced they would enter the disputed area to see where the seven were arrested.
About 200 residents of Nong Jan village confronted them and barred their way. The residents accused the network of damaging border trade and upsetting the good relationship between local Thais and Cambodians in the area.
About 200 security officials from the 126th Border Patrol Police and the Burapa Task Force stepped in to prevent a clash, keeping the groups about 100 metres apart.
After negotiations with the Sa Kaeo governor, the Burapa Task Force commander led a group of 30 people, including seven network representatives, journalists and fully armed border patrol police officers, to a barbed wire fence along the temporary border line between the 46th and 47th border pillars to look at the arrest site from a distance.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the seven were arrested 55 metres behind the barbed wire delineation line.
About 10 fully armed Cambodian soldiers kept watch over the group from a distance. Cambodian officers were seen video taping the group as they arrived and left.
The Royal Thai Survey Department yesterday confirmed the seven were 55m inside the claimed Cambodian territory when they were arrested.
Department deputy chief Nopphadon Chotsiri said a survey team visited the area on Dec 31 and confirmed the distance. "The encroachment of the seven Thais was likely because of a misunderstanding about the border line," Maj Gen Nopphadon said.
The house committee on foreign affairs chaired by Torpong Chaiyasarn, a Puea Thai Party MP for Udon Thani, said Mr Panich entered the disputed area in a private capacity.
Deputy Sa Kaeo governor Chat Kittinopphadon told the committee that it was the second time Mr Veera had been arrested for illegally entering the disputed area.
The first time was on Aug 20 last year. He was detained with four other people. They were released shortly afterwards, Mr Chat said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission was watching the case. Commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said no action had begun against Mr Panich as the constitution stated an MP could only be disqualified upon conviction in a court of law.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Mr Panich's group was warned by military officers not to go beyond the delineation line.
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