Thai FM Expects Cambodia To Soon Free Two Jailed Thais

BANGKOK, November 30 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday he believed that neighbouring Cambodia would free two jailed Thai activists, Veera Somkhwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaibul, in the near future, after his planned talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong. Surapong acknowledged that bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia had been improving, thanks to progress in bilateral negotiations under the frameworks of their Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC), and that Cambodia had now allowed Thailand to send doctors to treat Veera and Ratree at a Cambodian prison. Regarding the possibility of Phnom Penh's release of the two jailed Thai activists, Surapong told reporters that he would discuss the matter with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in the near future and he expected a positive response. For a temporary demilitarized zone along the Thai-Cambodian border near the Preah Vihear Temple ruled by the International Court of Justice, Surapong said that Thai Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha would discuss the issue with their Cambodian counterparts under the GBC framework in mid December 2011, after that the Thai government would then seek the Thai Parliament's deliberation and decision on conclusions from the discussion, in line with Section 190 of Thailand's 2007 Constitution. In response to a recent request from border traders and business operators in Mae Sot District of Thailand's northwestern Tak Province for the Thai government to convince Myanmar to reopen a border pass connecting to Mae Sot, the Thai foreign minister insisted that he would seek the reopening of the border pass during his talks with his Myanmar counterpart next year. (TNA)