ID :
155394
Thu, 12/30/2010 - 12:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/155394
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Abhisit calls urgent meeting to find ways to help 7 Thais detained in Cambodia
BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva urgently convened security authorities on Thursday to discuss ways to help Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and six other Thai people who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Wednesday (Dec 29).
The Thai premier convened security authorities including Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya, Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and Thawil Pliensri, the secretary-general of the National Security Council. They tried to find ways to help the seven Thai people including Mr Panich, a Democrat MP for Bangkok, and activists Veera Somkwamkid and Samdin Lertbutr who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers near Sripen road in Ban Nong Jan village of Khok Sung district in Sa Kaeo province.
Deputy Premier Suthep said that the prime minister and he tried to approach the Cambodian government after learning about the arrest but the Cambodian government turned down their request. Therefore, the Thai government will continue to negotiate through its agencies.
Suthep said that his government was doing its best to help the Thai people and if the Thai people were brought to a Cambodian court today, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs would send a lawyer to help them.
The deputy prime minister said that relations between Thailand and Cambodia were inconsistent and thus posed problems in seeking the release of the people. He attributed the issue partly to the internal political problems of Thailand and Cambodia.
Suthep said that he had no ideas why Panich was involved in the group of people approaching the border and that it was more difficult to convince their release as Veera had been arrested in a nearby location previously.
Asked whether the Thai delegation was arrested on the Thai or Cambodian soil, the Thai Deputy Premier said he was waiting for a confirmation. So far, he has learned that the delegation had driven past a checkpoint of Thai border patrol police. While the police were trying to catch up with the delegation to bring them back, Cambodian soldiers arrested them. (TNA)
The Thai premier convened security authorities including Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya, Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and Thawil Pliensri, the secretary-general of the National Security Council. They tried to find ways to help the seven Thai people including Mr Panich, a Democrat MP for Bangkok, and activists Veera Somkwamkid and Samdin Lertbutr who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers near Sripen road in Ban Nong Jan village of Khok Sung district in Sa Kaeo province.
Deputy Premier Suthep said that the prime minister and he tried to approach the Cambodian government after learning about the arrest but the Cambodian government turned down their request. Therefore, the Thai government will continue to negotiate through its agencies.
Suthep said that his government was doing its best to help the Thai people and if the Thai people were brought to a Cambodian court today, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs would send a lawyer to help them.
The deputy prime minister said that relations between Thailand and Cambodia were inconsistent and thus posed problems in seeking the release of the people. He attributed the issue partly to the internal political problems of Thailand and Cambodia.
Suthep said that he had no ideas why Panich was involved in the group of people approaching the border and that it was more difficult to convince their release as Veera had been arrested in a nearby location previously.
Asked whether the Thai delegation was arrested on the Thai or Cambodian soil, the Thai Deputy Premier said he was waiting for a confirmation. So far, he has learned that the delegation had driven past a checkpoint of Thai border patrol police. While the police were trying to catch up with the delegation to bring them back, Cambodian soldiers arrested them. (TNA)
