Thai PM asks all parties to focus on helping seven Thai detainees in Cambodia

BANGKOK, Jan 7 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has asked all parties concerned to focus on assisting for a release of seven Thai detainees in Cambodia, insisting that the arrest of the seven Thai people by Cambodia soldiers last week for allegedly illegal entry into the Cambodian territory and trespassing on a Cambodian military compound has nothing to do with any possibility of Thailand's territorial loss.

Abhisit acknowledged that the Thai government has kept approaching Cambodian authorities although today is a public holiday of the neighbouring country, saying that an official request for bail or a pardon for the seven Thai nationals need to be legally proceeded after a Cambodian court's verdicts against the seven Thais as the court's first hearing finished yesterday (Jan 6).

In response to concerns aired by the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy or PAD that any acceptance of the Cambodian Court's verdicts against the seven Thai nationals could lead to Thailand losing part of its territory, the Thai leader suggested that the two issues appear to be irrelevant.

Abhisit stressed that the seven people are Thai and they apparently had no intention to trespass or spy on the Cambodian soil; so, all parties should join forces to help them first and discuss other issues later. The Thai prime minister insisted that he would not let the issue be prolonged. (TNA)