19 November 2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
BANGKOK, Nov 19 (TNA) – The Cambodian government has appointed a supervisor to oversee Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) and is not permitting Thai employees to perform their duties in the firm following an arrest of a Thai engineer for on espionage charges, according to Samart Corporation PCL.
Despite assurances that the company is and its employees are not spying on Cambodia, CATS itself, wholly-owned by the Samart Corporation, is coming under further pressure in the diplomatic standoff.
CATS employee Siwarak Chutipong, 31, was arrested in Phnom Penh on spying charges last week after he was discovered releasing Thaksin Shinawatra’s flight schedule to a Thai embassy official in Phnom Penh.
The self-exiled, convicted former Thai premier himself departed Cambodia last week, but remains at the centre of Thai-Cambodian relations
Samart Corporation president Wattanachai Wilailak said the company is examining facts on the matter and has asked the Thai government to liaise with its Cambodian counterpart to ease the situation.
However, Mr Wattanachai affirmed that CATS is open for business as usual.
Commenting on Mr Siwarak’s arrest, he said since the case is a national security for Cambodia, the company is liaising with the Foreign Ministry for fact-finding and negotiations with Phnom Penh.
“Now, all parties concerned are making an all-out effort to help Mr Siwarak, who is detained by Cambodian authorities. It is expected there will be good news soon,” he said.
Mr Wattanachai said the Samart Corporation had otherwise not been affected by the case, nor have other businesses the company conducts in Cambodia.
Samart subsidiary CATS runs a system installation business and provides air traffic control services in Cambodia under a 32-year concession from 2001 ending in 2033.
Thailand and Cambodia have an Investment Protection Agreement to oversee their mutual interests. (TNA)
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