Mum turns to Thaksin's lawyer

Published: 30/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama said on Monday that he had asked the Cambodian government to allow another visit by the mother of the jailed Thai engineer accused of spying.

Sivarak Chutipong, an employee of Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS), was arrested on Nov 12 on charges of passing a state secret to Thai diplomatic officials - flight information about fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra when he visited Phnom Pehn.

Mr Sivarak is being held in Prey Sar prison. His mother Simarak Na Nakhon Phanom and younger brother were allowed to visit him on Friday.

Mr Noppadon, a lawyer and close associate of Thaksin, and Mrs Simarak held a press conference this afternoon.

"I have contacted the Cambodian authorities and asked they allow Mrs Simarak to meet her son again," Mr Noppan said. "I called a press briefing on this because I don't want it to turn into a political issue."

He said making an appeal for visiting rights in the name of humanity should be faster than working through the Foreign Ministry. It would be clear within the next day or two whether Mrs Simarak could meet her son again.

Mrs Simarak said the help being provided by the Thai government was quite slow.

"If I have to wait for the Foreign Ministry, I might be able to travel to Cambodia on Dec 7," she said. "I'm ready to do anything to help my son so he can be freed."

"My son is innocent, but I would like my son to talk about the details."

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the government was doing its best within the limits of the law to help Mr Sivarak, who had been consulting his Cambodian lawyer Kao Soupha.

"In addition, a lawyer from the Lawyers Council of Thailand is available to help Mr Sivarak, who insists he is innocent," Mr Kasit said.