Puea Thai MPs in Phnom Penh Monday petitioning Cambodian PM for royal pardon

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(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Dec 10 (TNA) – Several members of the Thai parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party will go to Phnom Penh Monday to submit letters seeking a royal pardon for the Thai engineer sentenced to seven years prison on espionage charges to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, said party spokesman Prompong Nopparit Thursday.

Fugitive ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra is liaising with the Cambodian premier to help gain the Thai national’s early release.

A Cambodian court earlier sentenced 31-year old Siwarak Chutipong to seven years prison and fined him 100,000 baht (US$3,000) for releasing flight details for Mr Thaksin, when he visited Phnom Penh last month on his first assignment as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and personal adviser to Mr Hun Sen.

The Puea Thai spokesman said that the party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh signed a letter Thursday morning asking Mr Hun Sen for a royal pardon for Mr Siwarak, while another letter was signed by three Puea Thai MPs.

Mr Prompong said the last letter will be given to Mr Siwarak's mother for her signature. She is now in the Cambodian capital.

Those travelling with this trip include the spokesman himself, other two Puea Thai MPs, as well as representatives from the party's foreign affairs and legal departments, said Mr Prompong, adding that all of them will hand in the three letters to a representative of Mr Hun Sen at Cambodian Government House on Monday.

Mr Prompong said his group will return to Thailand Monday evening, but may stay in Phnom Penh for another three or four days to take Mr Siwarak home if there is a good sign from the Cambodian government.

The spokesman however said that Gen Chavalit advised that representatives of the Thai Parliament’s House Committee on Foreign Affairs should travel with them to avoid charges the issue has been set up beforehand.

Mr Prompong added that ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has used his personal ties to liaise with Mr Hun Sen in helping Mr Siwarak. (TNA)