Sivarak set to a hot potato?

By The Nation

Published on December 15, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Pheu Thai ready to use 'spy' case as reason for censure

Sivarak Chutipong, who was released from imprisonment in Cambodia yesterday, brought home a hot political potato, giving the opposition an excuse to use his case to grill the government.

The engineer, who received a royal pardon releasing him from a seven-year jail sentence, blamed the Foreign Ministry for causing him problems. He was accused and convicted of spying on fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's flight details and passing them on to Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai, who was expelled.

The government and the media have painted his case as a story set up to discredit Thai authorities for lacking the ability to help Thais overseas.

"I'm a victim. I want Kamrob to tell the public honestly why he wanted the flight information from me. Who instructed him to do that?" Sivarak said upon arrival. "I gave it to him because I didn't think it was a secret - but I don't know his real intentions."

Sivarak was released after Thaksin returned to Cambodia and visited him at the Prey Sor Prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Sunday. The engineer, whom Thaksin called a political victim, was received at Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's home before departing for Bangkok.

"From now on Sivarak is free and can do what he wants," Hun Sen said at a ceremony attended by Sivarak's mother and Pheu Thai Party members. Hun Sen's assistant Eang Sophalleth said Thaksin played a major role in the man's release.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was glad Sivarak had been freed and urged all parties to stop criticising the case. "It should be over, we shall not widen the issue," he said, adding that his government did not need Thaksin's flight data from Sivarak because it already had it. He also said the government was ready to explain the whole story should the opposition use it as a reason for censure motion.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Foreign Minister, said Kamrob had voiced regret over Sivarak's case but was not allowed to make any comments.

Torpong Chaiyasarn, chairman of the House of Representative's Foreign Affairs Committee, said his panel would summon Kamrob and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to testify over Sivarak's case.