via Khmer NZ
Published: 25/08/2010
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the release of three Thais being detained in Siem Reap after they were arrested for entering Cambodia illegally.
The villagers are expected to return to Thailand within days. They are just awaiting some paperwork to clear before they are released without charges, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister, said yesterday.
The decision came after Surin governor Raphee Phongbuphakit contacted his counterpart in Siem Reap to seek the release of the villagers: Sanong Wongcharoen, Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri.
The Cambodian official received the green light from Hun Sen to free the three, who were arrested last week in O'Samach in Oddar Meanchey province, opposite Surin, for entering Cambodia illegally.
Mr Raphee said the villagers were being kept in satisfactory conditions and Thai officials were providing them with food, clothing and medicine.
The families of the three, including Mr Sanong's mother, Lam Wongcharoen, and Ms Srichan, wife of Mr Lan, thanked Mr Raphee, who visited them at Ban Tamom in Surin's Sangkha district, for helping to secure the men's release.
Mr Chavanond said the Cambodian decision was a positive gesture after the two countries normalised relations following the resignation on Monday of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from his post as an economic adviser to the Cambodian prime minister.
Prasas Prasasvinitchai, the Thai ambassador to Cambodia, left for Phnom Penh yesterday. He had been recalled by the Foreign Ministry to protest the Cambodian prime minister's decision to appoint Thaksin to the adviser's post.
Cambodia retaliated by recalling its ambassador, You Aye, but she will return to Bangkok today, Mr Chavanond said.
Thawil Pliensri, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said border tensions should be alleviated after the return of the ambassadors.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the warming of relations between the two countries would help facilitate negotiations on the Preah Vihear temple issue and border demarcation.
"We are neighbours. The best way is to turn to each other and find a way to build up the atmosphere that fosters negotiations and lessens problems or conflicts," Mr Suthep said.
Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he expected "normalcy" to return to relations between the neighbours.
"Once diplomatic ties are restored, that should ease our relations, but we cannot say at the moment whether the present confrontation will be over," Koy Kuong said.
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