Thais detained by Cambodia expected to go home in 3 days: FM

via Khmer NZ

August 24, 2010

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Tuesday said he hoped the three Thais detained by Cambodia would be released within three days, local media said.

The three villagers-Sanong Wongcharoen, Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri in northeast province of Surin were arrested on Wednesday by Cambodia soldiers while gathering fruit and hunting in the forest along the border.

On Sunday, Surin governor Rapee Pongbuppakit said that the three are being detained in a Siem Reap jail in Cambodia and Thai authorities are trying to rescue them.

It is expected that the three Thais will return to Thailand in less than three days, Matichon online quoted Kasit as saying.

"We believe that bilateral relations return to normalcy will help solve all disputes between the two countries," he said.

Kasit made the remarks one day after the Cambodian authorities announced the resignation of former fugitive Thai former PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to the government and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Shortly after the announcement, Thailand decided to send its ambassador to Cambodia back to Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Thaksin was toppled from power in 2006 and he has lived in self- exile in foreign countries since then to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption.

Cambodia and Thailand has had border dispute since the Preah Vihear Temple was registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008.

Since then, several rounds of clashes have occurred between the two countries and caused some deaths and injuries from both sides.

Source: Xinhua