Govt sends back 199 Cambodians

via CAAI

ABHISIT DENIES APPEASING PHNOM PENH

Published: 16/01/2011

The government has sent 199 Cambodians facing illegal entry charges back home without further court procedures, but denies it is trying to send a message to Phnom Penh in its row over the seven Thai detainees.

TRUCKED OUT: Cambodian immigrants wait for repatriation back to their homeland at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok yesterday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also put on hold a planned visit to Phnom Penh by Democrat Party members amid concerns that the trip could be viewed negatively by Cambodia.

The 199 Cambodians _ 120 men, 61 women, and 18 children _ were arrested by immigration police in Bangkok after illegally entering Thailand to work in the capital.

They were sent back yesterday through the border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo, opposite Poipet town in Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia.

Aranyaprathet immigration police chief Pol Col Manad Sriwongsa said none have been prosecuted under a repatriation agreement between the countries.

Another two Cambodians charged with illegal entry were freed and sent home on Thursday, the same day that two of the seven Thai detainees _ Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Narumol Chitvarattana _ were granted bail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Although the timing of the dispatch of the 199 Cambodians coincides with government efforts to help the seven Thais, Mr Abhisit yesterday denied that it was part of a campaign to appease its neighbour.

Some observers say the gesture could also be perceived as the government telling Cambodia that since it is prepared to send home Cambodians without court proceedings, Cambodia should do the same for the detained Thais.

Cambodia says it arrested the seven Thais on Dec 29 after they trespassed into the country.

Meanwhile, a group of Democrats yesterday cancelled plans to visit Mr Panich and the other Thais in Phnom Penh after Mr Abhisit said he opposed the idea.

In Phnom Penh, Pich Vicheka, one of two lawyers working for the Thai seven, said he hoped the court would decide whether to temporarily release the remaining five Thais still in detention at Prey Sar prison on bail on Tuesday. He put a second appeal for bail to the court last Friday after an earlier request was denied.

The five Thais are Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network; his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon; Samdin Lertbutr and Tainae Mungmajon of the Santi Asoke sect; and Kitchaponthorn Chusanasevi, Mr Panich's aide.

Mr Veera has asked for a Thai legal team led by ex-Buri Ram senator Karoon Sai-ngarm to help him and other Thais fight the charges against them.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdee said Mr Karoon and his legal team must first seek approval from the Bar Association of Cambodia to represent them.

The Thai legal team is expected to meet the detainees at Prey Sar prison early this week. Relatives of the five detainees, including Khwan, who is Mr Veera's relative, will travel to Phnom Penh this week.