Thai issues cross into Cambodia

via CAAI

BANGKOK, Jan 13, 2011 (The Straits Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- An added charge of espionage has been brought against two Thai nationals who appeared in a Cambodian court to face trespassing charges.

Analysts say the matter reveals how Thailand's domestic political issues are undermining its relations with Cambodia.

The pair -- Veera Somkwamkid, leader of the Thai Patriots Network, a faction of activist group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and his aide Ratree Pipattanapaibul -- entered Cambodia last month. They were among seven Thais arrested on Dec 29 after they crossed into Cambodia while on an inspection visit to a disputed border area.

It is not clear when a verdict on the case will be delivered. The court is expected to respond to a bail request by the end of the week.

The Thai-Cambodia border is not fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia. It is an issue that the neighbours have long been at odds over.

The PAD has periodically whipped up nationalist sentiment over the issue, pressing the Thai government to take a tougher stand with Cambodia over the disputes. The latest incident risks snowballing into yet another war of words between the two countries.

Observers believe it was a deliberate move by Veera's Thai Patriots Network to further provoke nationalist passion among supporters of the royalist PAD.

In 2006, the PAD, whose supporters are known as the 'yellow shirts', helped oust then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and in 2008, it also helped sabotage his loyalist People Power Party.

Initially, the PAD supported the ruling Democrat Party, but elements of it have grown increasingly critical of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, saying he is a weak leader, and accuse the government of rampant corruption.

The group now has its own political party -- the New Politics Party -- which it will field in a general election that may come this year.

Since all parties claim to fight against corruption and to protect the monarchy, the border dispute with Cambodia -- Thailand's ancient rival -- is "all that is left for the PAD", wrote Bangkok Post commentator Voranai Vanijaka.

The PAD has planned a rally in Bangkok on Jan 25 to protest against the detention of the seven Thais in Cambodia. To maintain its credibility, the group will try and ensure that the rally is big, analysts say.

"Keep whipping up that nationalist fervour and more people will show up," wrote Mr Voranai.

This is not the first time Veera has had trouble with the Cambodian authorities. In August last year, he was arrested for trespassing in Cambodian territory but was eventually released.

In September 2009, he led a crowd of supporters to the border near the controversial Preah Vihear temple, and ended up in a pitched battle with local Thai villagers who resented the nationalists' provocation of Cambodia.

This time, the presence of Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, who is close to Mr Abhisit, in the group of seven Thais reportedly incensed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen -- and embarrassed the Thai government.

Panich -- who until his election was deputy minister for foreign affairs -- may have been manipulated into "deliberately or naively" crossing the border in an action designed to "make Veera into a martyr", a senior Thai official said on condition of anonymity.

The MP was visiting the border to look into land title problems that his constituency members said they were facing, officials have said. But going with Veera was his undoing, the official said.

About 30 members of the Thai Patriots Network protested at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week against what they said was the government's failure to obtain the release of the seven.

"They want to bring this government down; they want a national government," the senior official said. Many elements in the PAD, which detests the largely pro-Thaksin 'red shirt' movement, also openly support the idea of military rule.

The Thai government has admitted that the seven crossed into Cambodian territory, but insists they were acting on their own.

Mr Hun Sen has said nobody can interfere with the courts in Cambodia.

Maintaining cordial relations will be a challenge in the face of the provocation from Thailand's ultra-nationalists, and both governments are trying.

"Both countries know what is at stake," said the Thai official.