Thailand Hopes Cambodia to Release Detained Thai Man

http://english.cri.cn/
2009-11-17
Xinhua
Web Editor: Qin Mei

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Thailand has hoped that Cambodia will release a Thai man, who was arrested by the Cambodian government last week, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday.

An official allegation against the Thai man has not been made clear by Cambodia partly due to a language problem, which occurred during an investigation process, the Thai premier said.

It is expected by Wednesday all involved legal processes will be completed, Abhisit said.

Siwarak Chothipong, a 31-year-old Thai man worked as an engineer in Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd (CATS), was arrested on Nov. 11 according to the arrest warrant of prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipality Court.

He spied through copying the letters of flights of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Sen from CATS, which has duties to control all flights in the country, and he sent those reports to Thailand, the Khmer language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea reported.

Meanwhile, Mrs Simaluck Na Nakhon Panom, the mother of Siwarak has asked the Thai government to help her to meet with her son and for a quick release of him, Abhisit said.

Earlier Tuesday Thai envoy Chalotorn Paowiboon was allowed to meet with Siwarak, which was the first meeting with Thai officials after Siwarak has been arrested.

In a related development, the Thai weekly cabinet meeting did not review agreements made with Cambodia and financial aid projects planned for Cambodia.

Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodia 's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov. 4.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.

He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.