Friday, 4 December 2009

Cambodia Denies Thai Spy’s Mother Met Sok An


Friday, 04 December 2009 06:52 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Cambodian Government on Thursday rejected a report published by the Nation Thai newspaper on December 3 that the mother of detained spy met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, according to a Thursday press release.

“The Spokesman’s office of the Council of Ministers whishes to make the clarification following an article posted on December 3, 2009 in The Nation said mother of the detained Thai engineer was received by Sok An,” the press release said. The accused’s mother was met at airport by Sok An, the Cambodian deputy premier, thanks to Noppadon’s connections in Phnom Penh, the Nation apparently erroneously published on Thursday.

”The mother of the detained Thai engineer received a warm welcome in Phnom Penh, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An waiting for her at the airport,” the Nation claimed.

“In this regard, the Spokesman´s office wishes to clarify that the publication of this article is incorrect since on December 02, 2009, Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the office of the Council of Ministers, was not at the Phnom Penh International Airport to meet Mrs. Simarak na Nakhon who was on the trip to visit her son Sivarak Chutipong,” the Cambodian MFA press release confirmed.

Speaking via telephone from Phnom Penh, Simarak said she wanted to thank Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for allowing her to visit her son, as well as Sok An for meeting her at the airport and escorting her to the prison. She said the visit had been made very easy and had come as a surprise to Sivarak.

She also thanked Pheu Thai Party for facilitating her visit—according the Nation newspaper, former Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama used his connections in Phnom Penh to help.

When asked about her reliance on the opposition party, Simarak said she did not care that it had caused a political conflict because she was willing to do anything to save her son. “I have no hidden agenda, no politics, but will use every channel I can to see my son,” she was quoted as saying by the Nation.

Sivarak’s arrest is just one facet of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. He was arrested in connection with Thaksin, who was appointed by Hun Sen as an economic adviser.

Angered by Thaksin’s appointment, Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia and Cambodia has cancelled many Thai cooperation projects. The Thai government has also blamed Thaksin for manipulating conflicts between the two countries.

Noppadon, meanwhile, said the Thai government’s moves against Cambodia could end up costing the country, adding that Thaksin should not be blamed for the slump in foreign relations because he had suggested several times that Thailand reconcile with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should also make clear whether the government wants to revoke the maritime deal with Cambodia, he was quoted by the Nation as saying.

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