Monday, 17 January 2011

PM: Appeal for five detained Thais in Cambodia will be submitted this week


via CAAI

BANGKOK, Jan 16 -- An appeal to grant bail for five Thais now detained in Phnom Penh on trespassing charges will be submitted this week while the government is prepared to resolve the problems of Thai border villagers with proper land deeds but unable to work their land, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday.

Emphasising again that all seven Thais who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 were not on Thai soil at the time of the incident, Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that his government had been working hard to assist them and so far two were released on bail, while an appeal for bail for the rest will be submitted this week.

The duo, including Panich Vikitsreth, an MP representing Bangkok and a member of the ruling Democrat party, were released on bail Thursday but are not allowed to leave Cambodia, as they must attend court hearings when they take place.

Mr Abhisit said an earlier Cambodian announcement gave hope that the court trial for the detainees should end this week or in the near future.

On Thai villagers having land deeds in the Thai border province of Sa Kaeo but unable to use their land as numbers of Cambodians have settled there for over three decades, Mr Abhisit said the disputed area -- between border markers number 46 and 47 is definitely in Thailand and his government would solve this problem after all seven Thais are released to enable villagers to occupy and work their land. (MCOT online news)

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