PAD Urges Thai Prime Minister To 'Use Military Force' To Pressure Cambodia

Bangkok 10 January 2011 -- Thai-Asia News Network

The People's Alliance for Democracy has presented evidence showing that the seven Thai citizens being detained in Cambodia were actually in Thai territory when they were arrested by Cambodian soldiers.

The group has demanded that the prime minister initiate sanctions against Phnom Penh.

At a press conference, the People's Alliance for Democracy or the PAD, led by Chamlong Srimuang, Pipop Thongchai, MP Somkiet Pongpaiboon, and Panthep Puapongphan presented evidence such as land title deeds and aerial photographs, showing that the seven Thai citizens who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers were in a UHNCR refugee camp located in Thai territory at the time of the arrests.

The PAD strongly condemned the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the national security, Suthep Thaugsuban, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for publicly claiming that the Thai citizens were trespassing on Cambodian soil.

The group also criticized Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for failing to protect the country's sovereignty, by yielding to the Cambodian authority.

They demanded that the government initiate sanction measures to pressure Phnom Penh to release the Thai citizens unconditionally.

The PAD lashed out at Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian court for being ungrateful despite the fact that Thailand has given shelter to many Cambodian war refugees in the past.

Chamlong reiterated the group's demand for the government to cancel the memorandum of understanding signed with Cambodia in 2000, to withdraw from the World Heritage Commission and to expel the Cambodian settlements from Thai territory.

He urged the prime minister to use military force to pressure Phnom Penh.