Thai PAD Vows To Intensify Rally Unless Activists out of Cambodia Jail in 3 Days

Bangkok 3 February 2011 -- The Nation

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, saying they must secure the release of two Thais jailed in Phnom Penh for espionage within three days - or it will intensify its Bangkok rally dramatically.

Abhisit responded by saying he would like to bring them back even sooner than three days, but did not know how to achieve such a goal. "Everybody wants to bring them back today, but please tell me how this can be done. We have managed to get five people freed, and would like do the same for the remaining two," he said.

High-profile nationalist activist Veera Somkwamkid and his aide Ratree Pipatanapaiboon plan to appeal Tuesday's verdict by the Cambodian court, which sentenced them to eight and six years in jail.

However, an appeal would extend the judicial process and may result in an even longer jail term. The Thai government would prefer them not to appeal, so the judicial process can be completed, leaving the way open to a possible royal pardon.

Veera and Ratree were arrested together with other five Thai nationals, including Democrat Party lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth, near Sa Kaeo province's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting a disputed border area.

The five admitted they crossed into Cambodia by accident, and were able to walk free after the court suspended their nine-month jail terms.

A defiant Veera insisted in court he was arrested in territory under Thai sovereignty - so the Cambodian court had no authority to rule against him.

Hundreds of yellow-shirt protesters, including members of the PAD's Thai Patriots Network (TPN) faction, have been camping near the PM's Office since last month to pressure the government to take tough action over the border row and Veera's case.

They want the government to scrap a memorandum of understanding on boundary demarcation, signed with Cambodia in 2000, and to use force to remove Cambodians in disputed border areas.

Abhisit insists the MoU is still useful for handling boundary conflicts and has refused to resort to force. But the Army has boosted troops, notably near Preah Vihear, as has Cambodia.

The PAD has threatened to call a huge rally this Saturday. The current turnout is relatively small.