Wednesday, August 24, 2011

PM’s help sought for jailed Veera, Ratree

August 24, 2011
By Chanikarn Poomhirun
The Nation

Phetchaburi Senator Sumon Sutawiriyawat and five supporters have written to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asking her help to gain the release of two Thai nationalist activists jailed in Cambodia.

Veera Somkwamkidand and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were arrested together with five other Thai nationals, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, on December 29 while inspecting a disputed border area near Sa Kaew province’s Ban Nongchan.

They are being held in Prey Sar prison near Phnom Penh after being sentenced to eight and six years jail, respectively, on charges of espionage.

Five members of the group were freed after pleading guilty to trespassing and received suspended jail terms from the Cambodian court.

Yingluck said she would coordinate with agencies overseeing this case to help the two Thais.

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