7 Thai Trespassers Accused of Illegal Entry

2010-12-30
Xinhua

Seven Thai nationals including at least one Thai lawmaker appeared before Phnom Penh Municipal Court at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning to face charges of allegedly trespassing on Cambodian territory in Banteay Meanchey province while inspecting the countries' shared border.

Sok Roeun, deputy prosecutor of the court conducted the inquest.

Among the seven arrested were Panich Wikitsate, an MP from Democrat Party, Veera Somkwamkid, secretary general of People Network Against Corruption and Thailand Patriot Network core member, Samdin Lersbusya, secretary for Heaven and Earth Party, Kochpontorn Chusanaseree, assistant to Panich, Taynae Moongmachon, pressperson, Ms. Naruemol Chitwaratana, house keeper and Ms. Ratree Paiputana Paiboon, vendor, according to the court record.

They had been arrested on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. by Cambodian border protection army at the border pole No. 46 in Chhokchey village, Obiychhorn commune, Ochrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. The location is opposite to Norngchan village of Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo Province.

"They entered the prohibited military zone and entered Cambodian territory about 500 meters from the border boundary," the source who declined to be named said before the inquest. "They could be charged with illegal entry," he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that there will be no any excuse for them, they will be sentenced according to the law, adding that Thai lawmakers have immunity only in Thai territory, not in Cambodian territory, Cambodia has the right to arrest and jail them according to the law.

However, Hun Sen said that "I hope that Thai Prime Minister and Thai people will understand Cambodia's legal procedure, which nobody can violate. And I don't think the event will affect Cambodia and Thai diplomatic relations or cause new border disputes."

The Cambodian-Thai border has never been fully demarcated. And the two sides have had border conflict just one week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008.

Since the conflict started, military standoff has been on and off along the two countries' border and several military clashes have already happened with recorded small causalities from both sides.

However, the border issue has been eased as the top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have held four meetings since September.