Panich: I was on Thai soil

29/12/2010
Bangkok Post

Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth insists he and six other Thais were on Thai soil when detained by Cambodian soldiers on Wednesday.

The MP was speaking during a telephone interview before being released this afternoon.

Mr Panich, a member of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Commission, said he went to the border in Sa Kaeo province after receiving a complaint from villagers, and Saemdin Lertbut and Veera Somkwamkid of the Thai Patriot Network, that Cambodian troops had intruded into an area where they had rice fields with proper land title deeds.

He said that about 1pm his team left their vehicle at Nong Chan village in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo province and were walking to the rice fields when eight or nine armed Cambodian soldiers appeared and arrested them.

The soldiers took cameras, telephones and all cards from them, even though he identified himself as a member of parliament.

He and his six companions were held captive at an orchard.

Mr Panich said while other people negotiated with the Cambodian soldiers, he telephoned Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Chavanont Intarakomalayasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

The Cambodian soldiers had returned their belongings to them after they were contacted by the provincial governor, the district office and border patrol police, he said.