Red carpet for 'spy's mum'
December 3, 2009
The Nation
Detainee's mother met at airport by Sok An, the Cambodian deputy premier, thanks to Noppadon's connections in Phnom Penh
Mother of the detained Thai engineer received a warm welcome in Phnom Penh yesterday, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An waiting for her at the airport.
This second visit, facilitated by opposition Pheu Thai Party, allowed Simarak na Nakhon Phanom to spend two hours with her son Sivarak Chutipong at the Prey Sor prison on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital. She was also allowed to give him basic necessities and food.
Sivarak was arrested on November 12 over charges of spying on ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, stealing his flight schedule and passing it on to a Thai diplomat who was later expelled from Cambodia.
Speaking via telephone from Phnom Penh, Simarak said she wanted to thank Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for allowing her to visit her son, as well as Sok An for meeting her at the airport and escorting her to the prison. She said the visit had been made very easy and had come as a surprise to Sivarak.
"My son is healthy," she said.
She also thanked Pheu Thai Party for facilitating her visit - former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama used his connections in Phnom Penh to help.
Simarak previously visited her son last Friday with the assistance of the Thai Foreign Ministry, but later she attacked the ministry for being too slow in getting Sivarak out of prison. She was in Cambodia for 12 hours last Friday for a one-and-a-half hour meeting with her son. This time though she was allowed to stay overnight in the capital and also go sightseeing before she takes a flight back today.
When asked about her relying on the opposition party, Simarak said she did not care that it had caused a political conflict because she was willing to do anything to save her son. "I have no hidden agenda, no politics, but will use every channel I can to see my son," she said.
Sivarak's arrest is believed to be part of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, because he was arrested in connection with Thaksin, who was appointed by Hun Sen as an economic adviser.
Angered by Thaksin's appointment, Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia and reviewed many cooperation projects. The government has also blamed Thaksin for manipulating conflicts between the two countries.
Noppadon, meanwhile, said the government's moves against Cambodia could end up costing a lot, adding that Thaksin should not be blamed for the slump in foreign relations because he had suggested several times that Thailand reconcile with Cambodia.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should also make clear whether the government wants to revoke the maritime deal with Cambodia, he said.
The Cabinet decided to terminate the 2001 memorandum of understanding on overlapping claims on the continental shelf but it needs to be approved by Parliament before Phnom Penh is notified.
"Just threatening to withdraw from the maritime deal is not appropriate. Instead, the government should make a clear decision and inform Phnom Penh in writing soon," Noppadon said.
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