Fri, Dec 04, 2009
The Nation/Asia News Network
Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday there would be big news today, when a Cambodian court decides whether to grant bail for a Thai man accused by Phnom Penh of spying.
Chavalit did not clarify his "big news" but it was expected that the opposition party, which has good ties with the authorities in Phnom Penh, will help Sivarak Chutipong be freed on bail.
The Thai engineer, who worked for Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS), was arrested on November 12 on a charge of stealing fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight information and passing it to a Thai diplomat, who was later expelled from Cambodia.
The Cambodian court is expected to rule on the case on Tuesday. If found guilty of threatening national security, Sivarak could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
His mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, who returned yesterday from a visit to see him, consulted with Chavalit, urging him to replace human-rights advocate Kao Soupha as her son's defence lawyer.
A friend of Sivarak had introduced a new lawyer who was keen and understood the matter very well, she said.
Simarak has decided to rely on the opposition party as she feels the Foreign Ministry has moved slowly and has poor connections with Cambodian authorities.
With Pheu Thai facilitating, Simarak received a special welcome when she arrived in Phnom Penh to see her son for the second time on Wednesday.
She said her decision to seek assistance from Pheu Thai had nothing to do with the political conflict between the government and the opposition.
The Foreign Ministry arranged legal adviser and lawyer Kao Soupha for Sivarak and has prepared S$2,080-S$8,320 in cash for his bail guarantee, if requested by the court.
Due to sour relations between the two governments, the foreign ministry facilitated Simarak's first visit to her son just last Friday, two weeks after his arrest.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday the ministry had a clear policy of helping Thai nationals in trouble in a foreign country. "We will do what we can do for Thai people who have problems in a foreign country," he said.
The ministry would have no problem if Simarak wanted to change her son's defence lawyer, Kasit said.
Sivarak's case is part of a diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia since Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser and refused to extradite him to Thailand.
Angered by Thaksin's appointment, Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia, recalling its ambassador and reviewing aid projects.
Cambodian reciprocated tit-for-tat with Hun Sen saying it would reject all Thai aid, including financial assistance for road construction and scholarships for students.
Kasit said his government would continue to help boost living conditions and develop Cambodian human resources.
"It is a personal view if anybody wants or does not want to take Thai assistance, but we have a clear policy to bridge the gap among Asean members," he said.
Asked if he would step down as demanded by the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, Kasit said: "I work 24 hours and don't worry about that."
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