Have you ever heard or seen anything that Sam Rainsy and his clans like what Hun Sen and his government do?
On Dec 14, 5:28 am, [email protected] wrote: > Cambodian opposition angered at Thai spy's pardon > * _Print_ (javascript:window.print()) > * _Email_ > (http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/mailto/mailto-nojs_query.pl?http...) > Updated December 14, 2009 20:49:13 > Cambodia's opposition has accused the government of undermining the > country's monarch and of meddling in Thai politics, after the spying > conviction > of a Thai man was overturned. Last week a 31-year-old Thai national was > jailed for seven years for tipping off Phnom Penh's Thai embassy about the > former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Cambodia. Three days > > later the Cambodian king granted Siwarak Chothipong a royal pardon - a move > that's outraged the opposition. > > Presenter: Liam Cochrane > Speakers: Siwarak Chothipong, released Thai citizen; Koy Kuorn, spokesman, > Cambodian Foreign Ministry; Son Chhay, opposition politician > > // > * Listen: > * _Windows Media_ > (http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/stories/m1827361.asx) > COCHRANE: It was a swift and sweet release for Thai national Siwarak > Chothipong. > > SIWARAK CHOTHIPONG: I feel very happy that I have the freedom again. > > REPORTER: Did you say anything to Premier Hun Sen?' > > SIWARAK CHOTHIPONG: Yes, I really appreciate his [Hun Sen's] kindness and > help me and let me go out. And I very very appreciate for the kindness of > your highness, his majesty of the kingdom of Cambodia that have given me a > chance to go back home." > > COCHRANE: Koy Kuorn, spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, says the > Thai man is a small player in a wider game. > > KOY KUORN: The former Thai spy is the victim of the Thai embassy in Phnom > Penh, because he was ordered by the Thai embassy to do the espionage. And > normally embassy receives the order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or > the government. > > COCHRANE: Koy Kuorn denied there was political pressure to have the man > released. > > KOY KUORN: This is the right of the King, the King grant the royal pardon > to him. > > COCHRANE: But Son Chhay, a member of parliament for the opposition Sam > Rainsy Party, called it "strange" that while previous requests for royal > pardons have taken months or years, this politically sensitive one was > granted > within a week. > > SON CHHAY: I think the King has no say. He only did what the Prime > Minister want him to do. > > COCHRANE: The spokesman for the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs said this case > did receive some special treatment - in that not all prisoners receive > their official letters of pardon at the home of the Prime Minister. > > KOY KUORN: It's just only occasional, just occasional - like this case. > > COCHRANE: It's a case which has added to the already strained diplomatic > relationship between Cambodia and Thailand. In 2003, rioters burned down the > Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, and this year saw sporadic clashes around the > Preah Vihear temple on their shared border. So last month, when Cambodia > made Thaksin Shinawatra an official economic advisor, Thailand withdrew its > ambassador and Cambodia followed suit. > > The spokesman for Cambodia's Foriegn Affairs Ministry says Thaksin did not > request the pardon, that came from the Pheu Thai party, the successor to > Mr Thaksin's now banned political party. Koy Kuorn played down the effect > the spy case might have on diplomatic relations. > > KOY KUORN: It's just not relevant to each other. It's just one case, and > the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand is another case. > > COCHRANE: However, opposition politician Son Chhay says the royal pardon > and Mr Thaksin's visit suggests Prime Minister Hun Sen is betting that > supporters of the ousted Mr Thaksin will one day reclaim power. > > SON CHHAY: So we should not put our hands so deep into the affair of the > other nation, especially the neighbouring nation. > > COCHRANE: A spokesman for the Thai government has told media a new > extradition request will be lodged but Koy Kuorn says it will be a waste of > time, > with Cambodia continuing to offer a safe port for Thailand's most wanted > man. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
