Pheu Thai: Clemency granted to Thai activists not related to World Court hearing on Preah Vihear case

Published on January 14, 2013 by TFP   ·   No Comments

BANGKOK, 12 January 2013 (NNT) â€" The ruling Pheu Thai Party has insisted that the pardon and a jail term reduction to two Thai activists given by Cambodian authorities have nothing to do with the World Court hearing on the Preah Vihear dispute case between Thailand and Cambodia, scheduled in April.

Lt. Gen. Paradorn Pattanathabutr, Secretary General of the National Security Council of Thailand (NSC) said that a cooperation between Thai and Cambodian government has encouraged a better international relation between the two countries, resulting in the royal pardon granted to Miss Ratree Pipattanapaiboon and a jail term reduction for 6 six months to Mr. Veera Somkwamkid.

Both Thai activists have been imprisoned in Cambodia since December 2010.

Lt. Gen. Paradorn is optimistic that there is a possibility Mr. Veera would also be pardoned in the future.

Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, PheuThai Party deputy spokesman, added that the clemency granted to the two was possibly facilitated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinnawatra's effort during her previous visit to the neighboring country.

However, he affirmed that the matter was anyhow not related to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute in April.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat party leader, has voiced his opinion that the move was good news and should not be linked with politics.

In addition, he expressed his concern over the Dhamma Yatra group’s rally campaign around the Preah Vihear temple, since it may stir up further conflict with locals and affect Thai-Cambodian relations.

( Narumon Ngamsaithong)

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/14/pheu-thai-clemency-granted-to-thai-activists-not-related-to-world-court-hearing-on-preah-vihear-case/