January 10, 2011
The Nation
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Abhisit should show responsibility by stepping down if the seven were jailed.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday dodged a question on whether he would call his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, only reiterating that he would ensure repatriation of the seven Thais accused of straying into Bantaey Meanchey, opposite Sa Kaew.
"I want to bring back the seven now and all other issues will be dealt with at a later date," he said in reference to the border dispute and the jurisdiction about land where the seven were detained last month.
The seven, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, were due to appear again today at Phnom Penh Court of First Instance, he said.
The villagers living in the disputed zone between border monuments 46-48 had petitioned him to address their plight and he would decide his next move at an appropriate time.
The villagers and he had shared the same information about the contested boundary, he said.
A team of seven lawyers, led by former senator Karun Saingam, flew to Phnom Penh to assist the seven held in custody there.
Chaiwat Sinsuwong, leader of the Patriotic Thais Group, said Karun was expected to meet and discuss the case with yellow-shirt sympathiser Veera Somkwamkid ahead of his court appearance today.
Chaiwat confirmed his group would continue to rally at Government House until the seven Thais return home.
The People's Alliance for Democracy issued a statement condemning the government for not taking proper retaliatory measures after Cambodian forces arrested the seven in what it sees as Thai territory. It blamed the PM for "failing to uphold sovereign integrity" and called on the government to apply pressure for an unconditional release of the seven.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Abhisit should show responsibility by stepping down if the seven were jailed.
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