TPN seeks Veera's extradition [-Threat of burning Cambodia's embassy in Bangkok?]

Veera Somkwamkid (Photo: Reuters)

27/01/2011
Bangkok Post

The Thai Patriots Network on Thursday submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asking the government to seek the extradition of Veera Somkwamkid under the terms of the extradition treaty with Cambodia.

The letter was submitted by Sunthorn Rakrong, a TPN coordinator, through Kiatfa Laohapornsawan, a vice minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.

The TPN wants the government to ask Cambodia to extradite Mr Veera, who faces charges in Thailand in connection with the People's Alliance for Democracy 's (PAD) seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in late 2008.

Mr Sunthorn said if the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Feb 1 found Mr Veera guilty of espionage and sentenced him to imprisonment, he feared this could lead to violence.

He claimed to have obtained information that if Mr Veera was handed a jail term people who were dissatisfied with the verdict and a third-hand group would instigate unrest and a war between the two countries by burning the Cambodian embassy in Thailand.

Mr Veera, a TPN coordinator, and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, have been charged with espionage in Cambodia in addition to illegal entry. The court has set Feb 1 to deliver the verdict on them.

They were among the seven Thais who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 initially for illegal crossing and intrusion into a military zone without permission.

Five others have been released after nine-month jail terms handed down by the court were suspended.