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Cambodian PM asks Justice Minister to release Thai activist
PHNOM PENH, Jan 10, 2013 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen on Thursday asked Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana to
consider granting amnesty to a Thai "yellow-shirt" activist and
reducing jail term for the other, according to a statement of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The pair is Veera Somkwamkid, one of the leaders of the People'
s Network against Corruption and a high-profile activist in the
Thailand Patriot Network, and his secretary Ratree
Pipatanapaiboon.
Cambodian court on Feb.1, 2011 convicted Veera and Ratree of
illegal entry, unlawful entry into military base and espionage and
sentenced them to eight years and six years respectively. They are
being jailed in Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of the Cambodian
capital Phnom Penh.
The statement said that following request by Thai Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Hun Sen decided to ask the Justice
Minister to consider pardoning Ratree when the late Cambodian King
Father Norodom Sihanouk is cremated on Feb. 4.
He also asked the minister to consider reducing jail term for
Veera in order to enable him to be released soon.
"Now, the Justice Ministry is studying the case and will make
decision very soon," it said.
Veera and Ratree were arrested on Dec. 29, 2010 along with five
others including Democrat Party Member of Parliament Panich
Vikitsreth, after they illegally entered Cambodian territory to
observe border demarcation process.
The five were released in late January 2011 after Cambodian
court suspended their sentences of nine months in jail.
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