What is Big Jiew's big news?

Chavalit, who is also known as Big Jiew, did not clarify but spoke in the context of relations between Thailand and Cambodia after a meeting with the mother of a Thai national who is being detained in Phnom Penh.

His big news could be anything, related or not related to Thai-Cambodian relations, since Big Jiew is a person who can say anything out of context.

If we put his words into the Thai-Cambodian context in connection with the case of the alleged Thai spy Sivarak Chutipong the only news we are waiting for is whether he will be freed on bail from Prey Sor prison after three weeks of detention.

Sivarak, an employee of Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on November 12 on a charge of spying on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight information and handing it to Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai, who was later expelled from Cambodia.

Sivarak admitted to Cambodia's court that he did pass Thaksin's flight plan to the diplomat, as he considered the information was no secret. He did not know at the beginning that Thaksin was a passenger of the flight, which landed in Phnom Penh November 10.

His arrest was a big blow to the Thai government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who was being angry with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser.

Thailand, which already downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia, could not put any more harsh measures to pressure Phnom Penh for the release of Sivarak. Even with the foreign ministry's arrangement, it took his mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, two weeks to have a chance to see Sivarak in the prison.

Sour relations between the two governments opened a chance for opposition Pheu Thai Party, which has strong back-up from former prime minister Thaksin to steal the show, offering its hands to help Simarak to meet her son again, only a few days after her first visit.

Simarak's second visit was absolutely better than the previous one. She obtained VIP treatment from the Cambodian authorities, with greetings from Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. She was in a relaxed mood, taking a sightseeing trip in Phnom Penh before her departure for Thailand yesterday. She expressed her gratitude to Hun Sen, Sok An, Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party for their help.

After consultation with Chavalit, Simarak decided to change his defence lawyer, replacing Kao Soupha, whom the foreign ministry had hired for her son.

She is confident in the new lawyer recommended by a friend of her son.

Simarak said she did not mind the politics but would do whatever necessary to help her son.

Politically speaking, many people in the government and its supporters are unhappy with Simarak's move, since it gives credit to Thaksin, who they considered a troublemaker.

In reality, what she has done might be able to help her son as she managed to turn a foe to a friend. What she tried to say was that her son might do something wrong to Thaksin but from now on he is not an enemy, so let him go.

Judged by its treatment of Simarak earlier, Phnom Penh likely agreed. Sivarak's case could stop the Thai government's barking and gave credit to Hun Sen and Thaksin's ally, the Pheu Thai Party. The game should be over.