Border police in Sa Kaew province managed to save activist Veera Somkwamkid and four of his supporters from being thrown in Cambodian jail for trespassing, but the fate of three Surin locals caught earlier remains unclear.
Veera and his men were reportedly inspecting the disputed border area at Ban Nong Chan, in Sa Kaew's Khok Sung district because he had received information that a Cambodian community was occupying some areas that he believes belong to Thailand.
The group, which has recently been very patriotic, was arrested by Cambodian border police and taken in for questioning. Luckily, Pol LtColonel Sawat Bounman managed to convince his Cambodian counterpart to release Veera and his men after an hourandhalflong negotiation.
Veera has been playing a leading role in forcing the government to stand in opposition to the World Heritage inscription of Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple.
In a separate report, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that local authorities would help secure the three Surin residents arrested on Wednesday in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey area.
Sanong Wongcharoen, Rim Phuangphet and Rain Sabdee were arrested while hunting for food in the forested area along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey, Fa Saengthong, ThaiCambodian coordinator in Surin's Buachet district, said.
They were taken to court in Siem Reap province, he said, but could not provide details about the charge or the verdict.
"It should be fine because our administration has good bilateral relations with its counterpart. I think they can do the job," Abhisit said.
Asked if they could face spying charges, Abhisit said he would first wait to see what provincial officials have to say about the case.
However, Second Army Region Commander LtGeneral Veevalit Chornsamrit said the case had gone far beyond ability of the local military unit because they have been charged and taken to court.
The Suranaree Task Force that is in charge of the area contacted its counterpart in Anlongveng but they could not help, he said.
Surin Governor Kasemsak Saenphot will contact his counterpart in Siem Reap regarding the three Thais, but are no answers so far.