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| Southeast Asia |
| Cambodia charges two detained Thais with spying |
| 2011-01-12 |
| [Straits Times] CAMBODIA has slapped charges of espionage on two of seven Thai nationalists who trespassed into its territory last month, a move that could reignite a diplomatic row between the two neighbours. The Thais were jugged by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 when they entered a disputed border area. They were initially charged with illegal entry and unauthorised trespass in a military zone, offences that could put them in prison for up to 18 months. 'According to new evidence the authorities have gathered, we also charged two of them with attempting to gather information, which affects national defence,' Cambodian prosecutor Sok Roeun told Rooters on Tuesday. Espionage carries up to 10 years in prison in Cambodia. Thailand continued to exercise restraint in its response. 'I do not want to say much because it's currently under the consideration of Cambodia's court,' Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told news hounds in Bangkok after a weekly cabinet meeting. Most of those jugged are part of a splinter faction of a Thai activist group, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been pressing Abhisit's government to take a tougher stand with Cambodia over border disputes. |
| Posted by:Fred |