DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Thai gov't to ask for royal pardon to two "Yellow Shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia” plus 3 more

PHNOM PENH, March 15 -- The outgoing Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai said Tuesday that his government will submit a petition to Cambodian government in order to ask Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to grant a royal pardon to  the two high-profile "Yellow Shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage.

The ambassador made the remarks during a farewell meeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday.

The ambassador also told reporters after the meeting that so far the two Thais have not signed the letter for royal pardon yet.

"As soon as they sign the request, I will present it to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; then, ask the royal government of Cambodia for high consideration," he said.

The two Thai prisoners are 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.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court, on Feb. 1, convicted Veera and Ratree of illegal entry, unlawful entry into military base and espionage and sentenced them to 8 years and 6 years in jail respectively.

Koy Kuong, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,declined to comment if Cambodia will consider royal amnesty for the duo.

According to Cambodian law, a prisoner can be granted a royal pardon only if he/she has served two third of the jailed term in prison.

Meanwhile, the ambassador also said that Thai government will hold an internal meeting on Wednesday to decide if it will join the ASEAN-arranged meetings on Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee (GBC) and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Bogor, Indonesia on March 24-25 to resolve the border dispute between the two countries. (Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, MARCH 15, 2011-"Thai government will discuss on proposal from Indonesia tomorrow on the meeting of joint border committee and general border committee on March 24-26 March in Bogor," Thai ambassador said

Outgoing Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh told Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong in a courtesy ceremony, that Thai government will have an internal meeting on the Indonesia's proposal tomorrow, Khuy Khuong, spokesman for foreign ministry quoted as telling media after the meeting. New Thai ambassador will be appointed in April, Kong said.

Cambodian side hopes that Thai side will receive Indonesian observers quickly to monitor the permanent ceasefire," Kong said.  "We are trying to shorten the conflict and expand cooperation, he added.

Samdech Hun Sen yesterday said that Cambodia also will buy walkie-talkies and transportation in Cambodia and other expenditure for Indonesian observers for their work in the country.  Cambodian and Thai Foreign ministers agreed to get Indonesian observers on Feb 22.

Thai troop invaded Cambodian soil through unilateral map at areas near 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, MARCH 15, 2011-A Cambodian female doctor, Chin Kim Huy, 30, worked at Russian – Khmer Hospital in Phnom Penh on Monday committed suicide after she was forced to depose from her current job.

 "I have blamed the director candidly in the meeting and her boss expelled from job," she said in her letter for families.

 The rare suicide in Phnom Penh, a police said, adding that after autopsy, she was not murdered; she committed suicide through using ties to hand from her balcony in her house in stung Mean Chey district in Phnom Penh.  She was upset from expelling from job, the relatives said.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, MARCH 15, 2011-50,000 environment activists in Cambodia plan to conduct a campaign to clean city in a move raise awareness about the environmental issues.

"They plan to clean 8 places in Phnom Penh city and some places that need to educate about the environmental issues and stop throwing litters ," statement from AIESEC.

The theme this year "Cambodia let do it," the statement noted.  They plan to clean the city on April 23, it added.

"They also will host the campaign at the universities and schools in Phnom Penh, it said.

Phnom Penh authorities announced about the money fine for litter throwers.  They were fined about $2.5 but cases have still happened and some restaurants which put waste disorderly also fined.