Acting Thai FM proclaims success in Cambodia trip

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) - Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has proclaimed his recent official visit to Cambodia a success. Sihasak, who is also Thai Permament Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told journalists on Wednesday that his trip to Phnom Penh from July 1-2 is considered successful, as he had chances to explain Thailand's updated situation to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and to request the release of a Thai activist, Veera Somkwamkid, who had been imprisoned in Cambodia for three years and six months. Sihasak elaborated that Veera's release, in a royal pardon granted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on July 1, resulted from the sole decision of the Cambodia government and made Thai people happy, which should, thus, be beneficial to Thai-Cambodian relations. The acting Thai foreign minister insisted that there was not any special condition for Cambodia to release Veera. Sihasak noted that he will write a letter to officially extend Thailand's gratitude towards Phnom Penh on the decision, with the letter to be first submitted to the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for consideration and approval before being further handled through a diplomatic channel. According to the acting Thai foreign minister, both Hun Sen and Hor Namhong expressed their understanding on Thailand's regulation of migrant workers and their support for legal registrations of migrant workers by Thai authorities. The acting foreign minister revealed that Cambodia also raised Thailand's recent arrest of 14 Cambodia workers who used fake visas as they had been deceived by a job placement firm and sought Thailand's assistance, while he promised to check out the issue right away to ensure justice for the 14 Cambodian nationals, who were apprehended in Sa Kaeo Province in the Thai East. (TNA)