Authorities seek freedom for four Thai detainees in Cambodia

BANGKOK, March 27 (TNA) - Concerned authorities are trying to secure freedom for four Thai detainees in neighbouring Cambodia, after they were arrested by Cambodian troops in Cambodia's Banteay Meancheay province on March 23 for allegedly illegal entry. Sanit Naksuksi, Governor of Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo province told reporters Tuesday, before his departure to Cambodia’s Siem Reap province to attend a Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meeting, that the arrest of the four Thais would also be raised, among other issues, during this week's Thai-Cambodian RBC meeting. The governor said an initial probe found that the four Thai nationals have been legally granted a concession to explore and run gold mines in Cambodia for more than two years and have often travelled across the border through the Bueng Ta Kuan-Ta Phraya border crossing, facilitated by Cambodian border patrol police; so, the reason for their arrest and detention would also be sought at the RBC meeting. Meanwhile, Sa Kaeo’s Ta Phraya district Chief Yutthana Nutchanart acknowledged that he has worked closely with relevant Cambodian authorities to seek freedom for the four Thai detainees, who had reportedly appeared before Cambodia's Si Sophon Court, saying that the four Thais are expected to be set free soon. The four Thai nationals, two employers and two workers of a gold mining company in Cambodia’s Udon Meechai province, were identified as 42-year-old Saran Parnphet, 42-year-old Suriya Parnphet who is Saran's wife, 24-year-old Bai Sodajan and 24-year-old Wanwisa Sodachan who is Bai's wife. (TNA)