Yingluck visit spurs hopes for activists

Veera and Ratree: Hopes up for release

Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon have been in prison in Cambodia since December after being convicted of espionage and illegal entry.
Speculation has been circulating that the two will be released when Ms Yingluck arrives in a goodwill gesture.
Ms Yingluck said she plans to raise the matter today in Cambodia.
"I'd be glad if Cambodia agrees to release Mr Veera and Ms Ratree. As the prime minister it's my job to look after Thai people," she said.
Following the Pheu Thai Party's rise to power, speculation is rife that Phnom Penh will release the two in a gesture of goodwill due to close relations between Cambodia leader Hun Sen and deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's brother.
Veera was sentenced to eight years in jail and Ratree to six years for the offences.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongphakdi refused to confirm the pair's possible release, saying the government is waiting for Cambodia to consider the matter.
The issue is among the topics the prime minister will discuss with Cambodia during her one-day official visit, he said.
Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied a report in a Thai newspaper that the Cambodian government is seeking a royal pardon for two Thai nationals.
"The ministry wishes to reconfirm that the case of these two Thai nationals will be processed in accordance with the law of Cambodia and that they will have to serve at least two-thirds of their prison term before a royal pardon could be considered," it said in the statement.
Ms Yingluck's visit to Phnom Penh today comes a day before Thaksin's scheduled arrival.
Thaksin will reportedly stay in Cambodia until Sept 24.
Mrs Yingluck insisted that her visit to Cambodia is not related to her brother's.
"He [Thaksin] travels a lot and I don't know the details. I am visiting Cambodia as the head of the government," she said.
Ms Yingluck said it depends on the atmosphere of the visit if talks about oil and natural gas reserves in the disputed waters in the Gulf of Thailand would be raised.
"The first thing is about normalisation of bilateral relations. The meeting atmosphere will allow us to see how we should pursue other matters," she said.
Pheu Thai members are also gearing up for a friendly soccer match with Cambodian officials.
Pheu Thai list-MP and core red shirt member Weng Tochirakarn said yesterday that seeking a royal pardon for Mr Veera and Ms Ratree seemed to be a straightforward step.
He said the party will pursue the matter as they are preparing for the friendly soccer match to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Sept 24. "There might be good news after the game," Mr Weng said.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said yesterday it would be a good thing if Cambodia releases Veera and Ratree as a goodwill gesture.
He refused to confirm if the two Thais would be released.
Preecha Somkwamkid, brother of Veera, said he heard about the possibility that they would be released."If we can confirm it, we'll go to Cambodia to bring them home," he said.