Thai Prime Minister Chuan feels Thais involved in Cambodia coup
Thai Prime Minister Chuan feels Thais involved in Cambodia coup
BANGKOK (Reuter): Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai was quoted yesterday as saying he believes some Thais in the private sector were involved in a failed coup in Phnom Penh in July.
"I do personally believe that the Thai private sector was really involved," Chuan was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post.
A Cambodian military court convicted nine Thai men on Friday on charges related to the coup -- conspiring to overthrow the government, transporting illegal weapons and "betrayal of the revolution".
The nine, who had been held in Phnom Penh since the failed coup, were released immediately and returned to Thailand later on Friday.
Chuan has ordered an inquiry into whether there was any Thai role in the murky events surrounding the coup bid.
Thai army commander Gen. Wimol Wongwanich said in mid-October that several Thai army officers had been punished for being in Cambodia at the time of the failed coup, but he insisted they were not involved.
Thailand's national security agency has denied Bangkok press speculation of involvement.
One of the nine Thais convicted on Friday was alleged to have confessed to being sent to Cambodia by a Thai company to cut communications wires during the coup bid.
The two alleged ringleaders of the July 2 power grab, Prince Norodom Chakrapong and ex-interior minister Sin Song, were convicted in absentia on Friday by the same military court and each was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Prince Chakrapong, a son of King Sihanouk, was allowed to fly out of the country on July 3 following the intervention of his father, King Norodom Sihanouk. Former interior minister Sin Song escaped from detention in Phnom Penh in September.
Former Cambodian secretary of state for the interior Sin Sen, one of two Cambodians also on trial on conspiracy and weapons charges, was jailed for 18 years on Friday.
The second Cambodian defendant present in court, former defense department police chief Tea Choy, escaped with a suspended sentence of five years.