Cambodia returns two Thai terrorist suspects to Bangkok (Roundup)

Jul 5, 2010, 10:55 GMT

Bangkok - Two Thais wanted for the terrorist bombing of a government coalition party office were returned to Bangkok Monday following their arrest in Cambodia over the weekend.

Cambodian police on Saturday arrested Kobchai Boonplod and Warisaya Boonsom, both 42, in the north-western province of Siem Reap.

They were wanted by Thai police for organizing a June 22 bomb attack at the Bangkok headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party, a key partner in the ruling coalition.

The bomb went off prematurely, injuring one of the two men allegedly hired by Kobchai and Warisaya, and caused only minor damage to the party headquarters.

The two suspected masterminds were turned over to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh Monday morning and then flown to Bangkok in the custody of Thai police.

As they were escorted off the plane they shouted to reporters, 'We are innocent' and pleaded for help from the media.

Shortly after their arrival in Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva thanked the Cambodian government and said Thailand may seek further cooperation in locating other suspects.

Police said the two admitted under questioning that they were members of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, but denied any involvement in the June 22 bombing.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said the two had been arrested and sent to Thailand because they had 'committed terrorist acts.'

'Although there is no request from the Thai government, the Cambodian government has decided to arrest and send the two terrorists back to Thailand,' in accordance with Phnom Penh's 'anti-terrorist policy,' it said.

But previous reports in the Thai media saying that the two suspects had taken refuge in Cambodia sparked a furious response from Phnom Penh, which accused Thailand of engaging in a 'malicious campaign to fault Cambodia.'

The bombing followed two months of political turmoil in Thailand that pitted supporters of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra against soldiers, leaving 90 people dead and 1,885 injured.

Thai troops dispersed the protests in central Bangkok on May 19.

Last year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen offered sanctuary to Thaksin, who was ousted by a coup in 2006, and even appointed him as a special advisor, enraging the Thai government.

But Hen Sen's vocal support for Thaksin, who backed the Thai protests politically and financially, has waned and tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border have eased. Thaksin is fleeing a two-year prison sentence for corruption.