After two years in Cambodia prison, Ratree returns home

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Freed Ratree back home

Veera set to launch fresh bid for prison transfer

Published: 2 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

PHNOM PENH : Thai Patriots Network activist Ratree Pipattanapaiboon was set free and returned to Thailand on Friday night after spending two years and one month in Cambodia's Prey Sar prison.

A relative embraces Thai Patriots Network activist Ratree Pipattanapaiboon as she arrives at Suvarnabhumi airport after being given a royal pardon and freed from Cambodia’s Prey Sar prison. The network’s leader Veera Somkwamkid, inset, remains in jail although he was granted a six-month reduction to his term. PANUMAS SANGUANWONG/REUTERS

Ms Ratree was met at the prison gate by members of her family and officials from the Thai Foreign Ministry who accompanied her on the flight home last night.

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oudom
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Discussion 14 : 03 Feb 2013 at 10.5514
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john49, one country deport people back to their original country for being in the country over the limit of visa or sneak to cross in the country in the safe zone, if happen to get arrested then deport back, but in this case these people trespassing right into the military zone, they were very lucky that they didn't get shot at in a first place. I bet for thais military probably they were killed right in the spot.
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kosal
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Discussion 13 : 02 Feb 2013 at 23.1413
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D 5, They were charged with espionage, wondering into military zone without permission. In some countries, it is a death penalty! So they both of them had received a lenient sentence.I wonder if ordinary Khmer people would walk into Thailand illegally on a military zone, what kind of sentence would they get? Most of Khmers at the Cambodian and Thai border got shot at everyday entering Thailand illegally.
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David

Discussion 12 : 02 Feb 2013 at 23.0712
Believe she can speak Khmer fluently now
from iPhone application.
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spiceman
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Discussion 11 : 02 Feb 2013 at 19.4811
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Khun Subcoman #10, are you talking about the Cambodians, who are willing to pay any price and bear any burden, in order to regain their long-lost land, treasure, and prestige? I only wish that Thai people were more like them! So far, only Khun Veera and Khun Ratree are more like them. Did you know that one of Hun Sen's son, Hun Manet, graduated from the most prestigious West Point Military Academy in the USA? Do you know of any of the sons of TS, YS, AV, Suthep, and etc, graduate from West Point?
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subcoman
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Discussion 10 : 02 Feb 2013 at 18.2510
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When ultra-nationalism and militarism are taught to be virtues...
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spiceman
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Discussion 9 : 02 Feb 2013 at 17.229
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Just another reminder for PADs not to vote for Prachatipad Party in this up-coming election for Bangkok Governor!
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englishbob
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Discussion 8 : 02 Feb 2013 at 17.158
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Let's be clear... Peua Thai has done nothing for anyone since coming to power... Unless they are a Shinawatra or a UDD supporter.
The notion that they had anything to do with this release is absurd - they've left their criminal supporters languishing in Thai jails for two years.

Veera and Ratree should have been sent home looking foolish two years ago... They were trespassers. Or illegal immigrants at worst. The charge of 'espionage' was a ludicrous.
It's astounding the way Red Supporters will link arms with ANYONE who buddies up with Thaksin - even ex-Khmer Rouge human rights abuser, Hun Sen.
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genii
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Discussion 7 : 02 Feb 2013 at 17.107
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Very lucky lady indeed. Those who lost their lives because of these actions were not so lucky.
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oudom
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Discussion 6 : 02 Feb 2013 at 16.136
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lesson to be learned for Ratree after all these troubles that her clans got her in. I can see the graphics layout on the above, must be the Democrat Party quickly want to claim the credit right away.
whoever attempted to get the credit for this that were never going to work without the YingLuck's government that established a better relationship with the Cambodia. for Veera should let him be where he is right now, that is one less headache for the Government.
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john49
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Discussion 5 : 02 Feb 2013 at 16.075
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Usually when people enter a country illegally, they are deported. This has obviously been an event that has been dragged out behind the scenes. Too bad Hun Sen never allowed justice to run it's course when dealing with his KR friends.
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