AFP : Cambodian court releases Myanmar rebels in landmark case


PHNOM PENH, April 20 (AFP) - Cambodia's military court on Thursday
released two Myanmar rebels arrested for illegally entering the country in
January, allegedly in search of weapons and support for their battle against the
Yangon junta.The court sentenced the two members of the ethnic Mon hilltribe Rehmanya
Restoration Army to time already served and released them following the first
trial here of foreign insurgents, officials said.
"The sentence is based on the charges from prosecutors that these two
persons, Mot Sayhamsamai, 45, and Chao Sak Nounchai, 26, entered Cambodia
illegally," said presiding judge Nou Chantha reading the verdict.
"They did not commit an offense against the royal government of Cambodia
while here," he told the court, adding that they had been ordered to leave
the country as soon possible.
"They did not bring arms or ammunition with them or conduct sabotage or
drug running. That is why they get a sentence of three months and eight days
from the day of the arrest. So they are free now."
He alleged the pair also tried to solicit arms and supplies from Cambodian
officers stationed on the border with Thailand. The pair spoke in Thai which
was translated into Khmer for the court.
"They wanted to strengthen the relationship with the leaders of Cambodia
and requested logistic and arms supplies to their movement but were not
charged due to lack of evidence."
There was only one witness in the court, an officer whom the pair
allegedly approached requesting arms. The only evidence was a stamp bearing
the imprint "Rehmanya Restoration Army" with a crest and Burmese writing.
They crossed from Thailand into Cambodia's western Battambang province on
January 8 and were arrested four days later, the court heard.
"We consider this case as the first trial of its type against rebels
illegally entering Cambodia," the chairman of the military court, Ney Thol,
told AFP.
"We don't want to have problems with our foreign friends," he said, adding
the foreign ministry had urged the court to proceed quickly with the case.
Cambodia and Myanmar are both members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations. Myanmar embassy officials here declined to comment on the case.
The two accused admitted to the court they were members of the ethnic Mon
army, adding they were seeking "support."
"We don't know anything exept we were arrested after seeking to strengthen
the relationship between Cambodians and the Mon. I did not commit any
offenses except talking about friendship," said Mot Sayhamsamai.
He said he had served in the rebel army for 25 years and was a colonel,
adding he was a leader in a refugee camp in Thailand.
Chao Sak Nounchai said he served with the Mon rebels for six years and
achieved the rank of lieutenant.
Cambodian and foreign officials have expressed concern in the past that
the country -- which is currently decomissioning weapons and soldiers after
three decades of civil war ended in 1998 -- would become an arms bazaar.
"Our country tries to avoid that kind of dealing and we are going to do
our best along the border so they cannot cross illegally in the future,"
said Pa Socheatvong, second deputy governor of Battambang province.
"I understand why they were released, as there was no hard evidence to
charge them (with arms smuggling), just words are not enough."
With arms and ammunition easily and cheaply available here, Cambodia is
reported by intelligence sources to be one of the the most significant
sources of weapons for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.
A delegation led by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar visited Cambodia
last year to discuss the problem.



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