Cambodia on Thursday refused to free the two Thai activists jailed on spy charges but offered a deal to swap them with Cambodian prisoners jailed in Thailand.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Phnom Penh insisted that Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Wiwattanapaibul have to serve a portion of their jail terms as stipulated in the law before being eligible to request for royal pardon.
Surapong was in Phnom Penh Wednesday to hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Nam Hong. Top on the agenda was the fate of Veera and Ratree who were arrested along with other Thais on December 28 last year while inspecting a border area.
The other Thais were freed after a Cambodian court suspended their jail terms. Veera and Ratree were sentenced to eight and six years in jail respectively.
Surapong said he would ask authorities concerned to consider Cambodia's latest offer as it is the first case and the country has no experience of this.
Meanwhile Veera's mother; Wilaiwan, met Surapong at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh to ask the minister to talk to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and help secure freedom for her son and Ratree.
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