Border dispute 'is not a civil matter'
Writer: POST REPORTERS
Published: 15/09/2009
Bangkok Post
The Civil Court has thrown out a suit by a group of Thai academics accusing the Cambodian prime minister and two other ministers of abusing Thai people's rights over Preah Vihear.
The suit, lodged by Thepmontri Limpaphayom and eight other scholars, accused Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Ministers Sok An and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong of violating the Thai people's rights and liberties under the Thai constitution by encroaching on the Preah Vihear temple and the disputed area around the temple ruins.
They asked the court to order Cambodia to withdraw its troops from the area. The court was also asked to order the World Heritage registrar to withdraw Cambodia's registration of the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.
The court rejected the suit, saying the issue was a dispute between two countries over the sovereignty of the area. It was not a civil matter.
The three defendants had acted in their capacity as national leaders, not individuals, in registering the historic temple as a World Heritage site, the court said. The nine plaintiffs had no authority to sue the defendants.
Meanwhile, 2nd Army commander Wibulsak Neepal yesterday said the army would cut troop levels in the disputed area but needed parliament's approval for a mandate to negotiate the issue with Cambodia,
Lt Gen Wibulsak said the army had proposed troop reductions in many parts of the disputed area but had not finalised the extent of the cuts and whether they would reach 50%.
An army source said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met Lt Gen Wibulsak last Wednesday to ask about the border situation and discuss the possibility of reducing the number of soldiers guarding the 4.6-square-kilometre area next to Preah Vihear temple.
About 3,000 Cambodian soldiers and 2,500 Thais are now in the area.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday stressed the military would not allow the loss of Thai sovereignty over the disputed land. He said all state officials were duty-bound to protect the country's sovereignty.
Writer: POST REPORTERS
Published: 15/09/2009
Bangkok Post
The Civil Court has thrown out a suit by a group of Thai academics accusing the Cambodian prime minister and two other ministers of abusing Thai people's rights over Preah Vihear.
The suit, lodged by Thepmontri Limpaphayom and eight other scholars, accused Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Ministers Sok An and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong of violating the Thai people's rights and liberties under the Thai constitution by encroaching on the Preah Vihear temple and the disputed area around the temple ruins.
They asked the court to order Cambodia to withdraw its troops from the area. The court was also asked to order the World Heritage registrar to withdraw Cambodia's registration of the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.
The court rejected the suit, saying the issue was a dispute between two countries over the sovereignty of the area. It was not a civil matter.
The three defendants had acted in their capacity as national leaders, not individuals, in registering the historic temple as a World Heritage site, the court said. The nine plaintiffs had no authority to sue the defendants.
Meanwhile, 2nd Army commander Wibulsak Neepal yesterday said the army would cut troop levels in the disputed area but needed parliament's approval for a mandate to negotiate the issue with Cambodia,
Lt Gen Wibulsak said the army had proposed troop reductions in many parts of the disputed area but had not finalised the extent of the cuts and whether they would reach 50%.
An army source said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met Lt Gen Wibulsak last Wednesday to ask about the border situation and discuss the possibility of reducing the number of soldiers guarding the 4.6-square-kilometre area next to Preah Vihear temple.
About 3,000 Cambodian soldiers and 2,500 Thais are now in the area.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday stressed the military would not allow the loss of Thai sovereignty over the disputed land. He said all state officials were duty-bound to protect the country's sovereignty.
No comments:
Post a Comment