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Abhisit addressing protesters on Saturday.BANGKOK, Aug 7 (MCOT)-- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday told members of the protesting civil groups including the yellow-clad People’s Alliance of Democracy (PAD) that his government prepared to revoke the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Thailand and Cambodia “if it is for Thailand’s interest” but said that no pressure should be imposed on him.
Speaking to groups now rallying at the Thai-Japanese Sports Complex in Din Daeng against the 10-year-old Preah Vihear temple agreement, Mr Abhisit said the 2000 pact did not specify the border demarcation between the two neighbouring countries.
According to the prime minister, the Cambodian government said it could not use the map scale of 1:200,000 sq km as its own map because the Joint Boundary Commission had not finished its task.
It shows that the 2000 MoU does not allow Cambodia to use the Thai map, Mr Abhisit noted, adding that “if it is for national interest, then the MoU could be revoked."
“But no one should say it must not be revoked or must be revoked,” said Mr Abhisit.
According to the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on the survey and land boundary demarcation signed in June 2000, both parties agreed not to carry out any changes of environment in the frontier zone, pending completion of the survey and demarcation of the border.
Regarding Cambodian troops and civilians encroaching on disputed areas claimed by both countries, Mr Abhisit said the encroachment "definitely violated" the agreement signed in 2000 and that the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry will coordinate with the military in protesting to the Cambodian government.
Mr Abhisit said that he would raise this issue at a meeting of the Thai National Security Council "soon" and that the military will cooperate 100 per cent, while the foreign affairs ministry will meet with the military on how to approach the Cambodian government.
Despite Mr Abhisit’s explanations on the temple row, people attending the rally said they were still unclear regarding both the status and the prime minister's explanation.
Five representatives each from the civil network group coordinating with the PAD Yellow Shirts and from the government side will debate the Preah Vihear issue Sunday from 10am to 1pm The event will be telecast live on the state-run NBT station.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia intensified after the Thai government delegation objected to Cambodia's unilateral management plan for the historic temple as both neighbours found no common ground to settle their dispute over the 4.6 sq km of land adjacent to the temple, an historic monument which was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2008.
Meanwhile, another group rallying under Veera Somkwamkid who leads the newly-formed 'Thailand Patriot Network’ gathered at the First Army Region headquarters, awaiting the government reply on its demand to scrap the 10-year-old MoU with Cambodia.
Many of those attending the rally returned home after heavy rain while the remaining are expected to sleep in front of the military headquarters Saturday night awaiting the prime minister's clarification on how kingdom will benefit if Thailand maintains the 2000 MoU with Cambodia. (MCOT online news)
Speaking to groups now rallying at the Thai-Japanese Sports Complex in Din Daeng against the 10-year-old Preah Vihear temple agreement, Mr Abhisit said the 2000 pact did not specify the border demarcation between the two neighbouring countries.
According to the prime minister, the Cambodian government said it could not use the map scale of 1:200,000 sq km as its own map because the Joint Boundary Commission had not finished its task.
It shows that the 2000 MoU does not allow Cambodia to use the Thai map, Mr Abhisit noted, adding that “if it is for national interest, then the MoU could be revoked."
“But no one should say it must not be revoked or must be revoked,” said Mr Abhisit.
According to the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on the survey and land boundary demarcation signed in June 2000, both parties agreed not to carry out any changes of environment in the frontier zone, pending completion of the survey and demarcation of the border.
Regarding Cambodian troops and civilians encroaching on disputed areas claimed by both countries, Mr Abhisit said the encroachment "definitely violated" the agreement signed in 2000 and that the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry will coordinate with the military in protesting to the Cambodian government.
Mr Abhisit said that he would raise this issue at a meeting of the Thai National Security Council "soon" and that the military will cooperate 100 per cent, while the foreign affairs ministry will meet with the military on how to approach the Cambodian government.
Despite Mr Abhisit’s explanations on the temple row, people attending the rally said they were still unclear regarding both the status and the prime minister's explanation.
Five representatives each from the civil network group coordinating with the PAD Yellow Shirts and from the government side will debate the Preah Vihear issue Sunday from 10am to 1pm The event will be telecast live on the state-run NBT station.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia intensified after the Thai government delegation objected to Cambodia's unilateral management plan for the historic temple as both neighbours found no common ground to settle their dispute over the 4.6 sq km of land adjacent to the temple, an historic monument which was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2008.
Meanwhile, another group rallying under Veera Somkwamkid who leads the newly-formed 'Thailand Patriot Network’ gathered at the First Army Region headquarters, awaiting the government reply on its demand to scrap the 10-year-old MoU with Cambodia.
Many of those attending the rally returned home after heavy rain while the remaining are expected to sleep in front of the military headquarters Saturday night awaiting the prime minister's clarification on how kingdom will benefit if Thailand maintains the 2000 MoU with Cambodia. (MCOT online news)
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