People’s Alliance for Democracy supporters rally in front of parliament yesterday to oppose the approval of the three Joint Boundary Commission memorandums. The alliance insists the memos will cause the loss of Thai territory to Cambodia. APICHART JINAKU
PAD turns out in force to oppose endorsement
PAD turns out in force to oppose endorsement
Published: 3/11/2010
Bangkok Post
The parliament has agreed to set up a joint House-Senate committee to scrutinise the three Joint Boundary Commission memorandums, effectively delaying a vote on the memos, possibly until next year.
The government whips had expected the parliament to approve the three memos soon despite the strong opposition from the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy.
The PAD is concerned parliament's endorsement of the memos, signed last year and in 2008 by the Joint Boundary Commission, would result in a significant loss of territory to Cambodia.
The PAD yesterday led a rally of about 2,000 people outside parliament against endorsement of the memos.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday reaffirmed the three JBC memos would not affect Thai sovereignty as it kept the territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple a bilateral, rather than a multi-lateral, issue.
Mr Kasit told the parliament yesterday the original memorandum of understanding signed in 2000, which recognises a French map of 1:200,000 scale, was not an agreement on border demarcation as contended by the PAD.
He said the memo did not oblige the Thai government to accept the French map. The Thai government had always refused the validity of the French map. Its stance on demarcation was based on the watershed line.
Mr Kasit said the government had pulled troops from the border area near Preah Vihear to reduce tensions.
"The withdrawal of the military troops from the area means the government can achieve its objective on this issue [reducing tension] through bilateral negotiations," he said.
Mr Abhisit told the parliament the government would continue to use bilateral negotiations as a means to protect the country's sovereignty.
The government has tried to prevent the World Heritage Committee from approving Cambodia's plan to manage the area around the Preah Vihear temple, which has been listed as a world heritage site. This is because the government does not want Cambodia's management of the area around the temple to affect Thai sovereignty later, Mr Abhisit said.
The joint House-Senate committee reviewing the memorandums would be made up of seven senators and 23 MPs. The committee is expected to complete its review in 30 days.
PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul said his group would stage a rally on Dec 11 at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue if it was not satisfied with the committee's review.
The government whips had expected the parliament to approve the three memos soon despite the strong opposition from the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy.
The PAD is concerned parliament's endorsement of the memos, signed last year and in 2008 by the Joint Boundary Commission, would result in a significant loss of territory to Cambodia.
The PAD yesterday led a rally of about 2,000 people outside parliament against endorsement of the memos.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday reaffirmed the three JBC memos would not affect Thai sovereignty as it kept the territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple a bilateral, rather than a multi-lateral, issue.
Mr Kasit told the parliament yesterday the original memorandum of understanding signed in 2000, which recognises a French map of 1:200,000 scale, was not an agreement on border demarcation as contended by the PAD.
He said the memo did not oblige the Thai government to accept the French map. The Thai government had always refused the validity of the French map. Its stance on demarcation was based on the watershed line.
Mr Kasit said the government had pulled troops from the border area near Preah Vihear to reduce tensions.
"The withdrawal of the military troops from the area means the government can achieve its objective on this issue [reducing tension] through bilateral negotiations," he said.
Mr Abhisit told the parliament the government would continue to use bilateral negotiations as a means to protect the country's sovereignty.
The government has tried to prevent the World Heritage Committee from approving Cambodia's plan to manage the area around the Preah Vihear temple, which has been listed as a world heritage site. This is because the government does not want Cambodia's management of the area around the temple to affect Thai sovereignty later, Mr Abhisit said.
The joint House-Senate committee reviewing the memorandums would be made up of seven senators and 23 MPs. The committee is expected to complete its review in 30 days.
PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul said his group would stage a rally on Dec 11 at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue if it was not satisfied with the committee's review.
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