[Thai] PM promises to crack open land deadlock

Cambodian troops took up position near areas where the 7 Thais were arrested to prevent the Thai yellow shirts from crossing into Cambodia on 5th January.

Landowners stymied by border disputes

Published: 17/01/2011
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is vowing to settle the land problems of Thais living in contested areas near the border with Cambodia.

Mr Abhisit said he would look into the problems of landowners in the border areas of Sa Kaeo after the matter over the seven Thais arrested for allegedly trespassing on Cambodian soil was settled.

Mr Abhisit said on his weekly talk show yesterday he understood the problems of those people whose land was in the 4.6-square-kilometre area near the Preah Vihear temple now subject to dispute.

He met the landowners in Bangkok last week and was told they had been unable to make use of their land for 30 years because of demarcation disputes, even though they have consistently paid their land taxes, Mr Abhisit said.

"I have examined their land rights documents and plotted the lands on the map. I can tell that the land plots are inside Thai territory," he said.

"I will look into the issue as soon as the problems surrounding the seven Thais [who have been charged with trespassing on Cambodian territory] are settled."

The prime minister called on all parties to be cautious when commenting on the case of the seven detained Thais to avoid making their position worse.

He confirmed the seven Thais were not on land held by a Thai citizen with a title deed when they were arrested on Dec 29.

He said he has traced the arrest site from video clips, aerial photos and maps.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday met his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministerial Meeting in Lombok, Indonesia.

Mr Kasit told the Cambodian foreign minister Thailand would like to see a quick end to the court proceedings against the seven Thais so the two nations could move forward for the mutual benefit of Thai and Cambodian people.

Bangkok was standing firm on its position to strengthen ties with Phnom Penh and to move ahead with border demarcation collaboration, Mr Kasit said.

He told Hor Namhong that relations between the two countries should not be marred by the movements of "certain groups of people".

Mr Kasit was apparently referring to the anti-Cambodia movement led by the People's Alliance for Democracy and its splinter group, the Thai Patriots Network, which have campaigned against the neighbouring government over the arrest of the seven Thais and other border disputes.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday warned the Thai Patriots Network not to disturb His Majesty the King by lodging a complaint with him accusing the government of losing its legitimacy to run the country.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a core member of the network, announced on Saturday the group planned to lodge the complaint at the Grand Palace tomorrow morning. He also said they will hold a rally in front of Government House on the same day.