Changing of the guard
Published: 22/07/2011
Bangkok Post
Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is demanding Cambodia withdraw its soldiers from the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple before Indonesian observers enter the zone.
In response to a report that Cambodia wants Indonesian observers to enter the disputed area before its military pulls out, Mr Abhisit said yesterday Thailand was standing firm on its original demand that Cambodia withdraw its troops first.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Monday that Thailand and Cambodia should withdraw their soldiers from the disputed area and let observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) deploy pending its consideration of a Cambodian petition concerning ownership of the area.
"If Cambodia wants to cite the court order to bring observers there right away, Cambodia must withdraw its troops first," Mr Abhisit said.
"Cambodia is the party that filed the petition with the court and the court told Cambodia to withdraw its troops right away."
Mr Abhisit demanded that Cambodia enter talks with Thailand as the two countries' stances on troop withdrawals were still different.
He said Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about talks.
Mr Abhisit said the Foreign Ministry would take three to four months to prepare Thailand's opinion on Cambodia's request for the ICJ to interpret Cambodia's ownership of the area near Preah Vihear temple.
The Thai opinion will reach the international court in time so that the ICJ judges can give their ruling before five of the 15 justices are replaced by next February, he said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday called for a fair withdrawal of troops by both sides and urged Cambodia to discuss the issue with Thailand.
He also said the effects of the ICJ's order were too extensive for the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) to handle.
Meanwhile, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said his troops remained in the disputed area pending negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia.
National police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree visited border areas in Si Sa Ket province yesterday to prepare for the future deployment of border patrol units in place of soldiers in compliance with the ICJ's demilitarised zone order.
He said police had withdrawn from border areas with Cambodia in 1978 to make way for soldiers and they would have to review their database on border areas and revive relations with their Cambodian counterparts.
People living near the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket and Surin provinces conducted evacuation drills yesterday.
The drills were aimed at ensuring that people in the area can be evacuated effectively in the event of any further border clashes.
National police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree visits border patrol officers in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province yesterday. He plans to deploy the units in the disputed area with Cambodia in place of soldiers following the International Court of Justice’s order for a demilitarised zone to be set up on the common border. TAWATCHAIKEMGUMNERD
Published: 22/07/2011
Bangkok Post
Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is demanding Cambodia withdraw its soldiers from the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple before Indonesian observers enter the zone.
In response to a report that Cambodia wants Indonesian observers to enter the disputed area before its military pulls out, Mr Abhisit said yesterday Thailand was standing firm on its original demand that Cambodia withdraw its troops first.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Monday that Thailand and Cambodia should withdraw their soldiers from the disputed area and let observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) deploy pending its consideration of a Cambodian petition concerning ownership of the area.
"If Cambodia wants to cite the court order to bring observers there right away, Cambodia must withdraw its troops first," Mr Abhisit said.
"Cambodia is the party that filed the petition with the court and the court told Cambodia to withdraw its troops right away."
Mr Abhisit demanded that Cambodia enter talks with Thailand as the two countries' stances on troop withdrawals were still different.
He said Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about talks.
Mr Abhisit said the Foreign Ministry would take three to four months to prepare Thailand's opinion on Cambodia's request for the ICJ to interpret Cambodia's ownership of the area near Preah Vihear temple.
The Thai opinion will reach the international court in time so that the ICJ judges can give their ruling before five of the 15 justices are replaced by next February, he said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday called for a fair withdrawal of troops by both sides and urged Cambodia to discuss the issue with Thailand.
He also said the effects of the ICJ's order were too extensive for the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) to handle.
Meanwhile, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said his troops remained in the disputed area pending negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia.
National police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree visited border areas in Si Sa Ket province yesterday to prepare for the future deployment of border patrol units in place of soldiers in compliance with the ICJ's demilitarised zone order.
He said police had withdrawn from border areas with Cambodia in 1978 to make way for soldiers and they would have to review their database on border areas and revive relations with their Cambodian counterparts.
People living near the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket and Surin provinces conducted evacuation drills yesterday.
The drills were aimed at ensuring that people in the area can be evacuated effectively in the event of any further border clashes.
9 comments:
That's what I predicted.
Thailand is playing games with the ICJ. Replacing troops with a large number of heavily-armed police is no different. That's why the ICJ should only order the invading Thai troops to withdraw in the first place, not Cambodian troops. The Thai police in this picture look nowhere near the normal police. These are soldiers disguising as police. They are heavily-armed and will be playing an active role like the army.
Don't forget. ICJ rules all any military activities and as well as other heavy armies...
THE ICJ states"....any armed activity directed at that zone"
Maybe, It need UNSC to teach Thailand what is the rule mean.
Haha...
It's like a joke said:
Judge: Let those parties come in.
Victim: He killed my brother.
Judge: Did you kill his brother? Confess it!
Murder: No, I did not kill him. I just poked him with a knife. When I poked him, he was alive.
Judge:?????????????? psycho!
.............
In my opinion, Thailand should not withdraw any troop/armies/guards or do anything if Thailand don't respect the world or the law.
Now, for your act, the world look at Thais. Thais don't just say, "we are a good nation in the world blah blah...." ( I heard this statement all the time when Kasit was interviewed or give answer to the reporters). I really don't understand, why do Thailand speak crazily like this. Even though the US is a superpower and the father of democracy, the US has never said himself that his country is a good country or a good member of UN. It is really embarrassment for Thailand.
Now, just wait for UNSC to force them out.
I don't know when do Thais wake up and stop playing this cheap game anymore?
UNSC? They are not going to do anything. Thailand know well that they can get away with it. ICJ and UNSC is just distant dreams. It is hard for me to think they can force Thailand out Preah Vihear's vicinity.
This guy ahbullshit is a big loser because he lost election in his own country to the first female PM to be. so, no one wants to listen to his idiot ideas, except himself.
Do you remember Iraq invaded Kuwait and the UN Security Councils vote to use force led by the US?
Why can't it applied here. Or the US is just a hypocrite. Or maybe because it has no interest in the region. Or maybe it is silently siding with Thailand. Give me a break. Stop preaching about human rights issues and trying to be world police when your close ally should have been reprimanded? What a joke!!
have mentioned in the past that Thailand is playing tricks, Abhisit trying to push PM Hun Sen's hot button. If Thailand can play the game so can Cambodia. Cambodia should keep its cool and strategically working with the think tank group. Thus far, Thailand has let out the following tricks: changing army into police uniform, wait for the next government to take over, ask Cambodia to do bilateral talks, PAD statement against ICJ ruling, conducting poll in Thailand's view etc. These are just some of the tricks put out in 3 days after ICJ ruling. As you can see Thailand has many tricks; it seems like it has stolen a trick book for a magician. Thailand main objective is to keep Cambodia on its heel while they putting together teams and form new government. Cambodia should utilize every opportunity to ensure that the ICJ aware of Thailand actions. Cambodia is no dummy, Thailand is playing with fire.
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