Court will consider border row in June
Published: 3/12/2011
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
The International Court of Justice will consider border dispute issues between Thailand and Cambodia in June, says Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul (pictured).
Mr Surapong said yesterday the Thai legal team in the Hague had told him they had submitted a request seeking an interpretation by the court on the border row.
Cambodia will submit its request in March next year, after which the ICJ is expected to hear the case in June.
In the meantime, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa will attend the Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee meeting on Dec 21 in Phnom Penh.
If any agreements are reached at the GBC meeting, they will be proposed to the cabinet for consideration and then submitted for parliamentary ratification as required by Section 190 of the constitution, Mr Surapong said.
Section 190 stipulates that any international treaties and agreements must be approved by parliament first.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said it has been agreed that Cambodia will host the eighth GBC meeting in Phnom Penh on Dec 21. The meeting will discuss measures to be implemented in compliance with an ICJ injunction.
Topics to be discussed include redeployment of troops from both sides in the disputed area, Indonesian observers, and border checkpoints.
The meeting will also discuss plans to regulate Keo Sikha Kiri Savara pagoda and communities and markets surrounding Preah Vihear temple and Unesco officials' access to the temple areas.
Col Thanathip said the five issues will not be subject to requirements under Section 190 of the constitution because the Council of State, the government's legal arm, has ruled the five measures are intended to observe the temporary injunction by the ICJ, a commitment for Thailand and Cambodia to follow.
The Council of State has ruled that the measures are not regarded as international treaties under Section 190 and the injunction does not affect the country's sovereignty or territorial integrity and the order is only temporary, Col Thanathip said.
But when formal agreements are concluded at the GBC meeting, they must be approved by parliament first as required by Section 190, Col Thanathip added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdee said Cambodia's interior ministry has allowed a Thai medical team to travel to Cambodia to examine the health of yellow shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid.
He is in a Phnom Penh jail for illegal entry and espionage, as he is reportedly suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Veera was hospitalised after his condition worsened.
The medical team is expected to fly to Cambodia next week to inspect him, Mr Thani said.
No comments:
Post a Comment