By MCOT
BANGKOK, Jan 25 – Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra reasserted today that Thailand will forge onward in
protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty concerning the dispute with
Cambodia over land in the area surrounding Preah Vihear temple.
In a security meeting with high-level officials, the premier
expressed confidence in the government’s move in contesting the dispute,
pending a decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Thailand and Cambodia are required to give their respective oral
statements before the ICJ in April and the ruling is expected in
October.
The Foreign Ministry is in charge of supervising the Thai-Cambodian relationship at all levels, she said.
Today’s two and a half hour meeting was attended by Deputy Prime
Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime
Minister/Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana, Defence Minister
Sukumpol Suwanatat, Veerachai Palasai, leader of Thailand’s legal team
in the case, the chiefs of the three armed forces and the national
police chief.
Nuttavuth Potisaro, deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs,
said the meeting was satisfactory with Mr Veerachai’s outline on
Thailand’s stance and defence in the dispute. The prime minister
instructed officials to work with full commitment in protecting the
national sovereignty on the Thai-Cambodian border.
He said the Foreign Ministry is willing to accept feedback and
suggestions from the public, especially on the issue of the ICJ
jurisdiction which Thailand will raise in its April statement.
“We are confident of success in the case given the ICJ’s 1962 ruling
which only touched on the temple, and not the surrounding area covering
4.6 sq km,” said Mr Nuttavut.
Thailand has followed every point of the ICJ’s ruling including
removal of troops from the temple and adjacent area and the return of
ancient objects, discovered in 1954, to Cambodia, he said.
Mr Veerachai said the content of the oral statement is completed except for some minor points.
Cambodia has asked the ICJ to rule on the 4.6 sq km of land
surrounding the temple where troops of both countries have been deployed
and clashes have erupted sporadically.
1 comment:
How can you build a house on the land but you can only own the house not the land? And the land happen to be surrounding your house? In Preah Vihea case the question is the same! How can the Temple belong to Khmers and the land surrounding belong to the [Siam] thieves's nation? If you have money would you build a house on someone else land? A answer is absolutely not! even if you are a little retarded will not do that either.I am sure that Icj judges will be making decision in the favor of Cambodia because of the question that i raise above.
Kmenhwatt
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