BANGKOK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government has repeatedly called on the public to be patient about the World Court verdict on the Preah Vihear temple dispute, saying that it didn't "lose the battle" to Cambodia as opposition claimed.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Friday that the opposition attempts to play up the temple judgment to further fan the flames of anti-government movement sparked by an amnesty bill.
She said the negative sentiments over the border issue and ensuing political tension would make it more difficult for the government to deal with it and may strain country's relations with neighboring Cambodia.
"To avoid confusion, please listen to the government's clarification. A technical committee will be set up to study the ICJ's verdict and explain it to the public," Yingluck was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.
The committee comprises officials from agencies including the Thai military and the Royal Thai Survey Department, which oversees maps and discusses boundary definition with neighboring countries.
The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) judged unanimously on Monday that Cambodian has sovereignty over the plateau which locates the Preah Vihear temple as earlier ruled in 1962, but it was not given full control over all the disputed territory surrounding the ancient Hindu temple.
The verdict was delivered in response to a petition lodged by Cambodia in 2011 to clarify the 1962 judgment, which leaves space for both countries to claim ownership of a 4.6 square-kilometer region adjacent to the temple.
In a televised address to the public, Yingluck said she was " satisfied" with the verdict, which was "beneficial" to the Thai side. "Thailand will enter negotiations with Cambodia to put an end to the issue," said the premier.
However, oppositions and conservative figures have been pushing the government to concede defeat in the chronic border row, asserting that the court judgment has resulted in loss of Thai territory.
They urge the public not to be hoodwinked by the government.
Opposition Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha estimated that Thailand could lose 0.3-2 square-kilometer of area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia as a result of the court ruling.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of Ministry of Forieng Affairs of Thailand, told Xinhua that the Thai authorities don't see the ruling by the U.N. high court as a "win or lose" situation, instead it will be used as a basis for the two sides to further consult and reach a mutually satisfactory solution.
Thailand and Cambodia have different understandings when it comes to the vicinity of the temple, he said.
"The original intention of Cambodia when they founded the case was to claim that the vicinity which they say is under dispute, and they say the vicinity is an area that covers 4.6 square- kilometer based on the annex 1 map that they submitted. On this point, the court decided that the vicinity is not 4.6 as claimed by Cambodia," said Sihasak.
"Instead, the court gave a general description of what it sees to be the vicinity based on the promontory, or the terrain of that area. So it remains with Thailand and Cambodia to consult on where that exact line is on the ground," he added.
Related:
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday expressed his satisfactions with the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case concerning the hotly-contested land around Preah Vihear temple between Cambodia and Thailand.
The ICJ unanimously ruled Monday that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear, and in consequence, Thailand is therefore under an obligation to withdraw from that territory the Thai military or police forces, or other guards, or keepers that were stationed there. Full story
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Situation along Cambodia and Thailand border near Preah Vihear temple remained "calm but tense" on Monday ahead of a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case regarding the hotly-disputed land near the temple between the two countries, said a senior military official.Full Story
BANGKOK, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Many Thais living along the Cambodian border are practicing evacuation drills as the two countries wait anxiously for the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) to rule on their long-standing territorial dispute over an area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple.Full Story
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Friday 15 November 2013
Thai gov't calls for restraint over border dispute with Cambodia
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The ICJ judgment said Thailand was obliged to withdraw all guards, troops or police forces from the vicinity of the temple.
Thai sides claim they need time to study and analyse the substance of the verdict. No troops are to be withdrawn.
1st Thailand is buying time and find the way to go around the ruling as it have done five decades ago.
2nd Thailand doesn't understand English wording need to take week before it reallize Thailand lost .
On principle, the Thais have to withdraw their troops, but to where? Back to Thai soil. if any Thais know how to read the map.
According to local media reports, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has also said that troops will remain at the border area for the time being.
Yingluck is coming under increasing domestic pressure from nationalists, who say her administration has given up land to Cambodia.Not giving up land to Cambodia But Thailand have to return The land to the rightfull owner.
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