Buchholz

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Team heads to Hague for Preah Vihear case

A high-level delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul left for The Hague yesterday to make the Kingdom's case in the International Court of Justice hearing over the Preah Vihear land dispute with Cambodia.

Joining him in the team are Defence Minister General Sukampol Suwannathat, Defence Ministry deputy permanent secretary-general Nipat Thonglek and other high-ranking military officials.

The court hearing in the Dutch city is scheduled to be held from tomorrow to Friday. The Cambodian government has asked the court to reinterpret its 1962 decision awarding sovereignty over Preah Vihear to Cambodia, to determine whether 4.6 square kilometres of scrubland near the temple belongs to Cambodia or Thailand.

Surapong said before leaving the country that the Thai team is ready to give its final verbal statement to the court and has prepared complete information covering every development in the dispute since 1962. He added that the court is expected to issue a ruling in September or October.

Surapong urged Thais to follow live coverage of the Thai team's delivery of its final statement at the ICJ on Channel 11, FM 92.5, AM 891 and Saranrom radio station. The Foreign Ministry has set up a team to answer the public's questions related to the case. Issues that need to be clarified will also be presented in Thai and English on the Foreign Ministry's website.

"I would like the public to listen and follow the case with an open mind as they hear academics and critics provide their views on the case," he said.

"We are confident in the process of justice at the ICJ, as it has issued rulings in many international disputes. The court has taken into account peace between countries," he said.

Surapong said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra offered the team moral support, urging members to do their best and asking them to answer Thais' questions on the case. "We are fighting this case for every Thai. We are going to protect our country's sovereignty. We will do our best," he said.

Verapat Pariyawong, an independent legal expert with a background in ICJ cases, said it appeared Cambodia's request for an interpretation of the 1962 ruling was aimed at "extending the scope" of the original ICJ verdict.

He noted that the original ICJ verdict stated clearly that the world court was not empowered to make any ruling regarding boundaries or maps. The verdict focused solely on the question as to which country held sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple, whether Thailand had to withdraw its troops from the temple ruins, and whether the Kingdom had to return ancient Khmer artefacts to Cambodia.

"I don't think Cambodia's goal is to have the court make a 'clearer verdict' about the original case. They want the verdict changed, or its scope extended. Judging from this fact, it is possible that the court may reject the request for interpretation," Verapat said.

Sukampol dismissed concerns over border tensions, saying the situation is normal though people from the two countries are aware that the ICJ hearing is to be held this week. He said he had not ordered tighter security on the border, but has instructed the military to prevent a group that has been campaigning against accepting the court's decision - an apparent reference to the People's Alliance for Democracy - from provoking violence.

"We have explained to the group that it is impossible not to accept the court decision. They have not accepted our reason and we do not know why. We just have to prevent them from instigating violence. They can express their political opinion and we will provide areas for them to access [for this purpose]," the defence minister said.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party Surat Thani MP Suthep Thaugsuban said he felt that the government had compromised over the Preah Vihear land dispute, and that this has made Thais uncomfortable. He said if the government fights to the best of its ability, the country would not lose the 4.6 square kilometres of territory.

"The court will rule in accordance with the evidence, so it depends if we present solid evidence. What I am worried about is whether their heart is in it. If not, we have nothing with which to fight them," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-04-14

Thaksin seeks and offers forgiveness

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday used the occasion of Songkran, the Thai New Year, to apologise to those seniors whom he had "hurt" and also forgave those who had "hurt" him, while sending his good wishes to Thais on his Facebook page.

"I am a Buddhist and grew up in the environment and culture of Northerners, so I always want to uphold this value [apologise and forgive],'' he said.

But Thaksin, who many believe to be the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, also expressed nostalgia and said he was homesick.

"I am well, living abroad, but I miss home sometimes, though I'm starting to get used to it. It is during Songkran that I feel more homesick,'' he said.

Thaksin said Songkran Day is a good time to remove inauspiciousness from the body and mind.

"We should at least have a day when we can start life afresh, in an auspicious way, and forget bad things and prejudices for the sake of the country and countrymen,'' he wrote.

His sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, also sent wishes to Thais via her Facebook page and through her weekly programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People", stressing on upholding family values, Thai culture and tradition.

"Thais have worked hard the whole year. They can recharge their battery during Songkran,'' she said.

She urged Thais to celebrate Songkran without alcohol and dress discreetly.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva wished all Thais safe travel during the Songkran festival, saying he believed Thai politics in April would be calm if the government does not push for the speedy passage of the amnesty bills and charter amendment.

Parliament will close on April 20 and reconvene at the end of May. He urged the government to let the legal procedure move step by step, saying he believed the government will campaign for national reconciliation after Parliament closes.


-- The Nation 2013-03-14

Preah Vihear war room set up

Thailand is turning the Government House into the command centre, ahead of the hearing on the international dispute on Preah Vihear.

The hearing will run from April 15 to 19.

The prime minister, ministers and army leaders are expected to observe it at the command centre.

A war room on the second floor will be manned by PM’s Secretary Suranand Vejjajiva.

From here, the team will monitor the hearing and keep the public updated through a TV programme on Channel 11.

-- The Nation 2013-04-13

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Lordy, Yingluck's government has another "War Room"...

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Nice coming from someone who got his only shot at being prime minister because he got the support of one of the greediest politician in this country

But not the support of the greediest Thai politician in or out of the country.

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< Off topic comments removed >

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This all is so far off topic so to get back:

How come a convicted crim on the run has any right to make any threats, and yes it is a threat, against any court?

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He doesn't have any right, and yes, given the context of his previous threats against the courts, the latest is another threat.

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"irresistible power" - Money?

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Whereas the irresistible force of the Shinawatra/Damapong dynasty is what? The ability to racketeer!

and money.

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< moderator-deleted post removed >

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"irresistible power" - Money?

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Amulets?

Som tum?

Lao khao?

Black magic?

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Yes, it could be those too.

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< moderator-deleted post removed >

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"irresistible power" - Money?

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Most likely.

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ThailandNoob, on 13 Apr 2013 - 11:20, said:

How is it a half truth? Quotes like this come directly from the horses mouth. These are things that "hi so" Thai supporters of the Yellow Shirts have said to me. Even if you don't want to take me word for it, look at public statements by the Yellow Shirt leadership. Chamlong Srimueang's (a key figure in the Yellow Shirts) proposal to have a parliament where only 30% of the MPs are elected, with the remaining 70% appointed, springs to mind here.

You talk about vote buying, and I agree with you that it is not an ideal situation, but isn't a democracy with vote buying better than no democracy at all?

And I put it to you that corruption and nepotism are just as bad if not worse under the Democrats than Pheu Thai.

You talk about the need for an independent judiciary, yet I would hardly call the Constitutional Court of Thailand independent. Look at their decision in 2008 that brought Abhisit to power. Leaving aside the question of whether or not it was justified to ban the MPs from power, given that doing so caused the ruling government to no longer have a majority, the court should have also dissolved parliament and triggered fresh elections. By doing otherwise they lost all of their moral authority, and proved themselves to be nothing more than a tool of the Yellow Shirts.

I totally agree with you that rich criminals should receive the same treatment as the poor. When are the coup makers going to go on trial? What about the thugs that took over the airport in 2008? Why has no-one in the army been convicted over the atrocities that took place in April and May 2010?

I also totally agree with you that intimidation should be stopped. Topping the list of cases of intimidation over the past 7 years would be the 2006 military coup. How about we begin by trying and convicting everyone that was behind that?

Even in Western countries, it tends to be the norm that appointed high-ranking officials are told what to do by the government that appoints them. That's why it's so important that governments are chosen by people voting in elections rather than generals launching coups or judges issuing decrees.

The 2008 court decision wasn't the thing that lost the then coalition government their majority. It was the defection of a large faction of their MPs that cost them their majority.

The remaining PPP MPs that became the PTP where in power after the PPP were disbanded and their executives banned. A new PM need to be elected and the PTP chose to go to a parliamentary vote instead of calling a new election.

Don't you read the news? Yellows shirts have been charged with taking over the airports.

Why should the army be convicted for trying to keep law and order? Do police get charged when armed bank robbers shoot at them and people are killed?

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Thanks for calling out the bogus aspects of the post.

Can add the nonsense he posted about 70% appointed to his erroneous aspects. He got it wrong in what was said and how long the notion lasted.

I did like the bit about his conversing with hi-so Thais.

As if.

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The Mrs has just told m that he took his cop son with him as a body guard, fully armed of course.

It seems there is a photo on facebook, don't play on it myself so someone else will have to find it and post it for us all to see.

Yes, there's an article and photo in naewna news of son, Duang, in his all black tactical uniform brandishing an automatic assault weapon while walking alongside Dad, but not allowed to link or post the photo.

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Woman employee of Bacho hospital in Narathiwat shot by two assailants on motorcycle while riding motorcycle to work; sent to Mai Kaen Hospital


-- TNA 2014-04-12

people power!

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people power party was dissolved for blatant electoral fraud!

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every bar on koh chang I went to was empty last week except for 4 or 5 staff and me, sheet not many drinkers but a few tourists about, 2nd time here and can smell the smoke everyday, puts me off,I am looking at Borneo next trip, cheers

You can smell Smoke in Koh Chang? That's one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard, and don't worry when they start burning down in Indonesia , Borneo will certainly get its fair share of smoke.

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For Koh Chang, I thought he was talking about bong smoke that puts him off.

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Thaksin strongly criticised the courts, accusing them of being unfair to him and the Pheu Thai Party

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Thaksin sure does like to kick up a fuss.

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re; above post: How can a person arrive on the scene 'before' the events happened, and then speak with someone about the events that happened?

Not sure, but beer is mentioned three times.

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The CC court accepted the petition for consideration.

Thaksin is telling porkies to the people.

Again

what exactly Taksin told the people?

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Thaksin, not Taksin.

What Thaksin told the Red Shirts is on YouTube in its entirety.

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Well, if they're overrunning the place, none of them are coming to Sam Roi Yot (thankfully). This place is dead as a doornail. Thai guy I know has a songtaew which he can't even run because he has no customers! And SRY has the biggest cluster of farangs and tourists between Hua Hin and Surat Thani.

Glad they moved the main Songkran party up the beach a bit. We're doing one run tomorrow for supplies, then we're on lockdown until Wednesday.

Where the fk is Sam Roi Yot?

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On my Top 3 National Parks List

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

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30 July 2012

Yingluck Puts Chalerm In Charge Of South

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256 days later, his first ever trip to the area he is in charge of.

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BANGKOK, April 11 Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung quietly flew to the southern province of Pattani

Congrats, Chalerm... you finally made it.

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funny to read how things morphed from last February's news that the blacklist removal was already a done deal... well, according to a senior Thai official, anyway.

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Thailand To Be Lifted From Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing Blacklist

BANGKOK, Feb 27 – The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has removed Thailand from the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF) blacklist after the country has made significant progress to tackle the issues, a senior Thai official said today.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/622271-thailand-to-be-lifted-from-money-laundering-terrorist-financing-blacklist/