Anutin Reaffirms Koh Kood's Sovereignty Amid Disputed Reports

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Naew Na

 

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Koh Kood in Thailand's Trat province on Monday, accompanied by Deputy Minister Sabida Thaiseth and a delegation of ministry officials.

 

The visit sought to clarify recent misunderstandings about the island's sovereignty and ensure continued confidence among Thai citizens and tourists, affected by misleading reports potentially harming local sentiment, business, and tourism.

 

Anutin, also the Deputy Prime Minister, assured locals and foreign visitors that Koh Kood, part of Thailand for centuries, will remain exclusively Thai. He emphasised that no part of the island would fall under another nation's claim and welcomed Thai visitors without concern for passports or travel documents, solidifying the island as Thai territory.

 

Clearing subsequent confusion about a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Anutin explained it was designed to advise collaborative efforts between Thailand and Cambodia on undersea petroleum resources, maritime boundaries, and exclusive economic zones per international law.

 

He confirmed this MoU does not involve altering Thailand’s territorial status, explicitly excluding Koh Kood.

 

Aiming to reassure, Anutin maintained the island's beauty and approachability as an ongoing delight for tourists, promising support from him, the province, and local government. Their collective aim is to preserve natural resources, clean waters, and pristine conditions to maintain Koh Kood as a tourist haven.

 

Addressing local concerns, Anutin acknowledged issues like scarce water supply and unresolved land ownership on the island. Plans from the Interior Ministry and collaborating agencies are underway to secure clean water for every household, consistent electricity supply, improved infrastructure, and formal land recognition.

 

Trat Governor Nattapong Sanguanjit also noted the province's monitoring of the recent news impact and continued community-based tourism promotion, pledging visitor safety, coupled with regular tourism-boosting activities.

 

Episodes involving the 2001 MoU have reignited opposition and activist concerns about Thailand's territory loss to Cambodia, particularly in relation to Koh Kood. This argument intensified as the Pheu Thai-led government expressed plans for energy exploration talks in disputed Gulf of Thailand zones, reported The Nation.

 

To reinforce confidence, visits by officials such as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai emphasise MoU44’s lack of jurisdiction over Koh Kood, promising it remains a pure Thai destination.

 

-- 2024-11-12

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

If Mr Fixit (Anutin) is involved, then there is a dodgy deal being done somewhere.

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin, also the Deputy Prime Minister, assured locals and foreign visitors that Koh Kood, part of Thailand for centuries, will remain exclusively Thai. He emphasised that no part of the island would fall under another nation's claim and welcomed Thai visitors without concern for passports or travel documents, solidifying the island as Thai territory.

I'd wait until Thaksin and his buddy Hun Sen have had a chat about things

[john donson]

murder island and pirate island seem to have their own laws run by the local maffia

[ModdaPunk]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai-led government expressed plans for energy exploration talks in disputed Gulf of Thailand zones

 

The green transition.

The transition that never was

[Scouse123]

He's down there looking if the land is suitable for the mass production of cannabis.