People's Alliance Warns of Third-party Intervention

The People's Alliance for Democracy suggests that the government ask the United Nations not to intervene in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, spokesman Parnthep Puapongpan said Cambodia's submission of its complaint asking the International Court of Justice to order Thailand to withdraw troops from the battle zone at the border and the United Nations to deploy forces to the disputed territory is unlikely to put Thailand at a disadvantage if the ruling is fair.

Parnthep stated that the petition asking for the ICJ's ruling on the issue was submitted within the past 10 years so Cambodia's move will be merely seen as a request for overdue consideration.

Parnthep said the government should not hire a French lawyer to fight the legal case with Cambodia since Cambodia was once a French colony and additionally, the country has granted maritime concessions to several French companies.

He went on to advise the government to petition the UN to refrain from intervening in the Thai-Cambodian conflict.

The PAD spokesman went on to say the Cabinet's approval of more than 200 spending budgets in a single meeting yesterday showed that the government and the prime minister violated their own nine tough rules.

Parnthep suggested that the proposed budgets were approved without thorough consideration as the Cabinet only took one day to make its decision.

He said the move demonstrated politicians' lack of reliability, which is among the reasons the PAD is launching the "Vote No" campaign.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-04

related topic

PAD Warns Thai Govt Over Hiring Of French Lawyers In Its Legal Battle With Cambodia

Follow this link:

Since when does PAD think it can 'warn French lawyers"? Picnic politicians...

People's Alliance against World Court's Role in Border Row

UPDATE : 6 May 2011

The People's Alliance for Democracy urges the government not to wage a legal fight with Cambodia over the border dispute in the International Court of Justice given the case is not within the court's jurisdiction.

People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, spokesman Parnthep Puapongpan suggested the government follow the advice of international law professor Sompong Sujarikul to not settle the border conflict with Cambodia through the International Court of Justice, or ICJ.

Sompong was among the Thai lawyers waging the legal fight with Cambodia concerning the rights over the Preah Vihear Temple in the ICJ in 1962 when Cambodia then won the case.

Parnthep remarked the government should cancel its recognition of the ICJ's verdict and proclaim the ancient temple is Thailand's.

The PAD spokesman stated the ICJ will reject Cambodia's petition for a review of its original ruling because it has exceeded the statute of limitation, but if the court does deliberate on the matter, Thailand can refuse to participate in the process the same way as several countries did.

Parnthep then called on the Foreign Ministry to disclose conditions in the terms of reference, or TOR, permitting Indonesia, as the current chair for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to dispatch observers to the disputed Preah Vihear area.

Parnthep said Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong claimed the Thai Cabinet has already approved the observation mission by Indonesian representatives in the disputed zone.

He said the government's approval of such a TOR could violate the Constitution's Article 190 requiring any international agreement to be endorsed by Parliament.

Parnthep termed the signing of the TOR as a handover of Thai territory to Cambodia through help from ASEAN and the United Nations' Security Council.

PAD coordinator Prapan Khoonmee predicted that the ICJ's involvement would result in an order for Thailand to withdraw troops from the overlapping zone.

Prapan said Cambodia's complaint is not aimed for a ruling only on the temple, but also on the surrounding area currently in dispute with Thailand.

He suggested the government prove the ICJ has no jurisdiction to hear the case since Thailand has scrapped ratification of its purview some 50 years ago.

Prapan advised the government to come out to explain its policy on the legal fight with Cambodia.

The coordinator then said the prime minister's remark over the presence of Cambodian troops in the overlapping area was intended to mislead the general public into believing he has already tried his utmost to protect the country' sovereignty and put the blame on the army for Cambodia's occupation of Thai territory.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-06