New mouthpiece for gov't to address Thai people on national security

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 3 – The government will set up a tripartite spokesperson team to give more coherent information to the public on domestic security situation, Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha disclosed today.

He said the team, comprising civilians, police and military officers, will be responsible for creating better understanding among people on national security issues.

He was apparently hinting at concerns on the Thai-Cambodian dispute over the area surrounding Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple which is pending a ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

He said the army had worked with the Foreign Ministry on the Phra Viharn issue from 1962 until 2008 when the border dispute erupted.

The government’s policy is to avoid conflict with neighbouring countries, he said, adding that the army has assigned personnel from the Second Army Region to patrol near Phra Viharn temple together with the Border Patrol Police.

As the legal procedure in the ICJ is underway,Thailand and Cambodia continue to discuss and work together in compliance with the Court's order, requiring that the two countries withdraw their military personnel from the Provisional Demilitarised Zone (PDZ) surrounding Phra Viharn temple.

The armies of both countries have to brief their respective governments on the latest border developments, while both parties agreed to urgently demine the border area near the temple, Gen Prayuth said.

He said there should be ways to get third parties and the ICJ to understand Thailand and Cambodia, while the two countries should be able to hold bilateral discussions and live together without border fighting in the future.

“Whoever is the government or in charge of security, the nation comes first. Everybody hopes for national security without war. The military is responsible for protecting the territory in accord with the government’s policy,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Tuesday that he was most concerned that the ICJ ruling, if unfavourable to Thailand, may lead to undesirable actions by some Thai people. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-03

What a shame the ICJ has been roped into this. It's a pity Thailand and Cambodia couldn't have had fruitful discussions on how to divide the disputed land. Now the ICJ will rule, and most likely in favour of Cambodia. Cambodia will then have every right to force Thais from this land if they don't go willingly?

And what are these undesirable actions by some Thai people? Some kind of veiled threat?

ah yes, a spokesperson team????

That will make the message crystal clear.

What a lot of trouble to go through. Seems to me like they must be pretty sure how the ICJ will rule. Hint: NOT in favor of Thailand.

Edited January 3, 201313 yr by WhizBang

Ahhh a new "Thai mouthpiece," just what the country and Thai people need, a new mouthpiece. As if Thailand doesn't already have hundreds and hundreds of "mouthpieces" that come and go.

The rights of the Preah Vihar temple have long been distributed by the International World Organization, and Thais ate still not accepting it, I mean somewhere in the undergrounds...

Why is everybody still making a fuss about it, and then with military force?

Why can't they be friends???

Edited January 4, 201313 yr by MaxLee

What happened to the old mouthpiece, Chalerm?

Ahhh a new "Thai mouthpiece," just what the country and Thai people need, a new mouthpiece. As if Thailand doesn't already have hundreds and hundreds of "mouthpieces" that come and go.

Thailand the hub of mouthpieces! sorry couldn't resist that one!

Sent from my GT-P6200 using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited January 4, 201313 yr by ggold

A post trollish in nature has been removed as well as the replies.

The rights of the Preah Vihar temple have long been distributed by the International World Organization, and Thais ate still not accepting it, I mean somewhere in the undergrounds...

Why is everybody still making a fuss about it, and then with military force?

Why can't they be friends???

The Thais have accepted the ruling on the temple. But the ICJ didn't rule on the land surrounding the temple, which is what all the fuss is about now.

Sent from my HTC phone.