Army chief to inspect Cambodian border

The Nation

SI SA KET: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha is today scheduled to inspect border areas in Si Sa Ket, opposite Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple.

The inspection is intended to boost troops' morale, though officials say no unusual military movements have been detected along the border.

In the meantime, the Dharma Yatra advocacy group is preparing to hold a rally on Saturday at a border school in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district.

The aim of the rally is to assert claims of Thailand's sovereignty over the areas surrounding the ancient temple.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana yesterday confirmed he would travel to London to head a consultation session of the legal team that will present Thailand's case in the temple dispute at an April hearing before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Pongthep reminded all sides that one misguided step in the airing of Thailand's views on the dispute could have a bad impression on the ICJ judges, which could in turn influence their decision.

The ICJ is expected to hear final arguments from Thailand and Cambodia before forming a decision on Cambodia's request that the court clarify its 1962 verdict on the dispute, in which it declared Cambodian sovereignty over the temple but did not address the land around it.

Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn said Parliament would host a seminar to explore the Kingdom's options in handling the dispute.

Weng said panellists would include Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Palasai, who has been tasked with presenting the country's stand on the dispute.

Weng said he hoped statements from Virachai and relevant security officials would set the record straight and pre-empt any attempt at politicisation of the case.

-- The Nation 2013-01-10

If the Bangkok VIP's (the masters of the army, the yellow and the Dem's) want the war, they will have it (even if Thai population and this gvt is peaceful). I remember 5 / 6 years ago, I was already writing that. At this time the TV yellow shirts yelled at me but eventually I was right => Army - Yellow - Dems managed to create provocations at the border and managed to excite the Thais => to get a kind of war with REAL DEAD PERSONS.

You cannot do anything against the will of these VIP's.

I have never known for a visit by an Admiral, General.or Air Marshal boost the morale of those at the pointed end. All it boosts is the amount of BS and spit and polish.

I wonder if he is just dropping by on his way to a casino over the border?

"Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn said Parliament would host a seminar to explore the Kingdom's options in handling the dispute."

Will this involve asking the universities to provide ideas again?

If Weng starts to talk the AEC will be implemented before he closes his mandibles.

Will he be handing out protection amulets to the border troops? Because that's more important to them than bullets.

Army chief: Army will follow government's policy on Preah Vihear dispute

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 10 - Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday that the military personnel stationed along the Thai-Cambodian border will follow the instructions of the army and the government following renewed tensions regarding the Preah Vihear temple dispute.

The army chief made his remarks while visiting Si Sa Ket province bordering Cambodia to hear the briefing on the operations plan along the Thai-Cambodian border by the Second Army Region.

The anti-government people's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the Yellow Shirts, earlier threatened to stage a mass rally January 21, urging the government not to accept the judgment or the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the contested land surrounding Preah Vihear temple.

As the PAD urged the soldiers to leave their barracks and join the rally, Gen Prayuth said the army will adhere to the government policy and that soldiers who join the protest will be disciplined.

Gen Prayuth commented that the group can show their objection on the case through available legal channels.

As the Yellow Shirts plan to demonstrate in Si Sa Ket province this weekend, Gen Prayuth said the Second Army Region has its plan to handle the matter.

The army chief said he was concerned about the situation and decided to visit the Second Army Region today.

Gen Prayuth said he instructed the troops to perform their duty to the the best of their ability, exercise restraint in the face of any provocation, and to avoid any incident which could worsen the situation.

Tensions in response to the Preah Vihear dispute have been renewed amid concerns that the ruling may not be favourable to Thailand. Both countries are scheduled to give their oral statements on the dispute at The Hague, Netherlands, April 15-19, as Cambodia seeks clarification on the area surrounding the ancient temple.

The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia erupted shortly after UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid to have Phra Viharn temple named a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Thailand claims ownership of 4.6 square kilometres of scrubland next to the temple. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-10