Thai legal team gears up for final phase of Preah Vihear case

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 19 -- Thailand's legal team is gearing up for the Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and public relations will be intensified to make Thais understand the situation, according to Deputy Prime Minster Surapong Tohvichakchaikul.

Mr Surapong, who is also foreign minister, said the government has prepared to fight in the ICJ when Thai and Cambodian authorities are to deliver their final verbal statements April 15-19, after which the Court will take at least six months before giving its verdict.

The deputy premier, standing in for the PM during her weekly TV programme "The Yingluck Government Meets the People," said the legal team will meet with Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and the armed force chiefs on February 5 to brief them on Thailand's position in contesting the case at ICJ.

He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will also attend the briefing.

On February 7, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana would head the team of Thai legal experts to meet the government's international team of consultants on international law to discuss and conclude the details of the final statement.

The final statement will be submitted to the cabinet for approval by March, he said.

Mr Surapong said the government will invite media to observe the situation at The Hague, the Netherlands April 15-19.

Meanwhile, the government will produce features and documents on Preah Vihear Temple to let the public to understand the situation and to avoid any group of people politicising the issue which could lead to conflicts. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-19

The ICJ needs six months to make a decision?

I hope the inimitable Surapong has been practising his hard stare.

Oh Boy - They are "gearing up." These Thais, when they gear up watch out! They know how to rock and roll with the outside world. These Thais, they are something else. Step back, get out of their way. When they gear up, you don't want to be around.

It would be nice to think that Thaialand would be the big grown up and, if they lose the case immediately switch into negotaiting mode to open up a border so that Thai/foreign tourists wanting to visit KPV spend the most time possible in Thailand, rather than Cambodia.

Fat chance

If Thailand (or Cambodia) chooses to ignore the ICJ decision then the UN should simply scrub Preah Vihear's Heritage site status and then see how soon it will all be forgotten.