I C J Hearing Into The Dispute Between Thailand And Cambodia Top News Story: Poll

[webfact]

ICJ hearing top news story: Poll
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The World Court's hearing into the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over a parcel of land next to Preah Vihear Temple has captured the most attention of the public, according to a countrywide Suan Dusit Poll.

Asked about what current affairs had caught their interest the most, 82 per cent of 1,523 people randomly selected from around the country cited the International Court of Justice's consideration of Cambodia's request for an interpretation of the court's 1962 ruling granting the Hindu temple to Cambodia.

The bill authorising the Finance Ministry to seek Bt2-trillion loans for transport infrastructure projects came a close second at 78 per cent.

The other news that they were following were the peace dialogue between the government and a southern insurgency group (74.5 per cent), charter amendments (72 per cent) and amnesty bills (71 per cent).

The survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University from April 23-27 allowed multiple responses.

About 62 per cent were monitoring the Preah Vihear case because they feared that Thailand was at a disadvantage and might lose the land to Cambodia. And 21 per cent believed the issue was important and would matter for all Thais while 17 per cent were concerned that the controversy would hurt bilateral relations.

About 40 per cent were keeping track of the Bt2-trillion-loan bill because they would like to know what the government would do next, 40 per cent feared that the project would be hit by corruption, leaving projects incomplete, and 20 per cent were worried that the country and people would be saddled with more debt.

As for the peace talks on the southern situation, 55 per cent of the respondents said they felt sympathy for the people and officials in the troubled region, followed by 24 per cent who felt that the violence had intensified and 21 per cent who wanted to know why the problems remained unsolved.

The amnesty debate was highlighted because it had continued for a long time (57 per cent), because the law should be fair to all sides (31 per cent) and because it would have an impact on Thai politics (13 per cent).

-- The Nation 2013-04-29

[bigbamboo]

Hardly surprising given the way the ICJ show has been force fed to the Thai people.

I guess they follow it for the same reason some people watch certain TV shows in the west. If you don't you'll be totally out of the loop at work the next day.

Edited April 29, 2013 by bigbamboo

[Robby nz]

Certainly managed to keep the rice mountain out of the news.

[Locationthailand]

Maps, amnesty, rice, 2T loans, Dubai controlling Thailand from afar, never can there be a dull moment in Thailand. None of which has any significant results worth mentioning. But it fills newspapers - oh - and thanks for yet another poll. Amazes me how 1500 people at each poll are considered to represent Thailand.

[alant]

Reporting polls, ok but how is it going in court?