Thai Foreign Ministry assesses Phra Viharn's ruling

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Thai Foreign Ministry assesses Phra Viharn's ruling
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 14 – The Thai Foreign Ministry will release a documentary on the Phra Viharn temple later this year, in advance of a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Thai-Cambodian dispute on an area adjacent to the Hindu temple, a senior official said today.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said members of the Thai ad hoc committee on Phra Viharn case, including Thai ambassador to The Hague, Virachai Plasai, in his capacity as the Thai agent, met today to discuss development of the case.

It is unlikely that the ICJ will give its judgement on the case before January but Thailand is ready for the decision no matter how the outcome will be, he said.

Cambodia has sought the ICJ’s revision of the 1962 judgement which ruled that the Phra Viharn temple belonged to Cambodia but no decision was made on the region surrounding the temple.

Mr Virachai said there are four possibilities for the ICJ’s ruling: the ICJ maintains it has no authority to consider the case, the ICJ decides in favour of Cambodia, the ICJ decides in favour of Thailand, and the ICJ gives a non-committal decision.

He said today’s meeting touched on the possibilities of the ICJ’s decision and Thailand’s preparedness to deal with the judgement.

Whatever the ICJ’s decision, Thai-Cambodian relations must be unaffected, he said.

Mr Virachai said Thailand has formed a national mechanism to discuss with Cambodia and create understanding among the Thai people.

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border does not requirement any military reinforcement, he added.

Nuttavudh Photisaro, deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said the Foreign Ministry has entered the second phase of creating understanding among Thai people on the Phra Viharn case.

The first phase was during the oral hearing at the ICJ in April and the second involves workshops and distribution of information via booklets and website to provide explanations to people in northern and northeastern provinces opposite Cambodia, including Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket and Surin, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-10-14

[rkidlad]

"It is unlikely that the ICJ will give its judgement on the case before January but Thailand is ready for the decision no matter how the outcome will be, he said"

There you go. That is basically the only speech there is.

[bigbamboo]

On a positive note that's the best view I've seen yet of Preah Vihear.

But nine months to make a decision! Are these guys on hourly rates?

Oh, and from Virachai's vague comments I'd say get your money on Cambodia to win now.

[Greer]

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

...yes, far too logical I guess...

[whybother]

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

 

...yes, far too logical I guess...

The temple has been ruled as Cambodian. Why would they give up half of what has been legally ruled theirs?

I'm not sure what the historical importance of 4.6 sq kms scrubland is.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khaowong1]

So basically what the Foreign Minister is saying, is, The UN is not my father.. or ICJ in this case.

[upena]

"It is unlikely that the ICJ will give its judgement on the case before January"

Says who? There is nothing new on the ICJ website since last April 2013 when Cambodia and Thailand submitted their sides.

[SOTIRIOS]

....produce a documentary........

.....sounds like a high school project......

.....except for the pricetag.........$$$$$$$$$$$$$......

[siampolee]

Could be taken as a way to influence a jury perhaps.

[fab4]

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

...yes, far too logical I guess...

The temple has been ruled as Cambodian. Why would they give up half of what has been legally ruled theirs?

I'm not sure what the historical importance of 4.6 sq kms scrubland is.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The importance of the "scrubland" is whether it belongs to Thailand or not according to the PAD and certain anti - Thaksin tin foil hat conspiracists who believe that Thaksin signed away Preah Vihear in exchange for certain concessions. This from the nutjob website:

Before he was appointed foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama had been spokesman and chief legal advisor to ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is alleged to have major investment interests in Cambodia.Thailand’s interest in Preah Vihear was also sacrificed in exchange for commercial concessions that the Cambodian government might grant to a certain private investor.

This allegation may not in fact be true, but it is widely believed, and that is what counts.

http://antithaksin.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/preah-vihear-for-koh-kong-and-natuaral-gasoil/

That last sentence just says it all really. Could be applied to a lot of statements on here.

[whybother]

The importance of the "scrubland" is whether it belongs to Thailand or not according to the PAD and certain anti - Thaksin tin foil hat conspiracists who believe that Thaksin signed away Preah Vihear in exchange for certain concessions. This from the nutjob website:

<snip>

But not really "historical" importance.

[CMBob]

"It is unlikely that the ICJ will give its judgement on the case before January"

Says who? There is nothing new on the ICJ website since last April 2013 when Cambodia and Thailand submitted their sides.

Probably would have been better to simply have read a newspaper yesterday - it was all over the news that the ICJ informed both sides that it was postponing its decision in this case as it was busy with other matters. The Foreign Minister said yesterday that he didn't expect the decision now until January or February.

[h90]

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

...yes, far too logical I guess...

It was for decades "overlapping area" which means that it was Thai and Cambodian land overlapping.

That worked perfect until there were some dogy deals from a former Premier of Thailand. Instead of keeping it silent it got public knowledge and than no one wanted to loose face.

[laocowboy2]

As it is/was a Hindu temple, why not give it to the Indians? Not being serious but that would be better than losing a single life more over this.

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

...yes, far too logical I guess...

It was for decades "overlapping area" which means that it was Thai and Cambodian land overlapping.

That worked perfect until there were some dogy deals from a former Premier of Thailand. Instead of keeping it silent it got public knowledge and than no one wanted to loose face.

[h90]

As it is/was a Hindu temple, why not give it to the Indians? Not being serious but that would be better than losing a single life more over this.

As its such a hot potato, why not set it up between Thailand and Cambodia as mutually shared territory under a special agreement - neither Thai nor Cambodian specifically, but recognised as being of historic importance to both countries. Set up a committee to oversee it comprising half Thai and half Cambodian, and funded equally by both countries....

...yes, far too logical I guess...

It was for decades "overlapping area" which means that it was Thai and Cambodian land overlapping.

That worked perfect until there were some dogy deals from a former Premier of Thailand. Instead of keeping it silent it got public knowledge and than no one wanted to loose face.

Well than you would have to give all Buddhist temples also to the Indians.

But you could remove the old temple and build there a monument for human stupidity.

But on the other hand this monument will also attract many worshiper and Cambodia and Thailand will fight for ownership.

[JoeThePoster]

Mr Virachai said there are four possibilities for the ICJ’s ruling: the ICJ maintains it has no authority to consider the case, the ICJ decides in favour of Cambodia, the ICJ decides in favour of Thailand, and the ICJ gives a non-committal decision.

There's the 5th possibility that they may call both sides to face-off angry birds style.