Preah Vihear: Security officials worried ICJ verdict may fuel internal political conflict

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Security officials worried ICJ verdict may fuel internal political conflict
Pakorn Peungnetr
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE MOST worrisome situation from the viewpoint of security, in the aftermath of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on the Preah Vihear Temple, is the internal political conflict, rather than any military reaction from Cambodia, security sources said.

The Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has been sitting at the core of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia for a long time.

The ICJ's judgement, due on November 11, has raised concerns among government officials that it could ignite further conflict between the two neighbouring countries if the court failed to offer a compromise solution. The government rushed to reach out to Cambodia to ensure that the verdict would not create an undesirable situation, leading to a military clash again.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong met last week at the Poi Pet-Aranyaprathet border.

Hor Namhong conveyed a strong message from Prime Minister Hun Sen that Phnom Penh had instructed its troops along the border with Thailand to exercise utmost restraint and maintain stability in their areas.

A military source said some security agencies had contacted Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy, urging him not use the Preah Vihear Temple as a political issue to spark conflict.

Thailand and Cambodia have a joint working group to take care of demilitarisation determined by the court since July 2011. The mechanism is still active.

The military has already anticipated the likely scenarios of the ICJ judgement and its implications, a source said. The Supreme Command had reported to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on how the military would react in different scenarios, the source said, adding, "But we don't need to publicise the military plan."

The military had also studied how countries, which had cases in the court, had complied with the ICJ judgement. "Many countries have complied with the ICJ decision, but they did not do it immediately after the verdict. Sometimes it would take years," the source said.

However Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, National Security Council secretary-general, said because of the internal political conflict, some might use the Preah Vihear case to create trouble on the border areas for their political purpose.

There are possibilities that unknown armed forces might provoke conflict or create a situation for misunderstanding between the two countries, he said.

The authorities are keeping a close watch on the movements of all parties along border areas to assess whether any particular group would ignite a conflict, he said.

"Local people along the border don't want war, so we ask them to inform authorities if anybody from outside tries to create instability," he said.

However a military source said the military was not lowering its guard along the border in order to ensure a timely response.


-- The Nation 2013-11-06

[klauskunkel]

The politicians have fired up the public for years now over this temple, and now they are worried about internal political conflict? You created that, you useless dodos.

and the other dodo,

Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, National Security Council secretary-general, said There are possibilities that unknown armed forces might provoke conflict or create a situation for misunderstanding between the two countries

and if that doesn't happen, then there are always the evil spirits to rely on...phew!

..., sorry, I'm grumpy this morning...

[worgeordie]

Its a given that the ICJ will rule in favour of Cambodia,I just hope

the Government does not use this to play the Nationalistic card,

to draw attention away from this terrible mess they have created

regards Worgeordie

[hellodolly]

The politicians have fired up the public for years now over this temple, and now they are worried about internal political conflict? You created that, you useless dodos.

and the other dodo,

Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, National Security Council secretary-general, said There are possibilities that unknown armed forces might provoke conflict or create a situation for misunderstanding between the two countries

and if that doesn't happen, then there are always the evil spirits to rely on...phew!

..., sorry, I'm grumpy this morning...

Actually O don't think ot was that big a deal until the yellow shirts in there last gasp effort to amount to some thing started urging the government and exciting the citizens.

As for warning the two armioes. Well and good.

But who is going to talk to the army wearing black shirts? They were a for hire organization and no reason to believe they can not be bought again.

[RubbaJohnny]

Not much of a god botherer myselff but seems ironic that two buddhists realms should fight over ruins,Seems sansara indicating that people are over attached in this incarnation.

A sit in by saffron squad from both sides must surely be better than war,perhaps a joint run casino with merit for prizes

[DocN]

Oh, I guess all the champions of justice, freedom and democracy, who are flocking out to throw tantrums, when one man's name is mentioned, will totally accept the ruling of an international court and drive back those, who are against this kind of justice and these nationalistic, backward thinking enemies of justice will be chased back to the holes, they crawled out of, right? Right?

>crickets<

[h90]

The politicians have fired up the public for years now over this temple, and now they are worried about internal political conflict? You created that, you useless dodos.

and the other dodo,

Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, National Security Council secretary-general, said There are possibilities that unknown armed forces might provoke conflict or create a situation for misunderstanding between the two countries

and if that doesn't happen, then there are always the evil spirits to rely on...phew!

..., sorry, I'm grumpy this morning...

I really don't like this government and I didn't like the previous much, but I must tell the governments didn't try to fire up the public. Actually they tried to keep it as top secret as possible, and some Nationalist or Patriotic groups fired up the public.

As the government lied and tried to keep it secret the public sensed that there is something really wrong.

[whybother]

Not much of a god botherer myselff but seems ironic that two buddhists realms should fight over ruins,Seems sansara indicating that people are over attached in this incarnation.

A sit in by saffron squad from both sides must surely be better than war,perhaps a joint run casino with merit for prizes

They're not actually fighting over ruins. That was decided in 1962. They are currently fighting over grass.