Former Thai FM Kasit urges clarification on Preah Vihear 'boundary'

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Kasit urges clarification on Preah Vihear 'boundary'
Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT should clarify a certain legal definition in order to avoid confusion ahead of the ruling on Preah Vihear Temple's vicinity, former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday.

The key word is the "boundary" of the temple straddling the two countries, Kasit said.

The Cambodian government has sought the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s interpretation of its 1962 judgement.

The ICJ ruled that the temple was under Cambodian sovereignty but a dispute arose over the area around the temple.

"There might be panic if Thai people suspect loss of territory following the ICJ's ruling," Kasit said.

He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the area covered by the temple so as to avoid any misunderstanding related to the ICJ's ruling, scheduled for Monday.

He said he envisioned six possibilities in regard to the judicial outcome:

lThe ICJ might rule that the case was outside its purview since it has no mandate to rule on border demarcation.

lThe ICJ might order the two countries to thrash out their differences under the existing mechanism like the 2000 Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding.

lThe court might instruct Thailand to reopen its road leading to the temple and designate that road as an international way. This would allow visitors to access the temple from the Thai side.

lThe ICJ might rely on maps used in the 1962 verdict to define the temple's boundary.

lThe court might determine the temple's boundary based on common sense, such as the perimeter of the temple's shadow.

lThe ICJ might rely on the maps and actual terrain to set the temple's boundary. If this is the case, the boundary should cover about 700 square metres instead of 4.6 square kilometres as claimed by Cambodia.

The former foreign minister said regardless of the judicial outcome, the Cambodian government would find itself in a difficult situation.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party under Prime Minister Hun Sen is not as popular as it once was, he said.

Should the ruling be unfavourable, the Cambodian opposition would certainly mount a fierce attack on the government, he said.

Even in case of a favourable ruling, Hun Sen would find it difficult to shore up his sagging popularity, he said.

Presently, Hun Sen has been facing myriad political and economic woes and Cambodians would be reluctant to rally behind their prime minister, he said.


-- The Nation 2013-11-08

[Thai at Heart]

Oh God.

It's like clash of the cronies out there.

A giant Japanese manga bust up of thaksin_ Suthep, Kasit and Abhisit

[noitom]

What ever happened to that foreign female attorney who was pleading Thailand's case? She was all the rage for her great looks last time the newspaper reported about her.

[Stradavarius37]

What ever happened to that foreign female attorney who was pleading Thailand's case? She was all the rage for her great looks last time the newspaper reported about her.

The verdict is coming - the time for the lawyers has passed.

[Spare]

The temple may be Cambodian, but the land is 100% Thai.

[bigbamboo]

For heaven's sake! This verdict has been pending for months and only now this numpty wants legal clarification?

The only thing that has changed in the meantime is that both country's de facto leaders, Mr. Sen and Mr. Shinawat are not as popular as they were then.

[Thaddeus]

For heaven's sake! This verdict has been pending for months and only now this numpty wants legal clarification?

The only thing that has changed in the meantime is that both country's de facto leaders, Mr. Sen and Mr. Shinawat are not as popular as they were then.

He may be asking for a "car-toon' version"