Saturday, June 28, 2008

Abhisit Vejjajiva tries to protect Thailand's benefit from listing the Preah Vihear temple

Thai foreign ministry considers Preah Vihear temple order appeal

BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - Senior officials of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said the ministry may appeal the Administrative Court-issued injunction Saturday morning suspending the Thai cabinet's earlier endorsement of Cambodia's map of Preah Vihear temple as well as the Thai signing of the related communique.

Foreign Ministry Treaties and Legal Affairs Department director-general Krit Kraichitti said the ministry was studying a plan to appeal the decision according to required procedures and that it would be made according to the government's policy.

Mr. Krit denied telling the court that Thailand would lose its territorial rights in the contested 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.

He said the joint communiqué did not mention that Thailand would lose any land by allowing the Cambodian government to register the temple as a World Heritage Site at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee annual meeting which begins on July 2 in Quebec, Canada.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Thai officials met for an hour later Saturday to discuss what should be done in response to the Administrative Court's order.

He said there was no clear decision at the meeting as to whether the ministry would appeal or not, but it will stop commenting on the issue as Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has said he will discuss the matter with cabinet next week.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul said he believed the matter would not harm the close relations between Thailand and Cambodia.

The court's action was made in response to petition by Thailand's democracy activist movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which appears dedicated to bringing down the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The PAD urged the court to nullify the Thai cabinet resolution of June 17 supporting and endorsing Cambodia's map of the ancient temple.

The activist group feared that the Thai cabinet endorsement would be used by Cambodia to contest Thailand's sovereignty over a still-contended 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.

In another development, opposition Democrat party Abhisit Vejjajiva in a letter to the Speaker of the House Chai Chidchob through first deputy house speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond appealed to the Constitution Court to rule on the legality of the cabinet action designating Mr. Noppadon to sign the Preah Vihear declaration with Cambodia as it paves the way for Cambodia to list the temple as a World Heritage site.

Abhisit said the move was another channel to protect the kingdom's benefit from listing the temple.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

At the end of this matter, Thailand will get nothing from this temple. Before you got money from tourists who visited the site. But from now on, your people at the border will hate you because you indirectly kill them. Go to hell

Anonymous said...

the entire 4.6 km2 belongs to cambodia as well. give it up, siem thieves. 1962 court rules supreme forever. god bless cambodia.

Anonymous said...

This is not a Hindu temple and if it is Hindu temple then it should be in India! Since this temple is in Khmer land and it is called Khmer Phrea Vihear temple which was built by Khmer King anyway!

The Thaicong like to play around with words to confuse international community! Nice try all you Thaicong mother fucker!

Anonymous said...

Nope, your guys are hindi rooted who came over and steal the Chinese's (Thai's, Lao's, and Yuon's) land.s

Anonymous said...

When are you going to understand?,Without the kingdom of Cambodia.(Thailand,Vietnam and Lao don't exist)
Sometime don't you asking youself,where are come from?????????

Anonymous said...

I am Khmer in Thailand I know Thai Do not want to say the preah Vihear is Khmer belonging, Thai feel confortable with the Hindu Temple word rather than Khmer, as long as Thai still a contestant. Also Siam- Thai beleaved that they are a truly Khmer ancester, I am not belong to Siam nor Thai, I am bolong to Khmer all.
God bless Cambodia!

Anonymous said...

7:19 AM Only the Youn and the Siam historians share your view.

Anonymous said...

That is good, that is two against one, and 2/3 always win.

Anonymous said...

win what? Are you happy to see the Thai and Viets taking over the Khmer Land? Without Cambodia, Khmers don't exist. You then will not be able to call yourself Khmer. Wake up if you are really khmer.