The Nation
Yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid yesterday vowed to uphold Thai sovereignty over 4.6 square kilometres of terrain near Preah Vihear Temple claimed by Cambodia. Veera also threatened to take legal action against officials condoning the encroachment.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government was trying to resolve border problems via the legal process and not force.
Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said on Twitter that Preah Vihear actually does belong to Cambodia by a decision of the International Court of Justice.
He accused the government of favouritism for letting the yellow shirts, who clashed with local villagers in Si Sa Ket on Saturday, read out a statement reaffirming Thailand's dominion over the temple area.
Local villagers had tried to block access to the area by the yellow shirts.
To pacify the rival groups, authorities allowed Veera and about 30 yellow shirts to climb up to Pha Mor-I-Daeng, a cliff inside the Phra Wiharn National Park located in Kantharalak district opposite the temple, to read the declaration.
"We Thai patriots want to declare our intent to form a people's network to restore Thai sovereignty to the surrounding areas of Prasat Phra Wiharn," Veera said.
He pledged to pursue every legal means to reclaim Thai territory. He also warned officials that they would be penalised if they were caught involved in the territorial violations.
He went on to complain against the Cambodian government for allowing Cambodian villagers and soldiers to settle and build a road on Thai soil.
He called for an immediate withdrawal by Cambodia from Thai property. He urged the Thai military to take action under martial law to repel the transgression.
The five co-leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy have remained in close contact with Veera and the people's network over the temple issue, PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said.
The PAD fully backed the attempts to protect Thai territorial integrity and was not back-pedalling from Veera as alleged, he said.
The scuffle between the villagers and yellow shirts was instigated by the authorities, he said, adding that the yellow shirts were not going on the warpath to recover land lost to neighbouring countries.
"We agree with the option for a negotiated settlement of the border dispute and do not want war, but the government must be clear about the timetable and guidelines for negotiations," he said.
Abhisit said police were trying to mediate between the rival groups but the running battle broke out because the barricades were inadequate.
He insisted that Thailand has not surrendered sovereignty over the disputed areas and that the two countries have already agreed to forge a peaceful settlement.
He said his government had no hidden agenda but just the desire to safeguard Thai territory.
He admitted, however, that several border issues were too sensitive to bring up in public, so interested parties should hold discreet discussions with the government in order to update themselves on the status.
Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai said Veera and the PAD should soften their stance on the temple issue in order to avoid inflaming the stand-off.
"It looks like Thais are fighting Thais and becoming the laughing stock for Cambodians," he said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government was trying to resolve border problems via the legal process and not force.
Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said on Twitter that Preah Vihear actually does belong to Cambodia by a decision of the International Court of Justice.
He accused the government of favouritism for letting the yellow shirts, who clashed with local villagers in Si Sa Ket on Saturday, read out a statement reaffirming Thailand's dominion over the temple area.
Local villagers had tried to block access to the area by the yellow shirts.
To pacify the rival groups, authorities allowed Veera and about 30 yellow shirts to climb up to Pha Mor-I-Daeng, a cliff inside the Phra Wiharn National Park located in Kantharalak district opposite the temple, to read the declaration.
"We Thai patriots want to declare our intent to form a people's network to restore Thai sovereignty to the surrounding areas of Prasat Phra Wiharn," Veera said.
He pledged to pursue every legal means to reclaim Thai territory. He also warned officials that they would be penalised if they were caught involved in the territorial violations.
He went on to complain against the Cambodian government for allowing Cambodian villagers and soldiers to settle and build a road on Thai soil.
He called for an immediate withdrawal by Cambodia from Thai property. He urged the Thai military to take action under martial law to repel the transgression.
The five co-leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy have remained in close contact with Veera and the people's network over the temple issue, PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said.
The PAD fully backed the attempts to protect Thai territorial integrity and was not back-pedalling from Veera as alleged, he said.
The scuffle between the villagers and yellow shirts was instigated by the authorities, he said, adding that the yellow shirts were not going on the warpath to recover land lost to neighbouring countries.
"We agree with the option for a negotiated settlement of the border dispute and do not want war, but the government must be clear about the timetable and guidelines for negotiations," he said.
Abhisit said police were trying to mediate between the rival groups but the running battle broke out because the barricades were inadequate.
He insisted that Thailand has not surrendered sovereignty over the disputed areas and that the two countries have already agreed to forge a peaceful settlement.
He said his government had no hidden agenda but just the desire to safeguard Thai territory.
He admitted, however, that several border issues were too sensitive to bring up in public, so interested parties should hold discreet discussions with the government in order to update themselves on the status.
Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai said Veera and the PAD should soften their stance on the temple issue in order to avoid inflaming the stand-off.
"It looks like Thais are fighting Thais and becoming the laughing stock for Cambodians," he said.
7 comments:
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva there is no place for you in the Thai government. You are not qualified to be PM of THailand. You must resign now and bring back Thaksin Shinawatra. And you must return Sisaket and Surin province back to the original owner, Cambodia. The thai people have spoken. Long live Thaksin Shinawatra!
Yellow shirts Leader know nothing about International Law, but Thai Gov. do.
So Thai Gov. have to play game with them.
And, we, Khmer, pledge to take back all the land Thai stole from us, include, not limited to BungKok (Bang Kok, Cheang Mai...)
The yellow shirts people claim they are not going to the war path, but let me advice them this, they better start preparing to send their sons and husbands to die for what they’re fighting for, because we Cambodians will not give an inch to the greedy Thais. The way you yellow shirts people going at the moment there is no peace……we’ll welcome you any time but make sure you prepare to return horizontally in a box if you’re lucky. Hell is waiting for you people yellow shirts, better start sending your sons and husbands to training now……we have to settle this in war. Your army burned our boy alive, you hate us so much in your heart we know and you say you are a Buddhist nation your response to the cruelty acts that you committed on our people is always: misunderstanding, denial, accident, baseless etc etc…..you dumped hundreds of thousands of Khmer refugees that escaped the Communists in the mine fields at Preah Vihear to die in 1979……what a moronic people you are. You are the angel people with EVIL hearts.
There is only war ahead waiting for you. Abhisit and the Thais army stop using Preah Vihear and Cambodia for your political game…..grow up you make Thais look stupid in the International Community. Abhisit we know you share the same view as the yellow shirts people……shame on you…..you have no clue of the International Law and Standards of ethic…..why don’t you and the so-called advance Thais army that equip with advance US weapons just go ahead and declare war on Cambodia if you think you have the upper hand. We Cambodians might not have the advance weapons as you do, but we fight for our home land and the rights of ownership and this alone you must not underestimate our resolve because you Thais fight for greed and greed will always fail in disaster.
My advice to PAD !
Don't waste your time or your blood over Prea Vihear Temple because the International Court already decided to give it to Cambodia since 1962 and you had 10 years to decide what to do if you didn't agree with the Courts decision . Now it's too late . You can't make the Court change its decision and you can't take it by force because it's againt the law . Be smart PAD because anyway you do you will lose .
Khao jai mai PAD ? Phra Viharn nee mun pen khorng Khmer ma 47 pee laew .
ពិតជាគ្មានការអៀនខ្មាស មែន ចូលមកប្លន់តែម្តង។ ចុះរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរយើងយ៉ាងមេចហើយ?? ជំហរជាមួយប្រទេសសៀម ហ្នឹងនៅទន់ភ្លន់ដល់ណាទៀត។
Mr. HOr Namhong had said we are well come. Did you hear that PAD? Choose you option!!! let find you way topling Abhi-Shit young man GOV'T and bring you paper tiger troops to invad Cambodia to please your wish!!!, we will bring the war into your Cities jerky dode!!.
Down!!! to you Yellow Shirts
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