Joint committee to review border talk documents: PAD rally ends

BANGKOK, Nov 2 (MCOT online news) - Thailand's joint parliamentary session on Tuesday resolved to set up a joint committee to review the Thai-Cambodian border talk documents within 30 days, while the Yellow Shirts gathering outside the parliament compound announced the end of their rally but threatened to come back again next month.

The 'Yellow Shirt' People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday gathered at parliament amid tight security as session of parliament was due to vote on endorsing the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC)'s meeting reports Tuesday.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, has talked with the PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul near the protest site.

Mr Sondhi later told the reporters Mr Chavanond came to inform him that the joint parliamentary session will not endorse the three JBC documents today, but will instead set up a joint committee consisting of 30 senators, MPs and representatives from civil sector within 30 days.

"I think this is a good move as the parliamentary has yet endorsed the JBC documents," said the PAD leader. "The setup of the joint committee which allows the public participation shows that the government is open-minded."

Another PAD key leader retired Gen Chamlong Srimuang also announced the group's victory after the joint parliament did not vote on endorsing the JBC documents, while noting that the 30-member committee should consist of 15 MPs and 15 senators equally, rather than seven senators and 23 MPs at present as this means the government wants to delay the case.

Gen Chamlong also announced the end of the Tuesday rally but threatened to return again on December 11 at Makawan Rangsan Bridge, urging the PAD supporters to get themselves ready for prolonged demonstrations if the government does not revoke the 2000 Thai-Cambodian Memorandum of Understanding and the French map with a scale of 1:200,000 square kilometres.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva commented that the joint parliament's resolution will delay the border talks with Cambodia, but he has informed the neighbouring country that this is the domestic procedure and it should understand the matter.

Mr Abhisit however conceded the revision of JBC documents is politicised, while saying Cambodia is also facing its own political problem.

I have talked with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that both countries (Thailand and Cambodia) have to avoid any confrontation, while protecting their rights, said Mr Abhisit.

The people of the two countries may have strong feelings (on the border dispute) and it takes time to create better understanding, said the Thai premier, adding that the government can't solve the problem without public acceptance.

PAD leaders Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, and Pipob Thongchai earlier led demonstrators to the parliament amid security demanding that the agenda items dealing with the three previous meeting reports of JBC be withdrawn from the parliament session.

The Thai Constitution requires that any agreement made with other countries must first gain parliamentary approval.

The Yellow Shirt movement believes that the JBC documents will put Thailand at a disadvantage as the documents originating from the MoU signed by Thailand and Cambodia in June 2000 related to the survey and boundary demarcation recognises a French map with a scale of 1:200,000 sq km which put Thailand at risk of losing territory.