Thanida Tansubhapo
Bangkok Post
Thailand and Cambodia have expressed confidence over their testimony to the International Court of Justice on the Preah Vihear temple conflict.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he was happy with the Thai defence mounted at a two-day hearing in the Hague which ended on Wednesday.
"We delivered a very comprehensive answer rebutting the accusations made by the Cambodian side in every aspect.
"So it's an accomplishment on our side," he told reporters on his return to Thailand yesterday.
He said his team received a positive response from the Thai public over its work at the court.
Cambodian deputy premier Hor Namhong, who led Phnom Penh's delegation to the ICJ, said he believed his country held an advantage over Thailand.
"Cambodia is in a better position than Thailand as we have internationally recognised documents and maps to support us," he was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency in Phnom Penh yesterday.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia but its verdict did not touch on which country owns the land surrounding the temple.
Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to this land, which has led to a series of armed clashes between the two countries.
Cambodia has now asked the court to interpret its 1962 ruling and order Thailand to withdraw troops and stop all military activity near the temple.
The court called a two-day hearing to consider the request.
The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire at the border on Feb 22 at the Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and residents be withdrawn from the disputed area first.
"The court will decide whether to consider Cambodia's request," said Mr Kasit.
The court was expected to make a decision in three weeks, he said, adding that he would take the Thai team to listen to the verdict.
The ICJ's decision would not affect the process of sending the team of Indonesian observers to the border, Mr Kasit said.
"Thailand has asked Indonesia to send its survey team to Thailand to look for somewhere to stay and the locations where Indonesian troops will be stationed. The team has gone to Cambodia," said the minister.
Thailand and Cambodia will hold a General Border Committee (GBC) meeting to discuss deployment of military personnel at the Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand would sign the terms of reference with Indonesia after the GBC meeting, the date for which has yet to be set by Cambodia.
3 comments:
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Accomplished because you bullies Khmer? You know what accomplishment mean? Take care of your country, respect the will of the people, respect the election, and eradicate the poverty. You know why there is poverty in Thailand? Because you the leaders are currupted and incompetence. Therefore you created something of out of nothing by invade khmer land and call it "disputed Zone". Dispute zone my a$$.
siem thugs show contempt of court, the icj will clarify and interpret its ruling as requested by cambodia. siem must be scared! can't wait to hear the court's clarification and interpretation of its ruling from 1962.
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