Kasit will lead [Thai] team to Hague

ICJ to rule July 18 on Cambodian requests

9/07/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Outgoing Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will lead the Thai team to The Hague next week to hear the International Court of Justice's order on the request for provisional measures submitted by Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple.

The UN's highest court set July 18 to deliver its order on Cambodia's request for the Thai military to withdraw from around the Preah Vihear temple, while the ruling on the interpretation of the ICJ's 1962 verdict is due to be made at the end of this year.

Phnom Penh asked the UN's highest court on April 28 to interpret its ruling in 1962 which says the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia and has demanded the court order Thailand to withdraw troops from the Preah Vihear temple area, cease all military activity around the temple and refrain from any act or action which could interfere with the rights of Cambodia.

A public sitting will take place at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which the president of the court, Judge Hisashi Owada, will read the court's order on the provisional measures at 10am (3pm Bangkok time).

The July 18 ruling will come over a month after the ICJ held two rounds of oral hearings on Cambodia's request for provisional measures on May 30-31.

Thai Ambassador to the Hague Virachai Plasai acted together with three foreign lawyers to defend Thailand's position.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong led his team at the oral hearing.

In his closing statement, Mr Virachai called on the court to drop Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple petition, saying that Phnom Penh's complaints against Bangkok were groundless and its petition is outside the scope of the court.

Mr Virachai told the court that Thailand has always been willing to support a joint listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

It was Cambodia's constant refusal to make such a joint undertaking that had caused problems, said Mr Virachai.

Cambodia's call for the withdrawal of Thai troops was merely designed to clear the disputed land and create a buffer zone under its management plan for the temple, he said.