Spat flares up over Koh Kut sovereignty

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut points to the demarcation lines along the Thai-Cambodian border.

6/09/2011
Manop Thip-Osod
Bangkok Post

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut has countered a claim by former deputy premier Surakiart Sathirathai that the 2001 memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia was intended to claim Thai sovereignty over Koh Kut in Trat.

Mr Surakiart, a deputy prime minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration who oversaw foreign, education and cultural affairs, said the signing of the 2001 MoU was intended to assert Thai sovereignty over Koh Kut.

Mr Chavanond, a former secretary to the foreign minister during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, yesterday said several points mentioned by Mr Surakiart were inaccurate.

According to a statement issued by Mr Chavanond, the Thai-Cambodian negotiations over the two countries' disputed areas did not begin during the Thaksin administration. The talks between the two governments had been ongoing for more than 25 years.

Mr Chavanond wondered why the Thaksin administration in 2001, which had been in power for only five months, agreed to sign the MoU so quickly.

Mr Chavanond denied the claim that the 2001 MoU compels Cambodia to accept that Koh Kut belongs to Thailand. He said that according to historical records, including the agreement between Thailand and France in 1906, Koh Kut clearly belongs to Thailand. Back in 1970, the Thai government also claimed a straight baseline near Koh Kut to make it clear that Koh Kut was in Thai maritime territory.

Mr Chavanond said he could see no reason why Thailand should have signed the 2001 MoU which does not have any legal foundations. More importantly, the MoU could cause serious damage to Thailand.

"As a Thai, should I question it and protect the country's interests?" Mr Chavanond wrote.

He supported dialogue on border demarcation and the sharing of marine resources for the national interest and energy security. But dialogue must be based on fairness and legal process.

He did not want to see speedy negotiations cause Thailand to unnecessarily lose out on certain interests.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said his ministry is still waiting for the Foreign Ministry to finalise the framework for a new round of talks about Thai-Cambodian disputed areas.

After that, the Energy Ministry will work on the framework for the negotiations of petroleum exploration concessions in the 27,000-square-kilometre stretch of seabed in the Thai-Cambodian disputed maritime area, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas.

He insisted that the negotiations would be transparent and accountable.