[Thai] Troops adjusted but yet to be withdrawn: Yutthasak

September 20, 2011
The Nation

The Thai military has adjusted its troops in border areas near Preah Vihear Temple, but they have not withdrawn in accordance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said yesterday.

Redeployment of troops over recent weeks was a normal rotation of armed forces to enable military personnel who stayed for a long time on the border to get a chance to relax, the minister said.

Some equipment and weapons also needed maintenance, he said.

Withdrawing troops in accordance with the ICJ's injunction would require an order from the government, he said.

"So far, the government has not yet given an order to withdraw our troops from the border area," Yutthasak said.

The minister gave the explanation after news reports suggested Thailand had withdrawn troops from areas near the disputed area after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reached an agreement with her Cambodian leader Hun Sen to comply with the ICJ's order.

The court ordered Thailand and Cambodia in July to withdraw military personnel from a ICJ-determined demilitarised zone near Preah Vihear, pending an interpretation of the 1962 judgement.

Yutthasak said he would have an informal meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh when he visits Phnom Penh on Friday. In fact, the matter should be discussed in the General Border Committee (GBC) which is co-chaired by defence ministers of the two countries, but the GBC had yet to be convened.

"The GBC requires a Cabinet decision but the previous government did not make any decision, so we have to have some negotiation framework from the government first," he said. "Perhaps, some issues also need to be passed by the Parliament."

Yutthasak said he would talk with Tea Banh on preparations for a GBC meeting, pending for backing from the Thai Cabinet.

"What I have to do is to create a good atmosphere between the two countries to restore peace for people along the border.

"As far as I know, Cambodia has already withdrawn 1,000 troops and equipment from the area but we cannot do the same yet as we have a little bit longer internal legal procedures than Cambodia. When the GBC is ready and the government approves, we will do it immediately to improve and develop relations," he said.

Relations with Cambodia have been in the spotlight since an official introductory visit by Prime Minister Yingluck last week, which was followed by a visit by her brother, the fugitive former PM. Thaksin gave a lecture on economics at a conference in Phnom Penh yesterday. He suggested countries in Asia boost consumption to spur growth.