BANGKOK, Aug 6 (MCOT online news) - Thailand's yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement on Friday announced it will join a planned gathering of a network of civil groups at Government House on Saturday, seeking clarifications from the government over the ancient Preah Vihear temple dispute.
Key PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul said after a meeting Friday of the movement's leaders that they resolved to support the moves of the so-called 'Thailand Patriot Network', seeking reports of progress on the government's work in response to the continuing dispute over the historic temple.
Mr Sondhi however said that the Saturday demonstration at Government House will not be led by yellow-clad leaders, but will be broadcast live via the group's satellite television, ASTV, and another key PAD leader, retired Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, will personally join the event.
The PAD leader claimed that Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti endorsed the meeting result of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s World Heritage Commission (WHC) in Brazil last week.
Mr Sondhi claimed that Mr Suwit’s endorsement means Thailand supports Cambodia' unilateral management plan of the Preah Vihear temple which also includes a map of the area. The protest leader argued that Mr Suwit should not have endorsed any document at the world heritage meeting.
Mr Sondhi claimed that Thailand has already lost some of its territory to its neighbour as Cambodian people have built their communities in the contested areas, but what Thailand did was merely show its objection to the move on 11 occasions, but the Cambodians are still living there.
WHC last week postponed consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan proposed by Cambodia until next year after the Thai delegation led by Mr Suwit opposed to the plan, saying the contested 4.6 sq km of land adjacent to the temple claimed by both countries remains unresolved.
Thailand also claimed the UNESCO meeting secretariat had not distributed the document to committee members six weeks ahead of the meeting as required but handed it to members less than 24 hours beforehand.
Gen Chamlong said that he will attend the rally with 45 civil groups at Government House for personal reasons to follow up what the government has done on the issue.
The former Bangkok governor said he has been contacted by the government to represent the civil network to discuss the Preah Vihear dispute, but no decision has yet made whether who will be the group's representatives.
The PAD leader said it also depends on decision of demonstrators whether they will stay overnight at Government House tomorrow.
As Bangkok continues under a state of emergency banning gatherings of more than five people, Gen Chamlong said the Saturday demonstration is aimed at protecting the country and the monarch, while the network gathering does not intend to cause disorder or unrest.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he is inviting the representatives of civil groups and the PAD to discuss and create better understanding over the Preah Vihear dispute on Friday evening.
The premier reiterated that all parties share ultimate aim which is to protect the country's sovereignty and national benefit and talks is the best way to solve the problem.
Mr Abhisit said if talks with the representatives are going to be held this evening, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will join the meeting.
The premier's move followed the airing of differing views over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Cambodia in 2000, the civil groups and the PAD urged the government to revoke the MoU and should push the Cambodians out of the disputed 4.6 sq km overlapping area.
In latest developments, CRES on Friday resolved to ban PAD's Saturday gathering at the seat of government as the move is considered as violating the Emergency Decree, saying the civil groups and the PAD should send their representatives to discuss the issue with the government.
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd added that some parties also accused the government of what they termed its practice of double standards, which is a vulnerable point.
Col Sansern said the authorities will not allow any group to demonstrate while the state of emergency is still in force and police and soldiers will work together to enforce the law.
Over 150 checkpoints combining both military and police will be set up in the Thai capital, together with 21 patrol units. A further ban on entry of some areas and routes may be announced if needed, according to the CRES spokesman.
Key PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul said after a meeting Friday of the movement's leaders that they resolved to support the moves of the so-called 'Thailand Patriot Network', seeking reports of progress on the government's work in response to the continuing dispute over the historic temple.
Mr Sondhi however said that the Saturday demonstration at Government House will not be led by yellow-clad leaders, but will be broadcast live via the group's satellite television, ASTV, and another key PAD leader, retired Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, will personally join the event.
The PAD leader claimed that Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti endorsed the meeting result of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s World Heritage Commission (WHC) in Brazil last week.
Mr Sondhi claimed that Mr Suwit’s endorsement means Thailand supports Cambodia' unilateral management plan of the Preah Vihear temple which also includes a map of the area. The protest leader argued that Mr Suwit should not have endorsed any document at the world heritage meeting.
Mr Sondhi claimed that Thailand has already lost some of its territory to its neighbour as Cambodian people have built their communities in the contested areas, but what Thailand did was merely show its objection to the move on 11 occasions, but the Cambodians are still living there.
WHC last week postponed consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan proposed by Cambodia until next year after the Thai delegation led by Mr Suwit opposed to the plan, saying the contested 4.6 sq km of land adjacent to the temple claimed by both countries remains unresolved.
Thailand also claimed the UNESCO meeting secretariat had not distributed the document to committee members six weeks ahead of the meeting as required but handed it to members less than 24 hours beforehand.
Gen Chamlong said that he will attend the rally with 45 civil groups at Government House for personal reasons to follow up what the government has done on the issue.
The former Bangkok governor said he has been contacted by the government to represent the civil network to discuss the Preah Vihear dispute, but no decision has yet made whether who will be the group's representatives.
The PAD leader said it also depends on decision of demonstrators whether they will stay overnight at Government House tomorrow.
As Bangkok continues under a state of emergency banning gatherings of more than five people, Gen Chamlong said the Saturday demonstration is aimed at protecting the country and the monarch, while the network gathering does not intend to cause disorder or unrest.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he is inviting the representatives of civil groups and the PAD to discuss and create better understanding over the Preah Vihear dispute on Friday evening.
The premier reiterated that all parties share ultimate aim which is to protect the country's sovereignty and national benefit and talks is the best way to solve the problem.
Mr Abhisit said if talks with the representatives are going to be held this evening, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will join the meeting.
The premier's move followed the airing of differing views over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Cambodia in 2000, the civil groups and the PAD urged the government to revoke the MoU and should push the Cambodians out of the disputed 4.6 sq km overlapping area.
In latest developments, CRES on Friday resolved to ban PAD's Saturday gathering at the seat of government as the move is considered as violating the Emergency Decree, saying the civil groups and the PAD should send their representatives to discuss the issue with the government.
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd added that some parties also accused the government of what they termed its practice of double standards, which is a vulnerable point.
Col Sansern said the authorities will not allow any group to demonstrate while the state of emergency is still in force and police and soldiers will work together to enforce the law.
Over 150 checkpoints combining both military and police will be set up in the Thai capital, together with 21 patrol units. A further ban on entry of some areas and routes may be announced if needed, according to the CRES spokesman.
