Preah Vihear troops may stay in place [-So much for the ICJ's ruling!!!]

Surapong hints at status quo if talks go smoothly

4/04/2012
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH : Cambodia and Thailand may not have to withdraw troops from Preah Vihear temple if bilateral talks go well, says Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

The two countries are meeting in the Thai-Cambodian Joint Working Group (JWG) to discuss troop withdrawals from the 17.3 sq km demilitarised zone near the ancient temple.

But Mr Surapong said if the talks go well, both sides may decide not to withdraw their troops, and Indonesia could call off its plan to send observers to witness the pullout.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit yesterday.

The two-day JWG talks will begin in Bangkok today, with Royal Thai Armed Forces's chief of staff Worapong Sa-nganet leading the Thai delegation.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on July 18 last year the two countries must withdraw their troops from the 17.3 sq km demilitarised zone, of which 8.5 sq km is in Thailand.

It covers Preah Vihear temple and its 4.6 sq km disputed area.

The JWG will work out details of the military withdrawal from the provisional demilitarised zone ordered by the ICJ.

The ICJ also asked Indonesian observers to monitor the withdrawal process while the ICJ considers an interpretation of its 1962 verdict awarding sovereignty of Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia.

Phnom Penh has asked whether sovereignty as awarded in the 1962 decision included the 4.6 sq km disputed area.

The two countries met for initial talks at the General Border Committee (GBC) last December in Cambodia, and set up a joint working group to discuss the troop withdrawals.

Mr Surapong on Monday met his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa and held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong, according to a government source.

Thailand wanted to see the atmosphere around the Preah Vihear temple return to normal, Mr Surapong said.

He added that he did not raise the issue of People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon in the talks.

The pair are serving jail terms in Cambodia for illegal entry and spying.