PM insists troops will stay put

Thai military forces will stay put in the border area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

 Bangkk Post

Cambodian officials and civilians remain on guard at a stairway to the Preah Vihear temple on the border area in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district yesterday. The World Court ruled on Monday that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole promontory of Preah Vihear and Thailand must withdraw all military and police or other guards stationed there. PATTANAPONG HIRANARD

She made the comment despite the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) judgement on Monday that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole promontory of Preah Vihear and that Thailand is obliged to withdraw all military or police forces or other guards that are stationed there.
The prime minister said yesterday the ICJ's ruling is a win-win for both sides as it will help ease border conflicts.
Ms Yingluck said Thailand will discuss with Cambodia how to determine the vicinity area around Preah Vihear through the Joint Commission (JC).
She said the government will explain the ICJ's ruling in parliament today.
Ms Yingluck said she has set up a sub-committee to analyse the ICJ's ruling before holding talks with Cambodia. All procedures will comply with the constitution, she said.
Ms Yingluck said the ICJ's judgement has further clarified the border issue and the court had not acknowledged the Annex 1 map, which Cambodia used to support its claim to the disputed 4.6 sq km area.
The judgement was positive as it has helped ease concerns among people living along the border, Ms Yingluck said.
She said the ICJ wanted the two countries to resolve their border conflict through dialogue, and it is now up to both sides to find a solution.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday also insisted that no troops will be pulled from the border area. The government has not yet given orders for troop withdrawals, he said.
Gen Prayuth stressed the military is duty-bound to protect the country's sovereignty.
He said it is too early to reach a conclusion on how to implement the ICJ's judgement.
He said it is important to wait for the outcome of the talks at the government level between Thailand and Cambodia to reach an agreement on how to ensure safety and restore peace in the border area.
"I insist the military is ready to protect our sovereignty along the border no matter what happens," Gen Prayuth said.
"Jumping to conclusions will cause trouble for working panels involved in negotiations."
Speaking on behalf of a Senate committee on anti-corruption, good governance and public participation, Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn said yesterday the government should not immediately commit itself to following the ICJ's ruling, as some aspects of the judgment remained unclear.
The government should study the ruling to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of complying with the ruling and it should also hold a referendum to decide whether the government should follow it, Mr Kamnoon said.
Members of a Senate committee on foreign affairs yesterday voiced disagreement with the government's position on the ICJ's ruling. They included senators Pikulkaew Krairirksh and Somchai Sawaengkarn.
Sen Pikulkaew, the committee's chairwoman, said the government had failed to tell the truth that Thailand had lost territory to Cambodia as a result of the ICJ's ruling
Sen Somchai said it has now been concluded that Thailand has lost at least 1-1.5 sq km of land, or about 625-935 rai, which is not a small area.
Chief government whip Amnuay Khlangpha said parliament will hold a joint session of senators and MPs today to debate the ICJ's ruling.
Virachai Plasai, Thai ambassador to the Netherlands and leader of the Thai legal team defending the border case, will explain the issue before parliament, Mr Amnuay said.
Meanwhile, the special panel to analyse the ICJ ruling on the Preah Vihear temple case will convene later this week or early next week before starting talks with Cambodia.
Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the panel will study the legal implications of the court's ruling and propose its views to the government before negotiating with Cambodia.
Mr Sihasak said the temple's "vicinity" defined by the court might be a bit larger than that determined by the Thai government in 1962.
He said that after the court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, the cabinet considered two options for the temple's "vicinity".
The vicinity that the court determined geographically in Monday's ruling might be a bit larger than the option the cabinet in 1962 did not choose, he said.
"This is a subject for negotiations which may take time," he said. "We have to arrive at a solution that is acceptable for both sides. We hope to find a way to come up with a good solution."
Mr Sihasak said he was concerned by attempts by certain media outlets to interpret whether Thailand had won or lost from the ICJ's judgement.
"There are still negotiations ahead," he said. "We are determined to protect our sovereignty and territory under the rule of law and international law."
The court ruling provided the best solution for both countries to arrive at an amicable and mutually satisfactory solution, he said.
Mr Sihasak said the two sides could turn to negotiate on the question of the boundary under the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding after the court declined to rule on the boundary based on the 1:200,000 map requested by Cambodia.
However, the court defined the promontory of Preah Vihear as consisting of the cliff's natural geographical features to the south of the Annex 1 map, or the 1:200,000 map.
Vasu Poshysnondana, secretary-general of International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), said Thailand might lose Pha Mor I-Daeng, where Thai troops are currently positioned, if the 1:200,000 Annex 1 map is used to draw the temple's grounds.