Thread: Thailand : PREAH VIHEAR

^ Rather a small and insignificant protest.

War 'last resort' with Cambodia | Bangkok Post: news

Prayuth says force 'last resort'

Army chief vows talks regardless of ICJ ruling

• Published: 26 Jan 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

Negotiations will be pursued no matter how the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules on the territorial dispute with Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple, army commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha says.


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chairs a meeting of military top brass and senior security officials at Government House Friday as Thailand prepares for oral hearings at the International Court of Justice over its territorial dispute with Cambodia. CHANAT KATANYU

But he added that the army is prepared to use force as a last resort.

Gen Prayuth's remarks came as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday chaired a meeting with top military brass and the government's lawyers to form its strategy ahead of the hearings at the ICJ over the disputed land surrounding Preah Vihear.

Phnom Penh has asked the ICJ to reinterpret its 1962 judgement which awarded the temple to Cambodia. The ruling, however, did not mention an area of 4.6 square kilometres surrounding the temple that both countries claim.

Oral hearings are set to take place on April 15-19 and a verdict is expected in October.

Gen Prayuth said that no matter what the ICJ rules, negotiations with Cambodia will be pursued. "We have procedures to follow if border clashes occur," he said. "But at the end of the day, [the dispute] will be concluded at the negotiating table.

"Going to war is not an option. In the disputed area we have to comply with the rules," he said. "If there is a breach of the rules, the proper action is to protest."

He said it is the government's job to prepare for the upcoming legal battle and to consider its course of action once the court's verdict is issued.

The government, however, said it is confident in its legal argument ahead of the April hearings. The line of the arguments will focus on the ICJ's 1962 ruling.

Nattawut Pothisaro, a deputy permanent secretary at the Foreign Ministry, said the meeting made some suggestions for arguments that would be used during the hearings.

The legal team is led by Thai ambassador to the Hague, Veerachai Palasai.

"After listening to Mr Veerachai, everyone is confident and believes we're on the right track," Mr Nattawut said.

He said the 1962 ruling made three key points: the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia; Thailand is requested to withdraw its troops from the temple and the surrounding area; and Thailand is requested to return artefacts to Cambodia.

"The ICJ never ruled on the [surrounding] territory," Mr Nattawut said. "The legal team will show the court it can't make interpretations beyond the focus of its original ruling."

The preparations for the oral hearings are nearly finished pending a review of some of the details, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana will lead the legal team to London on Feb 8-9 to meet with foreign legal experts to prepare for the case.

Mr Nattawut said another meeting will take place after Mr Phongthep returns from London.

He said that while the Foreign Ministry is responsible for maintaining diplomatic ties, the military would keep an eye on the border to protect national sovereignty.

He said that both countries would soon start clearing landmines from the demilitarised zone in line with an ICJ order.

Meanwhile, the war of words between Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva continued yesterday.

Mr Surapong was criticised by the Democrat leader for being a mouthpiece for the Cambodian government. He had read a statement by the Cambodian government that was critical of the Democrats.

"The Democrat Party should stop lying," Mr Surapong said.

"If it has evidence to prove the alleged conflict of interest, just bring it forward. It is the last time that I will talk about this. I will focus my efforts on the ICJ case," he said.

He added that he read the statement to rebut the Democrat Party's accusations against the Yingluck government and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Surapong blamed the previous Democrat-led government for causing the legal dispute.

He said the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh told him that Cambodia's petition to the ICJ was forced by the Abhisit government's actions.

Mr Abhisit yesterday called on Ms Yingluck to do more to protect the country's sovereignty instead of focusing on his dispute with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Yingluck, Hun Sen to discuss temple at February meeting - The Nation

Yingluck, Hun Sen to discuss temple at February meeting

The Nation January 26, 2013 1:00 am

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to discuss the Preah Vihear border dispute with her Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen when she visits Phnom Penh early next month.

However, the talks will not have any impact on the ongoing World Court case between the two countries, National Security Council secretary-general Pharadorn Phatthanathabutr said yesterday.

Yingluck is scheduled to attend the funeral of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk on February 4.

Thailand and Cambodia are fighting a case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the historic site, which has marred bilateral relations and resulted in border fighting on several occasions. The final oral hearing at the World Court is scheduled for April, and the verdict is expected in late October.

A meeting of a bilateral committee is scheduled for February 28 to discuss a joint landmine-clearing operation and troop deployments, Pharadorn said.

On the Preah Vihear court case, Pharadorn said Yingluck had ordered a full-scale legal battle, and advised all committees at all levels to cooperate fully. She also said the Thai government would strictly comply with all conditions mandated by an injunction ordered by the ICJ.

Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, a legal adviser to the government, will meet a team of Thai lawyers in London on February 8 and 9, and the results will be reported to Thai authorities including Yingluck. "By then, the Thai government’s direction in fighting the case would become clearer," Pharadorn added.

Deputy Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Natthawut Phothisaro said the closing statement to be made in the oral hearing was nearly complete, and that ongoing verbal disputes between Hun Sen and Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not put Thailand at a disadvantage.

Natthawut said the ICJ had not raised disputes over the border demarcation relevant to the Preah Vihear temple dispute at any point during the previous session. Thailand will stress that the ICJ cannot make any ruling that concerns issued unrelated to the original three disputes already addressed in a 1962 verdict.

The 1962 ruling stipulated that the temple is located on areas under Cambodian sovereignty, that Thai troops were to be withdrawn from the temple and areas around it, and that Thailand return to Cambodia artefacts belonging or attached to the temple that were acquired since 1954.

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PM briefed on Thailand?s planned defence in temple row | MCOT.net



PM briefed on Thailand’s planned defence in temple row

By Digital Media | 25 ม.ค. 2556 18:07

BANGKOK, Jan 25 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reasserted today that Thailand will forge onward in protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty concerning the dispute with Cambodia over land in the area surrounding Preah Vihear temple.

In a security meeting with high-level officials, the premier expressed confidence in the government’s move in contesting the dispute, pending a decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Thailand and Cambodia are required to give their respective oral statements before the ICJ in April and the ruling is expected in October.

The Foreign Ministry is in charge of supervising the Thai-Cambodian relationship at all levels, she said.

Today’s two and a half hour meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister/Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, Veerachai Palasai, leader of Thailand’s legal team in the case, the chiefs of the three armed forces and the national police chief.

Nuttavuth Potisaro, deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said the meeting was satisfactory with Mr Veerachai’s outline on Thailand’s stance and defence in the dispute. The prime minister instructed officials to work with full commitment in protecting the national sovereignty on the Thai-Cambodian border.

He said the Foreign Ministry is willing to accept feedback and suggestions from the public, especially on the issue of the ICJ jurisdiction which Thailand will raise in its April statement.

“We are confident of success in the case given the ICJ’s 1962 ruling which only touched on the temple, and not the surrounding area covering 4.6 sq km,” said Mr Nuttavut.

Thailand has followed every point of the ICJ’s ruling including removal of troops from the temple and adjacent area and the return of ancient objects, discovered in 1954, to Cambodia, he said.

Mr Veerachai said the content of the oral statement is completed except for some minor points.

Cambodia has asked the ICJ to rule on the 4.6 sq km of land surrounding the temple where troops of both countries have been deployed and clashes have erupted sporadically. (MCOT online news)

Originally Posted by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha

force 'last resort'

Originally Posted by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha

But he added that the army is prepared to use force as a last resort.

JHC > get the message ... YOU DO NOT RUN THE COUNTRY

now get back in your barracks and wait until you are told what to do .

Blimey ! Is Thailand actually DOING anything with the 4.6 square kilometers ? How many people have died as a result of this childish dispute ?

Maybe the khmers should claim all their other temples across that region?
I havent seen any thai temples in cambodia.

Nipat urges public to stand united | Bangkok Post: news

Nipat urges public to stand united

• Published: 31 Jan 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

Thais should stand united in the fight to preserve the country's territorial sovereignty, Nipat Thonglek, deputy permanent secretary for defence says.

The upcoming International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing on the Preah Vihear temple on the border with Cambodia should be a win-win for both countries so they can live peacefully together, he said yesterday.

"Even though the court has ruled the temple belongs to Cambodia, the land surrounding the temple is considered Thailand's property," he said.

Gen Nipat was speaking at a Defence Ministry briefing on the temple row.

The ministry yesterday held its first session to explain the dispute to its top brass and journalists.

Gen Nipat said the government would compile a submission to the court to defend Thailand's assertion of ownership to land surrounding the temple.

A further oral explanation in the ICJ on April 15-19 would be the last chance for Thailand to protect its sovereignty to the land.

Cambodia has asked the ICJ to interpret its 1962 ruling, which granted Cambodia ownership of the temple but which did not determine ownership of the land surrounding it.

Among the documents to be submitted would be photos demonstrating that Thailand had strictly followed the 1962 ruling and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Thailand and Cambodia, he said.

The MoU was proof the territorial demarcation between the countries was ongoing, Gen Nipat said.

The ICJ ruling is expected in October or November.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is urging the public to accept whatever the court decides.

"We have been arguing all along the ICJ should not tamper with old verdicts," he said. "But from now on, we are preparing the public to accept whatever the verdict will be," he said recently.

He said the public should understand the consequences if Thailand chooses not to comply with the ICJ, particularly the likely trade and economic impacts.


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Prayuth raises rhetoric on Preah Vihear ruling | Bangkok Post: opinion

Prayuth raises rhetoric on Preah Vihear ruling

• Published: 31 Jan 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

The ongoing military exercises near the Thai-Cambodian borders give the impression that tensions over the long-standing Preah Vihear temple (known in Thai as Wat Khao Phra Viharn) dispute are escalating.


A file photo taken in 1962 shows a group of senior Thai officials posing in front of a sign stating ‘Beyond this point lies the vicinity of Wat Khao Phra Viharn’, next to the temple’s stairs.

This is because this year's drills, while being an annual affair, are noticeably comprehensive involving troops from several units, from infantry, cavalry, artillery and special task forces as well as those from an engineer tank battalion.

No less important are the drill sites, covering the border areas from Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket _ which are under the jurisdiction of the Suranaree Task Force _ and the stretch behind the disputed 4.6 sq km area around the Preah Vihear ruins.

At the same time, the navy's Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (Calfex), which is to take place tomorrow, will be presided over by senior figures like Supreme Commander Tanasak Patimapragorn and navy commander Admiral Surasak Runroengrom.

There are also reports of Cambodian military exercises on the other side of the border, next to the temple.

Some have interpreted the military drills, which are to be completed in March, as a signal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which will deliver a ruling that will affect the people of both Cambodia and Thailand.

Apart from the show of military prowess, it happens that army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has adopted a more aggressive tone, with his "ready-to- fight" message when asked what the Thai army will do if the ICJ gives an unfavourable ruling leading to the loss of territory.

"We, the soldiers, are ready when the time comes. But that's entirely up to the government whether we will withdraw the troops, or if we will opt for war," Gen Prayuth said.

We also need to ask the people if they are ready to have our soldiers fight and accept the consequences _ and losses _ that will follow. If they are ready, so are the soldiers."

This contradicts his earlier softer position which was branded by Sondhi Limthongkul, a core leader of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), as "unpatriotic" amid suspicions of a trade-off between the disputed land and offshore oil exploration rights.

"I am not aggressive. Nor am I a warmonger. Use of force is the last resort that must come after the rule of law, and negotiations. Every dispute ends on the negotiating table," Gen Prayuth said. "But if there is no other choice. We have to use force to protect our land, our sovereignty and national dignity."

At the same time, the army has tried to win international praise by complying with the ICJ's injunction to pave the way for a demilitarised zone and cooperating with Cambodia on landmine clearance in border areas covering 7.3 sq km, including the disputed zone.

After two meetings _ the second being held in Siem Reap province until today between Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC), under Lt Gen Sihanart Wongsaroj, and its counterpart CMAC _ joint demining operations are expected to take place next month or in March, before both countries attend the ICJ's oral hearings in the Hague from April 15-19.

"At the very least, the army wants to convince the ICJ that Thailand and Cambodia can solve problems at the bilateral level without intervention by a third country. In other words, the ICJ should let the neighbours handle their own problem," a military source said.

If the ICJ delivers a favourable ruling, either finding it has no jurisdiction in the dispute or sticking to the 1962 verdict _ that Cambodia owns the temple and the 20m x 100m area surrounding the temple _ which was endorsed by the Sarit Thanarat government, both sides could end their conflict and move on to joint tourism and trade development in the disputed area.

Army sources say Thailand is preparing to show the ICJ old pictures as evidence. Some show then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk popping champagne to celebrate the 1962 verdict near a now-removed fence that was set up by the Thai government in accordance with the court verdict. The pictures are intended to show that Cambodia then accepted Thailand's ownership of the land beyond the fence.

But the scenario will be different if the ICJ favours Cambodia's petition by handing over more land claimed by Thailand, including the Sa Tao and Sathup Khu areas, as part of the temple to Cambodia. Or worse, it could hand the entire 4.6 sq km disputed area to Cambodia in accordance with the controversial 1:200000 map drawn by France.

his is the reason Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh have been in contact a lot more often to ensure that soldiers on both sides of the border stay calm, while the military closely monitors the situation.

"We are to cooperate more under the Asean Economic Community framework, there is no reason to use force," said the minister. "If you ask if I have any concerns [about the border dispute], I do. But I don't want to talk too much. I don't want to be pessimistic. We should look on the bright side _ that the court is fair and there will be no war."


Wassana Nanuam

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

But the scenario will be different if the ICJ favours Cambodia's petition by handing over more land claimed by Thailand, including the Sa Tao and Sathup Khu areas, as part of the temple to Cambodia. Or worse, it could hand the entire 4.6 sq km disputed area to Cambodia in accordance with the controversial 1:200000 map drawn by France.

Time to face reality, since this is the outcome most expect. In fact, it was inferred by the 1962 ruling. Nothing controversial about the map at all and used by Thailand and Cambodia as a reference in the 2000 MOU, which I rather suspect Cambodia will bring up at the ICJ.....

Blaze ignites UXO at Preah Vihear temple
19 February 2013


A fire rages not far from the 11th century Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.

It's been quiet in Preah Vihear since Cambodian and Thai troops agreed to a cease-fire in 2011, but the sound of shells exploding was heard again on Sunday evening as a fire blazed around the contested World Heritage site.

The fire started downhill of the site before spreading to the ancient Dragon Stair on the temple’s eastern side and setting off five mortar shells believed to have been dropped during the clash between Thai and Cambodian forces in February 2011, Chan Chhorn, an information official at Preah Vihear National Authority, said yesterday.

Forest in the vicinity of the temple had been burning for several days, but when flames came near the temple on Sunday, border police and heritage officers at the site sprang into action and, between 6pm and 9pm, managed to put out the flames threatening the ancient structure, Chhorn said.

“The fire now continues burning the forest downhill from the temple, but it no longer risks affecting the temple at the top [of the hill],” he said.

According to Chhorn, Thai officers stationed on the Thai side of the demilitarised zone heard the mortar explosions but did not panic because they understood the fire had set off the weapons.

“It did not cause any confusion,” he said, adding that Thai officers had watched from their side as the Cambodian officers controlled the flames around the temple.

Thailand Denies Hun Sen’s Claims of Rising Border Tensions | The Cambodia Daily

Thailand Denies Hun Sen’s Claims of Rising Border Tensions

By Zsombor Peter and Eang Mengleng - February 26, 2013

A Thai official on Sunday denied that tensions with Cambodia over contested borderland were on the rise, despite a surprise warning from Prime Minister Hun Sen that Thailand is planning to take military action if the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the territory to Cambodia in an upcoming decision.

On Friday, Mr. Hun Sen said Thailand “will used armed forces” should the ICJ award Cambodia a 4.6-square-km border area next to Preah Vihear temple over which the two countries have fought several brief but deadly battles since 2008. Mr. Hun Sen advised the Cambodian military to be on high alert “for any bad actions that disturb our sovereignty.”

The ICJ is scheduled to hear oral arguments from Thailand and Cambodia in mid-April—ahead of national elections here in July—and is expected to issue a decision later this year.

The Bangkok Post on Sunday reported that the Thai and Cambodian defense ministers were planning to meet for lunch on Tuesday to “cool tensions” over the disputed area ahead of the ICJ’s decision.

But Thai Foreign Affairs spokes[at]man Manasvi Srisodapol said bilateral relations—which have warmed considerably since the election of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011—were still good.

In any contest over international borders, he said, “there are always groups of people who would express their opinions on certain things…but there’s not tension as we understand right now.”

Mr. Manasvi did confirm the Bangkok Post’s report that the two countries’ defense ministers were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but not to cool tensions.

“It’s an expression of good relations that we have at all levels with Cambodia,” he said of the meeting.

General Neang Phat, a secretary of state at Cambodia’s De[at]fense Ministry, however, denied reports of a meeting.

“There is no meeting,” he said, before declining to comment further.

Lieutenant General Srey Dek, commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ Division 3, stationed in Preah Vihear province, said he knew of no meeting be[at]tween the defense ministers ei[at]ther, and that the situation was calm on the border.

“The situation along the border is stable,” he said.

Thailand and Cambodia withdrew hundreds of soldiers from around the temple last year, replacing them with armed police.

Analysts have blamed the governments in both Phnom Penh and Bangkok for playing up the border dispute over the years for their domestic audiences during their respective election seasons.

Related Stories

1. Hun Sen Warns Thais May Use Force Over Preah Vihear Prime Minister Hun Sen warned on Friday that he feared Thailand would deploy armed forces...

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Troops deny border accessto 'patriots' | Bangkok Post: news

Troops deny border accessto 'patriots'

• Published: 26 Feb 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

Soldiers have prevented a group of Thai activists from entering a disputed border area in Buri Ram.

The group had intended to set up a village in the territory, which is claimed by Thailand and Cambodia.

About 100 members of a Thai patriot group, carrying belongings and food, yesterday headed to a forested area at Sap Yang village in tambon Bueng Charoen of Ban Kruat district.

The group, led by activists Veerapol Sopha and Meechai Jongkul, claim the disputed area belongs to Thais, and they wanted to set up a village there to establish a territorial presence.

Soldiers, however, blocked the group from entering while forestry officials guarded the area.

The group's move could create a misunderstanding which could harm national security, the soldiers said.

Mr Veerapol said his group was determined to protect national sovereignty. The area they intended to claim used to belong to Buri Ram residents, he said.

The locals had made use of the land until it fell into dispute and then they left for their own safety, he said.

After they were met by the soldiers, the activists set up camp at the perimeter of the area.

Meanwhile, a lunch meeting between the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers will go ahead today despite having been earlier postponed by Cambodia.

Cambodia was upset by reports that the venue for the meeting, which was originally to be held inside the disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple, was to change to a hotel in Surin province.

ACM Sukumpol said yesterday the meeting would take place near the Preah Vihear temple today as originally planned. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 to award ownership of the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia.

However, an area of 4.6 square kilometres surrounding the temple has remained a source of dispute and is claimed by both countries.


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'No disadvantage' in talks with Tea Banh : Sukampol - The Nation

'No disadvantage' in talks with Tea Banh : Sukampol

Panya Thiosangwan,
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation February 27, 2013 1:00 am


Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat yesterday met with his Cambodian counterpart at the Preah Vihear Temple amid concerns that the talks would put Thailand at a disadvantage in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dispute over land adjacent to the temple.

The luncheon meeting between Sukampol and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh was held inside the compound of the ancient Hindu temple at noon.

Speaking to reporters after the one-hour meeting, Sukampol said the talks were meant to demonstrate to the ICJ that the two countries are able to handle the dispute peacefully and work together to solve problems for residents along both sides of the border.

Tea Banh supported Sukampol's statement, saying that if the situation along the border improved, the two countries would have a chance to jointly develop the local economies.

"We are neighbours and living together, any problem should be solved by talk," Tea Banh said.

The two ministers did not discuss the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area adjacent to Preah Vihear, which is under deliberation by the ICJ.

The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear is situated in Cambodian territory but Thailand argued that the surrounding area is Thai soil. Phnom Penh asked the court to clarify the scope and meaning of the 1962 judgement. The court opens for the final round of oral testimony in April and is expected to deliver judgement late this year.

Sukampol said the talks should not cause Thailand to be at a disadvantage in the case.

"If we fear being at a disadvantage, we won't be able to do anything. If we will be at a disadvantage, why should I go?" Sukampol said before leaving Bangkok for Si Sa Ket.

Sukampol said he wanted to hold the talks at the Surin Majestic Hotel but the meeting was prepared on short notice so the venue could not be changed.

Sukampol's entourage included General Thanongsak Apirakyothin, permanent secretary for defence, General Nipat Thonglek, deputy permanent secretary for defence, General Worapong Sanganet, deputy supreme commander, General Udomdet Sitabut, Army chief-of-staff, Lt-General Worawit Darunchu, commander of the Border Affairs Department, and representatives of other concerned agencies.

The defense minister took a walking tour of the temple complex before having lunch with Tea Banh, with roasted chicken and somtam on the menu.

Sukampol said he told his Cambodian counterpart to ensure that Cambodians would not cross the border to illegally harvest rosewood.

Sukampol said he warned Tea Banh that Thai authorities would take severe action against illegal Cambodian loggers.

Meanwhile in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian government called for Thai authorities to use "courts, not guns" against its citizens caught illegally harvesting rosewood. Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said that 45 Cambodian loggers were shot and killed inside Thailand last year.

Before crossing the border to meet Tea Banh, Sukampol and his entourage stopped at the Mo I-Daeng cliff tourist office in Khao Phra Wihan National Park for a briefing of the border situation by troops stationed there.

Cambodia Gears Up for Preah Vihear Border Row Hearing
Reported by To Serey by RFA’s Khmer Service.
Translated by Yanny Hin.
Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
2013-04-08


Cambodian police officials stand atop Preah Vihear temple on July 18, 2012 while Thai and Cambodian troops withdraw from disputed territory.
AFP

Cambodia has prepared a stack of documents to back its claim over a disputed area around an ancient temple on the border with Thailand at next week’s hearing at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, a senior official said Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Cambodia’s delegation is setting off Tuesday for the Netherlands for the April 15-19 hearing on territory surrounding the Preah Vihear temple, the site of deadly border clashes with Thailand in recent years.

"The various documents including maps and legal documents [that they are bringing to the world court] are internationally recognized,” he said.

The delegation headed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong comprises border officials and legal experts, he said, adding that the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border, where the latest clashes occurred in February and April 2011, is quiet for now.

Cambodia and Thailand exchanged several rounds of fire since 2008, when the temple, located atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

They pulled hundreds of soldiers out of a disputed border area last year, a year after a ruling by the UN's highest court, replacing them with police and security guards

Cambodia administers the thousand-year-old Hindu temple, which the ICJ awarded to the country in a ruling in 1962.

But the decision did not take into account the disputed 4.6 square kilometer (1.8 square mile) area around the temple, and Cambodia has requested the court interpret the original ruling.

The ICJ will hear oral statements from Cambodia and Thailand and a decision is expected in October or November.

On Saturday, demonstrators in southern Thailand headed to a national park adjacent to Preah Vihear in a bid to set up a protest camp near the temple, but were stopped by Thai police, the Bangkok Post reported.

rfa.org

Preah Vihear hearing live broadcast
9 Apr 2013

The Cambodia-Thailand showdown over the Preah Vihear temple at the International Court of Justice next week will be broadcast live from The Hague by radio and over the internet, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The International Court of Justice sessions next week will look much like this, with a bank of judges overlooking Thai and Cambodia delegations, with French as the official language to be used by all parties.

Nuttavudh Photisaro, deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said the public will be able to follow the hearing in French with English and Thai translations at the website www.phraviharn.org, on NBT Channel 11, and on three radio stations.

The three stations include the two Radio Thailand frequencies of FM92.5 and AM 891, and Saranrom Radio AM1575.

The court itself will also broadcast proceedings on at its own website www.icj-cij.org, and through the United Nations website at webtv.un.org.

The hearing will take place in the Netherlands each evening next week, from Monday through Friday, April 15-19.

Cambodia is to make its opening argument on Monday, April 15, with Thailand to follow next Wednesday, April 17. Each side will then make additional arguments. The court will retire after the April 19 session, and is expected to give its verdict by October.

Cambodia has petitioned the court to interpret its 1962 ruling, and decide whether it includes territory surrounding the temple. The court awarded the temple itself to Cambodia, but did not dictate ownership of the area around the temple itself, which is claimed by both countries.

bangkokpost.com

Cambodian

Preah Vihear temple: UN court hears Thai-Cambodia dispute



The temple was listed as a World Heritage site in 2008


The UN's highest court has begun hearings on the ownership of land beside an ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia.

However, a border dispute remains over the surrounding areas of land, which both Cambodia and Thailand claim.

Fighting in the area in April 2011 left 18 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.

Both sides agreed to withdraw troops from the disputed area in December 2011.
On Monday, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that the dispute had "darkened relations" between the two countries.

He warned that failure to clarify the boundaries would "probably have unfortunately consequences which would prevent the two states from living in a friendly, peaceful and co-operative environment".

Thailand, which will make its case on Wednesday, said that it would "fight the case transparently and with [its] best effort".

Thailand was broadcasting the hearing live on its state-run television channel on Monday, AFP news agency reported.

Cambodia Accused of Doctoring Maps in Temple Dispute
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service.
Translated by Sok Ry Sum.
Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
2013-04-17


Thailand's Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Plasai addresses the International Court of Justice in the Hague on April 17, 2013.
RFA

Thailand accused Cambodia on Wednesday of submitting doctored maps to the International Court of Justice hearing a dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors over an ancient temple site along their shared border.

Thai officials also asked the top U.N. court in The Hague against making a ruling on the territorial boundaries surrounding the long-running feud over land around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.

Testifying at the hearing, Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Plasai, who is also head of the country’s delegation, said that the court should refuse to rule on the territorial dispute because in 1962 it had refused to delineate the border.

The ICJ began a week of hearings on the dispute on Monday after Phnom Penh asked for a reinterpretation of the court’s 1962 ruling that awarded possession of the temple to Cambodia, but did not take into account the now-disputed 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of land surrounding it.

Cambodia had not objected to the original ruling until 2008, when the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Virachai said.

And now, more than 50 years after the 1962 ruling, “the court is asked to give, under the guise of interpretation, a declaration which the court then expressly declined to give,” he said.

The Thai legal team argued that Cambodia’s “real request” was about reinterpreting the original ruling its own favor, rather than about any ambiguities in the original ruling.

“It is an attempt to refashion the 1962 judgment to obtain a ruling that the court refused to make in 1962,” lawyer for the Thai delegation David McRae told the court.


RFA

The Thai delegation argued that there were problems with maps Cambodia had submitted to the court, accusing Cambodia of misleading the court by using falsified maps to back its claims.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong rejected the claims, accusing Thailand of presenting incorrect maps.

“They use many maps that were not used by the ICJ to issue the 1962 judgment. They use different reasons that are irrelevant to the law,” he told RFA’s Khmer Service after Wednesday’s hearing.

“Thailand used different excuses. Their argument is contradictory to the truth.”

Virachai said a map of the area that Cambodia used in its presentation to the hearing on Monday differed from one attached in its petition to the court.

Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Cambodia also switched up the map that the Thai side presented to the court in the old case, and that border lines on Cambodia's maps do not match actual land, according to the Bangkok Post.

After this week’s hearings, the ICJ will likely issue a decision on the dispute within six months.

Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged several rounds of fire since 2008, when the temple, located atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The latest clashes left 10 dead in February 2011 and 18 dead in April that year.

Both countries pulled hundreds of soldiers out of the area last July, a year after the ICJ asked the two countries to demilitarize the disputed zone and replace the soldiers with police and security guards pending this week’s hearing.

While the site has since been free from bloodshed, tensions over the temple boundaries remain.

In southern Thailand's Si Sa Ket province, demonstrators at a national park adjacent to Preah Vihear held a rally on Wednesday aiming to raise the Thai flag over the patch of land surrounding the temple, but were stopped by some 200 Thai police, The Nation newspaper reported.

rfa.org

Thailand won't be satisfied unless the eventual ruling is 100% in its favor. I expect them to continue to be quite childish about it.

It took some serious balls for Cambodia to ask the ICJ to reinterpret its fifty-year-old ruling. The whole thing could truly backfire on them?

Prayuth, as usual, is being a loudmouthed kunt insinuating himself into political situations where he has no legitimate authority. But if I were him, I would tread cautiously, as Thailand lost its last armed conflict to a neighbor. Thailand's armed forces are quite skilled at operations within its own borders, but fighting other countries alone is not their forte.

Originally Posted by Mid

Testifying at the hearing, Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Plasai, who is also head of the country’s delegation, said that the court should refuse to rule on the territorial dispute because in 1962 it had refused to delineate the border.

I think Thailand is clutching at straws with that one. The ICJ case in 1962 was only about the temple and the ruling was clear. The French maps are the official ones (and were agreed in the Thailand Cambodia MoU 2000 as well) and the temple lies wholly on the Cambodian side. The maps also clearly show that this disputed area also lies in Cambodia so Thailand is double stuffed...

Why does Thailand actually care about a Khmer temple just on t'other side of border? We are talking a tiny slice of land, in a part of Thailand Bangkok hardly knows exists.
The faux 'patriots' that were bussed up from Bangkok to protest soon found out what then local people think of them. The previous arrangement, granting access to the temple from the Thai side, was generous- and local people made money from it, until the PAD stuck it's foot in.
It was just stirred up for political reasons- part of the thaksin witch hunt. Now the eejuts, who are blatantly and obviously wrong, refuse to back down for face reasons.
But at the end of the day, who actually bloody cares? You can't tell me some Bangkoker gives a stuff about a crumbling pile of ruins built by a neighboring civilisation in a remote border region. I doubt one in ten Bangkokers would have even heard of Vihear, were it not politicised by the PAD. Grow up Thailand.

Thailand satisfied with legal team statement on Preah Vihear case

The HAGUE, April 18 -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul expressed satisfaction with the Thai legal team's statement delivery to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during a hearing on the Preah Vihear temple dispute at The Hague, the Netherlands.

Mr Surapong said that what Thailand argued in the Court on Wednesday closely follows the approach prepared in advance, which was to request the Court to dismiss Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the 1962 judgment.

But if the Court finds Cambodia’s request admissible, he said, it should decide that there is no reason to interpret the judgment, as the judgment is clear and Thailand has already implemented all the obligations contained therein.

Thailand's statement on Wednesday was the first round of the country's presentation of oral arguments to the World Court in the public hearings following the Cambodian verbal statement on Monday.

Thailand's legal team, led by Thai ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Plasai, rejected Cambodia's allegation that Thailand had made a "unilateral delimitation" of the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, and accused Cambodia of falsifying maps submitted to the court.

The Thai legal team also argued during the testimony that the territorial claim over an area of 4.6 square kilometres was new and arose from Cambodia’s wish to inscribe the Temple on the World Heritage List.

The line adopted by Thailand’s Council of Ministers in 1962 marks an area that corresponds to the “vicinity” of the temple in the 1962 judgment.

Cambodia understood and accepted this as it never protested that Thailand had not withdrawn its forces from that area.

After the conclusion by the Thai side, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf from Somalia asked Thailand and Cambodia to submit their own geographic coordinates of the area in the temple's vicinity on their own maps to the court before April 26.

The judge also asked the two countries to present only new information at the second round of hearings which begins today.

Thailand's foreign lawyers' performances in court won much praise from many Thais who closely monitored the oral statement . They particularly showed appreciation of Romanian lawyer Alina Miron who explained the maps of the Thai-Cambodian border.

pattayamail.com

Yeah, they're satisfied for now. I'll bet they'll be blaming foreigners (judges, legal team, media) left and right when they lose. Then we've got the military hotheads/poseurs to worry about.

It's a great place to visit, and a stunning location

It is Khymer in style, but the position would suggest it is in Thailand

Originally Posted by DrAndy

It is Khymer in style, but the position would suggest it is in Thailand

It is khmer full stop- built by the Angkor civilisation. So were Phanom Rung, Phi Mai, and seven other temples- but they are all safely within modern Thai borders, the most 'remote' from Angkor being in Kanchanaburi.

Yes, a very nice position atop the Isaan escarpment, as are several Isaan Cambodia border crossings.

The dispute proper does not even involve Preah Vihear- it involves 4.6 square kilometres of adjacent land. So if Thailand 'won' (highly unlikely imo), Vihear still remains in Cambodia.

Originally Posted by Mid

But if the Court finds Cambodia’s request admissible, he said, it should decide that there is no reason to interpret the judgment, as the judgment is clear and Thailand has already implemented all the obligations contained therein.

To paraphrase:

We know we are in the wrong and that the land belongs to Cambodia. It is obvious from the ICJ decision of 1962 so no need to tell everyone and make us lose face in front of the World Community.

They really are a bunch of spoilt kids....

Thailand submits 'vicinity' map
4 May 2013

Thailand has provided written observations challenging the Preah Vihear "vicinity" map that Cambodia handed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The document was drawn up by the Thai legal team led by Thai ambassador to The Netherlands Virachai Plasai, according to deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs Natthawut Photisaro. He declined to reveal any further details, citing an ICJ directive.

"We have to obey the court until we are given permission to do otherwise," Mr Natthawut said. The court will take about six months to consider the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

The two countries on April 26 submitted to the court maps outlining their claims to the area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple after making oral presentations from April 15-19.

The court ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Phnom Penh but it did not make clear who owned what of the territory surrounding it, prompting the border dispute.

Meanwhile, Thai military officers on Friday paid a visit to a Cambodian border village in an attempt to strengthen bilateral ties amid the legal battle in The Hague. The Suranari Task Force delegation, led by its deputy chief Col Sanya Kiattisan, visited Ban Sashuk in Anlong Veng district of northwestern Oddar Meanchey province.

The delegation was welcomed by Col Chea Sophea, deputy chief of staff of the Cambodian army's 4th Region.

Villagers showed the visitors how they have successfully adapted to self-sufficiency agricultural techniques.

Ban Sashuk residents make their own fertiliser and also rear catfish and chickens for their own consumption.

The villagers told the military delegation they had learnt a great deal from Thai farmers living near the border.

The exchange of farming techniques is common among border area farmers and is considered an act of friendship, village head Yua Hom said.

bangkokpost.com