English.news.cn 2013-11-15 16:02:29
BANGKOK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government has
repeatedly called on the public to be patient about the World Court
verdict on the Preah Vihear temple dispute, saying that it didn't "lose
the battle" to Cambodia as opposition claimed.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Friday that the opposition
attempts to play up the temple judgment to further fan the flames of
anti-government movement sparked by an amnesty bill.
She said the negative sentiments over the border issue and ensuing
political tension would make it more difficult for the government to
deal with it and may strain country's relations with neighboring
Cambodia.
"To avoid confusion, please listen to the government's clarification.
A technical committee will be set up to study the ICJ's verdict and
explain it to the public," Yingluck was quoted by the Thai News Agency
as saying.
The committee comprises officials from agencies including the Thai
military and the Royal Thai Survey Department, which oversees maps and
discusses boundary definition with neighboring countries.
The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) judged
unanimously on Monday that Cambodian has sovereignty over the plateau
which locates the Preah Vihear temple as earlier ruled in 1962, but it
was not given full control over all the disputed territory surrounding
the ancient Hindu temple.
The verdict was delivered in response to a petition lodged by
Cambodia in 2011 to clarify the 1962 judgment, which leaves space for
both countries to claim ownership of a 4.6 square-kilometer region
adjacent to the temple.
In a televised address to the public, Yingluck said she was "
satisfied" with the verdict, which was "beneficial" to the Thai side.
"Thailand will enter negotiations with Cambodia to put an end to the
issue," said the premier.
However, oppositions and conservative figures have been pushing the
government to concede defeat in the chronic border row, asserting that
the court judgment has resulted in loss of Thai territory.
They urge the public not to be hoodwinked by the government.
Opposition Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha estimated that Thailand could
lose 0.3-2 square-kilometer of area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple
to Cambodia as a result of the court ruling.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of Ministry of Forieng
Affairs of Thailand, told Xinhua that the Thai authorities don't see the
ruling by the U.N. high court as a "win or lose" situation, instead it
will be used as a basis for the two sides to further consult and reach a
mutually satisfactory solution.
Thailand and Cambodia have different understandings when it comes to the vicinity of the temple, he said.
"The original intention of Cambodia when they founded the case was to
claim that the vicinity which they say is under dispute, and they say
the vicinity is an area that covers 4.6 square- kilometer based on the
annex 1 map that they submitted. On this point, the court decided that
the vicinity is not 4.6 as claimed by Cambodia," said Sihasak.
"Instead, the court gave a general description of what it sees to be
the vicinity based on the promontory, or the terrain of that area. So it
remains with Thailand and Cambodia to consult on where that exact line
is on the ground," he added.
Related:
Cambodian PM satisfied with ICJ's verdict over Preah Vihear temple disputed land with Thailand
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on
Monday expressed his satisfactions with the verdict of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case concerning the hotly-contested land
around Preah Vihear temple between Cambodia and Thailand.
The ICJ unanimously ruled Monday that Cambodia has sovereignty over
the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear, and in
consequence, Thailand is therefore under an obligation to withdraw from
that territory the Thai military or police forces, or other guards, or
keepers that were stationed there. Full story
Cambodia-Thailand border "calm but tense" as ICJ ruling approaches
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Situation along Cambodia and Thailand
border near Preah Vihear temple remained "calm but tense" on Monday
ahead of a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the
case regarding the hotly-disputed land near the temple between the two
countries, said a senior military official.Full Story
Thai border residents brace for ICJ decision on dispute, gov't optimistic
BANGKOK, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Many Thais living along the Cambodian
border are practicing evacuation drills as the two countries wait
anxiously for the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) to rule on their
long-standing territorial dispute over an area adjacent to the Preah
Vihear temple.Full Story
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