Saturday, April 13, 2013

Thailand Says Prepared To Fight Temple Dispute With Cambodia

ANGKOK, April 13 (Bernama) - Thailand says it is prepared to fight Cambodia on the disputed land near the Preah Vihear temple during final oral statements due to be presented by legal experts of both countries at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next week, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

A team from Thailand had left earlier for the final oral statements to be given at the Court between April 15 to 19, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport before departing for The Hague, Netherlands on Saturday.

He was accompanied by Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and several high-ranking officers.

Surapong said ruling on the 4.6-square km scrubland near the ancient Preah Vihear temple is expected to be issued by ICJ in the next six months.

In 1962, the ICJ ruled that the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia but the surrounding land remains in dispute between both countries today.

Cambodia has requested the ICJ to reinterpret its 1962 decision on the disputed land near the temple to determine if the land belongs to Cambodia or Thailand.

Air chief marshal Sukumpol said no Thai troops are reinforced around the disputed area and believes situation around the temple would "remain normal" when the oral statement procedure takes place at ICJ next week.

-- BERNAMA

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