Cambodia should follow UN Security Council statement

18 Feb, 2011
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK, Feb 18 -- The Cambodian government should follow the earlier response of the United Nations Security Council on ways of ending an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.

Sidestepping journalists’ query that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s remarks that his country might take the disputed border case before the International Court of Justice for clarification on its 1962 ruling, Mr Suthep said it is better for the Cambodian leaders to follow the UN Security Council’s ruling since Cambodia is the party who took the case to the world body.

The UN Security Council on Monday asked for a permanent ceasefire between the two countries and recommended that they negotiate an end to their dispute.

On Thursday, Mr Hun Sen said in Phnom Penh that Cambodia would urge Thailand to agree to a peace agreement during the Association of Southeast Asian foreign ministers’ meeting to be held in Jakarta on Tuesday. He said the agreement should be signed by the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers and witnessed by ASEAN or the ASEAN chairman.

The Court in 1962 ruled that the 11th century Preah Vihear temple belongs to Phnom Penh, but both countries are in dispute over a 1.8-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometre) tract of land near the temple.

Reasoning that he would rather not criticise or comment on Mr Hun Sen's plan to take the case to the Court, Mr Suthep said any comment now would worsen the situation.

On two Thai nationals now imprisoned in Cambodia on charges of trespassing and spying who have chosen to seek a Royal pardon from Cambodian king rather than making an appeal, Mr Suthep said the Thai government is trying by all means to assist them.

He said it is better to and see what the Cambodian government will do as Mr Hun Sen had said that the two must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences.

Veera Somkwamkid, a key activist of Thai Patriots Network, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, were sentenced by the Phnom Penh court on Feb 1 to an eight-year jail term with a 1.8 million riel (US$450) fine and a six-year jail term with a 1.2 million riel (US$300) fine respectively.

An appeal could be filed within 30 days while their legal adviser said Thursday that both had decided not to appeal.