ID :
11058
Sat, 06/28/2008 - 22:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11058
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Thai foreign ministry considers Preah Vihear temple order appeal
BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - Senior officials of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said the ministry may appeal the
Administrative Court-issued injunction Saturday morning suspending the
Thai cabinet's earlier endorsement of Cambodia's map of Preah Vihear
temple as well as the Thai signing of the related communique.
Foreign Ministry Treaties and Legal Affairs Department director-general Krit Kraichitti said the ministry was studying a plan to appeal the decision according to required procedures and that it would be made according to the government's policy.
Mr. Krit denied telling the court that Thailand would lose its territorial rights in the contested 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.
He said the joint communiqué did not mention that Thailand would lose any land by allowing the Cambodian government to register the temple as a World Heritage Site at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee annual meeting which begins on July 2 in Quebec, Canada.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Thai
officials met for an hour later Saturday to discuss what should be done in response to the Administrative Court's order.
He said there was no clear decision at the meeting as to whether the ministry would appeal or not, but it will stop commenting on the issue as Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has said he will discuss the matter with cabinet next week.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul said he believed the matter would not harm the close relations between Thailand and Cambodia.
The court's action was made in response to petition by Thailand's
democracy activist movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which appears dedicated to bringing down the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The PAD urged the court to nullify the Thai cabinet resolution of June 17 supporting and endorsing Cambodia's map of the ancient temple.
The activist group feared that the Thai cabinet endorsement would be used by Cambodia to contest Thailand's sovereignty over a still-contended 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.
In another development, opposition Democrat party Abhisit Vejjajiva in a letter to the Speaker of the House through first deputy house speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond appealed to the Constitution Court to rule on the legality of the cabinet action designating Mr. Noppadon to sign the Phra Vihear declaration with Cambodia as it paves the way for Cambodia to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
Abhisit said the move was another channel to protect the kingdom's benefit from listing the temple.
Administrative Court-issued injunction Saturday morning suspending the
Thai cabinet's earlier endorsement of Cambodia's map of Preah Vihear
temple as well as the Thai signing of the related communique.
Foreign Ministry Treaties and Legal Affairs Department director-general Krit Kraichitti said the ministry was studying a plan to appeal the decision according to required procedures and that it would be made according to the government's policy.
Mr. Krit denied telling the court that Thailand would lose its territorial rights in the contested 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.
He said the joint communiqué did not mention that Thailand would lose any land by allowing the Cambodian government to register the temple as a World Heritage Site at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee annual meeting which begins on July 2 in Quebec, Canada.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Thai
officials met for an hour later Saturday to discuss what should be done in response to the Administrative Court's order.
He said there was no clear decision at the meeting as to whether the ministry would appeal or not, but it will stop commenting on the issue as Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has said he will discuss the matter with cabinet next week.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul said he believed the matter would not harm the close relations between Thailand and Cambodia.
The court's action was made in response to petition by Thailand's
democracy activist movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which appears dedicated to bringing down the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The PAD urged the court to nullify the Thai cabinet resolution of June 17 supporting and endorsing Cambodia's map of the ancient temple.
The activist group feared that the Thai cabinet endorsement would be used by Cambodia to contest Thailand's sovereignty over a still-contended 4.6 square kilometre area around the ancient Hindu temple.
In another development, opposition Democrat party Abhisit Vejjajiva in a letter to the Speaker of the House through first deputy house speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond appealed to the Constitution Court to rule on the legality of the cabinet action designating Mr. Noppadon to sign the Phra Vihear declaration with Cambodia as it paves the way for Cambodia to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
Abhisit said the move was another channel to protect the kingdom's benefit from listing the temple.
