Preah Vihear case rejected

Published: 27/01/2012 at 09:27 PM
Online news:

The Central Administrative Court on Friday rejected a petition filed by a yellow-shirt splinter group seeking to stop the government from withdrawing Thai troops from the disputed areas around the Preah Vihear temple.

The petition was filed by Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a core leader of the Thailand Patriot Network, on Jan 12.

In his complaint, Mr Chaiwat asked the court to issue an order prohibiting the Yingluck Shinawatra administration from following a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year. The provisional order by the ICJ ordered both Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops from the 17.3 square kilometre demilitarised area surrounding the 900-year-old temple.

He accused Prime Minister Yingluck of failing to perform her duties to protect Thailand’s sovereignty, and of intervening in the army’s military affairs.

The court dismissed his complaint, reasoning it had no authority to rule in the case.

It said that the premier’s decision whether to withdraw military personnel from the area was a matter related to an order under the ICJ’s jurisdiction, not about Thai government officers and the enforcement of state law. Therefore, it said, the court had no relevant standing in this case.

Thailand and Cambodia have set up a joint working group to discuss details of the troop withdrawal but have not set a timeframe yet.

One proposal being discussed is for border patrol police to be deployed to replace troops in the demilitarised zone in line with the provisional order by the ICJ.

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subcoman
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Discussion 10 : 28/01/2012 at 01:52 PM10
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"He accused Prime Minister Yingluck of failing to perform her duties to protect Thailand’s sovereignty, and of intervening in the army’s military affairs.

Hey you both Democrat party and PAD ! In democracy, it is the government who is running the military affairs.
When it is military who are running the affairs it is called military junta.
android
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Discussion 9 : 28/01/2012 at 11:47 AM9
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The court has given its respectful decision against the petition. Hope the Thailand Patriot Network, PAD...whatever it is, would bring this issue to a full top for the betterment of both Thailand and Cambodia.
abbub
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Discussion 8 : 28/01/2012 at 10:38 AM8
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One problem is this conflict allows the military and PAD among others to continue to use the issue as a political weapon by rallying some sectors of the population around the flag pole. And the flag pole, as everyone knows, is exclusively owned by the military and ultra-conservative nationalists.

It is a pity a country being a member of the international community and benefitting from that membership refuses to adapt/adopt whenever it is not pleased by some rule, law, decision of that international community. Preah Vihar is not the only example, as we all know.

It borders on annoying Thailand signs agreements it then rejects at will and not only that, but then belittles and even attacks that very community it wants so much to be an accepted member of. If you do not want to play by the rules you signed up to, quit the club.
davidh
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Discussion 7 : 28/01/2012 at 10:21 AM7
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Whatever the Nationalist feeling over the issues Thailand has to respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice who will have disspationetly considered the case on it merits.

Thailand will rightly also consider that its interests and People are best served by building bridges with neighbouring ASEAN Countries. Remember the ASEAN slogan "We are one"
nns
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Discussion 6 : 28/01/2012 at 07:31 AM6
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Wait, but we have to keep this story going to entertain the ASTV audience.
sirron
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Discussion 5 : 28/01/2012 at 04:39 AM5
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The only thing lost by this move is the possibility of an accidental military confrontaion.
med142
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Discussion 4 : 28/01/2012 at 02:24 AM4
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I agree also.
pointoffew
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Discussion 3 : 28/01/2012 at 01:25 AM3
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Agree with discussion 1 although I'm glad the Thailand Patriot Network filed the petition, because it - once again - exposes its brainless patriotism and its belief that the government is, or at least should be, subordinate to the military. In other words: the Thailand Patriot Network shows us, again and again, its fundamentally anti-democratic character.
ricefield
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Discussion 2 : 27/01/2012 at 10:37 PM2
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Discussion 1 - I totally agree.
mrscersei
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Discussion 1 : 27/01/2012 at 09:42 PM1
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A victory for common sense. Why can't they understand that filing petitions which holds no substance will only lead to failure. A pullback of troops form both sides is a positive regardless of who is wrong, also it does not mean that our sovereignty has been lost.

Preah Vihear case rejected | Bangkok Post: breakingnews