A majority of Thai people expressed confidence in the Thai legal team which delivered oral statements to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Thai-Cambodian territorial dispute over Preah Vihear temple, Abac Poll revealed on Sunday.
While the majority, 61.3%, of the respondents said they had confidence in the Thai delegation, 33.1% had no idea and 5.6% were not confident.
Abac conducted the poll between April 15-20 on 2,165 Thai people aged 18 and up in 17 provinces: Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Uttaradit, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Mukdahan, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Loei, Roi-et, Buri Ram, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.
Thai team leader Ambassador Virachai Plasai (left) and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul returned from The Hague on Sunday, and told Thai media and public they fought to the best of their ability at the International Court of Justice.
Asked about the degree of their satisfaction with the roles of the diplomatic and political delegates in the Thai team, 65.3% of the respondents said they were satisfied with the diplomats. Only 42.6% were satisfied with the politicians.
Asked the degree of their disappointment if Thailand loses the 4.6 square kilometre area around Preah Vihear to Cambodia, 80% of the respondents said they would be most disappointed, 13.4% said their disappointment would be moderate, and 6.6% said they would be a little or least disappointed.
About one half or 49.7% of the respondents said they were disappointed seeing political groups trading accusations against each other over the issue.