Koh Kut is Thai territory: PM

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, surrounded by leaders and core members of coalition parties, at Government House on Monday. Photo by Chanat Katanyu
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, surrounded by leaders and core members of coalition parties, at Government House on Monday. Photo by Chanat Katanyu

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said there is no doubt about Koh Kut's status as a Thai sovereign territory, amid growing concern over the island's inclusion in a 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia about the management of resources in the overlapping claims area.

While there is no question about the island's status, the PM admitted that the controversial MoU cannot be revoked without Cambodia's agreement.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recently explained the island's status.

"I confirm that Koh Kut undoubtedly and completely belongs to Thailand. Fellow Thais live there, and it is recognised as a district of Trat," Mr Anutin said.

The 2001 MoU between Thailand and Cambodia grabbed public attention after some people said that if the document is used as the basis for negotiations on the management of marine resources in the overlapping claims area, then the Thai government risks losing sovereignty over Koh Kut.

Thailand's Defence Minister said the MoU is meant to facilitate the management of marine resources in the Gulf of Thailand and has nothing to do with Koh Kut.

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Vocabulary

  • claim: to demand or ask for something because you believe it is your legal right to own or to have it - อ้างสิทธิ, ยืนยัน
  • controversial: causing disagreement or disapproval - ความไม่ลงรอยกัน
  • doubt: a feeling of being uncertain about something/someone or not believing something - ความสงสัย
  • fellow: of people who live in the same country - เพื่อนร่วมชาติ
  • inclusion (noun): being included or part of something - การผนวก, การรวมเข้าไว้ด้วยกัน
  • interior minister: the minister with responsibility over the Royal Thai Police, local administrations, internal security, citizenship, disaster management, land management, issuing national identity cards and public works - รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงมหาดไทย
  • marine: relating to the sea and creatures that live in it - เกี่ยวกับทะเล
  • memorandum of understanding (MOU): a document used to describe a form of a written agreement between two or more groups, countries, etc. The document is not as strong as a contract but outlines a commitment between the two to work together toward the same purpose or goals -
  • negotiations: formal discussion in which people or groups try to reach an agreement - การเจรจาต่อรอง
  • overlapping: (of areas of land) covering parts of each other - ที่คาบเกี่ยวกัน
  • resource: a supply of something that a country, an organization or a person has and can use - ทรัพยากร
  • revoke: to say something is officially no longer legal - ยกเลิก, เพิกถอน
  • sovereign: (of a country) ruling itself - เอกราช อำนาจอธิปไตย
  • sovereignty: the right to rule a country or area - อำนาจอธิปไตย อำนาจเด็จขาดเหนือพื้นที่
  • status: official or legal position - สถานภาพ
  • territory: an area of land controlled by a particular country, leader or army - อาณาบริเวณ  อาณาเขตประเทศ
  • undoubtedly: certainly - อย่างไม่น่าสงสัย

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