kang
7/09/2009
Bangkok Post
Thailand has not lost any territory in the disputed Thai-Cambodian border area near Preah Vihear temple, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.
There have been fears Bangkok might emerge at a disadvantage in bilateral talks with Phnom Penh.
The prime minister has asked Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to explain to the public today the details of the negotiations framework which was passed by the parliament last week.
Mr Abhisit was responding to a complaint by People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul that Thailand had effectively lost the disputed land area to Cambodia.
Speaking on his ASTV channel, Mr Sondhi said the government's negligence had allowed Cambodian troops to take control of the land.
Mr Abhisit told his weekly TV and radio programme yesterday Thailand and Cambodia used different maps with different border demarcations to argue their case.
However, he said an agreement reached between the two countries in 2000, which said border conflict should be solved through negotiation, should apply in the meantime.
''It is just not true that the government has neglected the issue or lost any land or sovereignty,'' the prime minister said.
While the border has yet to be agreed neither side should enter the disputed area or use it in ways which affects the other's rights, he said.
''The 2000 agreement says we need negotiations and, in the meantime, activities in the disputed area that could affect each country's rights are not allowed.''
The disputed land is a 4.6-square-kilometre border area near Preah Vihear temple.
Although the World Court ruled in 1962 that the 11th century Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia, the most accessible entrance is from northeastern Si Sa Ket province.
Each country uses different ways to demarcate the border line, but Mr Abhisit said this had not compromised Thailand's position.
Cambodia uses a French colonial map to demarcate the border but Thailand insists its watershed boundaries be used for demarcation based on a map drawn up with US technical assistance.
There have been fears Bangkok might emerge at a disadvantage in bilateral talks with Phnom Penh.
The prime minister has asked Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to explain to the public today the details of the negotiations framework which was passed by the parliament last week.
Mr Abhisit was responding to a complaint by People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul that Thailand had effectively lost the disputed land area to Cambodia.
Speaking on his ASTV channel, Mr Sondhi said the government's negligence had allowed Cambodian troops to take control of the land.
Mr Abhisit told his weekly TV and radio programme yesterday Thailand and Cambodia used different maps with different border demarcations to argue their case.
However, he said an agreement reached between the two countries in 2000, which said border conflict should be solved through negotiation, should apply in the meantime.
''It is just not true that the government has neglected the issue or lost any land or sovereignty,'' the prime minister said.
While the border has yet to be agreed neither side should enter the disputed area or use it in ways which affects the other's rights, he said.
''The 2000 agreement says we need negotiations and, in the meantime, activities in the disputed area that could affect each country's rights are not allowed.''
The disputed land is a 4.6-square-kilometre border area near Preah Vihear temple.
Although the World Court ruled in 1962 that the 11th century Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia, the most accessible entrance is from northeastern Si Sa Ket province.
Each country uses different ways to demarcate the border line, but Mr Abhisit said this had not compromised Thailand's position.
Cambodia uses a French colonial map to demarcate the border but Thailand insists its watershed boundaries be used for demarcation based on a map drawn up with US technical assistance.
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