PM wants Thai-Cambodian JC to meet before ICJ ruling

BANGKOK, October 21 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has proposed that the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission (JC) hold a meeting to work out bilateral cooperation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules on November 11 on a territorial dispute case related to the Preah Vihear Temple. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told reporters on Monday that Premier Yingluck raised the proposal at a meeting of security authorities concerned, chaired by herself, earlier in the day. Surapong said that he will phone his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong to set a date for the JC meeting, and that he believes Cambodia will talk with Thailand no matter how The Hague-based World Court will rule, as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has told his Thai counterpart that the ICJ's forthcoming verdict will be considered separately from international relations. Surapong revealed that the World Court's four possible rulings were discussed at the meeting earlier in the day. They include firstly, the ICJ will rule it has no authority on the case; otherwise, it will rule it has the authority but has no reasons to interpret the ownership of a plot of land in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear Temple as requested by Cambodia. Secondly, the World Court will rule whether the boundaries of both neighbouring countries should comply with a 1:200000 map drawn by France, as Cambodia requested. Thirdly, the ICJ will rule whether the defense by Thailand is in accordance with a Cabinet resolution reached in 1962. Fourthly, the ICJ will uphold its ruling in 1962 for the adherence to the 1:200000 map and order Thailand and Cambodia to negotiate with each other. According to the deputy premier, Thailand will also form another working group, comprising legal experts and representatives of the Thai military and government agencies, within this month to study and analyze the ICJ's ruling. The deputy prime minister noted that as of October 22, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will publicize information on the case and will live broadcast the ICJ's ruling on November 11 in both English and Thai languages through Modernine TV, run by MCOT Public Company Limited (MCOT), and the National Broadcasting Television (NBT), run by the government's Public Relations Department (PRD), from 4pm (Thailand's time) until the ruling ends. Thai authorities have, meanwhile, expressed confidence in peace between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia after the ICJ's ruling. (TNA)