Schools, national park along Thai-Cambodian border reopened

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - Almost all schools in Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket Province along the common border with neighbouring Cambodia have been re-opened after their temporary closure since November 11, when the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on a territorial case related to the Preah Vihear Temple, so is Khao Phra Wihan National Park on November 16, as the situation along the border remains normal. All, except one school, in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak District bordering Cambodia, were reopened on Thursday, but most of students in each school did not return to their schools yet. The remaining school along the border area has announced that all its classes will be resumed on November 18, 2013. Khao Phra Wihan National Park, also located in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak District, is scheduled to be reopened for international visitors on the coming Saturday following its temporary closure, days before the World Court's verdict last Monday (Thailand's time). Meanwhile, trading near Chong Sa-Ngam permanent border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing District has become more active since the ICJ’s ruling on a disputed area in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear Temple. A number of Cambodians crowded the border market on Thursday morning to buy consumer supplies, most of whom said they want Thailand and Cambodia to maintain their good friendship for the sake of peaceful co-existence between Thai and Cambodian border residents on the sustainable basis, following the World Court's November 11 verdict. (TNA)