Thai Air Force monitors Preah Vihear-related territorial case

BANGKOK, October 30 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Air Force has formed a working group to monitor updates relating to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s upcoming ruling on a disputed area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border. Thai Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong told journalists of the development on Wednesday, saying that the Royal Thai Air Force has also prepared a national defence plan. Air Chief Marshal Prajin noted that the measures are active pending the Hague-based World Court's ruling on the case on November 11, 2013, and that the Royal Thai Air Force supports meetings of all relevant committees the Thai government has set up in relation to the ancient Preah Vihear Temple. Regarding national security, Air Chief Marshal Prajin explained that the Royal Thai Air Force's prepared national defence plan emphasizes on foot patrols, not airborne ones, to prevent any untoward incident along the Thai-Cambodian border, assuring that the Royal Thai Air Force can defend the national sovereignty. In Thailand's northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, the deputy governor, Khanchat Tansathian, meanwhile, convened local security authorities and administrators of six districts bordering Cambodia at the Provincial Hall to discuss explanations on the territorial case and the ICJ’s forthcoming ruling to Thai and Cambodian people along the border. The Thai authorities are trying to convince local people not to rally against the World Court's November 11-verdict and they are also deploying security officers to block any ill-intentioned people from creating any unrest in the province, while also contacting their Cambodian counterparts to prevent misunderstanding. (TNA)