Thai Authorities explain Preah Vihear-related case to locals

SI SA KET, November 5 (TNA) - Authorities are explaining an unsettled territorial case related to the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border to local Thais. As part of the mission, the authorities from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Armed Forces are visiting the Thai Northeast on Tuesday to explain the territorial case to locals living near the Thai-Cambodian border. Virachai Plasai, Thai Ambassador to The Hague, who heads Thailand’s team of lawyers in the territorial case at The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), led the delegation to give a lecture on the case to local officials and villagers in Si Sa Ket Province, bordering Preah Vihear province in Cambodia. The lecture was aimed to inform the local people of developments related to the case and to maintain order along the Thai-Cambodian border. Nuttavudh Photisaro, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told journalists that the delegation is scheduled to meet local officials, academics and reporters on Tuesday afternoon and to then visit Phum Srol Village to talk to locals. According to the senior official, Thailand and Cambodia continue to value sound bilateral relations and agree to solve problems peacefully, as there are mechanisms to maintain order in their border areas, while the Thai and Cambodian militaries will be responsible for guidelines of actions and cooperate closely with other relevant officials. Meanwhile, the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains normal although groups of demonstrators have arrived in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district to air their stances on the unsettled 4.6-square-kilometer disputed area surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, including the Dharma Yatra and the Kamlang Paendin groups, which have set up tents and stages near the city pillar of the district. (TNA)