Thai senior officers confer ahead of ICJ ruling on Preah Vihear temple

The HAGUE, November 10 (TNA) - Senior Thai officers have held talks ahead of Monday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the disputed vicinity near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, contested by Cambodia and Thailand, while an overall situation along the two countries’ border is still normal. The Thai officers including Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Veerachai Palasai, ambassador to The Hague, conferred at a hotel in The Hague on preparations to be made and also assigned responsibility for each officer soon after the verdict is issued by ICJ. General situation in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak border district, opposite Preah Vihear temple, remained calm early Sunday, officials said. However, Thai villagers living in the area are prepared for evacuation should violence erupted. Cambodians are seen crossing the Thai border in nearby Phu Sing district to buy goods. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Charnchai Poothong, commander of the Second Army region which covers northeastern region, is scheduled to hold a meeting with Gen. Chea Mon, Cambodia’s Fourth Army Region commander, in the Thai border province of Surin later today on how the two countries could live peacefully after ICJ issues its ruling. ICJ is scheduled to issue ruling on Monday over the 4.6-sq-km area of land near the Preah Vihear temple after the Phnom Penh government brought the case to the court in April 2011. ICJ in 1962 awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia and the ruling has rankled in Thailand ever since. Surrounding land near the ancient temple remains in dispute and the Phnom Penh government asked the ICJ to issue the ruling following frequent bloody clashes in the past. (TNA)