BANGKOK, April 9 – The Foreign Ministry will set up a special news centre from April 14-19 to keep the Thai public updated on the status of the world court’s hearing on the Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple dispute, a deputy permanent secretary said today.
Nuttavuth Potisaro said Thailand’s ambassador to The Hague, Veerachai Palasai, will summarise the hearing arguments and related events to Thai audiences during the hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 10.30-11.30 pm daily (Thai time). Thailand is five hours ahead of The Hague.
The news centre will be in service on April 15, 17, 18 and 19 from 1 pm-1 am, and on April 14 and 16 from 5 pm-1 am.
Simultaneous translations of the oral statements by Thailand and Cambodia during the hearing will be broadcast live via the Foreign Ministry’s website (http://phraviharn.org), Channel 11, Radio Thailand (FM92.5, AM891) and the Foreign Ministry’s Saranrom Radio (AM1575) on April 15 and 17 from 3 pm-6pm and 8 pm-9.30 pm, and on April 18-19 from 8 pm-10 pm. Updated information will also be available on the Foreign Ministry’s facebook account.
Live broadcast is available via the ICJ website (www.icj-cij.org/homepage) and the United Nations’ website (http://webtv.un.org).
Cambodia has sought ICJ interpretation of its original ruling which awarded it the ancient Hindu temple. However, the decision in 1962 did not take into account the 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) plot of land surrounding the temple.
The Cambodian and Thai legal teams will separately present oral statements before the court on April 15. After a one-day recess, Cambodia is scheduled to give a closing statement on April 17, to be followed by Thailand the next day
