BANGKOK, Jan 21 – A Thai ultranationalist group rallied at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok today to protest against the world court’s ruling on the Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple dispute.
The Thai Patriots Group, led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong, said it will not accept an International Court of Justice decision on the disputed 4.6 sq km area surrounding the Phra Viharn temple which Cambodia has filed for ownership with the court. The ruling is tentatively scheduled for October this year.
The group submitted a letter of protest to the court via the United Nations ESCAP regional headquarters in Bangkok, before moving to present petition to army headquarters and the Supreme Court under the watchful eyes of the metropolitan police.
Mr Chaiwat said the petition was endorsed by 1,249,773 signatories. He said a ruling against Thailand in the Phra Viharn dispute means the country to lose the disputed 4.6 sq km area near the temple. He further claimed that the action will lead to Thailand’s further loss of ocean bed, some 17 million rai in the Gulf of Thailand for which Cambodia has unlawfully claimed ownership.
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia erupted shortly after the UNESCO approved Cambodia’s bid to have the Phra Viharn temple named a World Heritage Site in July 2008.
Thailand claims ownership of 4.6 sq km land next to the temple, reasoning that the border had never been officially demarcated.
