People urged to let Thai government handle situation after ICJ ruling

BANGKOK, November 9 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says people should listen to a forthcoming ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), set on November 11, 2013, patiently and allow the government to handle the situation after the World Court's verdict. Speaking during the weekly TV and radio programme of Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday (Nov 9) morning, Surapong told the public that regional army commanders of Thailand and Cambodian had already held talks and agreed that no military actions would be staged no matter which country would be favoured in the ICJ ruling. Surapong assessed that no violence incidents would occur because the issue could be settled by the two governments and people living along border areas should, thus, be relieved, as the world community and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which both Thailand and Cambodia are member countries, wants to see peace in the region. The deputy premier cautioned that demonstrators against the government-sponsored amnesty bill should not use the World Court's ruling as a political tool to worsen the domestic political situation. The Hague-based ICJ is scheduled to issue its ruling next Monday over the ownership of a 4.6-square kilometre-area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple after Phnom Penh brought the case to the court in April 2011. The ICJ in 1962 awarded the ancient Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia but the surrounding land has remained in dispute. (TNA)