Thai PM briefed by legal experts on Preah Vihear case

BANGKOK, April 22 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday was briefed by Thailand's legal experts who recently fought against Cambodia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on a contentious area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple on what they expect on the outcome of the World Court ruling, due to be issued over the next six months. Accompanied by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana and Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat, the legal experts, headed by Veerachai Palasai, Thai Ambassador in The Hague, called on Premier Yingluck at Bangkok's Government House and briefed her on the final verbal statements given by the Thai team to the World Court from April 15-19, 2013, during which representatives from the Thai military also attended. The Thai legal team told the prime minister that one of the ICJ judges asked Cambodia and Thailand during the verbal statement to report to him in writing on the matter. The Thai prime minister praised and thanked the legal team for their clear presentation before the ICJ and their work for the Thai people. The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, situated along the Thai-Cambodian border, belongs to Cambodia, but its surrounding area has remained in dispute. Phnom Penh then filed a petition with the World Court in 2011 seeking a reinterpretation of its 1962 judgment, whether the 4.6 square kilometre-scrub surrounding the Hindu temple belongs to Cambodia or Thailand. (TNA)