Thailand ready to fight temple dispute with Cambodia

BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) - Thailand is prepared to fight Cambodia on disputed land near the ancient Preah Vihear temple at a final oral statements to be given by legal experts of both neighbouring countries at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next week, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Saturday. Accompanied by Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and several high-ranking officers, Surapong told journalists at Suvarnabhumi International Airport before departing for The Hague, the Netherlands, that an advance Thai team had left earlier to attend the final oral statements to be held at the Court between April 15-19. Surapong urged Thais to follow live coverage between those days which will be broadcast by radio and television in Thailand. The ruling on the disputed land totaling 4.6 square kilometres near the Preah Vihear temple is expected to be issued by ICJ the next six months, said Surapong. ICJ ruled in1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains in dispute. The final oral statements are to be held after Cambodia told the ICJ that it wanted the court to reinterpret its 1962 decision concerning the 4.6 sq km of scrubland near the temple to determine if the land belongs to Cambodia or Thailand. Meanwhile, ACM Sukumpol said he believed general situation around the ancient temple would be normal while the final oral statements are held at ICJ. No Thai troops are reinforced around the disputed area, ACM Sukumpol added. (TNA)