Trade, Tourism Along Thai-Cambodian border Active Again

SI SA KET, NORTHEASTERN THAILAND, November 17 (TNA) - Trade and tourism activities along the Thai-Cambodian border near the ancient Preah Vihear temple have become lively again after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its verdict on the disputed land near the temple, contested by the two neighbouring countries. Tourism atmosphere at Khao Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) National Park in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak border district which is reopened for tourists for the second day Sunday has become active again after many Thais and foreigners visited and admired the beauty of the scenery there. Many tourists admitted that they have never seen Pa Mor I-Daeng which is close to Preah Vihear temple before and they decided to travel to the park after learning that it is reopened again. The park was temporarily closed on November 4 on fears of unrest ahead of the ICJ’s ruling on the 4.6-sq-km disputed land near Preah Vihear temple. Meanwhile, more than 1,500 Cambodians crossed the Thai border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket province on Sunday after gaining confidence that no violence would erupt in the area, causing cross border trade to become bullish again. Former Thai foreign minister Noppadol Pattama said the ICJ’s verdict clearly proved that he is a patriot and everybody who used to slander him should end sending false statements which attacked him. Many patriotic Thais earlier attacked Mr. Noppadol over Cambodia’s unilateral registration of the Preah Vihear temple ruins as a World Heritage site. There were protests from some quarters of Thai society that the application should be made by both countries, and not by Cambodia alone, as adjacent areas to which Thailand also claims ownership were part of the temple site. ICJ awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the ruling has rankled in Thailand ever since. (TNA)