Cambodia Reinforces Troops Along Border in Surin (TAN)

Thai and Cambodian soldiers are facing in each other in a tense situation at the Ta Muan Thom archaeological site in Surin province.

Meanwhile, Cambodia reinforced troops near the Ta Kwai ancient temple in the province.

The 960th Paramilitary Ranger Company and the Task Force 23 Suranaree Force have been deployed to oversee security along the Cambodian border near the Ta Muan Thom archaeological site in Surin.

The deployment took place after it was discovered that Cambodia has been rotating its troops along the border.

Also, Thai soldiers have closed off the entrance to the Ta Muen Thom temple to the general public.

It also has been discovered that Cambodian soldiers have been reinforced along the border near the Ta Kwai temple in the province.

Cambodia has been building infrastructures to transport supplies and weapons to its troops.

As a result, Thai troops have been reinforced to increase security along the border and in the area.

Vietnamese Ambassador pays a courtesy call on Foreign Minister On the Completion of His Mission in Thailand (Press Release of Thai's MFA)

February 12, 2010, 10:57 am

On 11 February 2010, Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on the occasion of his completion of his mission in Thailand.

Foreign Minister Kasit and Ambassador Hung exchanged views on ways and means to strengthen the bilateral cooperation mechanism between Thailand and Vietnam. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to promote the transportation connectivity in the region and minimize the problems relating to the East - West Economic Corridor in order to increase the economic benefits of Thailand and Vietnam as well as other countries in the region.

On this occasion, Ambassador Hung requested the Thai side to share her experience as the ASEAN Chair last year. He also confirmed Vietnam’s readiness to participate in the first Political Consultation Group to be held in Thailand in March which would also provide an opportunity for both sides to review the overall relations and improve the related mechanism to enhance the bilateral cooperation.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Kasit also hosted a luncheon in honour of Ambassador Hung and his accompanying party.

Red shirts to rally at NACC (The Nation)

About two companies of policemen and riot forces have been deployed to keep peace at the National Anti Corruption Commission bracing for Friday's rally by the red shirts.

Hundreds of red shirts are expected to protest against the double standards on law enforcement from noon to 6.00 pm.

Security beefed up ahead of court ruling (Bangkok Post)

About 1,500 security officers will guard the Supreme Court building at Sanam Luang and nearby areas leading up to Feb 26, the day of the court’s ruling on whether the state should seize Thaksin Shinawatra’s assets.

Deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Division 1 Vicharnvat Borirakkul yesterday said the security forces would be made up mainly of police.

They will be joined by soldiers and civilian volunteers.

About 1,500 police officers have been ordered on stand-by in their units, Pol Col Vicharnvat said.

Another 5,000 security officers will be mobilised in other areas to safeguard the capital.

The security operation will be launched according to the ‘‘Thanwa 52’’ plan which calls for the division of Bangkok into three zones.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Santan Chayanon is heading the operation.

About 200 checkpoints will be set up around Bangkok and nearby provinces, while security measures will be stepped up at important places such as Government House, parliament and Chitralada Palace.

Red-shirt leaders ready for million-man march (The Nation)

In order to pool together a million people to take part in their anti-government rally later this month, the red-shirt movement and the Pheu Thai Party are making moves to mobilise masses across the country, an informed source said yesterday.

At a meeting yesterday, leaders of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) appeared to have differences over several key issues, including the date for the rally - on whether it should be held before the verdict is read out on former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case on February 26. The date both sides finally decided upon was February 20.

DAAD leaders Veera Musigapong, Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Promphan reportedly wanted the rally to be held before February 26 to pre-empt the first strike, while Weng Tojirakarn and Nit Sinthuphrai wanted it to be held the day after to avoid criticism that the red-shirt movement was established to serve Thaksin.

Deputy PM Visits South to Inspect Security Affairs (TAN)

The deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs inspects the implementation of security measures in the deep South and the development plan for five southernmost provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban, along with Deputy Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has inspected security measures and outlined an additional framework for officials in the strife-torn southern provinces.

Region Four Army Area commander and Region Four Internal Security Operations Command Director, Lieutenant General Phichet Wisaichon, and the commander of the joint committee on civilians, military and army forces, Lieutenant General Kasikorn Kirisee attended a meeting to report on the outcome of security measures in the violence-plagued southern provinces.

After the meeting, Suthep left for Tan Yee village in Muang district of Yala to scrutinize the development projects for five southernmost provinces concerning residence construction and repair by a local community development office, and then visited a career development organization in Sa Ba Yoi district in Songkhla province.

Cambodia preparing documents to lodge with International Court of Justice (Khmerization)

Cambodia is preparing legal documents to lodge with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in relations to long-standing border disputes with Thailand, reports everyday.com.

Mr. Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodian Foreign Ministry, said the ministry has received orders from Prime Minister Hun Sen to prepare the documents. He also said that Cambodia will take the border case with Thailand to both the International Court of Justice in The Hague and to the UN Security Council.

The spokesman said Cambodia has not lodged the legal complaints with the IJC yet, but Cambodia had already informed the court of its intention to lodge the complaints.

Cambodian Court to Rule on Land Mine Case (TAN)

A Thai national accused of planting land mines in a disputed Thai-Cambodian border area will appear before the Cambodian court tomorrow for the ruling in his case.

Tomorrow, the Cambodian court will hand down a sentence for the case in which a Thai national, Suphab Wongpakna, was accused of planting several land mines along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Suphab was arrested by Cambodian soldiers in February last year. It is speculated that the defendant will receive a jail term of 15 to 30 years.

His Cambodian lawyer said Suphab has confessed to the court saying that he illegally entered Cambodia with seven other Thai nationals to plant the land mines but only him was captured. The lawyer claimed that Suphab confessed to having been ordered by Thai soldiers to do so, in an attempt to kill Cambodians living in the border area.

The ruling will be made amid fragile relations between the two countries. There is a speculation that the case will benefit Phnom Penh in its political bargaining with Thailand.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong stated that the Thai government must take responsibility for the matter while the acting Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn declined giving an opinion. He only said the case should be conducted fairly under the judicial procedure.

Thailand Continues Claims on Disputed Border (KI)

The Thai News Agency this week quoted Abhisit saying the Thai government will not give up the contested strip of land.

The news agency also reported that Thailand would petition Unesco to review a map submitted by Cambodia in 2008, when Preah Vihear temple was award World Heritage status under Cambodian ownership.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told VOA Khmer Tuesday such claims showed a misunderstanding of the law by Thai officials.

“Unesco does not have any jurisdiction to make a judgment over land at all,” he said.

Cambodian officials have said Thailand lobbied Unesco using its own map. Thailand may petition again, officials said, because representatives of the UN body, which protects cultural heritage, have changed.

Thai spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Tuesday that the 1962 decision did not include the 4.6 kilometers of land now claimed by both sides.

Sean Pengse, a Cambodian border expert living in France, said the International Court in fact used the 1904-1908 map when deciding on Preah Vihear temple, thereby legitimizing Cambodia’s claims to the area.

The Thai authorities “can do whatever, but the decision is legitimate and uses this French map,” he told VOA Khmer.