No problem of region’s status despite 2001 MoU
PUBLISHED: 5 Nov 2024 at 04: 41
In light of growing concern over the island’s inclusion in a 2001 memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with Cambodia regarding the management of assets in the overlapping claims area, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said there is no denying Koh Kut’s status as a sovereign territory.
While there is no issue about the region’s status, the PM admitted that the questionable MoU may be formally revoked without Cambodia’s contract.
Her confidence echoed Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s new note over the planet’s position.
” As the interior minister, I confirm that Koh Kut truly and completely belongs to Thailand. The area is regarded as a district of Trat by the devoted Thai people who reside that, according to Mr. Anutin, who also cited a number of imperial orders and legal documents that show that the island’s ownership is generally accepted.
After observers made the point that if the file is used as the starting point for discussions on the management of aquatic resources in the clashing says area, the Thai government risks losing autonomy over Koh Kut.
The MoU, according to Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, is not intended to facilitate the management of sea assets in the Gulf of Thailand and is not related to Koh Kut.
He claimed that any potential discussions on joint sea passions between Cambodia and Thailand does need to include the delimitation of the maritime border between the two nations because the MoU was no revoked when the Abhisit Vejjajiva management came to power.
The Abhisit administration, which includes leaders and members of the current government coalition, had reportedly agreed in principle to revoke the MoU on November 10, 2009, according to Sontirat Sontijirawong, head of the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ).
” These parties include]what is now ] Bhumjaithai”, Mr Sontirat said, in an apparent reference to Mr Anutin, the current leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
” I would like present coalition parties to confirm their intent to cancel the 2001 MoU to defend the nation’s passions”, said Mr Sontirat, who is a former power and commerce secretary.
Suriyasai Katasila, a former representative of Women’s Alliance for Democracy or the yellow jerseys, said there are attempts to discredit reviewers of the 2001 MoU as patriots.
He claimed that such maneuvers will only polarize the country and wo n’t help it.
Mr. Suriyasai noted that Koh Kut is not the subject of criticism, but rather the promises that Cambodia’s negotiations with Thailand revolved around overlapping sea resources.