Government” may become trusted,” according to the Uni Rector.
PUBLISHED: 7 Dec 2024 at 05: 25
According to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the government has acknowledged that the formation of a Joint Technical Committee (JTC ) to negotiate with Cambodia on disputed maritime areas has not made any progress and is still in the process of formation.
Mr. Phumtham, who is also the defense minister, gave an update on the progress of setting up a JTC for talks with Cambodia under the 2001 Thai-Cambodian Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU 44 ), which acts as a framework for discussions about Thailand and Cambodia’s overlapping continental shelf claims.
He acknowledged that conversations are roiling over the next ways, but there haven’t been any significant improvement so much. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of this issue, and it has not yet been announced when it will be discussed at a cabinet meeting.
When questioned about reports that Thai Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed that Koh Kut’s ownership has not yet been settled and that Thailand and Cambodia share a mutual understanding, he reiterated Thailand’s unwavering commitment to Koh Kut’s right to remain in Thailand.
” It is essential to review the facts carefully before making any assertions”, he said.
However, Harirak Sutabutr, former dean of Thammasat University, posted his view on MoU on his Instagram account on Friday. He claimed that the MoU offers advantages, particularly as a foundation for intergovernmental negotiations and as a defense against some issues.
In particular, the MoU makes it clear that border agreements and the profit-diversification of petroleum sources may be carried out independently.
” So, what former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra proposed– negotiating a 50: 50 profit-sharing agreement between the two nations without addressing limit issues– is difficult”, he said.
He claimed that the frightening aspect of signing the MoU is that both parties are aware of the results of the two nations ‘ contradictory says. The Thai part may assert that Thailand was aware of the various territorial areas, leading to overlapped claimed areas, but never objected if the limit problem may be resolved and the subject is brought before the International Court of Justice in the future. So, Cambodia may use this matter to its benefits in a court case, he said.
” Whether the present state can be trusted is even more worrying than the MoU itself. Can we trust that this state will make every effort to safeguard the lands that are legitimately Thailand’s, including Koh Kut and those for which HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great has now issued a royal order? he asked.
” We cannot believe this authorities at all”, he said.