MoU with Cambodia can’t be revoked unilaterally, says minister

There is absolutely no question about Thai rule over Koh Kut.

There is no problem Koh Kut area belongs to Thailand, the internal minister said on Monday, but Thailand never unilaterally revoke the controversial 2001 tools memorandum of understanding with Cambodia.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the internal minister and deputy prime minister, asserted at Government House that Cambodia’s MoU could not be modified or revoked without its consent. &nbsp,

He was responding to demands from conferred groups, including some academics and the Palang Pracharath Party, to renounce the deal because he believed it would put Thai independence at risk over Koh Kut, a boundary island in Trat state. &nbsp,

He claimed that Koh Kut was a part of Thailand without a doubt.

” As the internal chancellor, I confirm that Koh Kut truly and completely belongs to Thailand. There are devoted Thai residents who reside that, according to Mr. Anutin, who noted that it is recognized as a city of Trat.

There should be no ambiguity about Koh Kut’s autonomy. There were papers, including a royal order, which testify to the public understanding that Koh Kut belongs to Thailand, he said.

According to deputy prime minister and defense secretary Phumtham Wechayachai, the 2001 MoU relates to a overlapping claim area in the Gulf of Thailand with Cambodia. Koh Kut was no involved, and the Memorandum had not been revoked while the Abhisit Vejjajiva state was in power, as some had claimed.

He added that the government would demand that the discussions include demarcation if there was a discussion about mutual marine interests.

Mr. Phumtham stated that he disapproved of any Koh Kut proposal to shift the border.

The Abhisit government had in theory agreed to withdraw the MoU on November 10, 2009, according to Sontirat Sontijirawong, mind of the Palang Pracharath Party’s head of scientific and policy matters. He claimed that some of the coalition’s former leaders and supporters were involved with the Abhisit government at the time.

These events included Bhumjaithai, Mr Sontirat said. The Bhumjaithai Party is led by Mr. Anutin.

According to Mr. Sonti, who is a former power and business minister,” I would like current alliance parties to ensure the intention to withdraw the 2001 MoU, as they did in that past cabinet,” in order to safeguard the national interest and stop conflicts of interest involving any significant and capitalist group.