Army chief to inspect Cambodian border

The inspection is intended to boost troops’ morale, though officials say no unusual military movements have been detected along the border.
In the meantime, the Dharma Yatra advocacy group is preparing to hold a rally on Saturday at a border school in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district.
The aim of the rally is to assert claims of Thailand’s sovereignty over the areas surrounding the ancient temple.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana yesterday confirmed he would travel to London to head a consultation session of the legal team that will present Thailand’s case in the temple dispute at an April hearing before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Pongthep reminded all sides that one misguided step in the airing of Thailand’s views on the dispute could have a bad impression on the ICJ judges, which could in turn influence their decision.
The ICJ is expected to hear final arguments from Thailand and Cambodia before forming a decision on Cambodia’s request that the court clarify its 1962 verdict on the dispute, in which it declared Cambodian sovereignty over the temple but did not address the land around it.
Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn said Parliament would host a seminar to explore the Kingdom’s options in handling the dispute.
Weng said panellists would include Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Palasai, who has been tasked with presenting the country’s stand on the dispute.
Weng said he hoped statements from Virachai and relevant security officials would set the record straight and pre-empt any attempt at politicisation of the case.