Another Bt45m funding approved for Preah Vihear legal campaign
The Cabinet yesterday approved an additional budget of Bt45 million to handle the Preah Vihear Temple case, which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Dutch city of The Hague.
Cambodia has petitioned the ICJ asking it to interpret its 1962 ruling, which states that Preah Vihear is located on Cambodian soil, in relation to disputed land surrounding the temple.
The move has caused concern among Thais who fear that Cambodia may try to claim the land.
An informed source yesterday said that of the additional budget, Bt20 million would go to the five-member legal team and some Bt3.4 million would go to two map experts. A portion of the budget will also be used to produce copies of recordings of the Thai delegation’s statements to the court. The copies will be distributed to the public.
According to the source, the previous administration led by Abhisit Vejjajiva approved a Bt120-million budget for the handling of the Preah Vihear case. Most of that sum has already been spent.
“Now, there is just Bt4.8 million remaining, so the Foreign Ministry has requested an additional budget,” the source said.
