Nationalists threaten violence if ICJ verdict goes in favour of Cambodia

Zoom, the pen-name of a well-known columnist at Thai Rath, the country’s best-selling Thai-language newspaper, advised his readers to launch a cyber-attack on the ICJ’s website in the hope of incapacitating the site and making their feelings known to the world.

“Use a modern means, click on the ‘dislike’ button at the court’s website, say, 5 to 10 million clicks, so it will crash,” Zoom wrote.

The veteran columnist also slammed a statement from the King Prajadhipok Institute (KPI) as expedient in stating that it would be best to accept any ruling, since Thailand is no “superpower” and must co-exist as a member of the international community.

Others have gone further, taking to online social networks like Facebook and Twitter to call for military action if the ICJ rules against Thailand.

“Let me be frank and ask this: When the US waged war against Mexico and gained Texas and New Mexico, was there any International Court of Justice to adjudicate?” Porncheewin Suksumrual, who works at a travel agency, posted on Facebook.

While many Thais are willing to peacefully accept the ruling, no matter which way it goes, local villagers along the Thai-Cambodian border are taking no chances and have been building bunkers and fortifications for days now in case violence breaks out. The anti-government People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime yesterday called on the Yingluck Shinawatra administration not to accept the authority of the court prior to the ruling tomorrow and said they were ready to defend Thai territory with force.