Both countries did indeed win under the ICJ ruling

I sometimes wish the Democrats knew when to shut their mouths. It is obvious that MP Sirichok Sopha was not aware the World Court found Thailand’s 1962 boundary line unacceptable and required it to be redrawn to encompass the temple’s vicinity. Negotiations over this issue have no timeframe. The court gave guidelines that it is not the whole of that 4.6 sq km disputed area but shall be “small, narrow and restricted”. Yes, technically, a few rais will be lost, but the gain to Thailand was that other Cambodian claims were completely and permanently rejected.

So, it is beyond comprehension that a Thai MP could claim that the territory Thailand lost is larger than that specified by the court. I do not doubt the integrity and efficiency of our chief counsel Virachai Plasai, who was previously so stubborn in not bowing to foreign minister former Noppadol Pattama’s demands and was quickly demoted for his pains. Such a personality is rare among Thai civil servants.

Your headline of November 12 summed it up nicely: “We both win: Hor Nam Hong”.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok