Logo

People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in Thailand plans to sue "a group of national traitors" - a group of government officials whom they accused of treason by conniving with each other to provide legal legitimacy Cambodia to inscribe the Preah Vihear temple in the Unesco's World Heritage List.

Speaking during a televised debate on ASTV, Mr. Vira Sumkwamkid, leader of the People Against Corruption and Mr. Banthep Phophongphat, spokesman for the PAD, accused Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya (pictured) of having an intention of selling out the Thai nation because when the border agreement with Cambodia was passed by the Thai parliament it is tantamount to a legal recognition of the Cambodian ownership of the Preah Vihear areas.

The two debaters, whose groups were backed by the Royal Palace and top military brass, said their lawyer, Mr. Surath Aphaisakd, has drafted a legal complaint to the Thai court against certain Thai government officials under Article 119 and Article 129 of the Thai Constitution. Article 119 of the Thai Constitution states "The person(s) who cause(s) the Thai kingdom or part of the kingdom to fall under the sovereignty of a foreign country will face a death or life sentence."

Article 129 states "the person(s) who support(s) wrongful acts will be charged as the perpetrator(s) of that acts."

The group did not specify when they will lodge a legal complaint against those "national traitors" group of officials, but they hinted that it will be done before Friday (11th September?).

Foreign Miniter Kasit Piromya recently spoke on national television in an address to the Thai nation to assure critics and detractors that Thailand has not lost or will not lose any territories to Cambodia under the agreement.

However, Mr. Bathep Phophongphat accused Mr. Kasit of changing his hardline stance in regard to border issues with Cambodia when he was a member of the PAD before he became a government minister.

Mr. Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, cannot be reached for comments, but he has previously told Deum Ampil that the issues of Thailand losing territories to Cambodia stems from the fact that Thailand uses the map unilaterally drawn by Thailand itself. “The real solution is to solve the issues by international map, Thailand cannot use its own map to solve the border problems,” said Koy Kuong, adding that “It is a mistake that Thailand uses its own map to solve the border issues with Cambodia.”

Mr. Var Kimhong, Cambodian border chief negotiator, said Thailand cannot claim the areas. "The Thai people cannot claim the areas. They have to think carefully because Preah Vihear temple and the surrounding areas are situated inside Cambodian sovereignty and the claims made by the Thai public in the past are baseless."