Parliament meet to discuss border issues delayed

The joint debate was considering the minutes of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) involving, among others, the disputed border area near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple.

The commission reports proposed that maps of borders be produced from aerial photos to facilitate demarcation and to recommend arrangements for the border areas, including those adjacent to the temple.

Government, opposition and Senate whips agreed to postpone the debate believing discussion of the topic at the moment could be sensitive. Earlier, they had disagreed on whether the debate should be broadcast or discussed in secret.

Government chief whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said time for more thorough study of the JBC reports, as well as the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia on the overlapping continental shelf area in 2001, should be extended for 90 days.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Friday announced cancellation of the MoU with Cambodia on the overlapping continental shelf area signed in June 2001, after the two countries downgraded their bilateral ties.

Yesterday's meeting was set to be a parliamentary acknowledgement of three JBC agreed minutes, which Kasit said were not yet part of the agreement on the disputed Thai-Cambodian border areas.

After describing the outline of the debate, Kasit requested a secret meeting on the issue. However, MPs from the opposition Pheu Thai Party opposed, saying the public were interested in the topic.

Senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said people deserved to know why the government needed to cancel the MoU.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said some content was sensitive and neighbouring countries might use its interpretation to cause problems with international relations. If the parliamentarians were certain they would be discreet, an open debate was possible.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob proposed a secret debate in the first period and a broadcast of only the later part of the discussion. The opposition disagreed. Chai then called a five-minute break for the whips' discussion.

The joint whips agreed the discussion should be postponed and they proposed Kasit withdraw the motion first. However, the number of meeting attendants, 312, was found to be short of the quorum attendance of 321 before they could vote to postpone the debate. The meeting was then forced to adjourn.

Opposition chief whip Wittaya Buranasiri said the prime minister should clarify to Parliament the damage to Thai-Cambodian relations. He agreed, however, the situation was sensitive at the moment.

Government chief whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said the whips supported the government's decision but the problems were caused by some individuals' actions leading to a severe situation.

Abhisit said he was not evading clarification and the issue needed elaboration, despite its sensitivity. However, the government did not oppose postponement of the discussion.

Chinnaworn said cancellation of the MoU did not need Parliament's approval. He said Article 190 of the Constitution only required such discussion in case of signing an international agreement, not cancellation. However, the opinion of the Constitution Court would be sought for clarity.

He said cancellation of the MoU would not have any effect as it had not been approved by the parliamentary meeting. Moreover, the MoU was terminated in accordance with the 1969 Vienna Treaty on treaties and laws.