PAD: Govts 'neglected Preah Vihear'

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 16/09/2009

The People's Alliance for Democracy on Wednesday petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), accusing past and present governments of negligence of duty in allowing Cambodia to encroach on a disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

The PAD, represented by Veera Somkwamkid, chairman of the People's Rights and Liberty Protection Group, and about 30 members of the alliance, asked the NACC to investigate past governments, beginning with the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in 1998 to the present administration of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The petition said they allowed Cambodian troops and people to encroach on an area of over 3,000 rai around the Preah Vihear temple.

The petition was supported by about 10 items of evidence allegedly showing that Thai territory had been intruded on since 1998, and that Thailand had lost sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The past and present governments had not only failed to push out the intruders but also allowed them to build houses and shops and clear forest to build roads inside the disputed area. The number of Cambodian soldiers and people in the area had considerably increased, particularly during the administrations of Gen Surayud Chulanont and Mr Abhisit, the petition alleged.

Commanders of the army and the 2nd Army Area as well as the past and present governments since 1998 had committed malfeasance, causing damage to the state and the people in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code, the petitioners claimed.

The PAD plans a rally on Saturday near the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple, to demand the government push the alleged intruders out of the disputed area.

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