On 27 May 2011, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to media enquiries regarding the itinerary of H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Hague, Netherlands from 28 May - 2 June 2011. He stated that on 30-31 May 2011, the ICJ or the World Court is scheduled to allow both Thailand and Cambodia to present their respective observations on Cambodia's submission of the request for the ICJ to rule on enacting provisional measures while the ICJ considers Cambodia’s request for the interpretation of the 1962 ICJ’s ruling on Temple of Phra Viharn.
The Cambodian side have requested the ICJ to consider three Provisional Measures: (1) for Thailand to immediately and unconditionally withdraw troops in the area of the Temple of Pra Viharn, (2) Thailand must cease all military activities in the area of the Temple of Phra Viharn, and (3) Thailand must cease any actions that may affect the rights of Cambodia including any other actions that may affect the ruling procedures. In this connection, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet and discuss with the Thai legal advisors and relevant authorities in preparing for the public hearing before the ICJ on 30-31 May 2011, the result of which should be known within 1-3 weeks.
The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson added that according to ICJ’s Provisions, while the Court is considering a case, the ICJ may issue provisional measures to protect the rights of the parties involved, depending on the reasoning and urgency for such measures. The ICJ may refuse all requests, accept all requests, agree to some measures or call for additional measures deemed necessary. All parties must comply with the court’s ruling hearing on the provisional measures. In any case, the provisional measure is a separate case from Cambodia’s request for the interpretation of the Court’s 1962 ruling on the Temple of Pra Viharn. Thus, should the provisional measures be issued or not, it will not affect the interpretation case.
Those who are interested in the case can follow developments including the oral hearing before the ICJ on May 30 and 31 via Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Twitter page at www.twitter.com/MFAThai_PR_TH
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th