NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 5 January 2012 (NNT) – A group of around 50 people, calling themselves “Land Protection Group” from the southern part of the northeastern region, has presented a letter asking Thai troops to remain at the Thai-Cambodian disputed border, in fear of losing territory to Cambodia if troops withdraw.

The group, consisting of people from Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, and Si Sa Ket provinces, presented the letter to 2nd Army Region Commander Lt Gen Tawatchai Samutsakorn at the Suranaree Army Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima. The letter requests the army to show its clear stance to remain posted at the border, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s decision in October last year for both nations to remove their troops. The Court has assigned Indonesia to send its soldiers to the area while the ICJ is interpreting the 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear Temple, which is hoped to clarify the true ownership of the 4.6-square kilometer overlapping area around the ancient ruins.

The 2nd Army Region Commander affirmed that his unit will not remove the troops from the area as long as there is no clear order from superiors. He promised that his soldiers would do their best to protect the Thai territory.

The Land Protection Group also announced that if the ICJ ruled in favor of Cambodia, it would gather more people to protest against the decision.

Reporter : Nuttaporn Chanchokpong – NNT