[Thai] Diplomat chosen to lead Thai-Cambodia border body

Asda Jayanama

THAI-KHMER BORDER CONFLICTS

December 2, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Career diplomat Asda Jayanama has been selected as the new chief of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

He replaces soft-spoken diplomat Vasin Teeravechyan, who resigned after political pressure from the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

"The Foreign Ministry chose Ambassador Asda to take the job and nobody raised any objections," said foreign minister's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut.

The position of JBC chief is a hot seat, as the PAD has accused the government of risking loss of sovereignty over the areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple in its negotiations on the boundary demarcation.

The yellow-shirt group demanded that Abhisit Vejjajiva's government scrap the memorandum of understanding on boundary demarcation signed with Cambodia in 2000.

The PAD was concerned that the 2000 MoU recognised a French map drawn to 1:200000 scale, which indicated the disputed area was under Cambodia's sovereignty.

Vasin decided to step down on November 1 as Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn of the PAD criticised him in a parliamentary debate, saying he relied too much on legal documents, including the map and the Siam-Franco Treaties of 1904 and 1907, in the boundary negotiations.

Asda has no legal background. He was Thailand's ambassador to many nations, including Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand. His last position before retirement was ambassador to the UN. Asda has good connections with the PAD and is known for criticising former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and ex-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

The minutes of JBC meetings are now under parliamentary reading and there is no clear time frame when the commission can continue its work.

The Parliament has extended its second reading from 30 days from November 11 to 90 days, and the PAD has threatened to call a massive rally when Parliament finishes its second reading.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul said yesterday that his group would review its rally plan. The group previously called a protest for December 11 against Parliament's consideration of the JBC document.