Thailand cannot cancel MoUs - Cambodia

Tue, November 10, 2009
The Nation and Deutsche Presse Agentur

Cambodia insists on Tuesday Thailand could not revoke a Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding on joint oil and gas exploration because the move would be against international laws.

Var Kimhong, head of Cambodia's border commission, said, "I could not find any term in these articles that allows the Thai side to terminate on its own without the consent of the (Cambodian) side," he said.

"No single article allows one side to terminate."

Var Kimhong was speaking shortly after the Thai cabinet on Tuesday agreed its foreign ministry's proposal to cancel the MoUs on joint oil and gas exploration.

The move is part of the series of Thai protests after Cambodia appointed Thaksin as economic adviser to its premier and government last week. Bangkok is upset that Cambodia declared it would not extradite Thaksin to Thailand to serve the two-year jail term if requested.

Following the appointment, Thailand recalled its ambassador, downgraded the relations and reviewed mutual cooperations.

Thaksin arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday and he was scheduled to give a lecture on economy issues on Thursday.