Head of legal team to ICJ named

Veerachai Palasai, Thai ambassador to the Hague and former director-general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department, has been appointed head of the legal team to defend Thailand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Preah Vihear temple issue, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Wednesday.

Mr Kasit said this on his return from Geneva, Switzerland, where he met three foreign lawyers to discuss preparedness for the defence in the ICJ.

An addition to Mr Veerachai, Ithiporn Boonprakong, director-general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department, legal experts and historians of the Foreign Ministry will be responsible for compiling information and studying the petition filed by Cambodia with the ICJ.

Cambodia is seeking the ICJ's interpretation of its 1962 judgement on the Preah Vihear temple and accuses Thailand of aggression in attempts to claim Cambodian territory.

Mr Kasit said the ICJ has arranged for Thailand and Cambodia to attend a hearing of the ICJ on May 30-31.

Mr Veerachai will represent Thailand at this hearing. It is expected each side will take three to four hours making its points to the court.

Both countries will present their prepared documents to the court on this occasion.

The ICJ is expected to take four to five months considering the case, he said. He expected a decision early next year.