Nationalist group threatens street protests if MoU 44 not scrapped in 15 days

A Thai nationalist group, led by former right-wing protest leaders Sondhi Limthongkul and Panthep Puapongpan, called on the government today to scrap MoU 44 between Thailand and Cambodia, and a related joint communique signed by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, within 15 days or they will stage street protests.

Photo: Sondhi Limthongkul

A protest note, addressed to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was submitted to the Complaint Centre at Government House today.

Similar protest notes were also sent to parliament and the Foreign Ministry.

Sondhi, now an executive at Manager Group, said he will give the government 15 days to respond to their demand for the cancellation of the two documents, failing that he and his allies will take to the streets to protest.

He also challenged the government to send representatives to join a live broadcast public debate with him and Panthep on MoU 44 and Joint Communique 44.

Opponents of MoU 44 claim that the document is invalid, runs counter to the Thai Constitution and is against a Royal Command of the late King Bhumibol pertaining to the maritime territory of Thailand.

MoU 44, which was signed by Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Sok Anh of Cambodia in 2001, recognises an overlapping claim area of 26,000 square kilometres, in the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand and Cambodia.