Abhisit believes canceling 2544 MOU poses no problems due to lack of practical use; recommends stringent legal procedures
The Democrat Party leader says canceling Thailand's 2544 maritime boundary agreement with Cambodia poses no practical issues, though legal procedures must be strengthened to prevent future disputes.
At Democrat Party headquarters on April 25, Abhisit Vejjajiva, party list member and leader, commented on the National Security Council's resolution to cancel the 2544 MOU, stating that the party has long maintained the agreement is non-functional and plagued by mapping disputes from inception. He noted that proceeding or canceling the agreement presents no principled difficulties, as continuing under the MOU would likely cause problems, but the legal procedures and methods must be tightened. The party must monitor Cambodia's response, though since the elections, they have consistently stated the 2544 MOU can be terminated. When asked about potential future complications from both nations being signatories to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, given Cambodia's typical non-compliance record, Abhisit explained that while international law is universal, new negotiations would be necessary since the original agreement is no longer operational due to various problems. Regarding whether the cancellation would be beneficial, Abhisit stated that procedures must be conducted rigorously according to legal principles while monitoring Cambodia's movements accordingly.
