Pita Asserts Koh Kood Must Remain Under Thai Sovereignty, Calls for Government Clarity.

Bangkok: Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, an advisor to the Progressive Movement, has called on the Thai government to clarify its stance on the overlapping maritime claims area between Thailand and Cambodia, specifically concerning Koh Kood. He emphasized that Koh Kood should belong to Thailand and urged the government to make a clear statement to prevent fueling nationalism. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pita addressed the ongoing negotiations regarding petroleum benefits under the Thailand-Cambodia Memorandum of Understanding on Overlapping Maritime Claims on the Continental Shelf (MOU 44). He referenced comments made by Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, who warned against nationalism being detrimental to the country. Mr. Pita acknowledged that while nationalism is not inherently wrong, excessive nationalism could lead to political discord and strained relations among ASEAN countries. Mr. Pita further explained that the negotiations on the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) b etween Thailand and Cambodia, previously covered by MOU 44, have concluded. He expressed his belief that Koh Kood should undoubtedly remain a part of Thailand. He stressed that discussions at the OCA level should focus solely on areas containing petroleum resources and should not include Koh Kood. He warned that including Koh Kood in these negotiations could lead to public suspicion. Mr. Pita stated that it is imperative for the government to clearly communicate that any negotiations related to petroleum resources should exclude Koh Kood. He emphasized that Koh Kood's sovereignty is a territorial issue recognized at the United Nations level, and it should remain under Thai control. Clarifying this would help curb excessive nationalism and allow the government to address other pressing issues and legislative matters. He also highlighted that the government's failure to provide clarity could negatively impact its standing. He noted that ambiguity could lead to public concerns about the scope of negotiations w ith Cambodia. Drawing parallels with the Joint Development Area between Thailand and Malaysia, Mr. Pita pointed out that a lack of clear communication could invite unproductive nationalism and distract from ASEAN unity. Mr. Pita also touched on the geopolitical implications of the ongoing ambiguity, particularly in light of the upcoming US presidential election. He expressed regret over missed opportunities to strengthen ASEAN solidarity during this period. Additionally, he shared insights from the launch of the book 'The Death of Democracy or How Democracy Die,' using it to analyze the US presidential election while maintaining political neutrality.