The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple has been mentioned on this blog before, but now it’s taken an even more explicitly legal turn. Cambodia petitioned the International Court of Justice to clarify its 1958 decision regarding the temple. That’s right – the ICJ ruled on this issue in 1958, and the countries are still fighting over it. It will be interesting to see what happens this time around – and more importantly, if a new decision actually resolves the dispute.
Category Archives: Thailand
Asia Foundation Thailand survey
The Asia Foundation has released a new survey of Thai attitudes towards politics and political institutions. Fortunately, it includes several questions about the Thai judicial system. Overall, the judiciary is still the most respected political institution (aside from the monarchy of course), with 59% of respondents claiming that it has “high integrity.” Perhaps more surprisingly given the public controversy, 63% of Thais regard the courts as generally unbiased or neutral. However, when respondents were separated into Yellow and Red shirts, the former had much more positive attitudes towards the courts than the latter. I highly suggesting skimming the pages related to courts and the justice system (pp. 69, 73, and 93).
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Filed under Thailand
Updates from the region
First of all, I apologize for posting less frequently and with less analysis. Grad school is keeping me busy. I’m also working on some interesting articles, which I’ll certainly share when they’re ready.
There were two interesting bits of news from the region today:
Burma: In a recent speech, Aung San Suu Kyi encouraged Burma’s youth to criticize corruption and arbitrariness in Burma’s judicial system. Interestingly, when Irrawaddy magazine solicited for suggestions for Suu Kyi, I told her she should focus on the judicial system. Maybe she listed to me!
Indonesia: The Judges Ethics Council ruled that Constitutional Court Judge Arsyad Sanusi must step down after family members received bribes from a litigant in a case before the court. While he complied, the affair is a sad mark on the court, one of the few bright spots in Indonesia’s judicial system.
Thailand: Thai activist Da Torpedo won an appeal against a lese majeste conviction. This is one of the few times a defendant has won in such a case. However, it’s unclear whether the Constitutional Court will uphold the acquittal.
Thai Judicial Politics – from a SAIS alum
One of my fellow SAIS alums, Seth Kane, has written a fantastic piece in Asia Times on the current state of judicial politics in Thailand. It covers some of the same ground my (now obsolete) New Mandala articles on the judiciary and constitutional court, but with an insider’s perspective on the Thai political scene. Seth also provides a useful contrast to much of the commentary by pointing out instances in which the courts have not sided with the Yellow Shirts. I encourage readers to check it out here. Congrats Seth!
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Filed under judicial independence, Thailand, Thaksin
Updates from the region
A few brief updates from the region:
Burma/Myanmar: The National League for Democracy has established a network of lawyers called the Central Legal Aid Team to provide pro bono legal services across the country. According to the Democratic Voice of Burma, their work will focus mostly on defending political activists, although lawyer Aung Thein claims it will not be limited by its affiliation with the NLD.
Cambodia: While Yellow Shirts have yet to face justice in Thailand, Cambodia has started to prosecute seven Thais, including an MP and prominent Yellow Shirt activist, for illegal entry into a military zone. The incident is part of the larger border dispute between the countries over the Preah Vihar temple.
Indonesia: Members of the Islamic Defenders Front are now standing trial for attacking and stabbing a Christian minister in Bekasi. Sadly, this is only a more extreme case of rising Islamic antagonism towards Christianity in the country.
Dominic J. Nardi, Jr. 
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