Koh Kut still looks like a tropical paradise, but geopolitical tensions are now rocking this otherwise tranquil holiday island.
“Tourists’ confidence is waning in the face of political uproar,” Trat Tourism Association’s president Wichit Sugasuyanon lamented. “The room occupancy rate has dropped by about 30% already.”
Nationalist groups and certain politicians are urging the Thai government to cancel a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Cambodia on the overlapping claims area, fearing it could result in losing part of the island in Trat province.
Wichit, who is a native of Trat, said Koh Kut residents consider the island to be part of Thailand and are hoping authorities will dispel any doubts over its sovereignty.
The MoU at the centre of the uproar was signed in 2001 by Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai government. Though several governments have since come to power – including General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s military-backed Palang Pracharath-led administration – none has attempted to cancel the contentious agreement.
Concerns over the MoU resurfaced after former Cambodian PM Hun Sen visited Thaksin in Bangkok early this year. The visit sparked rumours that Koh Kut may be used as a bargaining chip in the maritime dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
The rumours intensified when Palang Pracharath deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan asked the Constitutional Court to rule whether the MoU is legal, given it was signed without parliamentary approval despite dealing with national resources. The court dismissed the petition two months ago on grounds that Paiboon was not a damaged party in the case.
Palang Pracharath has refused to back down, however. The party was ousted in August from the ruling coalition led by Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Source: Thai Pbs
