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Cambodia wins temple area border dispute
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The United Nations’ highest court ruled yesterday that Cambodia has sovereignty over a disputed promontory around a 1,000-year-old temple, in the latest attempt to settle a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.
In a unanimous decision, the International Court of Justice said a 1962 ruling by its judges gave Cambodia sovereignty over the Preah Vihear promontory and said Thailand was therefore “under an obligation to withdraw from that territory the Thai military or police forces or other guards or keepers that were stationed there.”
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he was happy with the ruling even though it did not give Cambodia all the land it was hoping for. Speaking on Cambodian state television TVK, he called the decision “a gift from the International Court of Justice to our Kingdom of Cambodia.”
The court granted Cambodia sovereignty over the temple in 1962 and said Thai forces were obliged to withdraw from the temple “or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory.”
Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces to ask exactly what judges meant by “vicinity” in 1962.
The court did not draw any new maps, but said the promontory is bordered by steep slopes on most sides and to the north a border line drawn up in 1907 by a commission of French officials.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the verdict included “satisfactory results to both sides,” adding the two neighbors will work together to implement it.
In a televised address, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her government would look at how to proceed following the ruling, but also stressed the need for cooperation with Cambodia.
“Thailand and Cambodia share an 800-kilometer border,” she said, adding the countries “have to rely on each other for prosperity.”
Close to the border, Cambodian national Mann Vanna, 55, said he was happy with the decision.
“This ruling I hope will end the long dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, and that the Thais will respect this verdict,” he said, his eyes filling with tears. “This ruling will end the black blood that has flowed from the people of both countries. Thailand has to respect it.”
Soldiers from both countries were near the temple over the weekend ahead of the announcement of the judgment at the court’s headquarters in The Hague and villagers nearby feared the ruling could trigger new military clashes.
In Srah Kdol, a Cambodian village about 20 kilometers from the temple, several families had left ahead of the verdict and others had dug or were in the process of digging bunkers.
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