Vong Sokheng
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Phnom Penh Post
The government will not pressure the International Court of
Justice to release an interpretation about disputed land around the
Preah Vihear temple, it said yesterday, despite suggestions a
resolution could be more than a year away.
“We leave them [the judges] to do their job according to the rule of
law of the ICJ,” Council
of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit spokesman Ek Tha said.
“At the same time, the Royal Government of Cambodia wants to see an
official interpretation of the ICJ come out as soon as possible, and the
Cambodian government is very optimistic that the ICJ will uphold the
1962 decision.”
The Bangkok Post reported yesterday
that the ICJ might not complete its consideration of the dispute until
late next year if it asks Cambodia and Thailand to provide verbal
testimony.
If that request is made, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani
Thongphakdi was reported as saying, representatives will be required to
travel to The Hague in the Netherlands.
“If both countries have
to do this, the case is likely to be concluded in the second half of
2013,” he said. “Otherwise, it will be resolved within the first half of
next year.”
After fierce clashes left at least 28 people dead
last year, the government asked the ICJ to issue an interpretation that
clarifies its 1962 decision to support Cambodia’s claim to the Preah
Vihear temple.
The ICJ ordered both sides in July to
“immediately” withdraw their forces from the Provisional Demilitarised
Zone in response to clashes. Nine months later, forces from both sides
remain.
Thailand and Cambodia both claim ownership of the 4.6
square kilometres around the temple, leading to clashes along the border
in recent years.
The Thai position is that the court does not
have the authority to decide the issue.
Chheang Vannarith,
executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and
Peace, said Thailand had no political will to implement the ICJ’s
order.
“Therefore, Thai government officials are always
speculating – there is no official information – but we expect the ICJ
will release its interpretation in November,” he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Vong Sokheng at sokheng.vong@phnompenhpost.com
1 comment:
Don't believe the Bangkok Post.
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