Cambodia celebrates 50th anniversary of victory over Thailand in Preah Vihear case

Xinhua | 15th June, 2012
By Agencies

Global Times

 Performance at Preah Vihear during the 50th anniversary of the return of the temple, 15 June 2012.

Approximately 1,000 students from various schools and universities gathered here on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's victory over Thailand in the case of Preah Vihear temple at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The 11th century Preah Vihear temple is located on the top of a 525-meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains bordering Thailand.

The ICJ awarded the temple to Cambodia on June 15, 1962.

"Today's gathering is to express our deep gratitude to former king Norodom Sihanouk for his legal battle with Thailand more than 50 years back at the ICJ over the dispute of Preah Vihear temple," said Soy Sopheap, director general of Deum Ampil Media Center, which organized the event. "It is also to promote awareness about the temple to Cambodia's young generations."

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ros Chantrabot, advisor to the Government of Cambodia, said that the ICJ ruled on June 15, 1962 that the temple was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and, in consequence, that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw any military forces, or guards, stationed by her at the temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory.

The Court also ordered that Thailand must return any antiquities such as sculptures it had removed from the temple, he said.

At the event on Friday, there was also a concert and a short performance featuring the history of the temple.

The territorial dispute between the two nations reoccurred on July 7, 2008 when the UNESCO listed Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple.

The conflicts had led to several occasions of deadly armed clashes since then; however, the military tension has eased since the Pheu Thai Party, led by ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra, won a landslide victory in the general elections in last July.