Cambodia seeks only justice over border dispute with Thailand

26 March 2013
The New Straits Times

 

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia believes the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will give justice to the country over a disputed border area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple with Thailand, Xinhua newsagency reported. Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said: "What Cambodia needs is justice. I think it is also justice for the other side," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"We don't want the other's property and we don't want to lose our legal asset to the other."

Cambodia and Thailand are scheduled to give their oral statements on thedispute to the ICJ in the Netherlands from April 15 to 19.

The court is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed landaround the Preah Vihear Temple later this year.  

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will lead aworking group made up of border officials and legal experts to attend the oralhearing next month.  

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflicts over territorialdispute near the Preah Vihear Temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as aWorld Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

However, Thailand claims ownership of a 4.6-sq. km scrub next to the temple.

Last month, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and Thai counterpart SukumpolSuwanatat had lunch near the temple in the hopes of reducing tensions betweenboth countries ahead of the World Court's oral hearing. -- Bernama

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Cambodia wants 'only justice' over border dispute with Thailand

Xinhua | 2013-3-26

By Agencies 

Cambodia believes that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will give justice to the country over a disputed border area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple with Thailand, Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Tuesday.

"What Cambodia needs is justice -- when the court gives justice to Cambodia. I think that it is also justice to the other side," he told reporters."We don't want the other's property, and we don't want to lose our legal asset to the other."

His comments were made as Cambodia and Thailand are scheduled to give their oral statements on the dispute to the ICJ in the Netherlands on April 15-19, and the court is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed land around the Preah Vihear Temple later this year.

Koy Kuong said that Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will lead a working group, comprised of border officials and legal experts, to attend the oral hearing next month.

"For Cambodia, we have already prepared ourselves for this legal battle,"he said.

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial dispute near the Preah Vihear Temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple.

Fierce clashes between the two sides' troops occurred in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

However, the two neighbors have seen improving ties since August 2011 when former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won the general election and led the current government.

Late last month, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Sukumpol Suwanatat informally met and had a special lunch near the temple, aiming to reduce tensions ahead of the World Court's oral hearing.

At that time, the two ministers reiterated their commitment to comply with the decision of the ICJ.