Demilitarised zone

Tue, Jul 19, 2011
The Nation/Asia News Network

CAMBODIA - The International Court of Justice yesterday ordered both Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops immediately from Preah Vihear Temple and its disputed area, rejecting Bangkok's request to remove the case from the general list.

The court also said it would continue to work on the interpretation of the scope and meaning of its 1962 judgement awarding the temple to Cambodia, as requested by Phnom Penh to end the long-running conflict over the ancient Hindu temple.

The court declared a "provisional demilitarised zone" around the temple that appeared to be smaller than the 4.6-square-kilometre area claimed by both sides, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand would not pull its troops out of the zone until it consulted with agencies and Cambodia on how to comply with the order.

The Thai government was satisfied with the injunction against armed occupation of the zone, as it did not cause the loss of Thai territory, he said.

"I make it clear that the world court's decision is not binding on Thai sovereignty (over the territory) and the Joint Boundary Commission is the best forum to discuss the border issue," he said.

Abhisit said he would call a meeting at Government House at 9am today with Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and senior officials from relevant agencies such as the Foreign Ministry and National Security Council to discuss measures over security in the disputed areas.

Asked whether JBC talks could begin now or should wait till the new government starts, Abhisit said talks could begin right away but legal interpretations would be needed to help his or the new government to make decisions.

Kasit said the court's decision was acceptable in the sense that both countries were ordered to retreat from the contested area. "It is our original position to see Cambodia withdraw its forces from the temple, its vicinity and Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Temple," he said. "We negotiate with Cambodia from time to time on this issue."

The Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has been sitting at the centre of tension between the neighbours since the court ruled in 1962 that the temple was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia, and Thailand argued that the temple's surroundings belong to Thailand.

Both sides' militaries have clashed off and on but the most recent and serious exchange took place in February, killing many civilians and soldiers on both sides.

ICJ president Hisashi Owada said in reading out the verdict that "having noted that the temple area had been the scene of armed clashes between the parties and that such clashes might reoccur, the court decided that, in order to ensure that no irreparable damage was caused, there was an urgent need for the presence of all armed forces to be temporarily excluded from a provisional demilitarised zone around the area of the temple."

The court also stated that Thailand should not obstruct Cambodia's free access to the Temple of Preah Vihear, or prevent it from providing fresh supplies to its non-military personnel.

It said Cambodia and Thailand should continue their cooperation within Asean and, in particular, allow the observers appointed by that organisation to have access to the provisional demilitarised zone, and that both parties should refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve.

The Cambodian delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, said his country was content with the court's decision and the establishment of a demilitarised zone around the temple.

"What it means is there will be a permanent cease-fire. It will be tantamount to the cessation of aggression of Thailand against Cambodia," he was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.