Cambodia to take border issue with Thailand to International Court of Justice

ISTANBUL

Cambodia will take the border issue with Thailand to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prime Minister Hun Manet told the country’s first-ever joint session of parliament on Monday.

The 182 lawmakers unanimously endorsed the government decision, state-run AKP News reported.

“Cambodia hopes that Thailand will agree to jointly bring this issue before the ICJ in a spirit of fairness and mutual trust,” said Manet. “Even if the Thai side does not agree, Cambodia is prepared to proceed unilaterally. This is essential to prevent a handful of extremists in both countries from reigniting tensions and provoking repeated confrontations.”

Senate President Hun Sen said: “Taking the dispute to the ICJ could reduce political pressure on both governments and pave the way for a long-overdue resolution.”

He said a memorandum of understanding signed by two neighbors in 2000 was “no longer viable, as it has been 25 years with no resolution,” according to daily Phnom Penh Post.

“If we don’t let the court decide, this issue will be like Gaza between Palestine and Israel — never resolved, with constant fighting, whether small or large. Why fear going to court if we are sincere?” asked the senate president, who was the longest-serving prime minister of Cambodia until 2023.

The joint session of Cambodia’s National Assembly and Senate is convened “when necessary or to resolve national issues, including those related to independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

Tensions between two Southeast Asian nations escalated last week when troops from Thailand and Cambodia on May 28 engaged in a brief gunfire in their border area.

At least one Cambodian soldier was killed during the incident, lasting 10 minutes, in the disputed area lying across Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand.

The two sides, however, gave conflicting statements on who initiated the gunfire.

The area in Cambodia’s Choam Ksan district and Chong Bok border pass in Thailand has not been clearly demarcated and the two Southeast Asian neighbors have overlapping claims on the territory.

While the status quo appears to have been restored, the two armies were still in the area.

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