DPA
Bangkok - The Thai-Cambodia border region around a disputed 11th-century Hindu temple was quiet Tuesday as the two countries prepared for day two in court at The Hague to settle the contentious border issue, officials said.
Thai soldiers remain in the border region guarding Thai territory, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Thanatip Hwangsaeng said Tuesday, adding that the area was peaceful and relations with the Cambodian military were good.
In April, Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice in The Hague to revisit its 1962 ruling that awarded Preah Vihear temple to Phnom Penh.
The court case started Monday with Thailand saying again that it honours that 1962 ruling, and that the temple itself is in Cambodia.
What is at issue is a 4.6-square-kilometre area near the complex that Thailand maintains was not included in the court's 1962 ruling.
That dispute goes back decades but Bangkok said it resurfaced after UNESCO in 2008 designated Preah Vihear a world heritage site, over Thai objections.
The temple has proved a flashpoint and sparked several clashes between the countries, most recently eight days of artillery and small arms skirmishes in April that killed 16 people, mainly soldiers, on both sides, and wounded around 60.
Both Thailand and Cambodia blamed each other for starting the fighting.
At The Hague on Monday Cambodia accused Thailand of 'deadly intrusions' into Cambodia and requested Thai troops to withdraw.
Thailand argued the border dispute did not fall under the court's jurisdiction because Thailand had complied with the 1962 ruling. It also says the 4.6-square-kilometre area is Thai territory and not part of the 1962 ruling.
Oral arguments were scheduled to continue Tuesday in The Hague.
No comments:
Post a Comment