UN’s highest court to rule on Thai troop withdrawal

“The court will deliver an order Monday on Cambodia’s request for Thailand to stop military activity” in the area, an observer close to the ICJ told AFP. – Reuters (File Photo)

Saturday, July 16, 2011
AFP

THE HAGUE: The UN’s highest court is to rule Monday on a request by Cambodia for an immediate Thai troop withdrawal from a disputed border area around an ancient Khmer temple, where clashes have taken place.

International Court of Justice president, Judge Hisashi Owada, is expected to read the court’s order at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) at the Hague-based Peace Palace, where the ICJ is seated. [KI-Media Note: 0800 GMT is 2PM Phnom Penh time]

“The court will deliver an order Monday on Cambodia’s request for Thailand to stop military activity” in the area, an observer close to the ICJ told AFP, adding Owada would be accompanied by a 14-judge bench and two ad hoc judges.

Cambodia in late April launched a bitter legal battle before the ICJ in which it asked for an interpretation of a 1962 ICJ ruling around the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

At the same time, while the court pondered its decision, Cambodia also asked judges to approve provisional measures including an immediate Thai troop withdrawal and a ban on all Thai military activity there.

Although Thailand did not dispute Cambodia’s ownership of the temple, secured by the 1962 ruling, both Phnom Penh and Bangkok claimed the 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) area surrounding the Khmer complex.

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