International Court of Justice to Issue its Verdict on Preah Vihear Temple on Nov. 11th

Cambodian guards stand at the Preah Vihear temple before they were pulled out in 2012.
Tang Chhin Sothy, file photo: AFP

 

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia confirmed on Wednesday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would issue its verdict on the border row between Cambodia and Thailand over a 4.6 square-kilometer land near Preah Vihear temple on Nov. 11.

“We have got an official notice that the ICJ will announce its decision or verdict related to the court’s rule in 1962 on Nov. 11, 2013,” Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters.

International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue its verdict on the border row between Cambodia and Thailand

He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will lead a delegation to listen to the verdict at the ICJ in the Hague.

“We wait and see the court’s decision,” he said. “For Cambodia’s stance, Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that Cambodia is ready to meet and talk with Thai side on the implementation of the upcoming verdict in the framework of friendship and cooperation.”

Koy Kuong said whatever the ICJ’s decision is, it will not affect the friendship and good cooperation between the two countries.

Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple, is located on the top of a 525- meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, bordering Thailand.

The ICJ awarded Cambodia the temple and its vicinity on June 15, 1962, but Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple in 2008.

The 11th century temple had been a flashpoint of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops since July 2008 when the UNESCO listed it as a world heritage site.

Cambodia brought the case of the disputed land to the World Court in April 2011.