Thursday, 5 July 2012

Cambodia accuses Thailand of breaching World Court's order

PHNOM PENH, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday accused Thailand of violating the order of International Court of Justice (ICJ) by placing barbwires in the Provisional Demilitarized Zone ( PDZ) near Preah Vihear Temple.

"Thai Black Uniform soldiers have conducted unconstructive activities in the area including in the PDZ defined in the ICJ's order on July 18, 2011," Cambodian Foreign Ministry said in a note sent to Thai Embassy here.

In addition to what had previously been laid, Thai soldiers placed more barbwires on June 23-25 at coordinate VA 659-918, north of the steel entrance of the Preah Vihear Temple and other areas despite protest from the Cambodian side,the note said.

On June 26, at night, two gunshots were heard from Thai positions. On June 30 in the morning, Thai soldiers laid more barbwires at coordinate VA 659-918, it said.
"While protesting against the above activities which are contrary to the ICJ's order, the government of Cambodia requests the Thai side take action to stop further such activities, in order to avoid provoking tension and negatively affecting the atmosphere for the implementation the ICJ's order,"said the note.

On the same day, Cambodia's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong also sent a complaint letter to Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the ICJ, about Thai soldiers'violation.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. The two countries had fierce clashes in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

The ICJ ordered on July 18, 2011 that Cambodia and Thailand immediately withdraw their military personnel from the PDZ and refrain from any armed activity directed at that zone.
Also, it ordered both parties to allow ASEAN observers ( Indonesians) access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.

However, to date, neither Cambodia nor Thailand has withdrawn its troops from the 17.3 square kilometer PDZ.

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