Cambodian and Thai officials have said they can solve the problem bilaterally, but it has proven intractable in the face of political unrest in Thailand
Chim
By Neou Sarem, VOA Khmer
Washington
24 June 2009
Hundreds of soldiers on the Thai and Cambodian sides of the northern
border are amassed near Preah Vihear temple, but in 1962, another kind
of battle altogether was underway.
At that time, Thailand or Cambodia contested each other’s rights to
the temple. But a battle in international court, fought by lawyers,
not in the jungles by soldiers, brought Preah Vihear temple under
Cambodian authority.
“When Cambodia won the lawsuit, Thailand recognized the verdict of the
court, then Thailand sent to the UN a map that Thailand drew
unilaterally,” said Sean Pengse, president of the Cambodian Border
Committee, a group that advocates for border integrity.
Both sides now have different maps, leading to border contests, but
Preah Vihear temple squarely belongs to Cambodia.
Sean Pengse said Cambodia should follow the 1962 example in its
current border dispute with Thailand, which has been ongoing for
nearly a year and has cost the lives of at least three Cambodian and
three Thai soldiers.
Cambodian and Thai officials have said they can solve the problem
bilaterally, but it has proven intractable in the face of political
unrest in Thailand.