Cambodia and Thailand will have DMZ established in temple area, according to UN ruling

Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 19th July, 2011

The UN’s International Court of Justice has ruled that Thailand and Cambodia must withdraw their troops from a disputed border region where an ancient temple is located.

The ruling comes following several weeks of border hostilities between the two countries that have put the Southeast Asian region on edge, fearing a possible escalating of the conflict.

Scores of military servicemen have been killed and significant damage has been done to the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which dates as far back as the 11th century.

Ownership of the temple was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by The Hague, following a lengthy conflict, but the recent spat between the two countries has led to the establishment of a demilitarised zone.

Cambodia took the case to the International Court of Justice seeking an order by the UN forcing Thailand to remove its troops. Instead, the court has ruled that a “provisional demilitarised zone” will be established with the withdrawal of all troops in the area.

The court has further ruled that both nations must allow neutral observers in to monitor the ceasefire.

The latest spat ignited when Cambodia sought and won approval to have the temple listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, that ruling by the UN heightened fears in Thailand that land around the temple may also be claimed.

Thailand alleges the temple is within its borders because Cambodia based their claim on a map drawn during French occupation of the country, which put the temple and surrounding land within Cambodia.

Thousands have been displaced by the fighting.

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