In its ruling on Monday, July 18, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said the situation "remains unstable" and "could deteriorate." The ICJ urged Thailand and Cambodia to engage in talks to resolve the decades-long conflict.

The recent fighting between Cambodia and Thailand has resulted in 18 deaths and forced the relocation of tens of thousands of villagers on both sides of the border since February.

Cambodia in April launched a bitter legal battle before the highest UN court in which it asked for an interpretation of a 1962 ICJ ruling on the 900-year-old temple area. The two countries argued their cases orally before the IPC at the end of May.

Although the ICJ ruling of 1962 determined that the temple area belongs to Cambodia, it has only been accessible from Thailand in recent years.

Thailand does not dispute Cambodia’s ownership of the temple, but still claims the 4.6-square-kilometer area surrounding the temple complex.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromiya, said his country would honor the ICJ ruling, welcoming the fact that the decision of the withdrawal of the troops is applicable to both Cambodia and Thailand.

Autor: Ziphora Robina (afp, Reuters)
Editor: Sarah Berning