Cambodia has asked the International Court of Justice to resolve border disputes with Thailand after the outbreak of the long-standing dispute prompted the Southeast Asian neighbors to mobilize troops on both sides of the border.
A Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash over the 820-kilometer border, parts of which are unregulated and claimed by both countries, the ag said. Reuters.
“Cambodia is committed to a peaceful solution based on international law through the International Court of Justice mechanism to resolve the border dispute“, Prime Minister Hun Sen posted on his Facebook page.
The post showed a photo of Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhon holding an envelope that Hun Sen said contained an official letter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, often referred to as the International Court of Justice.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry did not comment on Cambodia's move. Bangkok has previously said it has never recognized the court's jurisdiction and prefers to settle disputes through bilateral mechanisms.
Officials from both sides met in Phnom Penh over the weekend in an attempt to ease tensions amid fears of new military clashes.
Khun Manet said the disputes in the four border areas, including the one where the fatal clash took place, were "complex and carry a high risk of armed conflict where bilateral mechanisms cannot resolve them." He did not disclose the contents of the letter, which is not visible in the photo.
Cambodia has twice successfully sought resolutions from the International Court of Justice - in 1962 over the ownership of the disputed Preah Vihear temple and in 2013, after it requested clarification of jurisdiction over the land surrounding the temple.
Although both governments have promised to address the issue through dialogue and calm nationalist fervor, Bangkok has threatened to close the border and cut off electricity supplies to its neighboring city.
Phnom Penh has announced that it will stop buying Thai electricity, internet traffic, and production. It has also ordered local television stations not to show Thai films.