Thai-Cambodia Border Decision Risks Renewing Nationalist Protests
June 26,2013
The United Nations top court is expected to rule later this year on Cambodia's request to determine ownership of disputed territory on its border with Thailand. The International Court of Justice in the 1960s declared an ancient temple around the border to be Cambodia's but did not decide on land around the temple. A clear ruling on the land risks renewing tensions between the neighbors that, in recent years, has led to deadly military clashes.
Thai nationalists two years ago demanded the United Nations cultural office de-list a Cambodian temple as a World Heritage site.
They view the recognition as a loss of Thai sovereignty stemming from a 1962 decision by a top U.N. court.
The International Court of Justice ruled on the ownership of the temple but, until this year, refused to decide who owns the land around it.
At Bangkok's Institute of Security and International Studies, Thitinan Pongsudhirak says it would be best if the court left ownership ambiguous.
"I'm hoping that this time we will see a similar ambiguity which forces Cambodian government and Thai government to sit down and work things out. Because now we have two governments that seem to be able to talk," he said.
Tensions over the issue led to sporadic clashes along the border that killed 20-some people and sent tens of thousands of villagers fleeing for safety.
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