Cambodian deputy PM to join ICJ’s hearing on Preah Vihear temple issues

   PHNOM PENH, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will send a Cambodian expert team to join the public hearing on the issues of Preah Vihear temple at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 30-31 in The Hague, The Netherlands, according to a press release on Thursday.

   The team will lead by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said the ministry’s statement.

   “The public hearing will focus on the conservatory measures for Preah Vihear Temple,” it added.

   The upcoming public hearing is held after Cambodia, on April 28, submitted a request to the Court for the interpretation of the Court’s judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear temple. Also, it submitted a request to the ICJ to take conservatory measures for the temple.

   “Cambodia considered conservatory measures as unavoidable for engendering a permanent ceasefire between the two countries, thus stopping the loss of lives and preserving the temple of Preah Vihear temple from serious damages, until the interpretation of the ICJ’s 1962 judgment is finalized,” said the statement of the ministry of foreign affairs on April 29.

   The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has occurred just a week after the enlistment due to Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.

   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.

   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first.  (Nguon Sovan)