Bangkok/Phnom Penh, June 10: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to withdraw their military forces to previously agreed-upon positions following a deadly border clash late last month that killed a Cambodian soldier, officials from both governments said.
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have long disputed sections of their shared 817-km (508-mile) frontier, much of it left undemarcated since French colonial rule in the early 20th century. Violence has flared sporadically since 2008, most notably around the 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple, which both countries claim.
The latest skirmish occurred on May 28 in the contested area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, leaving one Cambodian soldier dead and prompting both sides to bolster troop deployments.
Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Sunday that both governments remained committed to resolving the dispute through peaceful means and pointed to an upcoming meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), established to facilitate bilateral negotiations.
However, Cambodia has called for international intervention. Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Phnom Penh had submitted the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), citing the “complexity, historical nature and sensitivity” of the dispute.
“Bilateral dialogue alone may no longer suffice to bring about a comprehensive and lasting solution,” Sokhonn said. Thailand, for its part, does not recognise the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the matter and insists that bilateral negotiations remain the most appropriate forum.
In the aftermath of the latest violence, Cambodia indicated it may maintain troops in the disputed region despite Thailand’s calls to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Thai army announced Saturday it had assumed control over the “opening and closing” of all border crossings with Cambodia, citing sovereignty and security concerns.
Thailand operates 17 official crossings along its border with Cambodia, according to government data.
At least 28 people have died in cross-border clashes since 2008, underscoring the fragility of peace in the region. Efforts to reach a lasting resolution have been hampered by conflicting interpretations of colonial-era maps and shifting political dynamics on both sides.
