Cambodia turns to World Court over Thailand border disputes

On Sunday, Cambodia announced it had requested the International Court of Justice to address its border conflicts with Thailand, following an escalation in their ongoing dispute that prompted both Southeast Asian nations to deploy troops along the border.

On May 28, a Cambodian soldier lost his life in a short clash during a dispute over the 820-km (510-mile) border, segments of which remain unmarked and are claimed by both countries. The post featured an image of Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn grasping an envelope that Hun Manet claimed held an official letter to the ICJ in The Hague, commonly referred to as the World Court.

The Thai Foreign Ministry has not yet replied to a request for remarks regarding Cambodia’s action. Bangkok has stated that it has never acknowledged the court’s authority and favors resolving the conflicts via bilateral means.

Discussions regarding border demarcation over the weekend involving officials from each country yielded no conclusive outcomes, with both parties committing to reduce tensions and maintain communication.

Cambodia stated in a release that it had suggested to Thailand that both nations should collaboratively take the four contested areas to the ICJ and that these areas should be excluded from any future bilateral discussions on border demarcation.

Cambodia announced it would initiate legal action at the ICJ on its own, even though Thailand dismissed the court’s authority. Thailand, conversely, did not refer to the four contested regions or the ICJ, stating solely that “both parties will persist in discussions and collaborative execution” of border demarcation negotiations. Thailand will hold the upcoming meeting in September.

Hun Manet stated that the conflicts in the four border regions, including the location of the deadly incident, are “complex and entail significant risks of military confrontations, where bilateral approaches are ineffective.”

He did not reveal the contents of the letter, which were not shown in the image. Cambodia has successfully pursued ICJ resolutions on two occasions: in 1962 regarding the ownership of the contested Preah Vihear temple and in 2013, when it requested clarification of jurisdiction over the land surrounding the temple.

Despite both governments promising to address the matter through conversation and to temper nationalist passions, Bangkok has warned of border closures and discontinuing electricity supplies to its neighbor. Phnom Penh declared it would stop purchasing Thai electricity, internet bandwidth, and goods. It has additionally instructed local TV stations to refrain from airing Thai movies.