Insights on Thailand/Cambodia
While it seems that Cambodia has no intention of requesting a further meeting of the Security Council at this stage (the only Council meeting on this topic was held on 14 February 2011), Cambodia has applied to the International Court of Justice seeking an interpretation of the Court’s 1962 judgement concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear. This follows ten days of armed clashes between the militaries of Thailand and Cambodia along their disputed border resulting in 18 deaths (including one civilian). This effectively means that Cambodia has opened a new case against Thailand before the Court.
Cambodia has also requested the Court for an urgent indication of “provisional measures” pending delivery of its judgement (under Article 41 of the Court’s statute), including an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Thai forces from the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear, a ban on all military activity by Thailand in the area of Preah Vihear and that Thailand refrain from any act or action which could interfere with the rights of Cambodia or aggravate the dispute in the principal proceedings. Cambodia has asked the Court to fix a date as soon as possible to decide upon the provisional measures.
