Cambodia petitions the International Court of Justice to settle disputes over four contested land border regions.
In an unexpected move, the Cambodian government lodged a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Sunday, targeting four contentious border areas shared with Thailand. Prime Minister Hun Manet announced this via a Facebook post, citing the disputed territories as Tamone Thom, Tamone Touch, Ta Krabey, and Mom Bei.
However, it's important to note that the current dispute revolves around different areas—namely, the Emerald Triangle, Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Kwai temples, as per the recent news updates. Thailand and Cambodia have been in a standoff regarding these areas, with Thailand arguing that Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Kwai are part of Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin province, while the Emerald Triangle, including a site where soldiers from both nations exchanged fire on May 28, is within Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province.
Cambodia, on the other hand, claims possession over Tamone Thom, Tamone Touch, Ta Krabey in Oddar Meanchey province, and Mom Bei in Preah Vihear province. The Emerald Triangle, a region where Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos meet, has been a focal point of the dispute.
Despite this, Cambodia has made it clear that they're seeking "justice, fairness, and clarity" in border demarcation, hoping to prevent future generations from facing similar issues. Thailand, meanwhile, has declined to recognize the ICJ's jurisdiction in the matter, preferring direct negotiations instead.
As both countries engage in the second day of the Joint Border Commission (JBC) meeting in Phnom Penh, tensions remain high. In a positive step, both sides have agreed to continue the dialogue, albeit without reaching a definitive resolution as of yet. The atmosphere of the talks has been generally pleasant, as expressed by Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura.
Interestingly, Hun Manet revealed on Friday that the disputed areas would not be discussed during the JBC talks.
The Emerald Triangle, a contested region among Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, has become a significant point of contention in the ongoing general-news dispute between the two countries. While Cambodia presents claims over Tamone Thom, Tamone Touch, Ta Krabey, and Mom Bei, the Emerald Triangle has been a focus of the dispute, despite not being discussed during the Joint Border Commission (JBC) talks.
