Extracted from KI Media
Translation from Khmer by Heng Soy
Cambodia Watchdog Council International (CWCI)
Kristiansand, 15 July 2008
Statement
The CWCI is strongly condemning the about 40 armed black-clad Thai soldiers who savagely trespassed into Cambodia’s Preah Vihear western region on 15 July 2008, and who closed the access to the Preah Vihear temple located in this region, as well as preventing access to Cambodians, the rightful owners of the land. The Thai military action is an unlawful violation of Cambodia’s territorial integrity, and a scorn on Cambodia’s honor. This action is inexcusable.
The 4.6-square-km area located to the west of the Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia per the decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, furthermore, the 2-km-long stone stair steps between the temple and the borderline (also belong to Cambodia) based on the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese Convention. However, the current Cambodian government committed a grave mistake by agreeing with Thailand to redraw a new map which turned that land located to the west of the temple – including the important stair steps – into a disputed zone instead.
The Thai black-clad soldiers must immediately pull out of Cambodia near the western region of the Preah Vihear temple, and the Thai government must issue a public apology for its violation and incursion into Cambodia’s territorial integrity.
CWCI calls on the Cambodian government to cancel all treaties recently concluded with Thailand regarding the Preah Vihear temple issue, and it must maintain the decision handed down by the ICJ in 1962.
Ir Channa
CSCI Secretary-General
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