Cambodia considers filing a complaint against Thailand

Cambodge Soir

15-09-2008

Following last Wednesday’s intrusion of Thai soldiers in the Dongrek Mountains, Prime Minister Hun Sen considers bringing the case before an international court.

On Friday 12 September, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Hun Sen requested his government to thoroughly arrange all necessary documents in order to file a complaint against Thailand before an international tribunal, or even before the UN Security Council.

The intrusion of Thai soldiers on the territory, Wednesday 10 September, has indeed once more stirred up the tensions between both countries regarding the temples located near the Thai border. The dispute started on the 15th of July in Preah Vihear after the invasion of the site by Thai troops. At that time Cambodia had sent a letter to the UN Security Council but had deferred the demand in order to start bilateral negotiations with Thailand, at the request of the latter. Besides the withdrawal of troops in Preah Vihear these negotiations only brought some limited results.