Monday, 22 September 2008

International law best way to solve border standoff

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Lay Vicheka
Monday, 22 September 2008

Dear Editor,I feel strongly positive regarding the Thai-Cambodian controversy over the temple border after reading the Post's [September 15] article: "Govt to take temple row to the UN".

I endorse the Cambodian government's gentle measures regarding this issue, bilateral negotiation, not instigating gunfights and other impulsive measures. Cambodia has, by far, suffered too much internal bloodshed, poverty and an economic downward-spiral, and we have just experienced economic growth, regional globalisation (Asean, WTO), so my best advice to the government is to immerse itself into the full-scale dedication towards these positive sides, rather than compelling Cambodia into more bloodshed, of which we already know the result.

Resorting to the UN Security Council and the International Court of Justice is the best solution for Cambodia and I am sure that justice will prevail.

Well, the Iraq war is a material breach of international law and it does seem that international law lacks teeth in respect to this. But Thailand is not the US, it is just a country that has a better economy than Cambodia.

Lay Vicheka
Phnom Penh

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