Cambodia has officially submitted a request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve its ongoing border dispute with Thailand over several ancient temple sites and the Mom Bei area, even as the two countries continue talks through their Joint Boundary Committee.
The ICJ submission includes Tamoan Thom, Tamoan Touch, Ta Krabey temples, and the Mom Bei areas.
“Cambodia only needs justice, fairness and clarity in border demarcation and delimitation with our neighboring countries, so that our future generations will not continue to have issues with each other,” he said.
This submission came during the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting held in Phnom Penh over the weekend—the first since a deadly border clash reignited tensions.
However, Prime Minister Hun Manet clarified that the disputed areas would not be addressed during the talks, as the matter will be brought to the ICJ. He emphasized that the JBC is not mandated to resolve ongoing border restrictions.
The ICJ submission comes amid heightened tensions following a May 28 skirmish near the disputed zone that left one Cambodian soldier dead. Although both governments have publicly called for diplomacy, Thailand scaled back the opening hours at several border crossings late Saturday.
Significantly, the submission to the ICJ coincided with the 63rd anniversary of the court’s 1962 decision awarding sovereignty over Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia. Hun Manet said the move reflects Cambodia’s continued commitment to peaceful dispute resolution through international law.
“May our compatriots trust the Royal Government of Cambodia in its efforts to undertake this task with strong wills and responsibility in order to safeguard our territorial integrity and for the best interest of the nation and people of Cambodia,” he added.
