Senate President Reaffirms Need to Resolve Border Disputes in Four Sensitive Areas at ICJ

Senate President Reaffirms Need to Resolve Border Disputes in Four Sensitive Areas at ICJ

AKP-Phnom Penh, June 16, 2025 –Following the Royal Government of Cambodia’s official submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the border disputes in the Mom Bei area and the temple complexes of Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Tauch, and Ta Krabei, Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has reiterated his full support for the move.

In a special statement during the 3rd session of the Senate held this morning, Samdech Techo Hun Sen emphasised that bilateral negotiations over the four sensitive areas have failed, making the judicial process through the ICJ the most appropriate and peaceful path forward.

“Cambodia does not want to resort to conflict to resolve these issues. We only want to protect our nation,” he stated.

The Senate President further remarked that the bilateral mechanism is unlikely to resolve the disputes—even if negotiations were to continue for another 100 or 200 years—predicting that conflict could resurface between the two nations in the future.

“I believe that anyone who avoids justice is guilty. Simply put, only thieves fear the court,” he asserted.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also called on the international community to support Cambodia’s efforts to resolve the issue through legal and peaceful means. “I hope that countries around the world that uphold international law will support Cambodia’s pursuit of a peaceful resolution through both bilateral and international legal mechanisms,” he said.

He reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to accepting the ICJ’s ruling. “This is a peaceful solution to the problem. Because if we go to war over territory, how many lives would we lose?” he stressed.

By Heng Panha