Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear
Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear
#opinion
The Temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia not because of “silence”, but because the historical facts and the international Treaty of 1904 and the Convention of 1907 which served as basis for International Court of Justice Judgment on 15 June 1962.
The Court concluded that the Temple is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia after examining the applicable treaties, historical evidence, official maps, diplomatic conduct, and the practice of both States over several decades.
The Court also ordered Thailand to:
– withdraw all military, police, guards or other personnel stationed at the Temple and its vicinity on Cambodian territory; and
– return cultural objects removed from the Temple area after the occupation in 1954.
Thailand is not silence. Thailand occupied the Temple in 1954 was illegal. Thailand attacked the Temple in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2025 was illegal.
Facts cannot be rewritten by sentiment, narratives or by force.
The sovereignty of the Temple of Preah Vihear was determined by the International Court of Justice based on international law and binding judicial decisions.
The World including Thai people deserve to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
-Khmer Times-
