Thailand, Cambodia ordered to withdraw troops

The International Court of Justice Monday voted 11:5 to order both Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops from the disputed plot around Preah Vihear Temple.

Praj Iampongsan, a Nation Channel reporter, reported from Hague that the ICJ would proceed with the case to interpret the 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear temple. Pending the ruling, both countries are required to pull out their troops from the area.

He said the court rejected Thailand's request to throw out the case.

"Having noted that ... (armed) clashes might reoccur, the court decided that, in order to ensure that no irreparable damage was caused, there was an urgent need for the presence of all armed forces to be temporarily excluded from a provisional demilitarized zone around the area of the temple," a press release said.

The judges also ordered Thailand to not prevent Cambodia from accessing the temple complex, for instance to provide "fresh supplies to its non-military personnel."

They additionally encouraged both sides to cooperate through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - also allowing observers from the group into the temple's demilitarized zone - and to "refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute."

The court in The Hague must now consider an overarching request by Cambodia to revisit a 1962 ruling that awarded the temple to Phnom Penh. Thailand wants the court to dismiss the case.

Should the Thai government decide to comply with the court order and withdraw the troops from the 4.5 disputed area, it would be seen favourable for Cambodia.

Without Thai troops deployed in the disputed area, Cambodia could proceed to develop Preah Vihear as a world heritage site without obstacle.

Military observers expect that the Thai government would never comply with the order or else Thailand could be seen as being the wrong side during the past two years.

Earlier, the second Army area commander declared that he would never withdraw troops from the disputed area as doing so would be tantamount to giving the land to Phnom Penh.