Cambodia, Thailand initiate deal on temple dispute

July 22, 2011
(Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday the country has proposed an agreement with Thailand in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to define a demilitarized zone around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"On Thursday, we had sent the draft agreement to Thailand, Indonesia, The Hague, and the United Nations Security Council," he said during a press briefing to express Cambodia's stance on the border issue with Thailand.

According to the seven points of the draft agreement proposed by Cambodia, it said that with a view to implement the immediate withdrawal of all military personnel from the provisional demilitarized zone (PDZ) as defined in the ICJ's order, Cambodia and Thailand, in cooperation with the Indonesian observer teams, shall inform the court on the details of its military personnel and their positions, as of 18 July, 2011, within the PDZ.

With a view to ensure Cambodia's free access to the temple of Preah Vihear and to maintain normal administration within the PDZ, each party, in cooperation with Indonesia, shall report to the Court on the status of any non-military activities as of July 18 2011 within the PDZ.

After the entry into force of this agreement, both parties request the speedy assignment and dispatch of the Indonesian observer teams, on behalf of ASEAN, as indicated in the Court's order and as agreed in the statement by the ASEAN chair on Feb. 22 in Jakarta.

Once the Indonesian observer teams are in place, the parties shall cooperate with the Indonesian observer teams to determine the location on the ground of Points A, B, C and D of the PDZ.

Both parties, in cooperation with the Indonesian observer team, shall draw up a timetable for the immediate withdrawal of all their respective military personnel from the PDZ.

In accordance with the order, this agreement shall not prejudice the works of the General Border Committee and Joint Border Committee with a view to demarcate the border and assure security and order at the border.

The assignment of duties, responsibilities and terms of reference for the Indonesian observer teams and responsibilities of Cambodia and Thailand in facilitating the mission of the Indonesian observer teams shall be defined in a separate agreement to be signed between Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia, in accordance with the court's order.

"If the temple area is formed as the demilitarized zone, there will be no more bloodshed between the two nations," said Hun Sen. The U.N. Court on Monday ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple.