Cambodian–Thai border dispute

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Cambodian–Thai border dispute
Photograph of the Preah Vihear Temple
Photograph of the Preah Vihear Temple
Date June 2008 – ongoing
Location Cambodian–Thai border
Status ICJ decision awards promontory of Preah Vihear to Cambodia[1]
Belligerents
 Cambodia  Thailand
Casualties and losses
20 soldiers killed[2]
3 civilians killed[3]
65+ soldiers and civilians wounded		 16 soldiers killed[4]
2 civilians killed[5][6]
140+ soldiers and civilians wounded

The Cambodian–Thai border dispute began in June 2008 as the latest round of a century-long dispute between Cambodia and Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, located in the Dângrêk Mountains between the Choam Khsant district in the Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia and the Kantharalak district (amphoe) in the Sisaket province of northeastern Thailand.

According to the Cambodian ambassador to the United Nations, the most recent dispute began on July 15, 2008 when about 50 Thai soldiers moved into the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda vicinity which he claims is located in Cambodia's territory about 300 metres (980 ft) from the Temple of Preah Vihear.[7] Thailand claims the demarcation has not yet been completed for the external parts of the area adjacent to the temple, which was adjudged to be Cambodian by a 9 to 3 decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962.[8] By August 2008, the dispute had expanded to the 13th century Ta Moan temple complex 153 kilometres (95 mi) west of Preah Vihear (14°20′57″N 103°15′59″E / 14.34917°N 103.26639°E / 14.34917; 103.26639), where Cambodia has accused Thai troops of occupying a temple complex it claims is on Cambodian land. The Thai foreign ministry denied that any troops had moved into that area until several were killed in an encounter in April 2011.[9][10] An agreement was reached in December 2011 to withdraw troops from the disputed area.[11]

On November 11, 2013, the ICJ declared in a unanimous decision that the 1962 ICJ judgment had awarded all of the promontory of Preah Vihear to Cambodia and that Thailand had an obligation to withdraw any stationed Thai military, police, or guard forces from that area.[1] However, it rejected Cambodia's argument that the judgment had also awarded the hill of Phnom Trap (three kilometers northwest of the temple) to Cambodia, finding that it had made no ruling on sovereignty over the hill.

Background[edit]

The Preah Vihear temple area has been the subject of often rancorous debate within Cambodia and Thailand and between the two countries since the late 19th century.

The temple complex was built during the 9th and 10th centuries AD under the auspices of the Khmer Empire. As the empire reached its zenith and began a slow decline, the Ayutthaya Kingdom began to grow into the modern state of Thailand. Siam and Vietnam expanded into Cambodian territory in turn during the Ayutthaya, Thonburi, and Rattanakosin eras.[citation needed]

The Franco-Siamese treaty of 1867 forced Siam to renounce suzerainty over Cambodia, with the exception of Battambang, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meancheay provinces,[12] which had been officially incorporated into the Kingdom of Siam. During the 1904 state visit of King Rama V to France, Siam agreed to cede the four provinces to France in exchange for regaining Thai sovereignty over Trat Province and Amphoe Dan Sai of Loei Province, which had been occupied by France.[12]

In 1907 the Thai-Cambodian border was mapped by the French on behalf of a bilateral border commission. According to the 1904 agreement, the border would follow the natural watershed between the countries. However, the resulting map deviated by showing Preah Vihear Temple as being in Cambodia, even though it is on the Thai side of the watershed. Thailand accepted the map for official use. The Thais discovered the error when they made their own survey in the 1930s, but the ICJ ruled that they had waited too long to protest and lost the temple by "acquiesance".[13]

Immediately prior to World War II, the Thai government attempted to negotiate an adjustment of the border with French Indo-China. However, this came to an end with the French surrender in 1940 to Nazi Germany. The government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram then pressed the colonial government of French Indo-China for the return of territory Thailand had lost in the 1904 and 1907 exchanges: Battambang Province of Thailand (modern day Battambang Province and Pailin municipality, Cambodia), Phibunsongkhram (modern day Siem Reap, Oddar Meancheay, and Banteay Meanchey provinces, Cambodia), Nakhon Champa Sak Province (modern day Champassack Province and Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia), and Saiyaburi province of Laos (modern day Xaignabouli, Laos); (See map below) [12] The French colonial government refused to comply and fighting broke out along the border. In December 1940, Phibunsongkhram ordered an outright invasion of French Indo-China, starting the French-Thai War. The Thai army and air force was better equipped and had the advantage of numbers against the Colonial French forces; they pushed back the French Foreign Legion and French colonial troops with little difficulty. However, the more modern French Navy caught the Thai fleet by surprise and won a decisive victory in the Battle of Koh Chang. Imperial Japan intervened to mediate the conflict, concerned that the conflict would affect their own plans for Southeast Asia.[14] A general armistice was declared on January 28, 1941. On May 9 a peace treaty was signed in Tokyo, the French being coerced by the Japanese into relinquishing their claim on the territories demanded by Thailand.

Map of Cambodia and Thailand, showing the location of the temple

On December 7, 1941, a few hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier. Before the Thais could respond, the Japanese Invasion of Thailand began across the Cambodian border and at seven points along the sea coast. The Thai forces resisted courageously, but were soon beaten soundly by the Japanese. After only six or seven hours, the deeply worried Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram arrived in Bangkok and ordered an immediate ceasefire. Japan was reluctantly granted free passage, and after Japan's easy conquest of Singapore, Phibunsongkhram signed a military alliance with Japan on December 21, 1941. It contained a secret protocol in which Tokyo agreed to help Thailand regain the territories it had lost to the British and French colonial powers. In exchange, Thailand promised to assist Japan in its war against the Allies.

After the end of the war, Prime Minister Pridi Phanomyong agreed to return the "liberated" territories to France, in return for him and Thailand not being regarded as an aggressor nor a member of the Axis Powers. He also requested admission to the newly created United Nations. Initially, both the UK and the Soviet Union regarded Thailand as an aggressor, despite its active anti-Japanese underground movement. The United States intervened in gratitude to the Free Thai Movement and prevailed on its wartime allies to agree.

With Cambodian Independence and the French withdrawal in 1953, the Thai military occupied Preah Vihear Temple in 1954 in keeping with the border line of the natural watershed. The temple had been built facing north to serve the plains above it, not those of the Cambodian plain far below. However, based on the 1907 French map, Cambodia protested, insisting that it was inside their territory. Both countries finally agreed to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice and abide by its decision.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded ownership of Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia by a 9 to 3 vote, stating the 1907 map clearly showed Preah Vihear as being in Cambodia.[15] Nevertheless, the court had only ruled that the temple belong to Cambodia, and did not comment on the adjacent land to the north. Thailand reluctantly handed over the temple but continues to claim the surrounding area, insisting the border has never officially been demarcated here.[16]

The ownership dispute returned in recent years when Cambodia submitted an application to UNESCO requesting that Preah Vihear be designated as a World Heritage site. Thailand contended the application requested the designation include the land surrounding the temple, which Thailand still considers its territory. In the interest of cross-border relations Cambodia withdrew the application, and after winning support from Thailand, submitted a modified map requesting the designation only for the temple itself.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a right wing Thai protest group, turned the temple into a cause célèbre wedge issue in its battles against the People Power Party government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in their attempts to unseat the former and current Cabinet of Thailand.[17][18] In 2006 PAD-led street protests led first to the Thai general election of April 2006, largely boycotted by the opposition and won by then-incumbent Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party. This was followed by the military coup of June 2006, which ousted Shinawatra, the caretaker Prime Minister. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was viewed as a proxy for the self-exiled Thaksin Shinawatra, who now lives abroad to avoid his conviction for corruption.

Across the border, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) government of Prime Minister Hun Sen used the possibly coincidental timing of UNESCO's annual meeting and the listing of the temple as a World Heritage site in campaigning for the July 27, 2008 parliamentary election.[18]

Timeline[edit]

Lead-up to 2008 fighting[edit]

  • In January 2008, the Thai Defense Ministry from the 56th Cabinet of Thailand protested Cambodia's attempt to register the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site without agreement from Thailand.[19]
  • In March 2008, Cambodia informed Thailand of their plan to register Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site.
  • In April 2008, Thailand (the 57th cabinet) and Cambodia planned a talk on the issue before the registration. Thailand insisted that it would support the registration of the temple but that the process 'must not affect the disputed borderline'.[20]
  • On June 18, 2008, Thailand and Cambodia made a joint communique regarding the temple registration.[21]
  • On June 22, 2008, Cambodia closed the border crossing to Preah Vihear in response to Thai protests held at the border crossing. The protests were championed by an anti-Thaksin opposition figure, Sonthi Limthongkul, who claimed the government of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej had gained business concessions in Cambodia in return for ceding Thai territory to Cambodia when negotiating over the Preah Vihear site map that would be presented to UNESCO in Quebec, Canada.[18][22]
  • On June 30, 2008 the Nation newspaper in Bangkok published an editorial online highly critical of the People's Alliance for Democracy for its use of Preah Vihear temple in its campaign against the People Power Party government of Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej.[23]
  • On July 2, 2008, as UNESCO began its annual meeting in Quebec, Canada, the Bangkok Post online published a Deutsche Presse-Agentur (German Press Agency) report that erroneously stated that Preah Vihear partially sits on Thai territory.[24] Following the Thai government's decision to support Cambodia's bid for World Heritage listing, anti-Thaksin Shinawatra opposition figures mounted a legal challenge against Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.
    • The Thai Constitutional Court finally upheld the suit on July 7, 2008 in an 8–1 judgment that the foreign minister's joint communique with Cambodia was 'unconstitutional'.[25][26] Whilst UNESCO met in Quebec, Canada, there were about 20 Thai people standing and protesting outside holding sign "Noppadon, you are a LIAR" and Thai flags.
  • On July 8, 2008, thousands of Phnom Penh residents marched through the streets in celebration of the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO. On the same day, the Municipality of Phnom Penh held an evening outdoor concert at Wat Phnom to celebrate the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO earlier in the day. The concert was nationally broadcast on CTN, emceed by Cambodia's biggest television star and featured traditional Khmer performances as well as a fireworks display. Despite persistent rain, thousands of Cambodians attended.[18]
  • On July 10, 2008, Thai Foreign Minister Nappadon Pattama resigned over the listing of Preah Vihear by UNESCO. His resignation followed the 8-1 judgment by the Thai Constitutional Court that he had violated Article 190 of Thailand's 2007 Constitution, which calls for a public debate and Cabinet-level approval before such authorization can take place.[18][27]
  • On July 14, 2008, 8,000 Cambodians filled Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena for a concert hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and simulcast on Bayon Television. Sok An had just returned from UNESCO's annual conference in Quebec, Canada, where Preah Vihear was inscribed as a World Heritage site.[28]
  • On July 15, 2008, cross-border tensions flared after Cambodian authorities arrested three Thai nationals who had attempted to plant the Thai flag near the temple. Cambodia claimed that several dozen Thai soldiers subsequently crossed the border. One Thai soldier lost his leg to a Cambodian landmine detonation.[29][30][31]
    • Thailand maintains its troops are deployed to protect its sovereignty and ensure that any protests by Thais near the temple remain orderly, although a senior Thai military official acknowledged that his troops were on "disputed" ground.
  • On July 16, 2008, Thailand increased the number of troops stationed in the border region[32] adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
  • On July 17, 2008, the total number of troops at the temple increased to over 1,000, with some of the 400 Thai troops in the area occupying a Buddhist pagoda near the temple and claimed by Cambodia. Thai forces have denied they were inside Cambodian territory.[30][33][34]
    • In a letter to the Thai Prime Minister, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops and protesters from the area.[35]
  • On July 18, 2008, the Thai government handed Cambodia a letter from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisting Thai troops are deployed on Thai soil. In a letter to Hun Sen, the Thai PM said Cambodian troops and buildings on the disputed 4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi) area were a "violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity", but that his government was "resolved to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation."[36][37]
  • On July 19, 2008, the Thai and Cambodian governments sent more troops and heavy guns to the disputed border[38] ahead of high-level talks scheduled for July 21, 2008 between the Cambodian defence minister and Thailand's supreme military commander.[39]
  • On July 21, 2008, Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Ban and Thai Army commander Boonsrang Niempradit held talks in Thailand. The talks achieved no outcome.[40]
  • On July 22, 2008, Thailand rejected the assistance of ASEAN in resolving the border dispute. Thailand's statement came as ASEAN foreign ministers began a meeting in Singapore. The BBC reported that Cambodia had requested UN assistance in resolving the border dispute. The previous week the Cambodian government denied it had made such a call after similar news stories were published.[41]
  • On July 23, 2008, a spokesman for Cambodia's prime minister suggested that Cambodia may take the case to the International Court of Justice, as was done in 1962.
  • On July 24, 2008, Cambodia announced it would postpone its request to the United Nations until the bilateral negotiation at Siem Reap in July 28 was finished.
    • Cambodia and Thailand held the meeting on July 28 without any results.
    • Reportedly, both sides are in favour of a troop withdrawal, beginning with Thailand's army; the date when Thailand would withdraw its troops was not agreed on, however.[42]
  • On August 1, 2008, Bun Rany, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, conducted a Buddhist ritual at the temple; thousands of Cambodians also joined the ritual. On the same night, the anti-Thai government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) led thousands of their supporters in a rival ritual, by praying Suttas that the Gautama Buddha gave to his monks; they claimed this was to prevent any negative effects from the Cambodian ritual. Many Thais accused Bun Rany of conducting black magic aimed to weaken Thailand.[43][44][45]
  • On August 1, 2008, The Nation newspaper in Thailand published an editorial criticizing Cambodia for calling on the international community to help resolve the Preah Vihear stand-off.[46]
  • On August 5, 2008, Kriengkrai Sampatchalit, Thailand Fine Arts Department director replied to Cambodia, claiming that "The Prasat Ta Moan Thom Temple is located just about 100 metres (330 ft) from the border on Thai soil."
    • According to the Thai authorities, the Ta Moan Thom complex is in Thailand territory as evidenced by the Fine Arts Department's registration of the ancient ruin as a Thailand national archaeological site 73 years ago in 1935, despite the ruin being located 300 metres (980 ft) south of the border watershed ridgeline.
    • Tharit Charungvat, Thailand ministry's chief spokesman said, "Thailand has not boosted the number of its troops [in Ta Moan Thom Temple]."[8]
    • Thai Army chief Anupong Paochinda said Thai troops would remain at Ta Moan Thom because the temple is in Thailand.[48]
  • On August 7, 2008, ASEAN reported that both Thailand and Cambodia have withdrawn their troops from the Ta Moan Thom temple area to their original bases, according to AFP.[49]
    • Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly is expected to visit the area near the Preah Vihear Temple, but not the Temple itself, according to Cambodian sources. Cambodia and Thailand will hold a second foreign ministers' meeting in Thailand on August 18, 2008 to seek a peaceful solution to the 25-day-long military standoff over the border dispute.[50]
  • On August 14, 2008, both nations' militaries agreed to reduce troop levels at Preah Vihear Temple prior to a meeting between their foreign ministers.[51]
  • In September 2008, Cambodia accused Thailand of sending troops to occupy the Ta Moan Thom and Ta Kwai temples. Thailand responded that the temples belong to them and are part of Surin province and that The Thai Fine Arts Department have done a registration of the ancient ruins since 1935.[52]

Clashes[edit]

October 2008[edit]

  • On October 3, 2008, Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire with each other on the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear Temple. The fighting lasted for nearly three minutes, wounding two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier.[53]
  • On October 4, 2008, commanders of the two countries met at their disputed border area amid accusations that each side had caused a border skirmish on the previous day. Hosted by the Cambodian commander in the area Srey Dek and his Thai counterpart Colonel Chayan Huaysoongnern, the two sides called for the situation to return to normal.[54]
  • On October 6, 2008, two Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines in the border area after allegedly wandering 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) into Cambodian territory.[55]
  • On October 13, 2008, Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw troops from a disputed border area by noon Tuesday, October 14. Hun Sen said Thai troops had advanced on a border area called Veal Intry (Eagle Field) near the temple in an attempt to occupy Cambodian land near Preah Vihear. "They must withdraw," he said. Thailand's Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, said he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence." "We do not object to redeployment so there is no confrontation," Somchai told reporters, adding that he was not aware of Hun Sen's deadline.[56]
  • On October 14, 2008 in a televised interview, People's Alliance for Democracy leader (and future Foreign Minister) Kasit Piromya called Hun Sen "crazy", a "slave", and a "nak leng" (commonly translated as "gangster").[57]
  • On October 15, 2008, Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire on each other once again in the border area, leaving three Cambodian soldiers dead and two Cambodian and seven Thai soldiers wounded. One of the Thai wounded had sustained fatal injuries and died one week later.[58] The Cambodians claimed to have captured 10 Thai soldiers during the battle, but the Thais denied this. Still, Reuters published photos of the soldiers being held by Cambodian troops.[59] Although commanders from both sides were trying to negotiate a cease fire, Thailand urged Thai nationals to leave Cambodia.[60]
  • On October 18, 2008, a Thai soldier was accidentally killed by his own weapon at Phu Ma Khua.[61]

November 2008[edit]

  • From November 25 to December 3, 2008, the People's Alliance for Democracy executed "Operation Hiroshima": the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport. During occupation of the airport, PAD leader Kasit Piromya gave a speech in which he said "I will use Hun Sen‘s blood to wash my feet," recalling the historic incident where King Naresuan of Siam did the same to King Lovek of Cambodia.[57] The siege ended when the Constitutional Court dissolved the government of Somchai Wongsawat, resulting in the rise to power of Abhisit Vejjajiva as Prime Minister and Kasit as Foreign Minister.

April 2009[edit]

  • On April 2, 2009, a Thai soldier stepped on a mine and lost his leg in the border area.[62]
  • On April 3, 2009, fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces left at least three Thai soldiers[63] and two Cambodian soldiers dead; another five Thai soldiers were wounded.[64] Just days before this clash, Cambodian officials said that up to 100 Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory and did not leave until Cambodian soldiers showed up and asked them to leave. The Royal Thai Army denied the claim and said that Thai soldiers had not gone anywhere they were not permitted to be. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen then warned Thailand for the second time that if they (Thai soldiers) cross again, Thai soldiers would face fighting again with Cambodian soldiers. He said, "I tell you first, if you enter (Cambodian territory) again, we will fight. The troops at the border have already received the order."

January 2010[edit]

  • On January 24, 2010, Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire on each again in the border area. As Thai Rangers shouted at Cambodian soldiers asking their purpose in crossing over to the area, the Cambodian soldiers fired M79 grenades and automatic rifles at them, Col. Nut said, which left two Thai soldiers wounded.[65]
  • On January 25, 2010, Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire twice on Sunday morning at the contested border near Preah Vihear temple. The Cambodian soldier subsequently fired eight RPG (B-40) rockets into Thai territory.[66]
  • On January 30, 2010, soldiers from the two countries exchanged fire for two or three minutes on Friday evening.[67]
  • On January 31, 2010, A Thai soldier was killed in clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces in the disputed border area troops from the two sides fought for about 15 minutes late Friday after about 20 Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory and refused to leave when confronted by Cambodian soldiers. Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat said one Thai soldier was killed, with Cambodian troops firing AK-47 assault rifles and B-40 rocket propelled grenades.[68]

April 2010[edit]

  • On April 16, 2010 Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire along their border about 150 kilometres (93 mi) west of Preah Vihear. The clash lasted for about 15 minutes, but there were no reports of casualties, Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat told AFP. "While our troops were patrolling the border, the Thai soldiers opened fire at them. So our troops fired back," he said. He said troops from both sides fired rockets and grenades as well as rifles, but calm returned after a meeting between Cambodian and Thai military commanders in the area. The Thai military confirmed the shoot-out."It was a misunderstanding and nobody was injured in the clash," said a Thai Army officer who asked not to be named.

February 2011[edit]

  • On February 4, a skirmish in a gray zone in the overlap of Thailand and Cambodia territory called Phu Makua Hill started with an exchange of fire from 15:15 to 18:00 (GMT+7). Later, a ceasefire was called by local forces. One Thai civilian in Ban Phumsrol village of Sisaket Province's Kantharalak district died instantaneously and seven or more buildings, including Phum Srol School, were hit by Cambodian artillery rounds. Three houses were set ablaze.[69] The Cambodian government claimed 16–33 Thai soldiers were killed, 26 wounded, and four captured, with two tanks destroyed.[70][71] Thai news stations reported 64 Cambodian soldiers were killed and two tanks, 16 armoured vehicles, six artillery guns, and four multiple launch rocket systems were destroyed.[72] Independent sources confirmed that three Cambodians, including two soldiers, and a Thai villager were killed;[73] also 10 Cambodian[74] and eight Thai soldiers were wounded and four Thai soldiers were captured.[75][76]
  • On February 5, both sides exchanged firing again, starting from 06:25 (GMT+7) in three skirmishes at Chongdon-awn. The Thai army confirmed one Thai sergeant was killed by shrapnel and four soldiers wounded in the clash.[77] In the afternoon, both sides signed a ceasefire with four conditions: 1. stop firing; 2. don't increase army at the site; 3. do not cause an accident; 4. more communication.[78]
  • On February 6, despite signing a ceasefire earlier that day, renewed clashes occurred in the evening. According to reports, the fighting extended over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Phum Srol village to Phu Makhua mountain. At 08.17 hours, Cambodia troops opened fire at Thai military personnel stationing at Phu Ma Khua and Phlan Yao as well as villagers in Thai territory using rocket propelled grenades. Several Thai villagers have reportedly been injured. Baan Phum Srol school director Boonruam Pongsaphan stated that "I believe that this is no longer a misunderstanding. This is war because the Cambodian side is firing into residential areas, not military zones". Thousands of villagers from Kantharalak were evacuated.[79] Cambodia claimed that more than 20 Thai soldiers died in the clashes.[80] In the evening, Thai troops reportedly attacked Cambodian lines by trying to cross into Cambodia's territory despite the earlier cease fire agreement. There were reports saying that Cambodian troops captured Don Tuan temple that is over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the previous clash sites and Don Tuan temple is located in Thai territory.[81] It has also been reported that the heavy shelling of Preah Vihear Temple by Thai forces has caused part of it to collapse.[82] Since the start of the fighting, Cambodian troops had been entrenched in the 900-year-old ruins of the temple in a camp made up of several bunkers. They had been positioned high on a ridge with a commanding view of the Cambodian plains but highly vulnerable to fire from Thai positions just a few hundred metres (feet) away.[83]
  • On February 7, around two in the morning, the artillery fire finally stopped. However, sporadic fighting resumed later in the morning, after Thai troops attempted an operation to recover casualties from the previous day's heavy fighting.[73] Clashes ceased again at 11 am. Both sides blamed each other for the incident.[84] Cambodian civilians living near the contested area were evacuated by Cambodian authorities.[85] The People's Alliance for Democracy called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down.[86] Cambodia called for a UN Buffer Zone at the Thai border.[87] Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen described the situation as a "big skirmish or a small war".[88] Later that day, independent sources stated the toll for the previous three days of fighting to be 10 killed: one soldier and one civilian from Thailand and four soldiers and four civilians from Cambodia.[73][89][90] 34 Thais (30 soldiers and four civilians) and 45 Cambodians (soldiers and civilians) were wounded.[91][92] The four captured Thai soldiers were released.[93]
  • On February 8, there was no reported shooting incidents. However, Cambodian troops reportedly used the fragile ceasefire to dig into new positions and to set up sandbags.[94] A Thai soldier, who was severely wounded during the shellings on the 6th, died of his wounds at Sapphasithiprasong Hospital.[95]
  • On February 9, Hun Sen officially called the recent clashes a war, stating that "Thailand created this war. [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit must be responsible for the war" and "Our war with Thailand will be taking long time". He also made it clear that there would be no more talks without a third party, stating that "There will be no more bilateral talks, and all negotiations will be participated by the third party."[96] In a later statement, he said "“This is a real war. It is not a clash”.[97] Hundreds of Cambodian troops camped near the battleground, effectively strengthening their hold on the temple.[98]
  • On February 15, a new skirmish occurred. The shooting incident lasted for a few minutes. Although local media reported that five Thai soldiers were wounded, the army stated that only one soldier was injured during the fighting.[99]
  • On February 16, the clashes intensified. During the day, three clashes occurred (5 am, 8 pm, and 10 pm), but there were no reported casualties on either side. Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd stated that the Cambodians started it all with the use of mortars and rocket-propelled-grenades, forcing the Thais to retaliate.[100] However, Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, denies his country’s troops fired first. He said Thai soldiers attacked first. Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting. Cambodia wants international help to prevent further fighting, while Thailand says the issue should be resolved bilaterally.[101] The same day, unconfirmed reports claimed that Vietnamese tanks were moving towards the Cambodian–Thai border.[102][103] However, Hun Sen strongly denied it.[104]
  • In an agreement reached at a meeting of ASEAN in Jakarta, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to allow Indonesian observers to monitor disputed border territory by up to 40 military and civilian observers. "This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.[105]

April–May 2011[edit]

  • On April 22, 2011, a five-hour clash erupted along the border between Phanom Dong Rak District of Surin Province, Thailand and the Banteay Ampil District of Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia at the Ta Moan temple complex 14°20′57″N 103°15′59″E / 14.34917°N 103.26639°E / 14.34917; 103.26639 153 kilometres (95 mi) west of Preah Vihear and at Ta Krabey temple complex 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of Ta Moan, with reports that both sides used rocket launchers, machine guns, and rifles. According to the Thai Army, the fighting erupted after dawn and continued for over half an hour. Four Thai and three Cambodian soldiers were reported killed and eight Thai and six Cambodian soldiers were reported wounded.[10][108][109]
  • On April 23, 2011, the fighting with mostly long-distance shelling resumed about 6 am and halted by noon. A Cambodian defence ministry statement accused Thai aircraft of entering Cambodian airspace. The statement also said Thai forces had fired 75- and 105-mm shells loaded with poisonous gas into Cambodia's territory, an allegation that could not be independently verified and that Thailand rejected. A Cambodian field commander claimed that the "poison smoke" caused several soldiers who inhaled it to lose strength in their arms and legs. Col. Suos Sothea, deputy commander of the artillery unit, said that six rounds of cluster shells had landed in villages about 20 km (12 mi) inside Cambodia, but caused no casualties since residents had already been evacuated. Col. Tawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, denied absolutely that cluster bombs or poison gas had been employed. Tawatchai said one Thai soldier died, bringing the two-day casualty toll to four dead and 17 wounded, and that 15,000 civilians had been evacuated from the area of fighting. Cambodia's Suos Sothea said three soldiers from his country had been killed, bringing Cambodia's two-day death toll to six.[107] According to vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, Mr Nhim Vanda, roughly 5,000 residents had been evacuated to a safe shelter in the Samrong district of Banteay Meanchey province, some 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the fighting zone.[110][111]
  • On April 25, 2011, the fighting continued, after an almost full-day break.
  • On April 26, 2011, the fighting resumed for a fifth day. The fighting had now spread to a nearby temple.[112][113] By this point, five Thai soldiers were killed and more than 35 wounded, and eight Cambodian soldiers were killed, 17 were wounded and one was missing.[114][115][116]
  • On April 27, 2011, a Thai civilian was reported to had been killed in the fighting.[6]
  • On April 28, 2011, two more Thai soldiers were confirmed killed in the fighting.[117][118] The same day, Thailand and Cambodia finally agreed upon a ceasefire. Cambodian spokesman Phay Siphan said that "We will abide by the ceasefire from now on and local commanders will meet regularly to avoid misunderstanding".[119]
  • On April 29, 2011, the ceasefire was broken, as one Thai soldier was confirmed killed in the fighting.[120] A Thai military spokesmen said 11 Thai soldiers were hurt in the clashes with a total of 58 soldiers wounded since the start of the fighting.[121]
  • On April 30, the fighting resumed for a 9th day. However, there were no casualties.[122]
  • On May 1, a Cambodian soldier was killed. The death toll had reached 17, including: nine Cambodian and seven Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian. 95 Thais, including 50 soldiers, and 18 Cambodian servicemen had been wounded since the start of the fighting.[123][124] According to Thai army spokesman Col. Prawit Hukaew, the two sides had engaged each other with automatic weapons overnight Sunday. According to Thailand, no Thai troops was killed in the clashes.[125] On the afternoon, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued a statement which condemned Thailand for ten straight days of armed conflict; "The repeated invasions of Thai troops into Cambodia have caused gradual damage to Cambodia, it is an unacceptable act".[126]
  • On May 3, a Thai soldier was killed during skirmish in Surin, bringing the death toll on the Thai side to 12.[129] Cambodia claimed Thailand had fired 50,000 shells during the clashes.[130]
  • On May 4, a ceasefire was agreed upon, and the border was re-opened for trade.[131]
  • On May 5, Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made it clear that he would not allow any international troops at Preah Vihear, unless Cambodia withdraw its forces from the disputed territory. He claimed the presence of troops in the area was a violation of the 2000 memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia.[132]
  • On May 7, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to appoint Indonesia as observers at the disputed border.[133][134]

July 2011[edit]

  • Following a request from Cambodia to order Thai troops out of the area, the judges of the International Court of Justice by a vote of 11–5 ordered both countries immediately to withdraw their military forces from disputed areas straddling their border and imposed restrictions on both their armies and police forces. A "provisional demilitarized zone" would make Thai troops leave positions they have long occupied and Cambodia's to leave the temple's immediate vicinity. The court also called for officers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be allowed into the area to observe the cease-fire as called for by the UN Security Council last February.
Both sides said they were satisfied with the decision. Thai foreign minister Kasit, speaking outside the court, said that a withdrawal of armed Cambodians from the temple complex "has been our consistent position." Further noting that the decision is binding on both countries, he added that Thailand would withdraw her forces and facilitate the observers' deployment, and further agreed to allow unhindered supplies to Cambodian civilian personnel at the temple complex.
Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong said a demilitarised zone would mean "a permanent cease-fire … tantamount to a cessation of aggression" by Thailand. He also said he was satisfied with the dispatch of truce observers, which he said Cambodia had been seeking since last February, but made no reference to the demand for Cambodian troops to abandon the temple grounds.
The court said its ruling would not prejudice any final ruling on the where the border in the area between Thailand and Cambodia should fall. It could take the court many months or even years to reach that decision.[135]
But Abhisit, caretaker Prime Minister since the just-concluded Thai general election, said that Thai soldiers will not pull out from the disputed area until the military of both countries agree on the mutual withdrawal.
"We need to talk to the Cambodians as the Cambodians also have to pull out their troops," Abhisit said at a news conference in Bangkok.
"So there has to be some kind of mechanism to verify, to do it in an orderly manner. And therefore it depends on the two sides to come together and talk," he said, suggesting that an existing joint border committee would be the appropriate place to plan a coordinated pullback.[136]
  • On July 23, one Cambodian soldier was killed along the Cambodian-Thai border while another was wounded. A local military commander stated that the soldiers death was a result of clashes provoked by Thai troops. Pok Sophal, a commander for the Oddar Meanchey’s Trapaing Prasat district, stated that "We had an appointment for the meeting [between the two sides], and when we were walking, they opened fire at our soldiers". Thai spokesman Phay Siphan stated that the government was investigating the incident, but dismissed claims of armed clashes.[137][138]

September 2011 Football diplomacy[edit]

See also: Sports diplomacy

The general election resulted in a decisive victory for the Pheu Thai Party, with their leader, Yingluck Shinawatra, replacing Abhist as Prime Minister on August 5, 2011. Many United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD – also called "Red Shirts") members were elected to the House of Representatives ("MPs" in press reports.) Core UDD leaders arranged with Cambodian PM Hun Sen for a friendly football match to be played in Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium on September 24.[139] MP–and–UDD leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua were prohibited from leaving the country due to pending charges arising from the 2010 Thai political protests, so an attorney petitioned the Criminal Court for permission for them to travel to Cambodia for the game.[140] Former Thai premier Somchai Wongsawat led the Thai side. Cambodian premier Hun Sen led his side to a 10–7 victory, following which he announced that "the nightmare era" between Thailand and Cambodia was over. Former foreign minister Kasit Piromya rejoined that Hun Sen should not think that he could benefit from close ties with ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. "Don't think that you will get at our natural resources and territory by be-friending or playing football with the Pheu Thai MPs," he said.[141]

December 2011[edit]

On December 15, armies of both sides exchanged gunfire along the border in Koh Kong Province. The armed clash erupted at 1:45 pm in Zone 329 in Ta Min mountain after a Thai helicopter tried to land in Cambodian territory. No injuries or deaths were reported. The source said the Cambodian soldiers opened fire to prevent the Thai helicopter entering Cambodia and that the Thai soldiers responded with heavy gunfire. It was the first armed clash since Thailand's new government was formed in August.[142]

Arbitration[edit]

Provisional demilitarized zone pursuant to the Order of 18 July 2011

On 28 April 2011 Cambodia filed a request for interpretation of the 1962 judgment, as well as a request for the indication of provisional measures, in the Registry of the International Court of Justice.[143] On 18 July 2011 the Court rejected Thailand's attempt to have the case dismissed and indicated provisional measures requiring both states to withdraw their soldiers from a "provisional demilitarized zone" containing the area in dispute and some of its environs, continue their co-operation with ASEAN and observers appointed by it, and refrain from doing anything that might "aggravate or extend the dispute".[144] It also ordered Thailand not to obstruct Cambodia's access to the Temple of Preah Vihear.[145]

On 11 November 2013 the International Court of Justice gave judgment, ruling that the 1962 judgment awarded all of the promontory to Cambodia and ordering the withdrawal of Thai soldiers.[146] This followed a tense buildup to the decision in which dozens of Thai schools had closed ahead of the ruling.[147]

The Court first concluded that it had jurisdiction and the request for interpretation was admissible, finding that a "dispute exists between the Parties as to the meaning and scope of the 1962 judgment pursuant to Article 60 of the Statute [of the ICJ]."[148] The Court said that the 1962 judgment had three important features:[149] it involved an issue of "territorial sovereignty...and that it was not engaged in delimiting the frontier";[149] the "Annex I map played a central role in the reasoning of the Court...";[150] and that it made clear that it was only dealing with the small area in the "region of the Temple of Preah Vihear".[151] The Court unanimously declared:[152]

The Court therefore concludes that the first operative paragraph of the 1962 Judgment determined that Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear, as defined in paragraph 98 of the present Judgment, and that, in consequence, the second operative paragraph required Thailand to withdraw from that territory the Thai military or police forces, or other guards or keepers, that were stationed there.

However, the Court rejected Cambodia's argument that Phnom Trap had also been awarded to it by the 1962 judgment, concluding that the reference to the "vicinity" of the Temple of Preah Vihear in the operative part of the 1962 judgment was not intended to extend to it. Phnom Trap, known by Thais as Phu Ma-khuea (ภูมะเขือ, "Solanum Hill"), is the hill three kilometers northwest of the temple and comprises over 4 km2 of the "4.6 square km" that both states agreed was in dispute.[153]

Prior to the verdict, hundreds of Thai villagers left the area in expectation of the ruling to be unfavorable to them. There were also fears of renewed clashes amid rising nationalist rhetoric.[154]

Civilian effects[edit]

After the initial attack on February 4, 2011, the Cambodian army fired BM-21 Grad rockets into the town of Sao Thong Chai located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the border. As a direct result, primary schools, a local hospital, and 4–5 houses were destroyed.[155] Only minutes before the bombardment, the local authority had issued a warning to the locals to evacuate and close the school. Despite this, one civilian was killed and at least 34 were injured in the rocket attack.[156] There are reports that 22,000 Thai citizens had to evacuate and abandon their homes. The Cambodian government blamed the Thai army for firing onto the World Heritage temple, causing severe damage, whereas the Cambodian army settled the site as an army base. There is evidence, such as video and photo footage from Reuters,[157] showing that Cambodian forces used the temple as a military base and fired machine guns and artillery. Thai soldiers responded by firing rifles at the Cambodian soldiers hiding on the temple.[158] However, there are only a few bullet scratches on the temple.[159] The AFP reported that Cambodian troops were stationed in the temple.[160]

Thai army was accused of using cluster munitions against Cambodia during the border fighting in February. Thailand at first denied the allegation, but later admitted it had fired the weapons. According to the Cluster Munition Coalition, thousands of Cambodian villagers are now at risk of death or serious injury because of unexploded ordnance near their homes.[161]

Reactions[edit]

International[edit]

Many Asian nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, China, and Vietnam, as well as Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have called on both sides to exercise restraint.[162][163][164][165][166][167] Thailand and Cambodia agreed to allow Indonesian monitors to go to the border between the two countries to help prevent further military clashes; Indonesia was appointed as observer in this dispute.[133][168]

Local[edit]

Improvised village bunker

Despite the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which commits parties to resolve intrastate conflict without violence, and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand, which established a Joint Border Commission to peacefully resolve overlapping claims, important constituent groups in Thailand, including the "Yellow Shirts," maintain that the status of Preah Vihear remains unresolved.[169]

Villagers from Ban Phum Srol denounced plans by the People's Alliance for Democracy ("Yellow Shirts") to bring relief supplies. "You have created the war. You troubled us. We don't welcome you," said Wichit Duangkaew, 46.[170]

Police arrested a Thai, a Cambodian, and a Vietnamese in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, near the Thai-Cambodian border. The suspects carried maps with military bases marked on them, but they denied they were spying.[171]

According to Michael Montesano, a visiting research fellow on Thai history and regional affairs at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, "They're people who say that Hun Sen's playing up the situation on the Thai border is a way to distract the Cambodian people from his much softer stance vis a vis Vietnam relating to poorly demarcated borders."[172]

See also[edit]

911 Para-Commando Special Forces
Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
Border Patrol Police
Thahan Phran
Thai–Laotian Border War

Literature[edit]

  • Charnvit Kasetsiri; Pou Sothirak; Pavin Chachavalpongpun (2013). Preah Vihear: A Guide to the Thai-Cambodian Conflict and Its Solutions. Bangkok: White Lotus Press. 
  • Sven Mißling (2011). A Legal View of the Case of the Temple Preah Vihear. World Heritage Angkor and Beyond: Circumstances and Implications of UNESCO Listings in Cambodia (Universitätsverlag Göttingen). pp. 57–67. 
  • Puangthong R. Pawakapan (2013). State and Uncivil Society in Thailand at the Temple of Preah Vihear. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 

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