The Role of Thailand Toward the Dispute between Thailand and Cambodia Over the Ownership of Preah Vihear Temple

Abstract

This paper aims to study (1) the causes of dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the ownership of Preah Vihear Temple, and (2) the role of Thailand on the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the ownership of Preah Vihear Temple, using qualitative research methodology, and all the data had been collected and reviewed through the secondary sources 

The findings revealed that:

1. The conflict between Thailand (or Siam) and Cambodia over the whole territory of Preah Vihear Temple was because both countries had claimed to have the territorial sovereignty over the Preach Vihear by referring to the different maps of demarcation along with Phanom Dong Rak watershep


2. In A.D.1959, Cambodia requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Netherlands, to interpret this case and Thailand had agreed with that. The judgment was revealed that the Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and in 2005. After 40 years of peacefulness, Cambodia has claimed the territorial sovereignty on the overlapping area of 4.6 square kilometers

The ICJ announced the judgment that (1) Phu Ma-Khuea and surrounding area of 4.6 square kilometers where both side agreed was in dispute is not territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia, and (2) Annex 1 map (1: 200,000) does not certify by the ICJ as the frontier line.