Cambodian Experts to Join ICJ's Hearing on Preah Vihear Temple Issue

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will send a team of experts to join the public hearing on the issue of Preah Vihear temple at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 30-31 in Hague, The Netherlands, according to a press release on Thursday. The team will be led by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, China's Xinhua news agency cited the ministry's statement. "The public hearing will focus on the conservatory measures for Preah Vihear Temple," it added. The upcoming public hearing is held after Cambodia, on April 28, submitted a request to the Court for interpretation of the Court's judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear temple. Also, it submitted a request to the ICJ to take conservatory measures for the temple. "Cambodia considered conservatory measures as unavoidable for engendering a permanent ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand over border dispute, thus stopping the loss of lives and preserving the temple of Preah Vihear temple from serious damages, until the interpretation of the ICJ's 1962 judgment is finalized," said the statement of the ministry of foreign affairs on April 29. The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as Thailand claims the ownership of 4. 6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple. Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.

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