THE HAGUE: UN Court has ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their respective troops from the disputed border region near an ancient temple complex.
Fighting had erupted around the Preah Vihear temple earlier this year, after which Cambodia had approached the International Court of Justice on this issue.
The temple is surrounded by area which belongs to Thailand while the temple belongs to Cambodia.
The ICJ is attempting to clarify a 40-year-old ruling that demarcated the borders between the two nations. The Thais said that they will respect the court’s ruling.
UNESCO awarded Preah Vihear World Heritage status in 2008 which caused tensions to increase between Cambodia and Thailand.
Clashes erupted around the temple in February in which 10 people were killed. Another 18 people died in April as fighting broke out along the border which too was around another set of temple.