PHNOM PENH – Cambodia hopes Thailand will agree to bring border issues to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve their dispute, Prime Minister Hun Manet says as tensions rise over last week’s deadly exchange of gunfire.

He blamed repeated provocations by small extremist groups for fueling nationalist movements in both countries which could lead to renewed confrontation.

He cited escalated tensions at Ta Moan Thom and Ta Moan Toch temples areas as well as the incident near the Mom Bei area where the Cambodian soldier died.

Addressing a joint meeting of the National Assembly and Senate on June 2, he said he met the  military leadership stationed at the border on June 1 to hear reports on the situation.

“Cambodia firmly adheres to peaceful resolution of border issues through technical mechanisms and international law as a core foundation,” he said.

Hun Manet ordered urgency in the Joint Border Commission (JBC) work surveying, demarcating and putting up border markers.

Included in the JBC agenda will be bringing the issues of Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, Ta Kro Bei temples and the Mom Bei area to the ICJ, he said. The JBC are normally represented by top diplomats of both countries.

“Cambodia hopes that Thailand will agree to bring the case to ICJ in a spirit of integrity and honesty, to prevent this issue from becoming a problem that could lead to another armed confrontation,” he said.

If Thailand doesn’t agree to the proposal, Cambodia will file a complaint to the UN’s top court to solve the matter once and for all and not let small groups of extremists in both countries use this issue to incite problem.

He said Cambodia seeks to resolve the border issues peacefully through technical mechanisms and international law but reserves the right to defend its territorial integrity by all means including the use of armed forces in the case of any attempt to invade Cambodian territory using military force.

Senate President Hun Sen also threw his support for the plan to use top court for a resolution.

He said in a post on June 1 that the Memorandum of Understanding of 2000 on the survey and demarcation of the border had proven ineffective in clarifying the matter which resulted in frequent accusations and multiple armed conflicts. 

“If the Thai side is truly sincere in resolving the issue, they should jointly agree to bring the case before the court without requiring Cambodia to file a complaint,” he said.

Hun Sen, who called the May 28 clash an aggression, said Cambodia would wait for Thailand’s stance on this matter. Cambodia’s armed forces must exercise restraint but remain prepared to respond to any aggression, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has protested strongly to  Thailand over the exchange of firearms hostility at Techo Morokot village in Preah Vihear province.

Calling the killing unjustifiable, the ministry said in a statement dated May 29 sent to Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh that Cambodian border troops have long been stationed continuously and peacefully at this position well prior to the signing of the 2000 MoU.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia wishes to register a strong protest against this unprovoked attack with firearms by Thai troops, which is a violation of Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity and the spirit of friendship and good neighborliness, such as reflected in the MOU of 2000,” it said.

Cambodia demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into this violent incident and that the individuals responsible for this fatal and unlawful act be brought to justice while remaining firmly committed to observing maximum restraint and resolving this issue and all border issues through peaceful and diplomatic avenues, using existing mechanisms, including the JBC and General Border Committee.