Cambodia Celebrates ICJ’s Decision on Preah Vihear Temple

By Soy Sophea

Cambodia on June 15 celebrated the 46th anniversary of the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. The celebration was organized in front of Wat Botum Vadei in Phnom Penh by a group of local NGOs. Officials from civil societies took part in the event and a performance group acted out stories related to the history of Preah Vihear temple.

Meoung Son, Organizer of the event, said it was the first time such a ceremony had been held since Cambodia obtained the Hindu temple from the Hague-based ICJ on June 15, 1962.

He said that, “The purpose of the ceremony was to remind Cambodians of this aspect of the nation’s history, and the background issues used to justify the presentation of the temple buildings to Cambodia in perpetuity.”

He added that the ceremony also publicized the Cambodian government’s effort to enter the temple into UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) world heritage list in July 2008.

Sok Samoeun, president of a local NGO, said that this temple absolutely belongs to Cambodia according the verdict of the ICJ.

Eang Sithul, president of the Khmer Artists Association, also promised that the ceremony would be held every year to commemorate the induction of the Preah Vihear Temple complex into the World Heritage list.