Cambodia Affirms No overlapping Areas at Preah Vihear border

By Soy Sophea

The Royal Government of Cambodian has underlined the fact that there is no overlap between Cambodian and Thai territory in the areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple. This statement is fully supported by international law and official maps that describe and classify the terrain as falling under the purview of Cambodian sovereignty. Thai counterarguments have resulted in a tense border standoff since mid-July.

“There are no overlapping areas at all along the 800 kilometer border with Thailand. We don’t recognize any overlapping areas,” Phay Siphan, the Cambodian Government spokesman and Secretary of State at the Council of Ministers said, during a round table discussion conducted by the Club of Cambodian Journalists on November 18.

The Secretary of State explained that the Thai military map claims overlapping areas amounting to 4.6 square kilometers, and this is used to support the Thai claim, according to Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Council of Ministers. This claim was judged to be one-sided and unjustifiable at a 2007 UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting.

Siphan hoped that his clarification would dispel confusion among some international reporters who have mistakenly reported that Cambodia and Thailand have overlapping border areas near the Preah Vihear temple.

Since the registration of Preah Vihear temple on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on July 7, Cambodian and Thai troops have been deployed along the border, with each side accusing the other of encroachment. A small-scale clash recently claimed several lives and caused superficial damage to the exterior of the ancient temple’s staircase.

The Secretary of State noted that the maps in Cambodia’s possession are internationally recognized and do not show any “white” or overlapping areas. Therefore, Cambodia will never accept any claims of shared territory.

Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat recently explained the Thai stance in a joint press conference following border discussions on November 12 at Siem Reap province. Thailand is happy to use the 1904 and 1907 international treaty between France and Siam as a road map to resolve the border conflict.