Jurist UN chief salutes Thailand and Cambodia ceasefire, calls for further civilian redress and protection

[Dadparvar]

On Wednesday, the UN high commissioner for human rights welcomed the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand while urging both countries to pursue a civil deescalation process.

High Commissioner Volker Türk asserted that it is important for both sides to ensure that victims of the violence receive redress in line with international human rights and humanitarian laws and standards, saying:

In a tense situation of this kind, it is important that both Thai and Cambodian authorities take steps to rebuild confidence, to counter harmful and inciteful rhetoric, and tackle misinformation in accordance with international human rights law. It is the responsibility of both governments to ensure the safety and protection of each other’s nationals on their territory.

Thailand and Cambodia have had an almost century long dispute over ownership of Preah Vihear, an 11th century Hindu Temple, which sits along the nations’ shared border. The temple has triggered conflicts over the years, the latest occurring when a Cambodian soldier was killed on the border in May. Tensions further escalated when a mine exploded on the border, killing five Thai soldiers.

The conflict lasted five days and resulted in thousands being displaced and at least 35 deaths. The conflict also resulted in Thailand’s former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra being suspended after leaked text messages to Cambodian leader Hen Sun exposed potential national security liability. Economic pressure from the US, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations led by Malaysia, resulted in the ceasefire.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice had ruled that the temple falls within the sovereignty of Cambodia and repeated the ruling in 2013.

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