18 July 2011
ICJ RULING: A SHAMEFUL DEFEAT FOR THE HUN SEN GOVERNMENT
As elected representatives of the Cambodian people, we are deeply
disappointed with today’s ruling by the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in The Hague ordering both Cambodia and Thailand to withdraw
their troops from a large area surrounding Preah Vihear temple. This
Khmer temple indisputably stands on Khmer territory and is placed
under Cambodia’s sovereignty according to a judgment by the same ICJ
in 1962.
Following three years of aggression by Thailand and resulting
violation of Cambodia’s territory, today’s inconsistent and shocking
decision by the ICJ unacceptably put the aggressor and the victim on
the same footing.
This ICJ ruling represents a shameful defeat for the Hun Sen
government whose incompetence is blatant when it comes to the defense
of Cambodia’s territorial integrity on both our western and eastern
borders.
We renew our call for the Hun Sen government to step down because of its
inability to effectively defend Cambodia’s territorial integrity and
vital interest in
the face of foreign aggressions.
The only effective way to defend Cambodia against any foreign
aggression is through peaceful means, notably by calling for the
implementation of the 1991 Paris Agreements on Cambodia, as opposition
leader Sam Rainsy told Prime Minister Hun Sen to do, in his 11
February 2011 open letter listing measures and initiatives that
Cambodia should take for her defense against Thailand’s aggression.
SRP Members of Parliament
