Southeast Asia - Articles

Rising Tensions: No end in sight for Cambodia-Thailand Dispute

In 2008 tensions between Cambodia and Thailand reached breaking point when the Preah Vihear Temple dispute, originally settled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, resurfaced. At the time of the original ruling the ICJ awarded the Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia while awarding most of the surrounding territory to Thailand. The reasons behind the resurgence of the conflict were manifold, with upcoming elections in Cambodia and the political turmoil in Thailand being cited as factors behind the upsurge in hostilities. Following a period of calm the dispute erupted again in September 2009 when Thai nationalist elements trying to gain access to the temple site clashed with police and local villagers. The incident led to the Cambodian Prime Minister issuing a statement in October 2009 claiming that any Thai national crossing into Cambodian territory illegally would be shot on sight.

Hostilities between the two countries have been fuelled further by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s support for Thaksin Shinawatra, the disgraced former Thai Prime Minister. Cambodia has appointed Thaksin as economic advisor to the Cambodian government prompting Thailand to request the former Prime Minister’s extradition. The request was rejected. The issue is seriously aggravating the already strained relationship between the two countries and Cambodia appears to be deliberately provoking the Thai government by emphasising its support for Thaksin. Consequently both Thailand and Cambodia have recalled their ambassadors. Cambodia has also arrested a Thai national working for Cambodia Air Traffic Services who is accused of being a spy. Thai aviation staff have been banned from Cambodia as a result of the arrest. Each day seems to mark a further deterioration in relations between Cambodia and Thailand with both countries engaging in tit for tat politics. It is difficult to establish who is responsible for the rise in hostilities as both countries have engaged in actions which could only serve to aggravate an already tense relationship. Not only is this a serious setback for the bilateral relationship but it is also an obstacle to plans for regional integration. Recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings have called for greater economic integration, including a joint ASEAN visa programme. Unresolved tensions between Cambodia and Thailand mean that these plans are unlikely to come to fruition in the foreseeable future.

In terms of dispute resolution, both Cambodia and Thailand are opposed to the idea of referring the case to the ICJ and Indonesia’s offer to act as a third-party mediator was also dismissed as unviable. Cambodia’s proposal to bring the matter to the attention of ASEAN has only served to aggravate Thailand, which believes that the issue should be resolved on a bilateral level. It is difficult to comprehend Thailand’s reluctance to involve third parties in the face of rapidly escalating hostilities. While this position is reflective of ASEAN’s stance on third party intervention it is not conducive to a peaceful Southeast Asia. In 2008 a number of soldiers were killed when troops fired at each other on the border between the two countries. It is essential that all possible measures are taken to ensure that there is no repeat of this type of incident. While opposed to the ICJ, Cambodia has shown willing to resolve the dispute through ASEAN. In view of the failure of bilateral attempts at dispute resolution this seems like the most viable option despite Thailand’s unwillingness to involve the organisation. It is essential that both countries reach a compromise on this issue before the situation deteriorates further.

News reports state that in some Thai border towns, defensive preparations are being made in case the dispute becomes violent. While it seems unlikely that Cambodia and Thailand will resort to the use of armed force to resolve their dispute, it is a sign of the severity of the dispute that the Thai government has felt it necessary to invest US$2 million on building 340 bunkers in border towns. It has also been suggested that the two countries will resort to sealing the border between them, however this unlikely to happen at present due to the economic impact this would have on local populations. It is clear that tensions between Cambodia and Thailand are already having a negative economic impact on the countries involved. Putting all other factors aside, this alone should serve as an incentive for the two parties to return to the negotiating table.

It is essential that the hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia are resolved before a repeat of the deaths that occurred on the border between the two countries in 2008. Southeast Asia is currently free of inter-state conflict and it is important that this remains unchanged. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are hindering progress towards regional integration and are likely to have an increasingly negative effect on both countries’ economies.  It is therefore in the interests of all who favour an ASEAN community and who desire a peaceful Southeast Asia for the tensions to be overcome. In order for this to be achieved the current culture of provocation must be replaced with a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.