Phnom Penh, 11 February 2012
JOINT STATEMENT
The
National Authority of Preah Vihear (NAPV) and National Committee for
World Heritage (NCWH) wish to express their deepest concern at ongoing
activities carried out by Thai military personnel on Phnom Trap, located
well inside the ICJ’s sketch map of the Provisional Demilitarized Zone.
On
24 and again on 25 January 2012, two Thai military trucks transported
and unloaded construction material near a statue of the Lord Buddha that
had been recently erected and where demonstrations were staged in early
January.
It
should be recalled that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Order
issued on 18 July 2011 established the Provisional Demilitarized Zone,
and further ordered that “both Parties shall refrain from any action
which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it
more difficult to resolve”.
Subsequently,
on 21 December 2011 in Phnom Penh the General Border Committee (GBC)
meeting between the Minister of National Defence of Cambodia and the
Minister of Defence of Thailand issued a joint statement that “both
Parties agreed to implement the Order of the International Court of
Justice of 18 July 2011 in a transparent, equitable and verifiable
manner.”
The
NAPV and NWHC believe that the ongoing construction activities by the
Thai military contradict not only the letter of the ICJ Order, but also
the spirit of the positive results of the GBC and other meetings between
both sides attempting to nurture a peaceful and calm atmosphere in the
area around the Temple of Preah Vihear in order to safeguard and protect
this World Heritage property and build peace between our two
neighbouring peoples.
National Authority of Preah Vihear National Committee for World Heritage