12 August 2014 | CIL Fireside Chat Series

The Preah Vihear Temple Case at the ICJ

Introduction

The Preah Vihear Temple, an ancient Hindu temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a source of tension between the two countries since the 1950s. In 2008, the dispute escalated into a military confrontation, which is a rare occurrence between two ASEAN member states.

Fortunately, both sides have recognised the importance of international law and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in resolving the dispute (in 1959-1962 and again in 2011-2013).

The co-chairs, Prof S. Jayakumar and Prof Tommy Koh, invited two eminent speakers, who were on opposite sides of the Preah Vihear Case at the ICJ, to speak about the dispute and the ICJ’s 2013 decision.

H.E. Virachai Plasai was the Agent of the Kingdom of Thailand while Mr. Rodman Bundy represented Cambodia. Ambassador Plasai and Mr Bundy examined the dispute’s genesis and history, the interplay of domestic situation and foreign policy, the role of ASEAN, the first ICJ case, the second ICJ case and other aspects of international law and diplomacy which have influenced this dispute and contributed to an eventual dispute settlement by way of the International Court of Justice.

Materials

Presentation by Amb Virachai Plasai
Graphics and Maps by Amb Virachai Plasai

Panelists

H.E. Virachai Plasai
Thailand’s Ambassador to The
Netherlands

Mr Rodman Bundy
Director, Eversheds LLP

Hosts

Professor S. Jayakumar
Professor Tommy Koh