BANGKOK, June 16 (TNA) – Thailand’s Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, responded to Cambodia’s recent filing of four disputed border areas with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He asserted that the ICJ would ultimately only consider legal principles, emphasizing that on-the-ground demarcation requires direct bilateral negotiation.
Benjamin reiterated Thailand’s long-standing non-acceptance of the ICJ’s jurisdiction since 1960, a position shared by 118 other nations. He expressed regret that Cambodia bypassed direct talks, stating that border issues are not simple legal disputes. He pointed out that the Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting did not discuss these four disputed border areas, and Cambodian actions disregard the 2000 MOU, which mandates bilateral consultation for dispute resolution.
He underscored that the UN Charter encourages direct dialogue and other mechanisms before resorting to international courts. Benjamin stressed the need for Cambodia to utilize existing bilateral tools like the JBC for effective and efficient border demarcation, a process he noted can take years. -819 (TNA)
