Cambodia owns disputed land, rules UN court

Cambodia, not Thailand, has sovereignty over a disputed promontory around a 1,000-year-old temple, the UN’s highest court ruled on Monday in a unanimous decision on a long-simmering and sometimes violent dispute.

The International Court of Justice said a 1962 ruling by its judges gave Cambodia sovereignty over the Preah Vihear promontory and Thailand is now obligated to withdraw any military or police forces stationed there.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomed the ruling, saying it “gives the frontier between the two countries a clear borderline”.

He said both countries have agreed to work to maintain peace at the historic temple.

AP