Hun Sen Shares Thai Expert's Article, Urging Re-evaluation of Preah Vihear Ruling

On July 9, 2026, Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen shared an article by Surachart Bamrungsuk, an expert in international relations and security from Thailand. The article, titled "An Old Story That Is Not Old: The Verdict Determined by the Decision of the International Court of Justice," focuses on the 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling concerning the Preah Vihear temple. In a post on his social media, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated his interest in the article and his intention to share it, translated unofficially, for the understanding of both Cambodian and Thai citizens. He indicated that he would refrain from adding further commentary. The article highlights that a primary objective when two countries demarcate their borders is "to achieve security, certainty, and clarity." It argues that this objective cannot be met if the established border line remains subject to debate or demands for revision at any time. It emphasizes that the core of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is related to the Preah Vihear temple case. Thailand has previously faced the ICJ twice regarding this matter, in 1962 and again in 2013, with the Thai government having accepted the outcomes of both rulings. The article warns that Thailand must be vigilant and absolutely avoid creating conditions that would force a third return to the International Court. Specifically, the article stresses the significance of the 1962 ruling and the importance of treaties and maps in resolving border disputes. It suggests that while the content of this ruling may be largely forgotten in Thai society, it is crucial for understanding current border issues. The ruling is presented as a decisive factor concerning the border line between Thailand and its neighbors, acting as a successor state to colonial powers. Furthermore, the article quotes the ICJ's stance that if a border line can be challenged or revised at any time based on perceived inaccuracies in the original treaty, such protests will inevitably continue without end. This implies that international society does not wish to see border disputes prolonged indefinitely. Even if current leaders believe the original documents have flaws, they cannot be used as a pretext to dismantle them if they were jointly ratified by representatives of both states in the past. The article concludes that the ICJ's decision aims to prevent border conflicts from escalating into war. Agreements on border lines are intended "to reduce and eliminate all tense situations, and to achieve territorial stability based on certainty and clarity," not to create disputes as a bitter legacy for future generations. It reaffirms the court's desire to maintain the "status quo" of the border line, established through treaties and maps implemented by both states. Information Source: AKP Khmer