THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 18 (UPI) -- Thai and Cambodian forces are ordered to withdraw from the area surrounding a Hindu temple located along the shared border, an international court ruled Monday.
Conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand are centered on the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008. International courts ruled in 1962 that the temple was in Cambodia though parts of the temple grounds are in Thai territory.
The International Court of Justice in a 22-page ruling issued Monday rejected a petition by Thailand to throw out a Cambodian appeal. The court in an 11-to-5 vote ordered both sides to "immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present" in the region.
The court added that both parties should continue cooperating with regional agreements surrounding the temple and allow observers provisional access to the demilitarized zone.
Thailand after earlier clashes erupted in February rejected an offer to have U.N. peacekeeping troops sent to the area. The United Nations said troops would be sent in only if both sides were in agreement and they were part of cooperation between the countries.
Thai and Cambodian forces agreed to a cease-fire in late April following a week of border clashes between the Asian neighbors over the area.
"Both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve," the court added.
