ICJ on Preah Vihear

International Court of Justice

Press Release

No. 2011/19

31 May 2011

Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962

in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear

(Cambodia v. Thailand)

Conclusion of the public hearings on Cambodia’s Request for

the indication of provisional measures

THE HAGUE, 31 May 2011. The public hearings on the Request for the indication of

provisional measures submitted by the Kingdom of Cambodia to the International Court of Justice

(ICJ) in the case concerning the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the

Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) (Cambodia v. Thailand) were

concluded today at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. The Court will now begin

its deliberation.

On 28 April 2011, Cambodia submitted, by an Application filed in the Registry of the Court,

a request for interpretation of the Judgment rendered by the Court on 15 June 1962 in the case

concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand). The Application was

accompanied by an urgent Request for the indication of provisional measures (see Press Release

No. 2011/14).

Two rounds of oral observations on this Request for the indication of provisional measures

were held from Monday 30 to Tuesday 31 May 2011. During the hearings, the delegation of

Cambodia was led by H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign

Affairs and International Co-operation, as Agent. The delegation of Thailand was led by

H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of

Thailand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as Agent.

The Court’s decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be

announced in due course.

Submissions of the Parties

At the end of Cambodia’s second round of oral observations on Tuesday 31 May 2011,

H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong set forth the provisional measures requested by Cambodia as follows:

“Having regard to all the written and oral statements presented by Cambodia,

and without prejudice to the Court’s interpretation on the merits of the dispute,

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Cambodia respectfully requests the Court to indicate the following provisional

measures, pending the delivery of its Judgment:

⎯ an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Thai forces from those parts of

Cambodian territory situated in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear;

⎯ a ban on all military activity by Thailand in the area of the Temple of

Preah Vihear;

⎯ that Thailand refrain from any act or action which could interfere with the rights

of Cambodia or aggravate the dispute in the principal proceedings.”

At the end of Thailand’s second round of oral observations on the same day,

H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai concluded as follows on behalf of his Government:

“In accordance with Article 60 of the Rules of Court and having regard to the

Request for the indication of provisional measures of the Kingdom of Cambodia and

its oral pleadings, the Kingdom of Thailand respectfully requests the Court to remove

the case introduced by the Kingdom of Cambodia on 28 April 2011 from the General

List.”

The verbatim records of the hearings held on 30 and 31 May 2011 are available on the

Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org).

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Note: The Court’s press releases do not constitute official documents. This press release is a

concise summary of the latest developments in the proceedings, for information purposes only.

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was

established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The

seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of

the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York. The Court has a twofold role: first,

to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States (its

judgments have binding force and are without appeal for the Parties concerned); and, second,

to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs

and agencies of the system. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by

the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. It is assisted by the

Registry, its administrative organ. The official languages of the Court are French and English.

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Information Department:

Mr. Andrey Poskakukhin, First Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336)

Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2337)

Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)

Ms Genoveva Madurga, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)