Hun Sen wants world to urge Thailand to go to ICJ over border dispute

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen on Friday called on international community to urge Thailand to resolve its current border dispute with Cambodia through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The call was made as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet declared that Cambodia will unilaterally bring the dispute to ICJ despite Thailand’s objection.

Their statements came only hours before Thai and Cambodian delegates to the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) were to meet in Phnom Penh.

Hun Manet reiterated that Cambodia will only raise the border disputes in the four disputed areas — Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, Ta Krabey, and Mom Tei — with ICJ and not in JBC meeting which takes place at Sofitel Phnom Penh.

The Thai delegation, led by former ambassador to Cambodia Prasart Prasartwinitchai, arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday.

Thailand has consistently rejected Cambodian proposal for the border dispute to be settled at ICJ, insisting that it should be resolved through bilateral mechanisms, including JBC which is entrusted with border delimitation and demarcation.

In a Facebook post on Friday evening, Hun Sen said that the areas of dispute spanning over the significant part of the over 800-kilometre border between the two kingdoms “will clearly remain unresolved through existing bilateral mechanisms even in the next century”, making ICJ the only viable avenue for resolution.

Prime Minister Hun Manet, meanwhile, said Cambodia will ask for the ICJ intervention with or without Thailand’s participation.

“Even if the Thai side declines or does not respond, Cambodia would unilaterally submit a complaint to the ICJ on these four areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will send a formal letter to the ICJ on Sunday, June 15, 2025,” he said.

He has also ruled out the issue being discussed at the JBC meeting today.