Thai–Cambodian conflict rooted in history
Residents of the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple, hold placards during a demonstration in front of the United Nations office in Bangkok, Thailand, 10 January 2012. Cambodia and Thailand agreed to withdraw troops from a contested border area but had not fixed a timetable to do so media reports said on 22 December 2011. The neighbours agreed to implement a July 2011 ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague that ordered them to remove troops from an area near the 11th century temple of Preah Vihear and allow Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire, the Phnom Penh Post newspaper said. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Kimly Ngoun, ANU

The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has made headlines around the world over the past few years.

The latest dispute was precipitated by Thailand’s failed effort to block Cambodia from unilaterally nominating Preah Vihear Temple — an ancient Khmer temple located within a disputed border area — as a World Heritage site.

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