Reply of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the question put to the Parties by Judge Cançado Trindade (translation)

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17658
Document Type
Incidental Proceedings
Date of the Document
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Document

- 2 -

Letter to the Registrar dated 6 June 2011 from

the Agent of Cambodia

[Translation]

Please find below the replies of Cambodia to the questions put by Judge Cançado Trindade
at the end of the sitting of 31 May.

Cambodia has understood the questions as pertaining to the population displacements, firstly,

in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear, and secondly, at other places along the boundary
between the two States. Given that the Temple itself does not comprise any permanent dwellings,
Cambodia understands the phrase “area of the Temple”, as used by Judge Cançado Trindade in his
questions, to mean the area indicated on the map in Annex 5 to Cambodia’s Application requesting
an interpretation (the map shown on a slide by Cambodia at the hearings). Cambodia would also
like to point out that the consequences of the incidents in this area have affected villages or

dwellings in the immediate vicinity of this area.

It should be recalled that, while the events are connected, Cambodia is only requesting
measures in the area of the Temple.

Furthermore, the questions are based on a sentence in the request for the indication of
provisional measures, in which the date 22 April 2011 is mentioned. The replies are therefore

limited to the most recent events, whereas some population displacements have sometimes resulted
from incidents prior to 22 April, and whereas the consequences of these displacements have
extended beyond 22 April. Nevertheless, the relevant data given below cover the period of
22 April to 5 May 2011.

Overall, during this period, more than 50,000 people were placed in temporary camps, and
10,000 found refuge with relatives or friends in secure areas. During these armed attacks, the

Cambodian Red Cross provided food aid and help with living conditions, and helped to rebuild
homes. During this period, aid was made possible through donations from various institutions and
private donors.

I. AREA OF THE T EMPLE OF PREAH V IHEAR :

How many inhabitants have been displaced?

9,421 displaced persons from three villages in the vicinity of the Temple area (see the map
annexed to our reply):

Sra Em village established in 1997: 600 families, or 2,400 people;

Svay Chrum village established in 1995: 253 families, or 1,012 people;

Samdech Techo Hun Sen village established in 2009: 1,500 families, or 6,000 people.

Have they safely and voluntarily returned to their homes?

People returned to their homes by 5 May 2011. Closure of the camps on 5 May 2011.
However, the people working in the market in the immediate vicinity of the Temple, which was
destroyed by the fighting, have been unable to go back to work. - 3 -

Whereabouts do they live in the region?

Villages in the immediate vicinity of the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear.

Have they been settled there for a long time?

Sra Em village established in 1997;

Svay Chrum village established in 1995;

Samdech Techo Hun Sen village established in 2009.

What is their modus vivendi?

Approximately 80 per cent of the population live on agriculture.

What is the population density of the region?

The population density in this area is approximately 50 people per square kilometre.

II. OTHER PLACES :

How many inhabitants have been displaced?

In the province of Ouddor Meanchey: 52,538 displaced persons from different villages
along the frontier with Thailand near the Temples of Ta Mone and Ta Krabey (150 km west of the
area of the Temple of Preah Vihear). Fifty-two homes have been partially or completely destroyed

(see the accompanying photos) in this region, and 147 schools (out of a total of 194) have been
closed, which has prevented 39,873 pupils from going to school.

These people lived in the following villages which have existed since time immemorial:

Kok Morn: 2,517 families, or 11,124 people;

Ampil: 3,198 families, or 13,408 people;

Kok Khpos: 1,103 families, or 4,913 people;

O’Smach: 1,934 families, or 9,651 people;

Bansay Rak: 1,493 families, or 6,809 people;

Kaun Kriel: 990 families, or 4,913 people;

Trapeang Prey: 354 families, or 1,720 people.

Have they safely and voluntarily returned to their homes?

People returned to their homes by 5 May 2011. Closure of the camps on 5 May 2011. - 4 -

What is their modus vivendi?

Approximately 85 per cent of the displaced population of the above-mentioned villages are
farmers who live off what they produce.

52,421 hectares have been contaminated by unexploded ordnance (UXOs), including
8,000 hectares of cultivated land out of a total of 37,093 hectares.

What is the population density of the region?

The density of the population in this area is approximately 28-29 people per
square kilometre.

Annexes: list of photos and cards

1. Photo 1;

2. Photo 2;

3. Photo 3;

4. Photo 4;

5. Photo 5;

6. Photo 6;

7. Map of the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear.

___________

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Reply of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the question put to the Parties by Judge Cançado Trindade (translation)

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