PHNOM PENH - Cambodia on Sunday submitted an official letter to the UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking the court's resolution for four disputed border areas with Thailand, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said.
Hun Manet said Cambodia needs only justice, fairness and clarity in determining its borderline with neighboring countries so that future generations will not continue to have endless issues with each other.
The move came after soldiers of both countries briefly exchanged gunfire on May 28, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
ALSO READ: Cambodia, Thailand start talks over border issues after recent skirmish
On Saturday, the prime minister said that his government is fully prepared to deal with any mass return of Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand as border tensions have mounted.
"In case of a large-scale return, due to any reason, of our Cambodian workers from Thailand, the government has already prepared all necessary measures to manage the situation," he said in a post on his official social media platforms.
He said ministries and concerned institutions, all kinds of armed forces and authorities in all seven Thai border provinces are getting ready to facilitate border crossing, temporary accommodation, and meals for returnees in border areas.
ALSO READ: Thailand, Cambodia shorten permitted stay for each other's citizens
He added that the ministry of national defense, the army, and the Phnom Penh Municipality have prepared transportation to facilitate the return of migrant workers to their home provinces.
Hun Manet added that the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training is ready to help them find jobs in the country, as about 70,000 vacancies remain in various industries across the country.
He said the ministry of economy and finance is working with relevant ministries and institutions to develop a social and economic aid package to ease the financial burden for them.
READ MORE: Cambodia, Thailand hope peaceful settlement of border dispute
He also urged the Association of Banks in Cambodia and the Cambodia Microfinance Association to consider debt relief options for returnees.
Meanwhile, Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who is also president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, urged Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand to return home.
