Thailand Bans Movie Critical of Buddhist Monks

Al Jazeera today reports that Thailand's culture ministry has banned Arbat, a new horror film about Buddhist monks. The title translates as "violations committed by monks."  Somchai Surachatri, spokesman for Thailand's National Office of Buddhism, said: "The movie has some scenes that will destroy Buddhism. If it is shown, people's faith in Buddhism will deteriorate," The film's producer says it will change some parts of the movie before resubmitting it for approval. Thailand's monks have come under increasing criticism in recent years for their embrace of commercialism.

International Court of Justice Rules On Cambodian- Thailand Dispute Over Hindu Temple Site

Yesterday the International Court of Justice in the Hague issued a decision in Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand). (Full text of decision; Summary of the judgment; Press Release).  In 1962, the ICJ ruled in a border dispute that the Temple of Preah Vihear (now a UNESCO world heritage site) is located in Cambodian territory, and ordered that "Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw any military or police forces, or other guards or keepers, stationed by her at the Temple, or in its vicinity."  Yesterday's decision clarified what was meant by the area in the "vicinity" of the Temple. As described in a Voice of America report:

The unanimous ruling by the 17 judges of the world court says all of the raised land on which the ancient Khmer Hindu temple sits belongs to Cambodia.... While adjusting some of the disputed boundary, the decision leaves unresolved the sovereignty of much of the 4.6 square kilometer area in the immediate vicinity of the religious site.....

The ICJ decision rejects some territorial claims in the area made by each country thus it is not a total victory for either side.....

Within hours of the verdict, Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared in a nationally televised address, saying the court had taken her country’s stance into consideration and that Bangkok should work with Phnom Penh to resolve outstanding issues.

The territorial dispute led to an exchange of gunfire and dozens of deaths in 2011.