This legal analysis scrutinizes the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) adjudication of the Temple of Preah Vihear dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, rendered in 1962. The contention centered on territorial claims over the Preah Vihear Temple, a sanctified edifice straddling the border between Cambodia and Thailand. This exposition will delve into the historical antecedents, legal arguments, judicial reasoning, and ramifications of the ICJ's judgment, accentuating the principle of uti possidetis juris and its implications on contemporary international boundary disputes.

Introduction
The Temple of Preah Vihear, an ancient Hindu shrine, has been the focal point of a protracted territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. The contention arose over the sovereignty of the temple and its surrounding vicinity, exacerbated by Thailand's military occupation of the site since 1954. In 1959, Cambodia instituted proceedings before the ICJ, seeking a resolution to the sovereignty question. The ICJ's judgment in 1962, which ascribed sovereignty of the temple to Cambodia, underscores the complexities of territorial demarcation and the enduring impact of colonial-era treaties on modern state boundaries.

Historical Context and Legal Precedents
The dispute's genesis can be traced back to colonial demarcations under the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1904 and 1907, wherein France, representing Cambodia, and Siam (now Thailand) delineated their respective territories. A critical piece of evidence was a map produced by French authorities in 1907, which depicted Preah Vihear within Cambodian territory. Despite initial acquiescence, Thailand later contested this demarcation, leading to escalating tensions and military occupation of the temple by Thai forces in 1954.

Judicial Arguments
Cambodia's Position:
Cambodia argued that the 1907 map, accepted and utilized by both parties for several decades, clearly demarcated Preah Vihear within Cambodian territory. They contended that Thailand's subsequent contestation and military occupation contravened established international law principles, particularly the doctrines of estoppel and acquiescence.

Thailand's Position:
Thailand countered by questioning the map's validity, asserting it was not officially sanctioned by both governments and was thus non-binding. Thailand posited that the actual watershed line, rather than the map, should determine the boundary, situating Preah Vihear within Thai territory.

ICJ's Judicial Reasoning
The ICJ, in a nuanced examination, upheld Cambodia's claims, emphasizing the significance of the 1907 map and Thailand's historical acceptance thereof. The Court highlighted that Thailand's prolonged acquiescence, coupled with its lack of formal protest for several decades, estopped it from repudiating the map's validity. The ICJ also underscored the principle of uti possidetis juris, which mandates the preservation of existing boundaries at the time of independence to maintain territorial stability.

Key Citations:

• Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1962, p. 6.
• Frontier Dispute (Burkina Faso/Republic of Mali), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1986, p. 554.

Analysis
The ICJ's judgment in favor of Cambodia elucidates several pivotal principles in international boundary disputes. Firstly, it reinforces the doctrine of estoppel, precluding states from contesting boundaries they have long acquiesced to. Secondly, the judgment underscores the uti possidetis juris principle, which seeks to avert the destabilizing effects of redrawing post-colonial boundaries. The Court's reliance on historical maps and the conduct of states further accentuates the evidentiary weight of such documents in territorial adjudications.

The ramifications of the judgment extend beyond the immediate dispute, influencing subsequent ICJ cases and international boundary arbitrations. The Court's methodology in assessing historical maps and state conduct has been emulated in various boundary disputes, affirming the enduring relevance of its reasoning.

Further Citations:

• Land, Island and Maritime Frontier Dispute (El Salvador/Honduras: Nicaragua intervening), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1992, p. 351.
• Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2012, p. 624.

Conclusion
The ICJ's 1962 judgment in the Temple of Preah Vihear dispute decisively adjudicated the sovereignty issue in favor of Cambodia, relying on historical maps and the principles of estoppel and uti possidetis juris. This landmark ruling not only resolved a longstanding territorial contention but also set a jurisprudential precedent for the adjudication of international boundary disputes. By affirming the inviolability of colonial-era boundaries, the ICJ reinforced a crucial tenet of international law, thereby contributing to global territorial stability and legal certainty.

The Preah Vihear judgment remains a cornerstone in international adjudication, exemplifying the intricate interplay of historical evidence, legal doctrines, and state conduct in resolving territorial disputes. Its legacy endures in the annals of international law, guiding subsequent jurisprudence and international relations.