"The fact that the Cambodian government had taken issues with the Thai PM regrading the extra-judicial killings of Khmer workers are growing signs that the government is trying to right its own wrongs by trying to protect its own citizens, its national heritage and its own borders."
Editorial by Khmerization:-The Cambodian government’s firm stance on the issues of Preah Vihear and the extra-judicial killings of Khmer immigrant workers by the Thai border police is commendable (please read links below). The fact that the Cambodian government had taken issues with the Thai PM regrading the extra-judicial killings of Khmer workers are growing signs that the government is trying to right its own wrongs by trying to protect its own citizens, its national heritage and its own borders. These actions should be commended.
Other good outcomes coming out of the Thai PM’s visit should not be discounted. Cambodia had received pledges in the forms of infrastructure building to the tune of $43.7 million as well as tourism co-operations and co-operations in the energy building capacity.
The initial outcomes of the Thai PM’s visit had produced favourable results for Cambodia. It is imperative that the Cambodian side stand firm on other issues in talks during the tenure of the Thai PM’s visit in the coming days.
In spite of favourable atmosphere, the Cambodian side should not be complacent about other issues of concerns. The Preah Vihear issue, although the Cambodian government had stood firm, the outcomes had not been favourable altogether. The Thai side only said that they will not object to the listing of Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List as long as the temple only, and not the who temple complex, is to be listed. The question is: didn’t the International Court of Justice in The Hague award Cambodia full ownership of the temple in its judgement of 1962? If Preah Vihear is to be listed in accordance with the Thai conditions, it means that the temple will have to be partitioned. At the end it means a joint ownership of the temple between Cambodia and Thailand. The Cambodian government has to stand firm on this issue as well.
Other issue of concerns would be Cambodia’s maritime borders. The initial outcomes of the talks had been described as “a win-win situation”. Here, a win-win situation must be clearly defined. If Cambodia has to concede its own maritime territorial integrity to Thailand then it is not a win-win situation, because any “overlapping areas” , declared in the past, are often Cambodian territories, sea or land.
In summary, the initial outcomes of the talks between Cambodian and Thai PMs are favourable. One would have hoped that the Cambodian PM, Mr. Hun Sen, would take a tough and firm stance with the Vietnamese PM on issues of Cambodia’s national interests, including our territorial integrity, during the next leg of the Vietnamese PM’s visit to Cambodia in the future. I just hope that he will. //END//
Other good outcomes coming out of the Thai PM’s visit should not be discounted. Cambodia had received pledges in the forms of infrastructure building to the tune of $43.7 million as well as tourism co-operations and co-operations in the energy building capacity.
The initial outcomes of the Thai PM’s visit had produced favourable results for Cambodia. It is imperative that the Cambodian side stand firm on other issues in talks during the tenure of the Thai PM’s visit in the coming days.
In spite of favourable atmosphere, the Cambodian side should not be complacent about other issues of concerns. The Preah Vihear issue, although the Cambodian government had stood firm, the outcomes had not been favourable altogether. The Thai side only said that they will not object to the listing of Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List as long as the temple only, and not the who temple complex, is to be listed. The question is: didn’t the International Court of Justice in The Hague award Cambodia full ownership of the temple in its judgement of 1962? If Preah Vihear is to be listed in accordance with the Thai conditions, it means that the temple will have to be partitioned. At the end it means a joint ownership of the temple between Cambodia and Thailand. The Cambodian government has to stand firm on this issue as well.
Other issue of concerns would be Cambodia’s maritime borders. The initial outcomes of the talks had been described as “a win-win situation”. Here, a win-win situation must be clearly defined. If Cambodia has to concede its own maritime territorial integrity to Thailand then it is not a win-win situation, because any “overlapping areas” , declared in the past, are often Cambodian territories, sea or land.
In summary, the initial outcomes of the talks between Cambodian and Thai PMs are favourable. One would have hoped that the Cambodian PM, Mr. Hun Sen, would take a tough and firm stance with the Vietnamese PM on issues of Cambodia’s national interests, including our territorial integrity, during the next leg of the Vietnamese PM’s visit to Cambodia in the future. I just hope that he will. //END//
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