Read previous Khmerization’s editorial on the issue of Preah Vihear click here.
Editorial by Khmerization
Anti-government protests over Preah Vihear in Thailand have gained momentum by the day. The protests, organised by ordinary people and Thai opposition parties, have almost been a daily occurrence in Bangkok and the size of the crowd had swelled the streets and parks. As of late, the protests were not confined only to Bangkok but have spread to the provinces. And lately, there are news that the protesters had applied for a permission to stage protests in front of a gate to the Preah Vihear temple but was refused permission by the authority and the protests were staged about one kilometre away from the temple. These people were protesting against a possible cession of some Thai lands to Cambodia under the current agreement between the two governments. Some have also called for the Thai opposition to the listing of the Preah Vihear temple. But most disturbingly, it is a call for the reclaiming of Preah Vihear from certain groups within Thailand that should incur the ire of the Cambodian people.
The dynamism of the protests and the tenacity and angers shown by the protesters should be a cause of concerns for some Cambodian leaders across the political spectrum, from both within the government and the opposition, but so far they have chosen to remain silent. Their silence and inaction must be viewed negatively as a sign that they don’t care one iota about Preah Vihear.
The Cambodian side must not be seen to be weak or to be seen as the wronged side. Cambodia’s silence could mean that we are scared of Thailand. Furthermore, Cambodia’s silence could be viewed by the Thai people and the Thai opposition parties that Cambodia is actually benefiting from the deal over Preah Vihear, when in actual fact Cambodia has been, I believe, short-changed by agreeing to list the Preah Vihear temple only. Cambodia could have resisted and insisted that the temple be listed in its entirety- the temple body and the surrounding areas. The fact that the Cambodian government agreed hastily to list only the temple and leaving the surrounding areas out of the listing, giving Thailand rooms to lay claim to the areas in the future, was a big mistake on the part of Cambodia. There are reliable speculations that the reason that Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to list only the temple was because he wanted the Preah Vihear temple listed before the 27th July election so that he can use it to campaign for the election. If these speculations are true, then Mr. Hun Sen has committed an unforgivable treasonous mistake by giving up territorial integrity in exchange for his own political gains. (Full details here).
Now the Cambodian opposition has given a new life of hope. It has given its first sign of unhappiness with the deal signed by the two governments, when the opposition’s chairman of parliamentary committee on border affairs, Mr. Son Chhay, requested the government to release the agreement. At the time of this editorial going to press, there is no news of any viewpoints from the opposition just yet regarding their reactions to the Preah Vihear deal. I hope that national interests will prevail and override all political interests and that the government can work with the opposition and other Cambodian experts for the common good of Cambodia and the Preah Vihear temple.
As I said all along, the application to list the Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List is the exclusive right of Cambodia and that other nations, including Thailand, have no right to meddle in this affair. The issue of the ownership of Preah Vihear had been a fait accompli since the International Court of Justice adjudicated to put it under Cambodia’s control in 1962. And the surrounding areas should be a fait accompli also if Thailand respected the maps drawn up by the Franco-Siamese Commission in 1904, 1907 and 1908 when the French Protectorate concluded the border treaty with Thailand , then called Siam, in 1908. But due to years of civil turmoil, Cambodia has lost the ability to protect those parts of the lands and they became no-man’s lands and, subsequently, became disputed zones.
In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it. I believe that, while the Thai side is stepping up the pressures on their government, the Cambodian side must also step up our pressures on our government and the UNESCO to ensure that Cambodia’s territorial integrity will not be violated when Preah Vihear temple is officially listed on the World Heritage List. //
Read Pang Sokhoeun’s appeal to the nation about Preah Vihear here.
Editorial by Khmerization
“In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it.”
Anti-government protests over Preah Vihear in Thailand have gained momentum by the day. The protests, organised by ordinary people and Thai opposition parties, have almost been a daily occurrence in Bangkok and the size of the crowd had swelled the streets and parks. As of late, the protests were not confined only to Bangkok but have spread to the provinces. And lately, there are news that the protesters had applied for a permission to stage protests in front of a gate to the Preah Vihear temple but was refused permission by the authority and the protests were staged about one kilometre away from the temple. These people were protesting against a possible cession of some Thai lands to Cambodia under the current agreement between the two governments. Some have also called for the Thai opposition to the listing of the Preah Vihear temple. But most disturbingly, it is a call for the reclaiming of Preah Vihear from certain groups within Thailand that should incur the ire of the Cambodian people.
The dynamism of the protests and the tenacity and angers shown by the protesters should be a cause of concerns for some Cambodian leaders across the political spectrum, from both within the government and the opposition, but so far they have chosen to remain silent. Their silence and inaction must be viewed negatively as a sign that they don’t care one iota about Preah Vihear.
The Cambodian side must not be seen to be weak or to be seen as the wronged side. Cambodia’s silence could mean that we are scared of Thailand. Furthermore, Cambodia’s silence could be viewed by the Thai people and the Thai opposition parties that Cambodia is actually benefiting from the deal over Preah Vihear, when in actual fact Cambodia has been, I believe, short-changed by agreeing to list the Preah Vihear temple only. Cambodia could have resisted and insisted that the temple be listed in its entirety- the temple body and the surrounding areas. The fact that the Cambodian government agreed hastily to list only the temple and leaving the surrounding areas out of the listing, giving Thailand rooms to lay claim to the areas in the future, was a big mistake on the part of Cambodia. There are reliable speculations that the reason that Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to list only the temple was because he wanted the Preah Vihear temple listed before the 27th July election so that he can use it to campaign for the election. If these speculations are true, then Mr. Hun Sen has committed an unforgivable treasonous mistake by giving up territorial integrity in exchange for his own political gains. (Full details here).
Now the Cambodian opposition has given a new life of hope. It has given its first sign of unhappiness with the deal signed by the two governments, when the opposition’s chairman of parliamentary committee on border affairs, Mr. Son Chhay, requested the government to release the agreement. At the time of this editorial going to press, there is no news of any viewpoints from the opposition just yet regarding their reactions to the Preah Vihear deal. I hope that national interests will prevail and override all political interests and that the government can work with the opposition and other Cambodian experts for the common good of Cambodia and the Preah Vihear temple.
As I said all along, the application to list the Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List is the exclusive right of Cambodia and that other nations, including Thailand, have no right to meddle in this affair. The issue of the ownership of Preah Vihear had been a fait accompli since the International Court of Justice adjudicated to put it under Cambodia’s control in 1962. And the surrounding areas should be a fait accompli also if Thailand respected the maps drawn up by the Franco-Siamese Commission in 1904, 1907 and 1908 when the French Protectorate concluded the border treaty with Thailand , then called Siam, in 1908. But due to years of civil turmoil, Cambodia has lost the ability to protect those parts of the lands and they became no-man’s lands and, subsequently, became disputed zones.
In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it. I believe that, while the Thai side is stepping up the pressures on their government, the Cambodian side must also step up our pressures on our government and the UNESCO to ensure that Cambodia’s territorial integrity will not be violated when Preah Vihear temple is officially listed on the World Heritage List. //
Read Pang Sokhoeun’s appeal to the nation about Preah Vihear here.
1 comment:
Cambodia application for the insertion of Preah Vihear to UNESCO has been submitted since the early 2000 and has been drawn protest from Thailand on the nature of buffer zone which is still unresolve. Since then there were many negotiations taken place but both side have never agreed in principle until new map has been drawn by Cambodia.
My personal point of view, the current administration under the PM has carefully considered and balanced the outcomes of 1962's decision by Hague and never rushed off to conclude the deal with Thainland.
If the current administration under the PM conceded to the Thailand demand then Thai people shall be happy but instead they are crying and screaming their head off at this moment right in the heart of Bangkok as seen in the past week.
It is a good call from you to all politicians from all different parties to unite and get Preah Vihear affairs over and done with in the best interest of our nation.
Mr. Son Chhay's demand for the release of any dossier relating to the late agreement seemed a bit awkward [my opinion] in fact that this negotiation has been carried on for almost 8 years. as if he has never been sitting in any NA session for that period of time.
I am in favour of all politicians, whether it is ruling party, minority or opposition party to work closely, hand in hand, in support of each other while checks and balances shall remain of important to nurture the democratic NA but at the same time
shall not oppose or reject or obstruct any bill to become legislation and also that due respects shall be given for the job well done.
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