Thai bloggers on Khmer bloggers concerning Preah Vihear

It is interesting to note that some Thai bloggers are following Khmer views regarding the current issue of Preah Vihear. Bangkok Pundit has noted that, contrary to the consensus view among the Thai people, Cambodians, like the Thai people, believe that they are losing something from the Preah Vihear listing. Bangkok Pundit put forward a suggestion that both sides, Cambodia and Thailand, should use legal arguments rather than nationalistic rhetoric. This is the view that I, and I believe other Khmer people, would have wanted both Thailand and Cambodia to base their claims in regard to the listing of Preah Vihear. Both sides should go through the judgements of the International Court of Justice in 1962 thoroughly. Many Khmers believe that the judgements were over the territorial integrity of Cambodia- meaning that the temple as well as the surrounding areas were to be under the sovereignty of Cambodia. It was stated clearly so.

Thailand and Cambodia should also go back and revisit the 1904, 1907 and 1908 border delimitations, mappings and treaty, thoroughly. In the mappings commissioned by the French-Siamese Border Commission, and with the total agreement of the Thai side, it shows clearly that the temple and the surrounding areas claimed as "disputed areas" by Thailand are actually located inside Cambodia. I am of the opinion that, if both sides based their arguments on the judgements of the ICJ and the 1904, 1907 and 1908 mappings and border treaty between the two countries, a tug-of-war between Thailand and Cambodia over Preah Vihear temple would have never occurred. It is sad to see this wrangling involving politicians and ordinary people on both sides.