Map of the 1962 ICJ's verdict: Areas above yellow line is Thailand. Areas below yellow line is Cambodia. Red stars with arrows are spots where clashes took place on 3rd April, 2009.Opinion by Khmerization
15th May, 2009
The recent diplomatic wars of words between Thailand and Cambodia over claims and count-claims of compensation for damages caused by recent border clashes are a cause for concerns. The wars of words will certainly increase military and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours if both sides do not seek a compromising solution any sooner.
Cambodia had sent a diplomatic note demanding for $2.1 million in compensation from Thailand for the destruction to a Cambodian market and villagers’ homes during the 3rd April fighting.
Cambodia believe that it has the right to seek reparations for damages to 264 stalls that caused 319 families to be homeless because their stalls and homes were deliberately and directly targeted by Thai shells.
But, Thailand, who, due to its military superiority, has signalled that it will never budge to Cambodia’s demand. Instead it has responded with a threat of counter-claims. The Thai response was nothing short of dishonesty. It is arrogant and it is full of threats. By trying to absolve its responsibility, Thailand, had turned around and claimed that those stalls and homes were built on Thai soils and threatened to lodge a counter-claim.
Mr. Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, had gone another step by reminding Cambodia about the military rules of engagement that would inevitably cause collateral damages.
The Thai claims had ignored many fundamental factors about military rules of engagement and facts involving the history of the Preah Vihear disputes. Military rules of engagement dictates that both sides of the military conflict must refrain from targeting civilian entities. Thai army, in this case, had undeniably broke the rules of engagement by deliberately targeting the Cambodian civilians.
Thailand had also ignored the International Court of Justice (ICJ) fundamental rulings when it claimed that the areas belong to Thailand or that they are situated in a dispute zone.
One of the ICJ’s rulings stated that “Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw troops or police from the Temple, or its vicinity on Cambodian territory”. This clearly shows that the ICJ had adjudicated the areas in the “vicinity” of the temple as belonging to Cambodia. Maps from the 1904-1908 Treaty, signed by both Cambodia and Thailand, had also put the Preah Vihear temple and the areas in its “vicinity“ in inside Cambodia. So, the notion that the surrounding areas had not been adjudicated by the ICJ is a misconception.
In another front, the Thai Nation newspaper had attacked the integrity and the sincerity of Cambodia in relation to the border conflicts. It called Cambodia’s claims of compensation as “absurd” and “another step backward for peace”. It also accused Unesco of ignoring the Thai court injunction by deciding to inscribe the temple unilaterally without Thailand’s agreement. It had also accused Cambodia of not being “sincere about reconciliation”.
The Nation’s accusation is preposterous. First, Unesco, as an independent international institution, does not need to seek Thailand’s permission to inscribe Preah Vihear temple because the temple is solely and exclusively the property of Cambodia.
Secondly, Cambodia has been very sincere and patient for the last ten months. Cambodia had refrained from using force when Thai soldiers forced their ways in to occupy the Preah Vihear vicinity on 15th July, 2008. Cambodia was very patient and sincere in engaging Thailand peacefully and diplomatically, even though Thailand had appeared to have played games with Cambodia during the many fruitless talks. Cambodian soldiers were forced to use force only as a last resort when Thai troops, in a provocative and arrogant manner, repeatedly encroaching on Cambodian territories that resulted in the deadly clashes on 15th October 2008 and 3rd April 2009.
The Nation newspaper, and Thailand in particular, had on many occasions accused Cambodia of laying fresh mines that have maimed many Thai soldiers. The Thai accusation is a self-admission that the areas claimed to be Thai territories are actually located inside Cambodian territories because it is impossible for Cambodian troops to cross into Thai territories and lay mines there.
Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come. If Cambodia desires to be treated equally and with respect, then it is imperative that Cambodia strengthen its economic and military powers significantly.
15th May, 2009
“Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come.”
The recent diplomatic wars of words between Thailand and Cambodia over claims and count-claims of compensation for damages caused by recent border clashes are a cause for concerns. The wars of words will certainly increase military and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours if both sides do not seek a compromising solution any sooner.
Cambodia had sent a diplomatic note demanding for $2.1 million in compensation from Thailand for the destruction to a Cambodian market and villagers’ homes during the 3rd April fighting.
Cambodia believe that it has the right to seek reparations for damages to 264 stalls that caused 319 families to be homeless because their stalls and homes were deliberately and directly targeted by Thai shells.
But, Thailand, who, due to its military superiority, has signalled that it will never budge to Cambodia’s demand. Instead it has responded with a threat of counter-claims. The Thai response was nothing short of dishonesty. It is arrogant and it is full of threats. By trying to absolve its responsibility, Thailand, had turned around and claimed that those stalls and homes were built on Thai soils and threatened to lodge a counter-claim.
Mr. Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, had gone another step by reminding Cambodia about the military rules of engagement that would inevitably cause collateral damages.
The Thai claims had ignored many fundamental factors about military rules of engagement and facts involving the history of the Preah Vihear disputes. Military rules of engagement dictates that both sides of the military conflict must refrain from targeting civilian entities. Thai army, in this case, had undeniably broke the rules of engagement by deliberately targeting the Cambodian civilians.
Thailand had also ignored the International Court of Justice (ICJ) fundamental rulings when it claimed that the areas belong to Thailand or that they are situated in a dispute zone.
One of the ICJ’s rulings stated that “Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw troops or police from the Temple, or its vicinity on Cambodian territory”. This clearly shows that the ICJ had adjudicated the areas in the “vicinity” of the temple as belonging to Cambodia. Maps from the 1904-1908 Treaty, signed by both Cambodia and Thailand, had also put the Preah Vihear temple and the areas in its “vicinity“ in inside Cambodia. So, the notion that the surrounding areas had not been adjudicated by the ICJ is a misconception.
In another front, the Thai Nation newspaper had attacked the integrity and the sincerity of Cambodia in relation to the border conflicts. It called Cambodia’s claims of compensation as “absurd” and “another step backward for peace”. It also accused Unesco of ignoring the Thai court injunction by deciding to inscribe the temple unilaterally without Thailand’s agreement. It had also accused Cambodia of not being “sincere about reconciliation”.
The Nation’s accusation is preposterous. First, Unesco, as an independent international institution, does not need to seek Thailand’s permission to inscribe Preah Vihear temple because the temple is solely and exclusively the property of Cambodia.
Secondly, Cambodia has been very sincere and patient for the last ten months. Cambodia had refrained from using force when Thai soldiers forced their ways in to occupy the Preah Vihear vicinity on 15th July, 2008. Cambodia was very patient and sincere in engaging Thailand peacefully and diplomatically, even though Thailand had appeared to have played games with Cambodia during the many fruitless talks. Cambodian soldiers were forced to use force only as a last resort when Thai troops, in a provocative and arrogant manner, repeatedly encroaching on Cambodian territories that resulted in the deadly clashes on 15th October 2008 and 3rd April 2009.
The Nation newspaper, and Thailand in particular, had on many occasions accused Cambodia of laying fresh mines that have maimed many Thai soldiers. The Thai accusation is a self-admission that the areas claimed to be Thai territories are actually located inside Cambodian territories because it is impossible for Cambodian troops to cross into Thai territories and lay mines there.
Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come. If Cambodia desires to be treated equally and with respect, then it is imperative that Cambodia strengthen its economic and military powers significantly.
10 comments:
Don't trust the Thais. They are very dishonest and arrogant. They always look down on Cambodians. They always think they are more superior. They have deliberately targeted civilians so they have broken the international of military engagement. They must be sued at International Criminal Court in the Hague.
I do agree with you for the terminology of Thai-land as "The Nation of Dishonesty." I wrote about this long ago and even got reaction from some Cambodians that not to use a name calling for other country, esp. Thailand.
To my counclusion in my article is that the problem of border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand can be solved only if " Thailand can become the nation of honesty. For now I see that, “the conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand will not be easily solved if without international intervention, because Cambodia is trying to solve the conflicts basing on its honest, respectful, and friendly relationship with Thailand while Thailand is trying hard to solve it through its dirty political trick for long-term invading and dominant political strategy over Cambodia”.
http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com/thailand-the-nation-of-dishonesty/
Thailand is a country where lies are sold to the masses. It's people eat it up and ask for seconds. Where the monarch is deeply loved and respected, because to do otherwise would land you in jail. Dozens of university students can be brutally murdered on campus, their corpse desecrated and still have the tragedy denied by heads of government. It is the land of smiles where the history books have been rewritten to hide its shameful past.
Where is the guy Hun Xen? Why he is not doing anything to Thai? He and his lawyer Ky Ky only dare to suit his own people,that is sic!!!!
Dear Mr. Pang Sokhoeun,
The title of my article was inspired by your article. The two articles cover two similar topics with almost the same context and that is about Thai dishonesty in dealing with its neighbours, in particular in regard to borders.
During the course of the short skirmishes, Thai troops dishonestly and criminally targeted the temple and the market in a deliberate attempt to damage the temple and to dislodge the market from the location because Thailand claimed the location as Thai territories.
Anyway, thanks for your interests in my article. Together we can make a little difference because our opinions can reach some quarters of the Cambodian, Thai and world policy-makers.
ពួកយើងនៅទីនេះបានតែនិយាយអ្នកដែរត្រូវចរចារគឺរដ្ឋាភិបាលតំណាងអោយខ្មែរ។
សួរថាហេតុអ្វីបានជាថៃហ៊ានធ្វើដូចនេះ?
មានសុភាសិតខ្មែរបានពោលថាបើអាក្នុងមិនអោយដៃអាខាងក្រៅមិនហ៊ានដែល។
ខ្មែរយើងជាពិសេសរដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរបានផ្តល់អោយថៃច្រើនណាស់។
ក្នុងករណីនេះយើងឃើញថាបើរដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរហ៊ានប្តឹងឬយកបពា្ហនេះទៅដាក់ក្នុងវេទិការប្រជុំក្នុងតំបន់ឬតុលាការអន្តរជាតិ។ប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងប្រាកដជាឈ្នះ។
ហេតុអ្វីបានជារដ្ឋាភិបាលមិនប្តឹង?
ចំលើយងាយបំផុតគឺរដ្ឋាភិបាលនេះមិនមែនបំរើអោយខ្មែរ។
YO!!!! how about Koh Tral that the yuon took? its our and more important then preah vihear. i want preah vihear to.
Yes you are right. Now cambodian people and cambodian govt thinking on situation with thailand, especially preah vihear temple land.
What about border with vietnam?
We should think all border land in our country.
Koh Tral is Cambodia's biggest island taken by Vietnam. No Khmer want to lose this island, but as long as Hun Sen and the present puppet government still controls Cambodia, the issue of Koh Tral will be shelved permanently. I don't have any hope of getting Koh Tral or Kampuchea Krom or Surin-lands back, but we must bring this issue up in the press or international stage all the time.
yes we need to bring this issues back about koh tral and preah vihear.
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