Monsters and critics
Jan 26, 2011,
Phnom Penh (DPA)- The Cambodian authorities have replaced a stone tablet near Preah Vihear temple on the country's northern border after its inscription angered the Thai government, local media reported Wednesday.
The original stone tablet (pictured), which was sited near the temple last month, originally read: 'Here! Is the place where Thai troops invaded Cambodian territory on July 15, 2008, and withdrew at 10:30am on December 1, 2010.'
The new tablet simply states: 'Here! Is Cambodia.'
An anonymous Cambodian army officer stationed in the area confirmed the switch.
'I heard (the placement of the sign) was ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen,' the officer told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper, which carried a photograph of the new tablet.
A senior Thai army official said last weekend that Thailand refused to accept the sign, and threatened to erect a similar tablet on the Thai side of the border if the offending message was not removed.
Tensions between the two Association of South-East Asian Nations members increased sharply after the UN cultural body UNESCO listed the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site for Cambodia. Thai nationalists claim the temple belongs to Thailand.
The replacement tablet comes just days after a group of Thai nationals - including ruling Democrat Party parliamentarian Panich Vikitsreth - were convicted of entering Cambodia illegally.
Five of them, including Panich, flew back to Thailand over the weekend. The two remaining Thais, including political activist Veera Somkwamkit, have yet to appear in court on spying charges, which carry a maximum 10-year term.
The Cambodian government has insisted the case would not affect relations between the two nations, and said the judicial process needed to take its natural course.
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