Bangkok Post
Thailand and Cambodia have made progress towards improved relations after the leaders vowed to resolve the Preah Vihear temple issue before the next World Heritage Committee meeting in June in Bahrain.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen agreed they would leave the temple issue to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to resolve because they do not want the two countries to argue.
The committee meeting under Unesco has been in the media spotlight since Cambodia nominated the temple, on disputed ground, in 2006 as a world heritage site.
Tensions escalated when the temple was inscribed on the world heritage list in 2008 during the Unesco meeting in Quebec, Canada, and they intensified further as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) pressured the government to protest the inscription.
The World Heritage Committee asked Cambodia to submit a full management plan for the area around the temple, which would include a finalised map, by February 2010. But Phnom Penh delayed the submission to just two days before the WHC meeting in Brazil last June.
Thailand opposed Cambodia's plan because it had no time to review it carefully. It is believed the plan also includes the unresolved border around the temple, to which both countries have claimed ownership. The two countries were told to discuss the issue before going back to the table in Bahrain.
In Thailand, the issue is complicated because of the PAD's year-round campaign demanding the Thai government revoke the 2000 memorandum of understanding which is used as a guideline for Thailand and Cambodia to demarcate the boundary.
The PAD also accuses the Thai government of having already surrendered the country's sovereignty to Phnom Penh, although the allegation has been repeatedly denied.
The Thai government remains concerned that Cambodia might not adhere to its pledge to submit the management plan, as has happened before.
But at least the intention expressed by both countries' leaders to resolve this problem can be taken as a positive sign.
4 comments:
FROM THE WRITER TO YAY TEP
Thank you Yay tep, let don't take side, war was take an eas in 1998, we realy enjoy peace since years 2000, yes the truth was 31 years MR. Hun sen had acheived somes progress and some mistaken and Mr Sam rainsy he did some good things by try to inspire, strenthening democracy, He sam rainsy also make some mistake too. I like you, you being fair, now please help me to help you understand my piont here, what my wants and needs is to elliminate the culture of hatreat, criticising and anger, let me repeat it agian we must wipe out the to zero the culture of hatreat,criticising, and anger it been failure for business and ruined everythings in our life. it is the law of nature, what we forcus on its expand and come back to us. I want you Yay tep to inspire people in positive way, visualize bring people into futur make people see and believe in themself more success more resouceful, beyond thier life circumstances. Looke at white, youn, Siam, or spainess, they help each other left and right, but we are Khmer lost that kind of CULTURE. from the beganing to the end, I like both MR HUn sen and MR. Sam rainsy, like I said if Mr. Sam rainsy surounded himselfe with those post comments in KI, they are looked selve distructive behavior, I can't afford those people around me.
Best regards, Mike
Mike, you've been reading too much nagative news about Cambodia. I begin to think that you're not Khmer but possibly Thai or Viet. I don't know what it is you see in the eyes of Khmer or Cambodia. According to my understanding, you think Khmer are these uncivilized people whose hearts filled with hate, especially toward Youn and Siem. Whatever your opinion about Khmer, you've been greatly misinformed, my friend. Khmer are capable of love and trust as much as they are capable hate and distrust. Khmer have a tendency to be very easily trusted.
When it comes to the history between Siem(Thai)and Khmer, Siem(Thai) have great hatred for Khmer stemming back since the early creation of the kingdom in 14th century, initially Sokuthai then conquered by Ayuttaya. Prior to this period, Siem were part of Khmer empire, infact, Siem were Khmer at one time. This is why Thai and Khmer culture are almost identical. After Siem gained independence from Khmer in 14th century, they never looked back. Siem gaining independece from Khmer was base on the hatred of Khmer. So hate was their strength. The reason behind this hatred was unclear. Since gaining indepedence from Khmer even through modern day, Siem kings and top government officials still see Khmer as a natural enemy. Foreign policies toward Cambodia were base on historical hatred toward Khmer.
The history with Cambodia and Thailand in the last 3 decades or so cannot be compared. Prior to the Vietnam War, Cambodia was a country that could achieve great height, however; the escalation of the Vietnam war stopped Cambodia progress on her track. One thing lead to another, the creation of the communist Khmer Rouge regime, the fall of Phnom Pehn, the Killing Field that took 2 millions Khmer lives and the invasion and occupation of Cambodia by communist Vietnam only further complicated Cambodia. On the contrary, Thailand didn't experience the kind of turmoils like Cambodia. Thailand didn't have Vietnam war escalated into her country or one thing lead to another that slow or reduce her progress, otherwise Thailand might have faces similar fates as Cambodia. Good example is Laos who had her country involved in the Vietnam War and the outcome was as destructive as Cambodia. Thailand should feel blessed from being shielded of this destrutive event in Southeast Asian history. Instead of feeling bless, Thailand became irrogance. Her arrogant expressed in form of mocking and ridiculing Cambodia for having everything inferior, whether; military and economy.
Now, Cambodia is finally at peace. No war to be concerned of, at least for now. Cambodia is focusing on progress and development. If given a government who is compentence, Cambodia would have progress faster than she is today. Regardless, Cambodia is moving along just fine, slowly but surely. Given a 10-20 years, Cambodia will catch up to the rest of Southeast Asian nations.
From Mike thanks for your comment, indeed I am Khmer, and I never have thought that all Our Khmer are negative or got hatred heart. In Ki, I starte to reads some commentS and people posted on that bloge some are very negative criticising and anger, I see it no use for us to spread hatred towards our leader either MR.Ransy or Mr, Hun sen, I strongly want our Khmer must reunited, help each other and proud to be Khmer. I lived 30 years in Cambodia, opposition paper always spread criticise and make our society more divided, that the words of HATREAT CULTURE COME OF MY MOUTH, I REFER TO SOMES AND VERY FEWs PEOPLE ONLY, NOT ALL CAMBODIA. I DO RESPECT OUR GREAT CULTURE AND LOVE OUR KHMER NATION.
REGARDS
Guys, This is a sensible, informed and civilized debate. Though you have different opinion, you have engaged the debate in a very respectable and sensible manner. This is how you can get your message across, not like many comments in KI and other blogs which are vulgar, offensive and, at times, very, very self-destructive. Please keep the debates civil.
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