By Arjay Stevens - I See Cambodia.
Albeiro, thank you for your analysis and clear standpoint which I almost completely agree with. As you know I stayed in this country for a long time (15 years) already. And I just came back from Preah Vihear trying to visit the temple as a photo journalist the second time after 10 years (at that time with a Thai friend). At the base of the mountain I couldn’t enter the temple itself because another Thai fight has just begun… I saw burning spots at the mountain side. With my Cambodian friend, I talked to representatives of APSARA and Preah Vihear Protection Authority. Next to their house they had just built a little air-raid shelter from concrete pipes covered with sand. A weak protection I thought…
Driving towards the Temple area is an endless line of local people on motorbikes or small farmer vehicles passed by – leaving the dangerous locations. – Once again. Looking at these poor people carrying all their belongings they possess, with babies, old people, rice bags, a tea pot and an umbrella on top against the heat of the day made me almost crying… Again it’s the ordinary people who suffer most. After all the mess they faced not long time ago with still unsolved trauma …
Why?
Well, it’s not the first time in history that governments, or states, or power struggling factions with serious problems at home look for a diversion and create a problem to unite at home. In this case I found the ultra-nationalists play their game. Not at Suvarnabhumi Airport [in Bangkok]– no, this time far away, as they think, to avoid their own damage. This is political gambling. As a German, I know best how Nationalism can destroy a whole country and even divide it… Nationalism on either side is a huge danger.
That a Buddhist country like Thailand chooses a (present-day) Buddhist Temple for a fight with weapons against another Buddhist country makes me beginning to have doubt if they are real Buddhists…
All this fighting is already a drama, indeed. But to use cluster bombs by Thailand’s army is nothing less than a shame! Most countries in the world banned last year these cluster bombs. Because they are a totally inhuman threat for all civilians. (BTW Also Cambodia must ratify this treaty to ban Cluster bombs!)
With European history in my background, the only way of solving problems is: To TALK. A balance of interests. Why not recognize this World Heritage Site as a common Buddhist Shrine for all brothers and sisters, Cambodians and Thai as well? And the tourists will enjoy, too. Everybody can have a benefit.
With war everybody only loses at the end!
One thing more I'd like to say: I think it is NOT helpful at all to insult the other side – whoever it is. Not only Cluster bombs can destroy – also words. To some response: To blame the highly admired [Thai] King himself has no evidence at all. He is both a very old and very ill man – who knows if he’s even aware of all this? I think there are other responsibilities.
Since I’m here in Cambodia I always was, and still are, socially engaged to help to build up. It would be a shame if the two brother countries would destroy what was built up.
Both countries need smart and responsible leaders.
Driving towards the Temple area is an endless line of local people on motorbikes or small farmer vehicles passed by – leaving the dangerous locations. – Once again. Looking at these poor people carrying all their belongings they possess, with babies, old people, rice bags, a tea pot and an umbrella on top against the heat of the day made me almost crying… Again it’s the ordinary people who suffer most. After all the mess they faced not long time ago with still unsolved trauma …
Why?
Well, it’s not the first time in history that governments, or states, or power struggling factions with serious problems at home look for a diversion and create a problem to unite at home. In this case I found the ultra-nationalists play their game. Not at Suvarnabhumi Airport [in Bangkok]– no, this time far away, as they think, to avoid their own damage. This is political gambling. As a German, I know best how Nationalism can destroy a whole country and even divide it… Nationalism on either side is a huge danger.
That a Buddhist country like Thailand chooses a (present-day) Buddhist Temple for a fight with weapons against another Buddhist country makes me beginning to have doubt if they are real Buddhists…
All this fighting is already a drama, indeed. But to use cluster bombs by Thailand’s army is nothing less than a shame! Most countries in the world banned last year these cluster bombs. Because they are a totally inhuman threat for all civilians. (BTW Also Cambodia must ratify this treaty to ban Cluster bombs!)
With European history in my background, the only way of solving problems is: To TALK. A balance of interests. Why not recognize this World Heritage Site as a common Buddhist Shrine for all brothers and sisters, Cambodians and Thai as well? And the tourists will enjoy, too. Everybody can have a benefit.
With war everybody only loses at the end!
One thing more I'd like to say: I think it is NOT helpful at all to insult the other side – whoever it is. Not only Cluster bombs can destroy – also words. To some response: To blame the highly admired [Thai] King himself has no evidence at all. He is both a very old and very ill man – who knows if he’s even aware of all this? I think there are other responsibilities.
Since I’m here in Cambodia I always was, and still are, socially engaged to help to build up. It would be a shame if the two brother countries would destroy what was built up.
Both countries need smart and responsible leaders.
5 comments:
Thailand must be punish by UN for using banned weapons..cluster bombs!
Tunesia now in civile war, looting, robing, raping and kill each other after Ali left office, now who going to controle the chaos, in Egyp will have bige problem with in few day, we will wait and see. each time people power to puse the stable goverment it always make chaos and sete back in economice, and insecure for the nation, it could lead to pol pot regime or neighborhood country could take chance to invade us. Rainsy will got kill if he stile want to great chaos in cambodia.
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why? Over 10 000 km2 have been given to Vitenam by Dr. Hun Sen treaty 1982. Why???
Why do you and all of your relatives involve a lot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder Cambodian K5, 1997 events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder Cambodians? Why? And Why?
If you are so good, why do above 90% Cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionaires and millionaires? Why? Why? Why do ordinary cambodians are poor ? Why don't they rich like you?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good why do you block KI from Cambodians?
If you are so good, why do you steal all Cambodian life such as well being, health, cut down Cambodians life expectancy as well? But you and your small group are eat well, sleep well, exercise well, have oversea doctors and best medical treatment from high class private doctors from oversea. Most Cambodians that have no money, your healthcare system left Cambodians patients to die in front of your hospital. Why? Why?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions Vietnamese are living permanently in Cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? And Why
Everywhere, I walk in Cambodia I see Vietnamese speak Vietnamese every where, why? Why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for eternity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
How come only real Khmer with dark skin, skinny with no big land and property willing to go to the frontline to defiance Cambodia land but Chinese Cambodians are hiding and waiting to take the lands and benefit after war, Is that fair to real dark skin Khmer, Dr. Hun Sen???? When the country in trouble only Khmer with dark skin willing to die to protect Cambodian nation but rich fat Cambodians that have big lands, big properties abuse poor dark skin Khmer as stupid after the war over, why Dr. Hun Sen??? Why??? Most Chinese Cambodians are prejudice toward poor dark skin Khmer and they always look down to real Khmer as stupid. They are very hardly let’s dark skin Khmer married their children. Can Dr. Hun Sen please explain to all dark skin military of Cambodia at frontline? Where is the Chinese Cambodians at frontline? Where are they? Is this really fair to poor dark skin Khmer army, Dr. Hun Sen?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big first lady and his beloved Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5, Khmer Girl Ms. Rattana Keo
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent Cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying Cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
CPP are not just corrupted, CPP are extremely corrupt. They are even sell the country such as Kos Trol, Seas, lands, Cambodian people, Cambodian health and well being, all resources in the Cambodia…with lost count. You name it!
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent? The country is getting smaller and smaller and shame by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet and his families, his relatives and friends.
Good observation by a foreigner. It is sad to see these hapless Cambodians have to go through this sort of thing again. The 1970s and 1980s war really have put all the Khmer people into misery. This evacuation is reminiscent of those bad and sad time. Poor Cambodians! One more thing, the use of cluster bombs and poisonous gas by Thai troops is a crime, it is a war crime under international laws. Thailand must be answerable to this crime.
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don't Cambodia goverment transparency explain to cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian army are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian army you are decide the fade of your nation, Cambodian army as well as cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs,lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionairs, millionairs who sell out the country to be rich and make cambodian people suffer everyday as cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol ( Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education program?
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