Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
A Cambodian solider stands guard along the grounds of the ancient Preah Vihear temple on February 9, 2011, in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia.
Thailand’s border with Cambodia has long been contentious, especially the area near Preah Vihear, an ornate 11th-century Khmer temple built to honor the Hindu god Shiva. For decades, the ancient site and a nearby stretch of territory have been the locus of a power struggle between the two nations, and tensions have flared anew in a dustup that left at least eight people dead and the temple reportedly scarred by artillery fire (the full extent of the damage remains unclear).
Legally, the International Court of Justice settled the dispute in 1962 in favor of Cambodia. Thailand never dropped its claim, and the court never ruled on parts of the land surrounding the temple. But for years, neither country seemed to care about the land’s upkeep; war between the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge made the land uninhabitable, and to this day it remains sparsely populated. “It’s full of land mines,” says Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “No one paid any attention to this border.”
So why the violence? The answer lies in domestic politics. Analysts say the temple reemerged as a flash point in 2008, after UNESCO accepted a Cambodian proposal to make it a World Heritage site. The yellow shirts, a Thai opposition group, seized on the issue to stoke fears of national decline and weaken the government in Bangkok, then controlled by supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Meanwhile, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s longtime leader, used the tension to shore up election-year support. The result: spasms of violence, which have periodically flared ever since. The latest volleys have been the most serious yet. And though it’s not clear who fired first, analysts say the yellow shirts have been aggressively using the temple issue for months to weaken an anti-Thaksin government, which consists of their former allies.
By press time, a tacit ceasefire had been implemented along the border, and on Monday both sides planned to make their case to the U.N. Security Council. Still, troops were armed to the teeth, and Shiva’s temple remained in the crosshairs of a petty and unnecessary war.
Thailand’s border with Cambodia has long been contentious, especially the area near Preah Vihear, an ornate 11th-century Khmer temple built to honor the Hindu god Shiva. For decades, the ancient site and a nearby stretch of territory have been the locus of a power struggle between the two nations, and tensions have flared anew in a dustup that left at least eight people dead and the temple reportedly scarred by artillery fire (the full extent of the damage remains unclear).
Legally, the International Court of Justice settled the dispute in 1962 in favor of Cambodia. Thailand never dropped its claim, and the court never ruled on parts of the land surrounding the temple. But for years, neither country seemed to care about the land’s upkeep; war between the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge made the land uninhabitable, and to this day it remains sparsely populated. “It’s full of land mines,” says Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “No one paid any attention to this border.”
So why the violence? The answer lies in domestic politics. Analysts say the temple reemerged as a flash point in 2008, after UNESCO accepted a Cambodian proposal to make it a World Heritage site. The yellow shirts, a Thai opposition group, seized on the issue to stoke fears of national decline and weaken the government in Bangkok, then controlled by supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Meanwhile, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s longtime leader, used the tension to shore up election-year support. The result: spasms of violence, which have periodically flared ever since. The latest volleys have been the most serious yet. And though it’s not clear who fired first, analysts say the yellow shirts have been aggressively using the temple issue for months to weaken an anti-Thaksin government, which consists of their former allies.
By press time, a tacit ceasefire had been implemented along the border, and on Monday both sides planned to make their case to the U.N. Security Council. Still, troops were armed to the teeth, and Shiva’s temple remained in the crosshairs of a petty and unnecessary war.
2 comments:
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 the same as the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education program?
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.
We urged United Nation, World Court, Human Right to find justice for all cambodian lifes that have been murdered by Dr. Hun Sen and his families, friends and relative.
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