Gen. Srey Doek, the commander of the Cambodian forces around the temple.By Tim Johnston
in Preah Vihear, Cambodia
Published: February 10 2011
After several days of hostilities and eleven dead, the guns along the disputed Thai-Cambodia border are now quiet. But while the two countries are talking peace, they are also preparing for more fighting.
At the heart of the conflict sits the ruins of Preah Vihear temple, an 11th century gem of classical Khmer architecture that sits on the edge of a spectacular 1,500ft escarpment in the Dangrak mountains.
After several days of hostilities and eleven dead, the guns along the disputed Thai-Cambodia border are now quiet. But while the two countries are talking peace, they are also preparing for more fighting.
At the heart of the conflict sits the ruins of Preah Vihear temple, an 11th century gem of classical Khmer architecture that sits on the edge of a spectacular 1,500ft escarpment in the Dangrak mountains.
Preah Vihear lies at the epicentre of a territorial battle that has cost at least 20 lives over the past two years and has dragged the two countries – who are diplomatic and economic allies in the Association of South East Asian Nations – to the brink of war.
For the moment, a ceasefire is holding, and both sides say they want to avoid further conflict.
“The prime minister has told us not to respond to whatever the Thai forces do,” said Major General Srey Doek, the commander of the Cambodian forces around the temple. “The only order we have is that if they enter our base, we should throw them out.”
But on Wednesday, the soldiers at Preah Vihear were bringing up more supplies and filling sandbags, and journalists on the Thai side saw at least 20 tanks moving up towards the border.
Sovereignty over the temple itself was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. But the status of 4.6 square kilometres of surrounding territory, which includes the only drivable approach road from the Cambodian side, remains ambiguous.
This scrubby, heavily mined patch of otherwise unremarkable hillside has become a flashpoint for the festering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, provoking regular exchanges of fire over the past two years.
Gen Srey Doek says relations on the ground are normally good – if necessary he can call his opposite number on his iPhone – but he says hardliners are driving policy.
It is unclear what triggered the latest round of hostilities – the two sides blame each other – but it is becoming apparent that the chances of a long-term solution are becoming increasingly dim.
“We don’t know if it belongs to Cambodia or Thailand,” Gen Srey Doek says of the disputed territory. “If possible we would like both a committee to rule on the border and a force to keep the peace.”
Cambodia wants the United Nations to intervene, but the UN Security Council has rejected a request for an immediate meeting.
International intervention of any form is anathema to the increasingly vocal Thai rightwing, for whom the issue has become a lightning rod for broader discontent with the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister.
Thai nationalists have never accepted the ICJ verdict, and a number of chauvinist groups are camped outside the office of Mr Abhisit, calling for him to take a more robust line against Cambodia.
Unesco has said that it is planning an assessment visit to the temple as soon as possible, but Thailand on Thursday said that would “not be appropriate”.
The Thai government has also demanded that if and when the mission does take place, the UN seeks permission from the Thai government on the grounds that they would have to go through territory which is under its sovereignty.
Hun Sen, the Cambodian prime minister and a man who rarely misses an opportunity to burnish his nationalist credentials, last weekend accused Thailand of launching “a full-scale armed aggression against Cambodia”.
The fight over Preah Vihear inflames Cambodia’s cultural yearning for the lost glories of the Khmer empire, which once ruled over much of what is now Thailand, and its festering inferiority complex about its bigger and richer neighbour.
Kasit Piromya, Thailand’s overtly nationalist foreign minister and the official charged with calming the border dispute, on Wednesday fed Cambodian impressions of Thai arrogance by describing Mr Hun Sen as a “naughty boy”.
But amid the overt displays of nationalism, there are subtle reasons for hope. On Wednesday, 33 Cambodian politicians made their way to the area in a show of support, and to drop off food supplies. Among the cabbages, carrots and bottled water were two dozen cartons of Mama instant noodles, which are made in Thailand by Thai President Foods.
“We should not blame the Thai people, and we should continue to buy Thai products,” Son Chhay, a prominent opposition lawmaker and member of the delegation said when asked if there any message to be drawn from the choice of carbohydrates.
“We cannot afford to let this war disrupt our economy or trade.”
10 comments:
I believe that the quote of our general has been twisted by this son of the bitch reporter Tim Johnston who may have some hidden dirty agenda to undermine our forces. Gen. Srey Doek should distance yourself from this scumbag.
"The Thai government has also demanded that if and when the mission does take place, the UN seeks permission from the Thai government on the grounds that they would have to go through territory which is under its sovereignty."
This shows how arrogant Thai government is toward Khmer as always and now toward the world organization as well. UN will get to the Temple by the copters with no problems.
Gen.Srey Deuk looks worry?
Ahbullshit vejjajiva asking UNESCO to delisting Preah vihear Temple and to stop management plans..from Cambodia? Thailand must be drunkard?
This general should know that the dispute area belongs to Cambodia. He can't station in the frontier, leads the army and not know for sure that the dispute area belongs to Cambodia. What kind of training did he have? Did the journalist misquoted him by saying he doesn't know if it belongs to Cambodia or Thailand?
To all Khmeriztion readers :
A close aid to Gen.Srey Doek had clarified that his boss never had any conversation whatsoever with this impostor reporter. Since the conflict began until today Gen.Srey Doek always remind Thai that there is no such land as disputed land for Cambodia. The aid also ask Khmerization to screen all reports before post them for the publics.
Srey Doek's comment show that he is very ignorant, but also his comment is very dangerous to Cambodia because it gives Thailand's evidence and excuses to claim the territory. He stationed the Cambodian troops there and maps show that the areas belong to Cambodia, so why he made such a very irresponsible and stupid comments.
To all Khmeriztion readers :
A close aid to Gen.Srey Doek had clarified that his boss never had any conversation whatsoever with this impostor reporter. Since the conflict began until today Gen.Srey Doek always remind Thai that there is no such land as disputed land for Cambodia. The aid also ask Khmerization to screen all reports before post them for the publics.
To Kherization, you should be more careful when you post this fake reporter like him on your site. I know damn well that general Srey Doek did not made that such comment about the disputed territory because he knows that there is none. All those territories are belong to Cambodia. The Thai government made that shit up. This dumb fuck reporter don't know nothing about Cambodia. So you should not post him here at all. He basically arguing for the Thai side. This mother fucker reporter is biased towards Cambodia.
12:45 PM and 6:57 PM, Thanks for your clarifications and suggestions. The news article was taken from a foreign news service which I assumed to be one of the most experienced and credible reporters. The other thing is, it is very hard to verify whether the reporter fabricated Gen. Srey Doek's comments or not. However, I suggest the Cambodian government or Gen. Srey Doek or his aides write a letter to the reporter or the newspaper he worked for to request for a correction or dismiss the reporter's claims. They can visit the Financial Times at www.ft.com and write to the editor.
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