A Change of Guard

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Friday 18 February 2011

Why Now for Thai-Cambodia Row?

Mong Palatino

Mong Palatino

Raymond 'Mong' Palatino is President of the Kabataan (Youth) Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines. He is a regular blogger and Global Voices regional editor for Southeast Asia and Oceania.


February 18, 2011
By Mong Palatino
The Diplomat

The ongoing border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand can’t just be about the Preah Vihear Temple—if the clashes really are motivated only by patriotic determination to defend ownership, then these two neighbours have gone mad.

The ‘idiocy of the situation,’ as described by Thailand-based twitter user @thaitvnews refers to the irony of two Buddhist countries fighting over a ruined 900-year-old Hindu temple. Let’s also not forget that the contested territory on which the temple is located covers only about 1.8 square miles (4.6 square kilometres). It’s therefore difficult to comprehend why two countries are ready to go to war, and risk dangerous instability in the region, over such a tiny piece of land.

But if it’s not about the temple, then what are they fighting for?

My guess is that the real aim of both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to strengthen their respective domestic leadership credentials. The border dispute, despite its unpleasant portrayal in the international press, serves the political interests of Sen and Vejjajiva. The two leaders seem to be basically using this ‘patriotic war’ to drum up civilian support for their governments. More specifically, they could be planning to project the image of a decisive leader ahead of elections—Thais go to the polls this year, and Cambodians next year.


The war could also be a pretext for requesting bigger military budgets this year, while also helping distract the public from their empty pockets and lack of freedoms.

Whatever the motivations, we shouldn’t underestimate the power of nationalism. More Cambodians, for example, seem to be expressing anger in cyberspace these days, especially since their leaders reminded them that the Khmer Empire was once the oldest and largest in the region, but that centuries of war and invasion have trimmed the country to the size of the state of Missouri. Meanwhile, ultra-nationalists in Thailand are trying to prod the government to take over Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in exchange for the Preah Vihear Temple.

Sen and Vejjajiva, who are supposed to be calming their citizens, are only encouraging more hatred by issuing bellicose political statements.

The United Nations is hesitant to intervene, while the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as expected, is powerless to implement a peaceful settlement of the issue. Still, they probably offer the best outside chance of preventing the tense situation on the border from deteriorating.

But more importantly, let’s hope that the peace-loving citizens of Cambodia and Thailand reject the war rhetoric of the ultra nationalists in their own countries. They should realize that real patriotism isn’t about supporting warmongers, but exposing the unpatriotic motives of their politicians.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Mr Mong Palatino,

I'm Khmer, currently living in MASS, USA.

I am absolutely agree with you on that. It's only 1.8 miles. Why don't both Kampuchea and Thailand used this plot of land to grow veggies for their own people and sale the veggie for the benefit of both people. That was just my opinion.

Yes, the reason behind these propaganda are motiviated by greed and baseless patriotic on both sides, especially, the Thais. The temple was built by the Khmer King (Khmer Expire) a long time ago. Both Thais and Khmer should live in the present day not the past. I read an article that written by a Thai and he said that the Preah Vihear was discovered by the Thai King, I just think that all Thais got their history wrong or they just plain ignorance people. Every or just about every temples in Thailand are built by the Khmer Kings, for example, the Phimai in Surin or in Buriram province.

Thanks
Savy Kennedy Dashwood Hang.

Anonymous said...

The current Cambodian-Thai conflict is not about the 1.8 sq. miles of land, it is about nationalism and the Preah Vihear temple itself. The Thai govt. was facing immense pressures from nationalist groups at home who are dreaming of taking Preah Vihear temple back. We must remember that the 1.8 sq. miles of land is a lifeline for access to the temple from the Cambodian side. If the Thai can take the 1.8 sq. miles of that land they can prevent access from the Cambodian side to the temple. If they succeed, Cambodia's ownership of the temple is at risk because we have to ask permission from Thailand to get access to the temple. If Thailand can cut access to the temple from the Cambodian side, then it is like they own the temple itself.

Anonymous said...

Don't guess, your analysis is no any basic proof.
As I know Prime Minister Hun Sen, he is not interested in making more popular in Cambodia by doing such this risky thing.
No matter what, he's still be the Prime Minister of Cambodia forever. He don't need to get support by using this war. But, for Abhisit, yes he does in order to survive his government.
Hun Sen has so many businesses and own many things in Cambodia. He might worry about the econmy and his business much more than politic things.

Since Thailand has invaded Cambodia, our economy plumeted as the same time as the world econmic crisis occurs.
He has enough force to destroy someone that's against him.
No need to gain any support from Cambodians.
You see, even in 1993, there was an UN there, who can take him out of the power?
He was still the second Prime Minister and then become the first prime minister by toppling the first prime minister.
Got it?

Anonymous said...

Why don't both Kampuchea and Thailand used this plot of land to grow veggies for their own people and sale the veggie for the benefit of both people.


I agree with this idea.

Anonymous said...

352, you were 90% correct. And the author and others were wrong. To me, the land and temple been belong to us Khmer. We Khmer does not act of patriotism, just protect what is our and to proof that we fad up of being step on, bullying, manipulate, while all of these were happening on our own soil. Plus the author said he doesn't understand why we Khmer go to war with this small land. Well, what happen if your neighbor come to take half of your house with or without your permission. Better yet, come in your house and use your clothes closet and throw away your shirt and pants as he pleases. Plus what good is a house when your front porch is on someone else property!!! Just like we Khmer enter our own temple from the backyard. Now how low do you think we are. The temple belong to us and the land around it. To have a clean and prosperious place we need enough breathing room to garden vegies, built storage, and have room to let the kids and friends to run around a bit. Stop say that we Khmer issues- this is a damn Thai idiotic issues!!!!!! Trade preah vihear for Angkor wat my ass!!!! This thai nationalist need to be assassinated!! And why did the Thai pm did not arrest this nationalist for creating this false statements and pour gasoline into a fired building?? That of course because this pm want the to house burn!!!! And most importantly, the author knew who's land belong to but act stupid not to take side. So to as to stir among our Buddhist country to kill each other!!! That is why most of the news press and UN were controlled be christain!!! This author that wrote on this Diplomat is a Christian news!! ASEAN were also controlled by anti-Buddhist people!!! These are the whole picture! They are not going to help us over this small and insignificant battles. This time we need to kill 5 million people to catch attentions!!!

Anonymous said...

To me, I think ASEAN is very useless and fangless, toothless. Why they can't resolve this issue? Because Thai is the oldest member in that Organization which this led to being biased toward Cambodia.
like someone had mentioned below:
"The new ASEAN-II can be created for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mynamar, East Timore if the old ASEAN not happy with the new members.Create this new members just to piss Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippine off. I bet they will not going to happy with this. I'd suggest this to happen see how they like that.

Khmer PP,"

UN or World organization should initiate this right away or before it is too late. Like HUN SEN said, this could lead to a regional instability. Do you think Cambodia is afraid of Thailand?? No! You got to remember that the three countries that signed deal together were Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. These countries are looking after each others back. Thai could bring its country to be broken into peaces just like former Yugoslavia.