By Dr. Pavin Chachavalpongpun, PhD.
In power in 1938, Field Marshal Plaek Phibun Songkhram closely collaborated with Luang Wichit Wathakan, a prolific nationalist writer and composer, to reconstruct the Thai history, one that portrayed the country‘s vulnerability and at the same time its greatness in the past. the process of re-glorifying Siam‘s history and revived the issue of lost territories in order to legitimise his military regime. Phibun embarked on the campaign to recover the lost provinces from the French. The Phibun government, printed the Thai map which showed Cambodia as being historically a Thai territory. It also claimed that the Thais and Khmers were one and the same people. France had to warn Phibun against harbouring any designs on Cambodia.
Phibun‘s irredentist claims effectively stirred up anti-French sentiment in Bangkok, subsequently leading to a series of skirmishes with French troops on the Thai-Cambodian border. In the meantime, Phibun forged intimate ties with Japan and implemented a pro-Japanese foreign policy. The Franco-Siamese conflict allowed Japan to demonstrate its amicable relationship with the Phibun regime. Japan, in 1941, decided to step in to mediate in the conflict and the final settlement gave the disputed areas in Cambodia and Laos back to Thailand.Not until 1947, two years after Japan lost the war, was Thailand forced to return the Cambodian provinces back to France. King Norodom Sihanouk mentioned in his book Sweet and Sour Memories that Cambodia‘s territory had become whole again.
Thailand and Cambodia further to the brink of engaging in a full-scale war. In 1962, they took the temple dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thai Prime Minister Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat (1959-1963) called on Thais to display their love for the nation in the battle to regain Thailand‘s lost property. His government urged each Thai to donate one baht toward the expense for the court case. The ICJ finally ruled the case in Cambodia‘s favour. Sarit, in his nationalistic response to the ICJ ruling, said, With blood and tears, "we shall recover the Phra Viharn one day".
Sarit immediately lit the fire of nationalism among the Thais by underlining the theme of lost territories. He took advantage of the ICJ ruling by constructing a new history for the Phra Viharn. Sarit saw the loss of the temple, which, he claimed, had been fiercely defended throughout the history by courageous Thai ancestors, as the loss of another piece of Thai territory. He urged the Thais to always remember that the temple was stolen by the enemy who lacked dignity and legitimacy with its abhorrent tactics. Yet, successive Thai governments never challenged the ICJ verdict simply because they were unable to find new evidence to counter the earlier ruling.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, PhD.
Fellow, Regional Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS),
Lead Researcher for Political and Strategic Affairs
ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC),
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
In power in 1938, Field Marshal Plaek Phibun Songkhram closely collaborated with Luang Wichit Wathakan, a prolific nationalist writer and composer, to reconstruct the Thai history, one that portrayed the country‘s vulnerability and at the same time its greatness in the past. the process of re-glorifying Siam‘s history and revived the issue of lost territories in order to legitimise his military regime. Phibun embarked on the campaign to recover the lost provinces from the French. The Phibun government, printed the Thai map which showed Cambodia as being historically a Thai territory. It also claimed that the Thais and Khmers were one and the same people. France had to warn Phibun against harbouring any designs on Cambodia.
Phibun‘s irredentist claims effectively stirred up anti-French sentiment in Bangkok, subsequently leading to a series of skirmishes with French troops on the Thai-Cambodian border. In the meantime, Phibun forged intimate ties with Japan and implemented a pro-Japanese foreign policy. The Franco-Siamese conflict allowed Japan to demonstrate its amicable relationship with the Phibun regime. Japan, in 1941, decided to step in to mediate in the conflict and the final settlement gave the disputed areas in Cambodia and Laos back to Thailand.Not until 1947, two years after Japan lost the war, was Thailand forced to return the Cambodian provinces back to France. King Norodom Sihanouk mentioned in his book Sweet and Sour Memories that Cambodia‘s territory had become whole again.
Thailand and Cambodia further to the brink of engaging in a full-scale war. In 1962, they took the temple dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thai Prime Minister Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat (1959-1963) called on Thais to display their love for the nation in the battle to regain Thailand‘s lost property. His government urged each Thai to donate one baht toward the expense for the court case. The ICJ finally ruled the case in Cambodia‘s favour. Sarit, in his nationalistic response to the ICJ ruling, said, With blood and tears, "we shall recover the Phra Viharn one day".
Sarit immediately lit the fire of nationalism among the Thais by underlining the theme of lost territories. He took advantage of the ICJ ruling by constructing a new history for the Phra Viharn. Sarit saw the loss of the temple, which, he claimed, had been fiercely defended throughout the history by courageous Thai ancestors, as the loss of another piece of Thai territory. He urged the Thais to always remember that the temple was stolen by the enemy who lacked dignity and legitimacy with its abhorrent tactics. Yet, successive Thai governments never challenged the ICJ verdict simply because they were unable to find new evidence to counter the earlier ruling.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, PhD.
Fellow, Regional Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS),
Lead Researcher for Political and Strategic Affairs
ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC),
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
10 comments:
On a cliff in Cambodia old Preah Vihear temple has tragic recent past
(Thai Ideology)
The Khmer Rouge don't hold a monopoly on cruelty, however.
In 1979, Thailand was being flooded by refugees from Cambodia who fled as the Vietnamese army drove the Khmer Rouge from power.
On June 8, 1979, the Thai army gathered thousands of desperate Cambodians from all over eastern Thailand and trucked them to the border at Preah Vihear. They were forced to march down the steep slopes back to their country.
"The path down the mountains became steeper, the jungle thicker," British journalist William Shawcross wrote in describing the scene in his book "The Quality of Mercy."
"Dozens, scores of people fell onto mines. Those with possessions had to abandon them to carry their children down. One group of refugees desperately pooled whatever valuables they had left, filled two buckets with them, and walked back up toward the Thai soldiers, carrying a white flag. The soldiers took the buckets and then shot the refugees."
About 45,000 refugees were compelled to make the risky trek down the slope, Shawcross estimates. There are no definitive figures on casualties, but they are thought to have numbered in the thousands.
SIEM THIEVES&We are phu dee (those of high class)
Cambodian patriots expressed their anger at Thailand‘s claim of ownership of the temple. For instance, a Cambodian wrote in a public forum:
"Thais are thieves who stole Khmer creation and claimed as Thais. Even Muay Thai (Thai boxing) has its Khmer creation. Khmer alphabets, Khmer vowels and Khmer numerals are today used by Thais. Thais have never given the credit or mentioned the Khmers who helped Thai ancestors from the Mongol killing or helped Siam from the Burmese occupation, but to claim every Khmer creation belonged to Thais. Yet, Thais were the destroyers of Khmer temples and now they are collecting tourist money from Khmer temples. Thais are the shameless people on earth".
Cambodian has continued to call Thailand "SIEM", a term used by Cambodians in reference to Siam, which often connotes a sense of historical antipathy.
In January 2003, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by Cambodian nationalists. A few days earlier, a local Cambodian newspaper reported that Suvanand Kongying, Thai actress, declared that the Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Her statement immediately stirred up a great resentment inside Cambodia. PM Hun Sen angrily responded,"Suvanand was not even worth a blade of grass at Angkor".
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej said to a group of furious Thai protesters gathering in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, "Do not forget who we are. We are phu dee" (those of high class).
(note: this article intended for Khmer to understand Thai ideology, thanks from L.C)
On a cliff in Cambodia old Preah Vihear temple has tragic recent past
(Thai Ideology)
The Khmer Rouge don't hold a monopoly on cruelty, however.
In 1979, Thailand was being flooded by refugees from Cambodia who fled as the Vietnamese army drove the Khmer Rouge from power.
On June 8, 1979, the Thai army gathered thousands of desperate Cambodians from all over eastern Thailand and trucked them to the border at Preah Vihear. They were forced to march down the steep slopes back to their country.
"The path down the mountains became steeper, the jungle thicker," British journalist William Shawcross wrote in describing the scene in his book "The Quality of Mercy."
"Dozens, scores of people fell onto mines. Those with possessions had to abandon them to carry their children down. One group of refugees desperately pooled whatever valuables they had left, filled two buckets with them, and walked back up toward the Thai soldiers, carrying a white flag. The soldiers took the buckets and then shot the refugees."
About 45,000 refugees were compelled to make the risky trek down the slope, Shawcross estimates. There are no definitive figures on casualties, but they are thought to have numbered in the thousands.
(1)
SIEM THIEVES&We are phu dee (those of high class)
Cambodian patriots expressed their anger at Thailand‘s claim of ownership of the temple. For instance, a Cambodian wrote in a public forum:
"Thais are thieves who stole Khmer creation and claimed as Thais. Even Muay Thai (Thai boxing) has its Khmer creation. Khmer alphabets, Khmer vowels and Khmer numerals are today used by Thais. Thais have never given the credit or mentioned the Khmers who helped Thai ancestors from the Mongol killing or helped Siam from the Burmese occupation, but to claim every Khmer creation belonged to Thais. Yet, Thais were the destroyers of Khmer temples and now they are collecting tourist money from Khmer temples. Thais are the shameless people on earth".
Cambodian has continued to call Thailand "SIEM", a term used by Cambodians in reference to Siam, which often connotes a sense of historical antipathy.
In January 2003, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by Cambodian nationalists. A few days earlier, a local Cambodian newspaper reported that Suvanand Kongying, Thai actress, declared that the Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Her statement immediately stirred up a great resentment inside Cambodia. PM Hun Sen angrily responded,"Suvanand was not even worth a blade of grass at Angkor".
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej said to a group of furious Thai protesters gathering in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, "Do not forget who we are. We are phu dee" (those of high class).
(2)
(note: this article intended for Khmer to understand Thai ideology, thanks from L.C)
We are phu dee (those of high class)
Cambodian patriots expressed their anger at Thailand‘s claim of ownership of the temple. For instance, a Cambodian wrote in a public forum:
"Thais are thieves who stole Khmer creation and claimed as Thais. Even Muay Thai (Thai boxing) has its Khmer creation. Khmer alphabets, Khmer vowels and Khmer numerals are today used by Thais. Thais have never given the credit or mentioned the Khmers who helped Thai ancestors from the Mongol killing or helped Siam from the Burmese occupation, but to claim every Khmer creation belonged to Thais. Yet, Thais were the destroyers of Khmer temples and now they are collecting tourist money from Khmer temples. Thais are the shameless people on earth".
Cambodian has continued to call Thailand "SIEM", a term used by Cambodians in reference to Siam, which often connotes a sense of historical antipathy.
In January 2003, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by Cambodian nationalists. A few days earlier, a local Cambodian newspaper reported that Suvanand Kongying, Thai actress, declared that the Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Her statement immediately stirred up a great resentment inside Cambodia. PM Hun Sen angrily responded,"Suvanand was not even worth a blade of grass at Angkor".
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej said to a group of furious Thai protesters gathering in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, "Do not forget who we are. We are phu dee" (those of high class).
(note: this article intended for Khmer to understand Thai ideology, thanks from L.C)
We are phu dee (those of high class)
Cambodian patriots expressed their anger at Thailand‘s claim of ownership of the temple. For instance, a Cambodian wrote in a public forum:
"Thais are thieves who stole Khmer creation and claimed as Thais. Even Muay Thai (Thai boxing) has its Khmer creation. Khmer alphabets, Khmer vowels and Khmer numerals are today used by Thais. Thais have never given the credit or mentioned the Khmers who helped Thai ancestors from the Mongol killing or helped Siam from the Burmese occupation, but to claim every Khmer creation belonged to Thais. Yet, Thais were the destroyers of Khmer temples and now they are collecting tourist money from Khmer temples. Thais are the shameless people on earth".
Cambodian has continued to call Thailand "SIEM", a term used by Cambodians in reference to Siam, which often connotes a sense of historical antipathy.
In January 2003, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by Cambodian nationalists. A few days earlier, a local Cambodian newspaper reported that Suvanand Kongying, Thai actress, declared that the Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Her statement immediately stirred up a great resentment inside Cambodia. PM Hun Sen angrily responded,"Suvanand was not even worth a blade of grass at Angkor".
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej said to a group of furious Thai protesters gathering in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, "Do not forget who we are. We are phu dee" (those of high class).
(2)
We are phu dee (those of high class)
Cambodian patriots expressed their anger at Thailand‘s claim of ownership of the temple. For instance, a Cambodian wrote in a public forum:
"Thais are thieves who stole Khmer creation and claimed as Thais. Even Muay Thai (Thai boxing) has its Khmer creation. Khmer alphabets, Khmer vowels and Khmer numerals are today used by Thais. Thais have never given the credit or mentioned the Khmers who helped Thai ancestors from the Mongol killing or helped Siam from the Burmese occupation, but to claim every Khmer creation belonged to Thais. Yet, Thais were the destroyers of Khmer temples and now they are collecting tourist money from Khmer temples. Thais are the shameless people on earth".
(2)
Cambodian has continued to call Thailand "SIEM", a term used by Cambodians in reference to Siam, which often connotes a sense of historical antipathy.
In January 2003, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by Cambodian nationalists. A few days earlier, a local Cambodian newspaper reported that Suvanand Kongying, Thai actress, declared that the Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Her statement immediately stirred up a great resentment inside Cambodia. PM Hun Sen angrily responded,"Suvanand was not even worth a blade of grass at Angkor".
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej said to a group of furious Thai protesters gathering in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, "Do not forget who we are. We are phu dee" (those of high class).
(3)
(note: this article intended for Khmer to understand Thai ideology, thanks from L.C)
SIAM,SIEM=meant THIEF!!!!We all should continue calling SIAM!!!!
Once a thief, always will be a thief. I don't care if Siem changed their tittle to Thai. They're characteristics and personalities don't change. They are savage dogs, always looking to prey for the weaks and the vulnerable to gain wealth and territory. When the opportunity present itself, the savage Siem dogs go for the kill. They have no honor or integrity. What matters to them is their own benefits. A very selfish nation. I hope ASEAN members and the worlds are becoming more enlighted by the true nature of Thailand savagery.
Dear Editor
I come across articles on your website:
http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2011/05/complicated-relations-between-cambodia.html
http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2011/05/field-marshal-plaek-phibun-songkhram.html
Apparently, these articles were posted by "anonymous".
However, it is obvious that your lifted the whole part of my article: Glorifying the Inglorious Past: Historical Overhangs in Thai-Cambodian Relations.
I would appreciate it if you could give me some credit for taking part of my article to be published on your website.
Pavin
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