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World Heritage site Preah Vihear has been the subject of controversies and even of army fighting between Cambodia and Thailand. With Cambodia announcing to withdraw military troops stationed in the surroundings, Preah Vihear could be rapidly back on the tourism stage.
BANGKOK- It has been a contentious subject between Cambodia and Thailand for almost a century. The beautiful Khmer Temple of Preah Vihear,
a 11th century jewel of Angkor architecture had the misfortune to be on
a tip of a promontory just on the border line delimiting Cambodia and
Thailand. For decades, the temple has been the witness of a war of
words, skirmishes and even sporadic fights between Cambodian and Thai
troops due to territorial claims. Officially, Preah Vihear Temple
belongs to Cambodia since 1907, when both Siam and France signed an
agreement tracing the border. Since then, Thailand regularly denounced
the treaty as ‘biased’, consequently claiming the sovereignty over the
temple. Thailand went to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which
confirmed in 1962 that the area belonged to Cambodia.
The
temple came again under the spotlight when UNESCO decided to list it as a
World Heritage Site in 2008. There is in fact a contentious point in
the border drawing. Unfortunately to Preah Vihear, the easiest access to
the temple is on… Thai territory! A 4.2 km2 buffer zone is in fact
under Thai sovereignty.
Things turned to the worst in 2011 when
Thailand discovered that Cambodia’s management plan of the World
Heritage Site would have integrated one km² belonging to the contested
buffer area. War of words was rapidly replaced by a war from another
age as Thai and Cambodian military troops started firing at each other.
The temple even suffered casualties due to damage from shooting. Serious
clashes took place in February and April last year.
Acting on
Phnom Penh’s complaint, a new judgment of the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) on July 18, 2011 reconfirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over
Preah Vihear. At the same time, the Court ordered that Cambodia and
Thailand immediately withdraw their troops from a 17.3 square kilometre
demilitarised zone near the temple.
Tensions eased following the election in July 2011 of a new government conducted by Yingluck Shinawatra,
the current Prime Minister. And things will continue to improve as
Cambodia is now announcing to withdraw troops from a supposed
demilitarized zone near Preah Vihear temple. Many times announced, the
advocated Preah Vihear demilitarization was neither implemented by
Thailand or Cambodia. Indonesian observers from the ASEAN were even
denied to watch military troops leaving ! Until last week, sporadic
shots were still to be listened.
Cambodia is chairman of the
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Phnom Penh’s troops
withdrawal is seen as a sign of goodwill as well as a way to improve the
image of the country before hosting a series of meetings including the
19th Asean Regional Forum and the 2nd East Asian Summit.
Tensions
at Preah Vihear resulted to an almost complete stop of any tourist
activities in what could be one of the region’s top attractions.
According to Preah Vihear province’s Tourism Department, the total
number of visitors for 2011 fell to about 125,000 from more than 130,000
the previous year. Statistics from the Ministry of tourism talk about
42,000 tourists last year, including 10,542 foreigners. An access road
has now been built from Cambodia to provide an easier access to the
temple without forcing travellers to pass through Thailand. According to
data from Preah Vihear province, the area has now two hotels and 19
guest houses offering a capacity of 231 rooms. And if things go again
well, Preah Vihear temple could become the main tourism driver for the
entire region, including Thailand…
4 comments:
I appreciate the writers view but least not forget that Preah Vihear was built by Khmers including many others in Thailand which they claim but not built by them. Sad how I don't hear many Thais applauding the Khmers for many attributes to their culture and identities. As the saying goes, "give credit when credits are due".
Wow! Its look like a HUGE CROSS the view from the top.Its belong to Khmer and Khmer's built it.Siam can not argue nothing....Get out and go home save lives,no more fighting....Khmer named one Province after Preach vihear,Khet Phreah Vihea.
This writer idiot claimed that 4.6 sq. Km in fact belong to Siam. You gentlemen need to look carefully every sentences. He is bias toward Cambodia. There had never been 4.6 sq. km dispute. It's BELONG TO US KHMER. Matter fact if you go back to 400 years the whole Siam belonged to Kampuchea, including 1/2 of of their peoples were Khmer descents. This idiotic writer need to go back to school to learn a real world history. I'm supprised he got this job as travel magazine as writer when he just copyed others articles and not knowing about true history.
I agree with 11 July 2012 1:09 PM
This writer is biased, trying to paint a positive image for Thailand at the expnese of Cambodia.
Contrary to the biased statement, "Thailand went to the International Court of Justice", the fact is Cambodia was the one who took Thailand to the International Court of Justice in 1959 after Thailand has refused to withdraw its troops from occupying the Preah Vihear temple!!!
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