Despite a lack of media interest in the country, many there believe the ICJ will settle the dispute once and for all - and in their favour
By Post Reporters
Published: 28 Apr 2013
Bangkok Post
While the Preah Vihear dispute has rekindled
nationalist and patriotic sentiments in Thailand, the week-long hearing
at The Hague was outwardly met with relative calm across the border.
THEY SHALL NOT PASS: Cambodian soldiers stand guard at Preah Vihear
temple in July, 2008 at the height of the conflict with Thailand.
PHOTOS: AFP AND BKP ARCHIVE
Coverage in the Cambodian press has been limited after the week of
legal argument into Cambodia's request for the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) to reinterpret the 1962 ruling. The ICJ is expected to
deliver its ruling in October.
CHANGED SIDES: The ‘Red Houses’ on the Thai side of the border built by Ta Mok.
The main exception was reporting of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen's call for calm from both sides on Monday, when he addressed several
hundred villagers at a pagoda in Prey Veng province to explain Phnom
Penh's position.
''I contacted Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and said it
doesn't matter what the court's decision is, Cambodia and Thailand will
not become enemies because Cambodia and Thailand are like tongue and
teeth,'' Hun Sen said, adding he was confident Cambodia would win.
''They cannot be separated from each other.''
One organisation that has been keeping a close watch on local
sentiment is the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which has a
nationwide network covering 5,000 villages. The head of the centre, Youk
Chhang, said the centre had spoken to about 100 people a day, many of
whom had gathered for the Khmer New Year, and noted their opinions about
the ICJ hearing. All the interviews - whether in the field, by phone or
by email - were transcribed and the names and addresses of the
interviewees noted.
Despite the muted media response in the country, he said Preah Vihear
was in every Cambodian's heart and they all took a personal interest in
the issue.
''Cambodians have recently been taking a more civilised position in
regard to the court case and this, I believe, has been influenced by the
Khmer Rouge Tribunal,'' he said.
''Even though they know the issues well, they want to respect the
legal process and leave it up to the judges to make a final decision.''
The majority of respondents from ethnic groups in Preah Vihear
province had the simple belief that Thailand was involved in an
audacious land grab and was using its political and military might to
not only invade Cambodia, but also influence international opinion.
The area surrounding the temple is home to several indigenous groups, including the Kraol people.
''I became familiar with this issue recently through the media,'' said Saray Poeun, an ethnic Kraol living in Kratie province.
''I'm unhappy to hear that Thailand has always held on to the idea of
invading our country. As a Kraol, the temple and land belong to the
Kraol people, the Khmer and other ethnic groups in Cambodia. I appeal to
the ICJ to find justice for us.''
Other residents of Preah Vihear province complained of the impact the
dispute has had on their livelihoods. Saom Pheareak said it was
impossible that ''Khmer kings built a temple on land that did not belong
to Cambodia. Thailand used military power to seize that land. This act
was detrimental to the lives of people along the border.''
A dozen law students and graduates were interviewed about the ICJ
hearing, and few found any merit in Thailand's legal argument,
describing it as ''lies'' and ''weak''. They all said they expected the
ICJ to find in favour of Cambodia, but were unsure of Thailand's
willingness to accept the ruling.
''The interpretation could lead to the end of the long territorial
conflict between Thailand and Cambodia,'' said 20-year-old law graduate
Sok Vanseka.
''But it also depends on the situation in Thailand; they may or may
not accept the ICJ decision. Cambodia is not seeking to alter the 1962
verdict which is in effect. Thailand accused Cambodia of falsifying the
map in order to occupy 4.6 square kilometres. The Thai argument is very
weak.''
Chhay Vannlihuong, 20, a student at the Royal University of Law and
Economics in Phnom Penh said: ''Thailand's argument was based upon a
lie.
''They used unilaterally produced maps in order to claim the 4.6
square kilometre piece of land. We depend heavily on the maps produced
by the French. The Thais said that the ICJ should not reinterpret the
ruling, because Thailand has already implemented the 1962 verdict. But I
don't agree. If Thailand had respected the decision of the court, we
would not have any problems today.''
Several students pointed to Thai ''invasions'' into Cambodian
territory over the past 50 years, and a refusal to return antiquities
taken from the temple, as proof that Thailand had not respected the 1962
ruling.
Former Khmer Rouge cadres also offered a historical perspective on
the dispute and the two small ''Red Houses'' built by military commander
Ta Mok, which today stand inside Thai territory.
''Ta Mok's troops had control of the Preah Vihear temple between 1979 and 1991,'' said former Khmer Rouge cadre Vong Pheak.
''The Red Houses inside Thai territory that we can see from our land
were built by Ta Mok. After some Khmer Rouge cadres defected from the
[Cambodian] government, Thailand took control of the [Red] houses''.
PASSING JUDGEMENT: The United Nations’ highest court on April 15
presides over the Preah Vihear temple dispute between Cambodia and
Thailand.
