Bangkok, 24 April 2013 (The Nation/ANN) -- As Cambodia's Prime
Minister Hun Sen put it, Thailand and Cambodia are like tongue and
teeth; one cannot be removed from the other. "Whatever the court's
decision will be, Cambodia and Thailand will not become enemies to each
other," he said.
That is what the Cambodian leader told his followers - but such a statement could also bring people in both countries, notably in Bangkok, to realize that two brotherly neighbors could easily clash as they are so close to each other. Such conflict, however, would happen only over a short period; most of the time they live and work together peacefully and smoothly.
Unfortunately, history - notably that written by Thai politicians - puts only the conflict on the record.
Conflict over the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has marred relations between Thailand and Cambodia for a long time. In its long history, the temple has lived peacefully - claiming the attention of people in the two countries only when it is the center of dispute. Most conflict over the temple has been motivated by politics, either in Thailand or in Cambodia.
The most recent clash over the temple was driven mostly by disputes within Thai politics. The International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s ruling 50 years ago was supposed to give a peaceful settlement to the dispute, but it could not, as Thai politicians wanted to use it for domestic consumption.
In fact, Cambodia did not need to request the court to interpret the 1962 judgement until Thailand raised an objection to its proposal to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
The difference over the plot of land adjacent to the temple, which Cambodia wanted to take as a buffer zone for the World Heritage inscription, was settled before the declaration of the Preah Vihear's World Heritage status in 2008. The land in the so-called disputed area of 4.6 square kilometers, mostly west and south of the temple, was not included in the buffer zone at the beginning. The World Heritage Committee's resolution had already made it clear the land in question would not be included before settlement of the boundary dispute between the two countries.
That is what the Cambodian leader told his followers - but such a statement could also bring people in both countries, notably in Bangkok, to realize that two brotherly neighbors could easily clash as they are so close to each other. Such conflict, however, would happen only over a short period; most of the time they live and work together peacefully and smoothly.
Unfortunately, history - notably that written by Thai politicians - puts only the conflict on the record.
Conflict over the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has marred relations between Thailand and Cambodia for a long time. In its long history, the temple has lived peacefully - claiming the attention of people in the two countries only when it is the center of dispute. Most conflict over the temple has been motivated by politics, either in Thailand or in Cambodia.
The most recent clash over the temple was driven mostly by disputes within Thai politics. The International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s ruling 50 years ago was supposed to give a peaceful settlement to the dispute, but it could not, as Thai politicians wanted to use it for domestic consumption.
In fact, Cambodia did not need to request the court to interpret the 1962 judgement until Thailand raised an objection to its proposal to list the temple as a World Heritage site.
The difference over the plot of land adjacent to the temple, which Cambodia wanted to take as a buffer zone for the World Heritage inscription, was settled before the declaration of the Preah Vihear's World Heritage status in 2008. The land in the so-called disputed area of 4.6 square kilometers, mostly west and south of the temple, was not included in the buffer zone at the beginning. The World Heritage Committee's resolution had already made it clear the land in question would not be included before settlement of the boundary dispute between the two countries.
In 2009 and 2010, the government, under the current opposition, employed all means to oppose a management plan submitted by Cambodia to World Heritage officials, although Thailand then had nothing to do with the committee.
Such a move developed into a military clash in February 2011 before the submission of a request by Phnom Penh for the 1962 judgement interpretation. Cambodia wanted the court to say where exactly is the "vicinity" of the temple in accordance with the previous judgement.
The court hearing last week in The Hague proceeded in a good manner and normal relations between Thailand and Cambodia. Agents and counsels of both sides, of course, mentioned the World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear to give the judges sufficient background to the case. The court trial in fact has nothing to do with the status and management of the World Heritage site.
Unbelievably, Thai opposition groups told the government to do as it did in the past - to continue opposing the management of Preah Vihear until the court made its judgement. Many politicians in the opposition camp told the government to register an objection during the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, to be held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on June 16-25.
In fact, there was no issue concerning Preah Vihear on the agenda. Normally, the committee simply receives a report on all World Heritage sites' management - work that mostly involves restoration and rehabilitation of the site.
Rational people, but also some politicians, realized that the court's battle over the vicinity of Preah Vihear was minor compared to relations between the two countries. Conflict should be contained to the court under a legal framework and no one should add more or expand it to jeopardize the big picture.
4 comments:
No, Khmer and Siam are not like "tongue and teeth", don't fall in the mine game of Siam again. Siam only looking out for their interests, if icj rule in their favor, they will stand firm of their current position, if the icj rule to the contrary, Siam would say "we are family let work together for peace for both of us", remember Siam never give it shit about Khmer, and they never will, unless there is interests for them. NO BODY GIVE IT DAMN ABOUT KHMER, ACCEPT KHMER, REMEMBER THAT.
Agreed, Siam look down on Khmer race that built Khmer Empire, beautiful temple through out South East Asia a temple that Siam wanted, a culture that Siam copied, land that Siam stolen as inferior race to them. Some Siam even compared Khmer as less than their dogs. Siam had been killing Khmer civilians for centuries. Siam are good at killing unarmed Khmers.
They found out the hard ways in 2008, 2009, 2011 when they tried to attack a more courages, motivated, less equipped, experienced Khmer troops. We wasted many of their lady boys in those jungle areas. This 21st century Khmers will not be push around no more. Don't share any things with them no more. ICJ will grant us justices because we had a legal issues on our side.
Nice to hear Thai people say like this, may be knowing that they are going to lose the Preah Vihear case, to pacify Cambodia not to kick them out of the area they are now occupying. But don't turn around a become aggressive if you won the case, ok?
First of all Thai should give most of all provinces on the border between Thaland & Cambodia more freedom and right to make their own decision in their provinces.
Most of the time the conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia were always dictated from Bangkok without discussing with the governor of those provinces, Surin, Sisaket or other provinces.
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