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Thai-Cambodia : Slim Truce Over the Contest of Preah Vihear Temple
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by tiha zaman | August 14, 2008 at 02:47 am
1291 views | 27 Recommendations | 18 comments
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Slim 'Thai-Combodian' Truce Over the Contest of Preah Vihear Temple
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PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - August 14th, 2008 - Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to withdraw most of the 1,000 troops facing off for a month near the disputed Preah Vihear temple on their border, a Cambodian commander on the ground said on Thursday.
The announcement was made just days before the scheduled meeting between the 2 countries' foreign ministers in Thailand to discuss on a second resolution to mark the border around the temple.
The decision marked a crucial progress when only yesterday The Combodian Confederation Of Unions announced that it would hold a demonstration in Phnom Penh on Sunday to demand the Thai to withdraw its military from the disputed border of Ta Moan Thom.
The announcement was made in a letter to Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema and stated that at least 300 people would gather at the former National Assembly building and march through the city.
The heated and sometimes violent debate was stirred and rekindled by UNESCO's error on drawing the world's heritage protection border by a few kilometres too wide.
Prasat or Temple of Preah Vihear was originally awarded to Combodia by the International Court of Justice in a long and messy battle back in 1962. Thailand has sinced protested the judgment.
However by some strange unintentional salt rubbing to the wound, UNESCO drew the map around the temple a wee bit too wide to suit the Thais which had always been sore for having to literally "give up" the prasat. And now with the new border, the Thais felt that they were wronged.
At the border of Ta Moan Tham, a several hundred kilometres west of the temple, the Combodian and Thai soldiers have been locked in a standoff in a dispute over the land of the temple for months.
The contest has been increasingly violent between the two countries where Thais and Combodian soldiers stand eye to eye and the two are seperated from scratching each other by only hastily installed barbed wires and mock fences made by branches.
However tourists can still be seen walking and clicking away their Nikons amongst the spectacular temple ruins which was built in the 9th century of the Khmer Empire. Located ontop of the hillside of Pey Tadi, the temple was to reflect the empire's spiritual life. But at present, the Thai troops guarding the border says that the Combodian could start shooting at any moment.
And the Thai responded that they were willing and ready for it as it was reported they too would gladly die for their country.
As the situation remains tense, at least the possibility of it cooling off are currently in the works where the 2 countries have not only agreed to reduce the troops but also to renegotiate on a resolution this Sunday.
"We will leave only 10 armed men for each side," General Chea Mon told Reuters in Phnom Penh. "Other forces will be returned to military bases."
As the first negotiation failed, it doesn't take much for the current slim truce to blow up again -- an irony of reality for a dispute over a place intended for serenity and perfecting the spiritual soul...
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (18)
at 02:51 on August 14th, 2008
tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 03:01 on August 14th, 2008
Many many thanks Rhonda. :)
at 04:09 on August 14th, 2008
tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Make it neutral territory and demilitarised zone, no one can have it and both have to leave it! They may end up blowing up the temple and then they wont be any thing left to fight over! Humanity can be so St....., Well we leave the Philosophy for another day!
at 04:30 on August 14th, 2008
Yes, Paschen I agree. If only it was so simple. In 2003 the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burnt down because a Thai actress claimed that Angkor belonged to Thailand. This, according to wiki, turned out not to be true.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
at 04:36 on August 14th, 2008
Great information here Heritage, I had not idea how extensive the animosities are between the two! I have to read up on their past history, especially the one pre dating the Colonial occupation of this land!
at 04:15 on August 14th, 2008
UNESCO's error on drawing the border by a few kilometers too wide.
UNESCO didn't draw the border. The International Court of Justice (Cambodia v. Thailand 1959-1962) based it's decision on a colonial boundary demarcation drawn up by the French. UNESCO abides by the ICJ ruling.
The borders/maps were agreed to during a period of time when colonial powers, the French in this case, were greatly feared by the Thais. Basing the judgment on this colonial boundary demarcation agreement, which was made under duress, was, I believe, unjust.
The reality, I think, is that the site belongs to both the Thais and the Khmers and should be shared/jointly managed. Using Preah Vihear as a focal point to educate Thais and Khmers about their shared heritage would be a lot more productive than the current mess.
tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 04:43 on August 14th, 2008
Hi Heritage, thanks for the comment and the information. Appreciate it --
However I still stand with the phrase of "drawing the border" because Thailand and Combodia government agreed to take only the temple on the mountain itself to be included in the world's heritage list. What the court decided was that the temple and the surrounding areas belonged to Combodia..
However in 1993, Unesco, Thailand and Combodia had an agreement which went against the judgment of ICJ as it accorded Thailand alot of advantage in terms of income and a stake in the temple.
Thailand also tricked Combodia that the old French map was ambiguous and that they needed a draw a new map and new border markers. This was called the Thai "white map".
But now, much to the delight of Combodia, Unesco decided to uphold ICJ's decision and listed the temple as well as the surrounding area in the heritage list. therefore marking the border a few kilometres too wide from the original decision of only including the temple.
Hence..Thailand's current rolling all over the floor act. :)
(Link to the dispute in detail here)
at 04:54 on August 14th, 2008
Great Information Tiha, and you are the Law expert here! Some of those are very interesting and the documents date back to 1907 all the way to July 2008! Thanks!
at 05:12 on August 14th, 2008
UNESCO's error on drawing the border by a few kilometers too wide.
Hi tiha zaman,
Thanks for the link, very detailed.
I still take issue with the statement above.
Unesco decided to uphold ICJ's decision and listed the temple as well as the surrounding area in the heritage list. therefore marking the border a few kilometres too wide from the original decision of only including the temple.
ICJ decided on the borders not UNESCO. Further, the Thai government and Cambodia government both agreed on the new borders (until the Thai Constitutional Court had its say). UNESCO can't make decisions about international borders.
at 05:27 on August 14th, 2008
Im not saying international borders dear, and I definitely agree that they cannot make decisions on demarcations of border lines. But what I'm saying is that, UNESCO finally decided that they will include the temple and the surrounding area to be listed as Combodia's which is (I think we all agree) rightfully belong to Combodia since 1962. The original plan was only to include the temple.
Listing a place as world heritage does not just mean "listing", it also means to outline the map: "Ok, from one point to that point over there -- shall be within our grand protection". And in this case, they decided, wait a minute, let's not include just the temple but also the other areas surrounding for only then we shall be all rounded! haha.. *cough, cough*
ok seriously, by putting the surrounding areas in the heritage list it makes Thailand looks bad as they will loose out in the making all important ka-chings because it would mean the site is no longer in dubious water to be disputed.
at 05:53 on August 14th, 2008
Im not saying international borders dear,
Ok.
But what I'm saying is that, UNESCO finally decided that they will include the temple and the surrounding area to be listed as Combodia's...
From what I understand of the WH nomination process, nations submit proposals for properties on their territory. In this case Cambodia would have submitted a proposal based on the ICJ decision which UNESCO abides by. Thailand and Cambodia (surprisingly) both agreed to the listing, thus, I believe, nullifying the original plan which was only to include the temple.
"UNESCO's error on drawing the border by a few kilometers too wide."
UNESCO can recommend borders, for WH sites, but it can't draw them. Only nations can do that.
at 06:10 on August 14th, 2008
Valid point, but here's my part of the mat, when Thailand gave the green light to Combodia to include Preah Vihear in unesco, original lines are only the mountaintop temple right? Ok, but if unesco agree to that, then they will be going against ICJ's judgment. They decide not to test the water and included everything in. Thailand is against that decision.
A lot of things in this dispute has been illegal Heritage, can't be too surprise when all that has been done are actually against the court's judgment. Thailand has been doing all sorts of red flags acts which are very much illegal including putting the Combodian in a very disgraceful and dishonourable position.
at 04:22 on August 14th, 2008
tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 04:51 on August 14th, 2008
Nevertheless, the present system has worked amicably for a long time. The entrance is in Thailand: it is situated on the edge of a mountain range and so is inaccessible from the plain below, in Cambodia. It is one of those very emotive subjects and the issue was really badly handled by the Thai cabinet which decided things secretly so there is a lot of suspicion by Thai as well as Khmer people!
at 05:01 on August 14th, 2008
You're right gerry. The Combodian gov can't seem to grow a spine while the Thai's obsession of playing with firecrackers make them both too fickle and volatile to amicably find a good ending.
at 09:20 on August 14th, 2008
tiha zaman, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 22:14 on August 14th, 2008
Every little piece of wood represents a prayer, Prasat Preah Vihear
nioba72 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 16:50 on August 21st, 2008
Luckily I went to the Preah Vihear Temple prior to the current dispute and military build up on both sides of the Thailand/Cambodia boarder... The only way in is from Thailand, although the actual temple is on the Cambodian side of the (disputed) boarder. Being a foreigner, I was without passport and would have been denied entry unless my Thai family from Ubon Rathathame had bribed the officials on the Thai side of the boarder to gain entrance. Regardless, for them is what 20 baht to get in, for me, 500 baht. Welcome to Thailand!
mark0838402020 has contributed a photo to this story.