Friday, June 29, 2007

Cambodia prevented 200 black-clad Thai soldiers who wanted to enter Preah Vihear temple

Friday, June 29, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A report from Preach Vihear temple on 28 June indicated that black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter the perimeter of the Preah Vihear temple, but they were prevented by the Cambodian authority posted there. The Thai soldiers then pulled back.

The source which reported the information to Rasmei Kampuchea confirmed that about 200 black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter and occupy the Preah Vihear temple which belongs to Cambodia, but the local authority there did not allow them. The source indicated that this is not a first time that Thai soldiers made the attempt to enter the Preah Vihear temple. On 24 June, the Thai soldiers also showed their intent to take such action also, but the Cambodian authority prevented them once already.

Preab Tan, the Preah Vihear provincial governor, recognized over the phone that, indeed, the black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter the Preah Vihear temple, but that the Cambodian side did not authorize them. He indicated that these soldiers wore army uniforms although they were not armed and they asked to visit Preah Vihear temple.

Preab Tan added that the local Cambodian authority prevented the entrance to the Thai soldiers and informed them that if they want to visit the temple, they must wear civilian clothes, and they must buy tickets like any other tourist because the temple is under the sovereignty and ownership of Cambodia, and that no uniform soldiers (from other countries) can enter. He indicated that in the past, Thai soldiers attempted to enter the perimeter of the Cambodian temple, but the Cambodian side always prevented them by giving them the same reason. Preab Tan added that even if Cambodians want to enter the Thai territories, they must also obey by this rule.

Preah Vihear temple was under dispute between the two countries in the 60s. The Hague International Court of Justice decided to give the ownership of the temple to Cambodia in 1962, and the decision angered Thailand. The action taken by the Thai soldiers coincide with a time when Cambodia is asking UNESCO to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. Thailand opposed Cambodia’s request by claiming a number of problems. The Cambodian delegation led by Sok An to the UNESCO meeting will return back at the beginning of July.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

We, Khmer, don't call them "SIAM" for nothing.

Anonymous said...

It is the attempt that these Black Clade Thai soldiers are trying to intimidate the Hun Sen regime and the spirit of Khmers.

Those Thai soldiers had never tasted the Killing field rules, we are as Khmers should teach those fullish Thai soldiers some lesson.

Next time if any Thai soldiers enter Khmer Temple, we should shoot them in the head.

In the past those Black clade Thai soldiers had tasted Khmer guerrilla fighter along the border, I Thingk they din't get enough,they need some more rocket propel grenade. Give them some lessons.

Anonymous said...

With the new revenue from oil discovery,i think khmer should reform our arm forces just in case we were invaded.We should restore air force and equip them with F-15 OR F-16.wE should have submarine to protect our coastline.We should have tanks for infantery.And if the Thai dare to attack us we should think about liberate some provinces that were stolen from us.How about that.

Unknown said...

Dear homy this bastard Thai try too pull a trick
be smart monitor this side by satellite add more
police men or soldier ,build hight way and put
up the ladder . This Thai bastard has never
become a good neighbor since the start.

once again if Thai grab Preah Vihear it is not
so easy to fight with that region .
My father one them who fought in that war to get
Preah Vihear form Thai bastard.

To go up to the top our soldier have to use
Nin Ja style with out the ropes hang down
very steep cliff and valley ,they use vine tree
to go to the top ,no water Thai bastart put all poison
in the swamps and a lot a lot of mines around the
swamps.The soldier men dehydrated ,only time they
get water at night time take mine one by one the blood
and corps of our heroes every where all over that place
some times ,our heroes give up their lives in side
the swamp.
If Kapik Thai get a top part and it own the Entrance
that is not a fair fight for us, please one step ahead!!

Prevention better than cure
My memory of SomRong Jong kal bitter's battle

The Observer said...

I'm worried while reading your comments...

First of all, information about this pretended invasion should be checked carefully, as it wouldn't be the first time that a rumor spread amongst Cambodian population as if it was the Truth. This lead you some years ago into burning an embassy and many businesses, which in many other countries would have justified a full-scale war in response. There are some International Rules which have to be respected, among which the immunity of an embassy and diplomatic staff.

I feel that some political manipulation is being organized here to steer Cambodian population to revolt against Thais. And that you fall victim of this plot...

I wonder, do you really think that the Cambodian border police could have prevented Thai soldiers from entering Cambodia if they really wanted to? I sincerely doubt they would be able to do anything. Last time I met them, they tried to sell me a statue they had stolen inside Preah Vihear Temple. They have a deep respect for their ancestors, I was really impressed.

Another thing: having natural resources is a great gift which shouldn't be wasted in useless things like fighter planes and submarines. In the 21st Century, this is by diplomacy, negociations and collaboration with the international community that a country can defend itself, not by using small arms against a neighbouring country ruled by a military elite.

Please remember that there is no direct threat of invasion from Thailand or Vietnam at the moment. You are being manipulated in order to serve some political goal. Therefore, unless some clever Cambodian bandits burn an embassy again, you have nothing to fear...

Anonymous said...

Please check before commenting anything. Do you think that our neighbour will do such a stupid thing by ordering its troop to occupy Preah Vihear just like that? Don't you think the riot in 2003 that cause much problem to our country was not enough?

Anonymous said...

This is what happen to the HUN SEN government. The neighbors are looking down at us because 1-Our arm forces need to be upgrade with all modern weapons as possible. 2-should pay our arm forces with good salary so they have the spirit to protect our inches of our land and shield with their heart. You know the THAI claims that they are hold democratic system (respect human rights) but when we live in their camp they shot like dog. Even now if our poor people step foot in their soil if they see us they shoot they should have stop or at least arest us, detain us and send back. But they don't do that the accuse of being robber or drug trafficer.
HUN SEN should mass our any security personnel or armies to those heritage site. Remember during the SIHANOUK era, he only have 30000 arm forces but those brave men have shown the neighbor with strehght and tell them go ahead if they dare to encroach KHMERS border. But now i heard we have like at least 300,000 arm forces but not as brave as the 30000 back then. COME ON! HUN SEN reform or upgrade our armies in all mean. Don't just cut all those trees put the money in the pocket, take that money to upgrade our military system. ALWAYS, PRASAT PREAH VIHEAR always belong to the KHMERs. Never belong to the THAI no matter what no parts of PRASAT PREAH VIHEAR belong to the THAI. Hun Sen, if the THAI dare to do anything just send the message to the KHMERS that live in THAILAND to stand up stab them and tell them that we are support them. Belive me like someone just said, these KAPIK Thai very scare if they hear about the KILLING FIELDS. Lets do it I must say all KHMERS will stand behind you. When come to war we will unite.

Anonymous said...

H.E. Thai guys, you are too too too too too too much!!
Att Ong.

Anonymous said...

Not to trust those neigboring countries.

If we have chance just strenghten whatever our country by all means in economic, politics and arm force as well.

They are arrogant and invassive!

Anonymous said...

it is easy now to prevent the temple from invasion. Set up military base on preah vihear. install scud misiles, anti aircraft guns, artilleries, mines, and then invite those ass holes thai soldiers over. do you think they will come up ?? ahhaha. They cant even control muslim separatists south of thailand.

Anonymous said...

it is easy now to prevent the temple from invasion. Set up military base on preah vihear. install scud misiles, anti aircraft guns, artilleries, mines, and then invite those ass holes thai soldiers over. do you think they will come up ?? ahhaha. They cant even control muslim separatists south of thailand.

Anonymous said...

Just wish those KHMERS in provinces as: Chanthaburi, Surin, Boriram, Sisaket (Srey Sas Kae), Nokor Reach, Trat and Sakeo (SrasKeo) etc. WAKE UP and rebel against these FOOLish THAI like the Moslim in the Southern of THAIland. Khmers Wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Observer said...

To answer to "5:43 PM", I've been asking some Thai people what they think about Cambodian people. Most of the answers were "They're the guys next door, we don't really care about them". See, they don't plan to invade your country, they don't plan to steal your temples.

If some of them are looking down on you, it's because of the omnipresent corruption, some idiotic speeches of the political leaders, the incompetent ruling the ministries, and the violent reactions of some uneducated people over-reacting to rumors by burning an embassy... With the average Cambodian people, they don't have any problem, really. Trust me, or go to ask there by yourself.

I agree, though, that every government worker should get a decent salary. Soldiers, policemen, teachers and all government officials should get the money needed to accomplish their daily task without being tempted to fall into corruption and racket. On the other side, if they get higher income, they should be systematically and severly punished if they engage in corrupt practices.

Thirdly, you talk about the refugee camps in Thailand. We can't really say at the time that Cambodia was an example of democracy respecting human rights. There have been abuses on both sides, but it's never too late to start an investigation into murder by Thai soldier. However, I suspect you may be too young to have witnessed these events. Concerning recent events, it is essential that all the cases of Cambodians crossing illegally the border and being illegally shot by Thais for doing so should be carefully investigated. Are these rumors or daily facts? Why not reporting these shootings to IOM, the International Office for Migration, whose mandate is to investigate these allegations. Why do you think Cambodian people cross illegally the border to Thailand, if not for fleeing a country which provides no opportunity for their future, going to places with better working conditions and higher salaries...

The exploitation of natural resources to build a nation' military forces is well known in Africa. This is exactly what turned the richest countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Zimbabwe...) into the most chaotic and violent societies ever. Do you really want to take that path, having plenty of soldiers and guns to defend an uneducated, ill and poorly nourrished population?

Finally, Mr. 5:43 PM, you are calling for all the Khmers that live in Thailand to stand up and start a revolution. That would end up in thousands of people being killed for nothing. You are saying that we should remind them the Khmer Rouge atrocities to scare the Thais, but who were the primary victims of such regime?.. Not the Thais, not the Vietnamese. In the 21st Century, no one wins credibility, legitimacy and respect by the weapons and violence. Only good deeds, respect of international rules and healthy governance are the key of a successful country. The choice is in the hands of the Cambodian population.

Anonymous said...

They did it to influence the World Heritage Foundation decisions, it is typical of Syuks. Thailand has nothing on their own, they took more than a hundred monuments from us and now they want Preah Vihear too. If they think Preah Vihear belongs to them, I think we should take Bangkok back and send them back to China. Their history books are full of bias, exaggerations and flagrant. Every Thai generations were taught the Cambodia and whatever in Cambodia are belong to them. They teach their children not to be like us, however, their culture, history and traditions are heavily borrowed from us. Long Live Preah Vihear.