Collected by LAO Mong Hay, UK
PREAH VIHEAR
How Thailand accepted the verdict
according to Dr. Han Li-wu, Ambassador of the Republic of China to Thailand, 1956-64
How Thailand accepted the verdict
according to Dr. Han Li-wu, Ambassador of the Republic of China to Thailand, 1956-64
'My friendly relations with Marshal Sarit [Thanarat], Thanom [Kittikachorn] and Praphart [Charusathien] grew so close, especially with Sarit, that I became, so to speak, his personal consultant in international relations. Let me tell you an anecdote. Thailand and Cambodia had a dispute over the sovereignty of a hill, called Kao Phra Vihan, on their border. They submitted the case to the Word Court for adjudication, and I was warned by the Chinese judge in the court that Thailand might lose. I warned the Thai government, but they did not show much interest. They were overconfident. After they had lost the case, the Cabinet was split over the question of accepting the verdict. The Cabinet was meeting practically every day, Marshal Sarit having, at the time, taken over the prime ministership after a successful operation.
'One morning, Sarit went to the airport to see off a state guest, and I, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, was there as well. After the guest had left, I shook Sarit's hand and asked why he looked so sombre. He said, "Kao Prah Vihan, Kao Prah Vihan, every day! Headaches!" At once I said, "Marshal, why should you worry?" He looked at me with astonishment. "Accept the verdict.". I continued, "and close the road to Prah Viharn. How are the Cambodians to go up the hill from their side, which has no road and is the steep side of the hill? "At once he got the point and repeated the question, "How could they go up the hill?" with a broad smile. He summoned a Cabinet meeting, announced his decision to accept the verdict and closed the only road to the hill on the Thai side.'
Source: P. Van de Meerssche, A Life to Treasure: The Authorized Biography of Han Li-wu (London: The Sherwood Press, 1987), p. 106
'One morning, Sarit went to the airport to see off a state guest, and I, as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, was there as well. After the guest had left, I shook Sarit's hand and asked why he looked so sombre. He said, "Kao Prah Vihan, Kao Prah Vihan, every day! Headaches!" At once I said, "Marshal, why should you worry?" He looked at me with astonishment. "Accept the verdict.". I continued, "and close the road to Prah Viharn. How are the Cambodians to go up the hill from their side, which has no road and is the steep side of the hill? "At once he got the point and repeated the question, "How could they go up the hill?" with a broad smile. He summoned a Cabinet meeting, announced his decision to accept the verdict and closed the only road to the hill on the Thai side.'
Source: P. Van de Meerssche, A Life to Treasure: The Authorized Biography of Han Li-wu (London: The Sherwood Press, 1987), p. 106
6 comments:
Thanks Dr.Lao Mong Hay for keep tracks with the value records for all Cambodian folks. I personally wish you live in happiness. Also Mr. sacrava toon.
You both rising stars in this site.
Best wishes,
William Tong, USA
Preah Vihear temple will always remain a Cambodian heritage for eternity. If the Siamese thief wants to grab it with his hands we will chop them off. If the Siamese thief wants to set his foot on it we will also chop them off. Then, the Siamese thieves will have no means to steal Preah Vihear from us again. Let's not take any more shits from our greedy neighbours.
Back then khmer fought for what's ours, nowadays our khmer gov't don't fight for land, as in khmer krom or land near the borders of youn and thai. They give up easily, that's because of the 3rd grade education of our leaders, they don't know how to argue for things, only to give up. We need to get rid of these dumb leaders.
Preah Vihear is forever Khmer's period.
But, ah CPP is putting Cambodia on Sale. How does one stop such lunacy and corruption & immorale being in the offices?
Thank you, Dr. Lao Mong Hay. You have been doing a marvelous job for the Country. Wishing you the best.
Somlor Ma-Chou Yuon
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