By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia to occupy the Ta Moan Temple, located in Banteay Amil district, Oddar Meanchey province, did not reach any conclusion yet up to now. However, villagers from the area claim that this Cambodian Temple is currently under occupation by Thailand and this situation took place about three years ago.
30-year-old Ly Ros who lives in Banteay Chhmar district and who used to visit the Ta Moan Temple last year, claimed that Thailand built a paved road all the way to the temple, and opened it for tourist visit from the Thai side, however, for Cambodian people, the Thai allow us to visit this temple only once a year, during the Cambodian New Year celebration (in mid-April).
Ly Ros said: “There are Thai guards, we do not dare go in as we want to, we can enter through one road only, and it is guarded on both sides, they don’t allow us in … The wouldn’t allow us in, they guard the entire area, and they issue us a letter to go in to visit, when we return back, they demand back the letter they issued.”
24-year-old On Voa who also lives in the same village as Ly Ros, added that he is very deceived when he arrived here as it turns out that the Thai soldiers are occupying the temple instead. He said: “I used to visit the place, I was told that this is a Khmer Temple, but when I visited it, it was the Thai who occupied it. When I arrived there, we saw only Thai soldiers surrounding the entire temple. They left only one road to go visit. They limited the (visit) time between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, then they told us to leave.”
Regarding whether the ancient Ta Moan Khmer Temple is located in Thailand or in Cambodia? Historian Michel Tranet indicated that the temple is indeed a Khmer temple built between the 11th and 12th century, however, he cannot say whether it is located in Cambodia or not.
RFA visited the Kou village, Chhouk commune, Banteay Ampli district, which is the last village located 8-kilometer from the border and the Ta Moan Temple. We could not enter the temple area because Thailand closed its entrance, and we must wait until the Cambodian New Year before being able to go in.
55-year-old Monk Nath Nouen who lives in Kiri Sakor pagoda in Kou village, said that during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era (Sihanouk regime), the temple was under Cambodian occupation.
Monk Nath Noeun said: “During the Lon Nol regime (1970-1975), I was a soldier and I guarded the temple. When the regime changed (in the 90s?), I stopped guarding it, and then the Thai came in.”
60-year-old Kong who used to be a self-defense soldier in the past claimed that: “Before, I was a self-defense soldier, and I was guarding the temple there. Right after the war (early 90s), they (Thai) came in to occupy it, before that, they were never there … They built road straight into the temple. I don’t know what to do, should we protest or not? I am very upset, this is our temple, but it’s occupied by the foreigners instead.”
60-year-old Phal Pheuy indicated that all the villagers born in the area, all said that the Ta Moan Temple belongs to Cambodia, but in the past 3-years, the villagers can no longer enter the temple.
Phal Pheuy said: “Nowadays, I am begging the government and the authority again and again, I am asking them to help resolve the Ta Moan Temple issue. I am very saddened that our current Cambodian children and grandchildren see (this temple) as belonging to them (Thai), this is ours, we lost it completely.”
Orn Roeun, the Banteay Ampil district governor, recognized that the Ta Moan Khmer ancient Temple fell into the Thai occupation about three years ago, when Thailand built a paved road reaching the temple.
Orn Oeun said: “To sum it up, in the last 2-3 years, Thailand built a road and came to occupy the temple. Earlier, during the Sangkum era (Sihanouk regime), and up to 1993, we moved back into our territory, therefore, when our troops move back in, Thailand moved their troops forward to defend their territories, when they saw the temple, they made the arrangement (to occupy it). This issue is of (high) concerns for us, but it is an issue that must be dealt by the government.”
Even though the villagers and the local authorities claim that the Ta Moan Temple area was occupied by the Thai authority only in the past three years, the army commander of the military region 4, in charge of defending the border in this area, claimed that the Ta Moan Temple turned into a “White Zone” (disputed no-man’s-land). This means that it does not belong to Thailand yet, even though Thailand built a paved road and opened the temple for tourist visit.
The commander of military region 4 said: “The geography of the Ta Moan Temple is considered as a “white zone”, it depends on the government to decide. Currently, we are at the bottom, and we patrol the area every day.”
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, stressed that the Ta Moan Temple belongs to Cambodia, and that this issue is still under dispute.
Khieu Kanharith added the Cambodian government is working hard to install border markers with countries where there are resolutions already, but in difficult areas with Thailand, the installation of border markers will be done later.
Khieu Kanharith said: “In the past, we installed border markers in easier areas first, wherever we (agree to) determine as the border division, we complete these areas first. For difficult areas, we keep them last, this is just like the case with Vietnam also. Therefore, wherever we install (border posts), we stake them, at other areas, we discuss about them. If we cannot decide during the discussions, we can go the International Court of Justice and such…”
Following the conclusion of a 3-decade war in Cambodia, Cambodia is now facing with unending border disputes with neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Most of the time, reports indicated Cambodia’s borders have been encroached by several kilometers by these countries. Border issues have turned into a discussion topic among Cambodian politicians, however, there has never been any final resolution to this issue.
30-year-old Ly Ros who lives in Banteay Chhmar district and who used to visit the Ta Moan Temple last year, claimed that Thailand built a paved road all the way to the temple, and opened it for tourist visit from the Thai side, however, for Cambodian people, the Thai allow us to visit this temple only once a year, during the Cambodian New Year celebration (in mid-April).
Ly Ros said: “There are Thai guards, we do not dare go in as we want to, we can enter through one road only, and it is guarded on both sides, they don’t allow us in … The wouldn’t allow us in, they guard the entire area, and they issue us a letter to go in to visit, when we return back, they demand back the letter they issued.”
24-year-old On Voa who also lives in the same village as Ly Ros, added that he is very deceived when he arrived here as it turns out that the Thai soldiers are occupying the temple instead. He said: “I used to visit the place, I was told that this is a Khmer Temple, but when I visited it, it was the Thai who occupied it. When I arrived there, we saw only Thai soldiers surrounding the entire temple. They left only one road to go visit. They limited the (visit) time between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, then they told us to leave.”
Regarding whether the ancient Ta Moan Khmer Temple is located in Thailand or in Cambodia? Historian Michel Tranet indicated that the temple is indeed a Khmer temple built between the 11th and 12th century, however, he cannot say whether it is located in Cambodia or not.
RFA visited the Kou village, Chhouk commune, Banteay Ampli district, which is the last village located 8-kilometer from the border and the Ta Moan Temple. We could not enter the temple area because Thailand closed its entrance, and we must wait until the Cambodian New Year before being able to go in.
55-year-old Monk Nath Nouen who lives in Kiri Sakor pagoda in Kou village, said that during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era (Sihanouk regime), the temple was under Cambodian occupation.
Monk Nath Noeun said: “During the Lon Nol regime (1970-1975), I was a soldier and I guarded the temple. When the regime changed (in the 90s?), I stopped guarding it, and then the Thai came in.”
60-year-old Kong who used to be a self-defense soldier in the past claimed that: “Before, I was a self-defense soldier, and I was guarding the temple there. Right after the war (early 90s), they (Thai) came in to occupy it, before that, they were never there … They built road straight into the temple. I don’t know what to do, should we protest or not? I am very upset, this is our temple, but it’s occupied by the foreigners instead.”
60-year-old Phal Pheuy indicated that all the villagers born in the area, all said that the Ta Moan Temple belongs to Cambodia, but in the past 3-years, the villagers can no longer enter the temple.
Phal Pheuy said: “Nowadays, I am begging the government and the authority again and again, I am asking them to help resolve the Ta Moan Temple issue. I am very saddened that our current Cambodian children and grandchildren see (this temple) as belonging to them (Thai), this is ours, we lost it completely.”
Orn Roeun, the Banteay Ampil district governor, recognized that the Ta Moan Khmer ancient Temple fell into the Thai occupation about three years ago, when Thailand built a paved road reaching the temple.
Orn Oeun said: “To sum it up, in the last 2-3 years, Thailand built a road and came to occupy the temple. Earlier, during the Sangkum era (Sihanouk regime), and up to 1993, we moved back into our territory, therefore, when our troops move back in, Thailand moved their troops forward to defend their territories, when they saw the temple, they made the arrangement (to occupy it). This issue is of (high) concerns for us, but it is an issue that must be dealt by the government.”
Even though the villagers and the local authorities claim that the Ta Moan Temple area was occupied by the Thai authority only in the past three years, the army commander of the military region 4, in charge of defending the border in this area, claimed that the Ta Moan Temple turned into a “White Zone” (disputed no-man’s-land). This means that it does not belong to Thailand yet, even though Thailand built a paved road and opened the temple for tourist visit.
The commander of military region 4 said: “The geography of the Ta Moan Temple is considered as a “white zone”, it depends on the government to decide. Currently, we are at the bottom, and we patrol the area every day.”
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, stressed that the Ta Moan Temple belongs to Cambodia, and that this issue is still under dispute.
Khieu Kanharith added the Cambodian government is working hard to install border markers with countries where there are resolutions already, but in difficult areas with Thailand, the installation of border markers will be done later.
Khieu Kanharith said: “In the past, we installed border markers in easier areas first, wherever we (agree to) determine as the border division, we complete these areas first. For difficult areas, we keep them last, this is just like the case with Vietnam also. Therefore, wherever we install (border posts), we stake them, at other areas, we discuss about them. If we cannot decide during the discussions, we can go the International Court of Justice and such…”
Following the conclusion of a 3-decade war in Cambodia, Cambodia is now facing with unending border disputes with neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Most of the time, reports indicated Cambodia’s borders have been encroached by several kilometers by these countries. Border issues have turned into a discussion topic among Cambodian politicians, however, there has never been any final resolution to this issue.
36 comments:
It must be very tough for any government. North take away by Thai. The South & East takes away by the viet
We will have to tell the U.N. about this. First the government needs to kick out those Thai soldiers. Any foreign army stationed in Cambodia is a direct violation of the U.N. charter and is considered a violation of Cambodian constitution.
We must take out temple back. If we let take it, they will more of our land. The government must be firm with these sneaky neighboring countries. They are the opportunists. Keep an eye on them thieves!
Nope, Ta Moan is inside Thailand and we can't invade our neighbor.
This is unspeakable to see the fucken Thaicong behave like this!
The Thaicong and the Vietcong are using their roads and highways as their border markers but for AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave was fool into believing that it is the border markers!
It is time to call upon the United Nations to help Cambodia on this serious issue! After all these years of violation by the Thaicong and the Vietcong, I don't know why AH HUN SEN dare not open his mouth to defend Cambodia sovereignty!
Cambodian people never have a peace of mind under AH HUN SEN rule because he was never a Cambodian leader and he is a puppet government design by the foreigner to destroy Cambodia!
I thought no body is allowed to build anything in the white zone. Why do we allow the Thai build paved road in the white zone?.
What about the authority in the area, don't they have a gut to stop the construction?.
Cambodia is being bully left and right by the Thaicong and the Vietcong aggressive behavior and yet AH HUN SEN dare not open his fucking mouth! What does it takes for AH HUN SEN to open his fucking mouth on the issue of Cambodia sovereignty! Who dare to shut up his fucking mouth? Maybe AH HUN SEN is still a little child who still learning how to speak and maybe that is the reason why he couldn't open his fucking mouth! These days, Cambodian leaders are being treated like little children and even if these children dare to cry, to scream, or to yell for help and the Thaicong and the Vietcong won't let them! This is what you called child abused because the children can't get outside help!
I remembered during Pol Pot the children have the power to kill their own parent!
By the way, there is no such thing as the white zone! The white zone is the invention of the Thaicong and the Vietcong illegal policy!
Hey, speak for yourself, 1:11, but we want roads, roads, roads, especially when it is free.
Any way, guys, let's not spill blood over this. The bottom line is all those who inherited khmer blood will inherited a share of all khmer heritage, no matter where it may be.
GO TO HELL 8:59PM!
when it come to cambodia, they stopped us; when it comes to thailand, no one stop them. how shameful! what is cambodian government to do? hun sun can smash little cambodians; lets see if he can smash with the thai.
Hey, speak for yourself, 1:11, but we want roads, roads, roads, especially when it is free.
8:54 PM
Wrong!
judging from the statement. YOu must be living on the other side, a Thai citizen. Hey fool, are you confused???
Hey dude, Ta Moan is clearly in Thailand. Check the map.
What map? The one drawn up from your dream? "dude"?
if you still use dude, you probably don't even know how to read maps. Hey, quick, what's a contour line?
I had checked with the fucken map and it is nowhere inside Thaicong land!
If the fucken Thaicong want militarily strategic land from Cambodia and the label the area as the White Zone so Cambodian can't touch it and they began to built roads and highways into it! It is simple as that!
Cambodian population used to live in Ta Moan Temple, located in Banteay Amil district during King Sihanouk rule! Even the 1980 at the height of the Vietcong occupation of Cambodia! As Cambodian refugee began to repatriate back to Cambodia and the Thaicong military began to move in and start label everything as the White Zone!
LOL, this is not the in the international zone, but inside Thailand, however, not far from the border.
Maybe they are talking about two different Ta Moan here.
Okay, here's a map site that show all of the khmer artifact.
http://www.geocities.com/dinaangkor01/Map_of_ruins/map_thailao.htm
Number 17 is Ta Mueng. It looks like it touches the neutral zone but it is still in Thailand.
Bullshit! This is the new invention of the Thaicong map!
Take out the fuck map of 1963 (United States military map) and prove it once for all!
You got to be kidding me fool! I don’t go around believe everything on a fucken piece of paper ok! Ahahahhahah!
I want to find out when is this so called this new Thaicong came to be used as official map? I want to know the fucken revision date on this fucken map!
Come on dude, you can't just revised map anytime you like.
Just look at Preah Vihear. It touches the neutral zone but it's in our side.
Plus, that website is not a Thai's website, but Khmer's. I doubt that the website owner would post map revised by the Thai.
Aside from that, if we settle be border dispute in that area, it will certainly benefit both sides from tourists and trades in that area. If tourist come to see number 14-17, they will probably also want to se Banteay Chhmar. Thus, I would invest heavily to develop that area.
Anyhow the truth is we all owned all of our ancestors artifacts. It is just that when it's located in Thailand, they are the keeper or caretaker of it, and when it located in Cambodia, we are the caretaker of it, and that goes for Vietnam and Laos as well.
Pull out the fucking map of Cambodia that was recognizing by the United Nations!
Fuck the Thaicong and the Vietcong would never recognize anything belong to Cambodia through out history!
I told you before and I will tell you again that Cambodian people used to live in those area claimed by the Thaicong during Sangkum Reastr Niyum (1955)!
Don't bullshit with me stupid mother fucker!
Of course Khmer used to live everywhere, but you are talking history, dude.
What? History what? Stupid Mother!
If I were go to take over your fucken house for 10 years and I said you can't claimed it back because it is history and how do you feel? Ahhahahhahhah
No Thaicong and No Vietcong are going to change Khmer history!
Cambodia is member of United Nations and as a member Cambodia deserves the same protection as those of the aggressor nations! And if only if Cambodia is to be pulled out from United Nations as a member then let all hell break loose!
Come on dude, no one is changing any history.
As for the house, you are correct for Cambodia, but not border. You have to claim it for more than one hundred years for you to own it.
And there is nothing the UN will do for anyone because there is no change in the border situation. We'll have to settle it ourselves and put and end to all of it. We can't wait another 200 years because we need jobs.
What kind a fuck up economic model is this when Cambodian people can't even create their own job? You are complaining about not having a job?
I will tell you what! The reasons Cambodian people can't create their own job because Cambodian educational system is fuck up! The Cambodian economic model is fuck up! The Cambodian specialists so called economist who can’t even figure out how the way the fucken economic system working is also fuck up! I am talking about the blind lead the blind! Ahahhahhahahhahahh!
If the whole Cambodian population depend on the stupid Cambodian government to create job them and pretty soon the stupid Cambodian government will treat them like little children because of the fact that they depend on the stupid government like little children!
This is the recipe for the creation of the new nightmare for dirt poor Cambodian people in the coming year!
Bullshit, you can't blamed the world's education because people who don't want to learn and drop out of schools.
Anyway, by clear up border disputes, we can develop the area and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the area. We will build hotel, park, casino, theater, stadium, ..., and road. We will build power plants. There will be thousands of restaurants; they, in turn, will buy rice, veggies, fish, ... and duck from farmers, ..., and the list goes on and on and on....
Oh? You think your idea of economic is so novel! The benefit of your economic scheme has yet to be seen!
I open to any new ideas as long as Cambodia is getting something out of it but let hope the Thaicong and the Vietcong don't start shit!
Yes, you'll will see the benefit, once we settled all of the border disputes and start developing. I guarantee it, and the Thai and Viet ain't gonna start no shit. They want economic growth for their countries as much as we do, and we will worked together to make it happened for everyone.
Any fucken agreement between the Thaicong and the Vietcong on the border issues and the 1963 Cambodian map will be used to impose on the agreement!
Any fucken border issue agreement outside the 1963 Cambodian map is nonnegotiable!
7:12, stop living in a text book, will you. If everyone will just go by 1963 map or whatever, there will not be any border dispute in our world, get it?
That is what I am hoping for fool!
Khmer people are so sicken tired of accommodating the fucken Thaicong and the fucken Vietcong policies!
This is international law text book and the fucken Thaicong and the fucken Vietcong must abide by law and order of international community!
Those maps are in fact made by a Japanese dude from
www.angkor-ruins.com
I've visited the site earlier this year from the thai side and yes, right at the entrance of the Prasat Ta Muen Thom is a small military camp/base.
Does anyone know where i can download the original Khmer article of this translated version
go thailand
Hey guys,
There is no doubt that Ta Moan (Ta Muen) temple was built by Khmer based on the style of the ruins. However, when it comes to laws, evidens speak. Does anyone have the information about Ta Moan temple history? So if you want to help Khmer, find evidens and send them to the authority. Post them on the website if you like.
Cheers,
evidents
Khmer chlart leave it for them to fix the road everything and claim it back I credit to Hun Sen dar tam youn chlart kroan ber hehehehe chey yoo Hun Sen proud of you HaHahahaha
stop big mouth to your own Government yourguy don't know anything just calm down sit and watch what the result. I believed our government ain't stupid you'll see what the benefit after that. God bless all khmer around the world
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