Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Preah Vihear temple part of Thailand: "Moronic" opinion from a reader of the Bangkok Post

Wednesday January 30, 2008
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
Bangkok
Bangkok Post Postbag

As a Khmer architecture junkie, I find Dr Reiff's rationale somewhat presumptive in maintaining that since the Preah Vihear temple has Hindu elements, it therefore should belong to Cambodia (Postbag, Jan 29).

There are many temples along the royal road from Angkor Wat to Phimai (such as Surin, Prachin Buri and Buri Ram) that have Hindu elements and Khmer style of architecture, and yet, indisputably they belong to the modern Siam (Thailand).

Phnom Rung in Buri Ram, another potential World Heritage site with plenty of Khmer art, is definitely not claimable by Cambodia.

The judgement of the Court of Justice in The Hague on the territory of Preah Vihear temple was only a legalistic interpretation and, with due respect to the court, all the Thai governments since the ruling date have accepted the decision.

However, it is an indisputable fact that natural access to the Preah Vihear temple has to be made through Thai territory and hence physically it is difficult for visitors not to view the temple as being within Thai territory.

In theory, the temple may belong to Cambodia, but in practice, the temple is part of Thailand.

So it is rather ludicrous for Cambodia to ask the UN to recognise the temple as a World Heritage site without Thailand's participation.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bullshit!

Anonymous said...

That why I hate Khmer Kham Khmer.

Anonymous said...

"Phnom Rung in Buri Ram, another potential World Heritage site with plenty of Khmer art, is definitely not claimable by Cambodia".

From this quote the reason the Khmers cannot NOW reclaim their old land and properties because they have not yet build a more sufficient military might. But that does not mean their gross loss of territory has been forgotten. NO NO it has NOT been forgotten.

Anonymous said...

i don't agree with the author of this article with her argument. let me clear this up. remember, the khmer empire with its great civilization stretch to the burmese border in those days and siem had acquired the former khmer territories including its numerous hindu temples ( because in those days the official religion of the empire was hinduism, but later changed to buddhism). as a result khmer lost those temple to siem (thailand). so, my question: is siem thailand saying that khmer should get them back? so, siem are saying because they have acquired those temples that khmer lost to siem during the dark age, therefore, it is ok now for them to claim cambodia's preah vihear? this goes to show that siem do have a wishful thinking. not!! khmers say enough already, you dare not take anymore of the temple our ancestors had built. just because you had stolen phnom rung, phimai, and a lot more khmer temples does not give you that right to claim more, i mean to steal more. enough already, don't over do it, siem. don't even risk war with us. i suggest you people (siems) ought to reconcile and make friends with us, khmers, not enemies. it would benefit you in the long-run. i mean it diplomatically. enough of stealing our khmer, hindu temples already!!! consider yourself lucky to have acquired those khmer hindu temple in the khmer provinces that lost to you after the decline of the great angkor cilization; and be grateful for that; but don't try to renew that tactic in this day and age. let me say, this is the 21st century, not 1700s.

Anonymous said...

Why do we waste our time responding to such a bullshit that author produced? When you have dispute, the court of law decides matter, PERIOD! ICJ decided it, so it be so. If you claims what is yours based on your naturally biased view, obviously all the Thais would claim that all temples are theirs based on their greedy mentality.

LEGALISTIC INTERPRETATION? What kind of lame ignorant argument is that? Should we ignore the ruling and follow their bullshit that Preah Vihear is theirs?

Militrary confrontation? Do they know anything else beside this approach to resolve the matter; no wonder the Muslim wanted to seperate. This is purely a Cambodian matter; if they are not happy, maybe closing of border, econonic sanction,but to use the force? Damn them!

Anonymous said...

It's the stupidest piece of shit to be printed on the Thai public paper. Shame on them !

Anonymous said...

just because khmer allow tourists to enter from the siem side doesn't justy their 'stupid' claim to have a saying in what cambodia can or can not do e.g. list preah vihear on the world heritage site with unesco. please!! their argument in laughable at best. look, because of their argument like this, cambodia gov't is now building a roadway there to prove to the siem that access from the cambodian side is possible despite this argument of theirs. cambodia, let's make this access permanent from the khmer side of the border. don't waste our energy argument non-sense with the siem. they can say whatever they want til their heart content; cambodia and the rest of the world knows better and aren't buying it. good try, though! let's argument in court to see whose the real owner.

PS: i wonder who stop siem from closing their border permanently so tourists can visit cambodia instead. can you do me a favor, siem, please close your border to our preah vihear temple forever and see if cambodia can't build road way access to our temple. please challenge us to do it, if you people so wish. it's your choice whether to cooperate with cambodia or choose to close your border permanently; but don't come back and say we didn't give you a choice. oh, also, please continue to show us your aggression and we will definitely love you a lot. it's ok, we want you to be happy, and us not so happy. your choice, after all you people are better than us in many ways; therefore, that should give you the right to abuse us, to invade us, to rob us, to steal from us. we are weak, poor, our gov't are very corrupt and not have any national interest in mind. only you are the best. you are corrupt-free, your gov't are the envy of the world, your people are number one in the world and so on...perfect in so many ways...we want to be like you or better yet be one of you...

Anonymous said...

DOES THAILAND EVER CONSIDER THE WORD "PLAGIARISM"? OR DO THEY KNOW THE MEANING OF IT? YOU! (THAILAND) ARE DAMM RIGHT! YOU DON'T.

Go right ahead, keep covering up the fact from your children & grandchildren or from every class room in your country, because the longer you do the more ugly behind, you'll expose. Thailand is rather a theft then, now and forever. It's ludicrous to think that Thailand is the finest nation among other Nations in the world. She is nothing, but the Nation of shame!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The time for change is coming and so must your attitude or you will be left behind. If Khmer and Thai progress cannot bring in people like you to understand mutual benefits of these projects and the progress of better understanding then you will be shun out and cornered on the narrow-minded, stuck in the past label.

Its too bad that your bitterness cannot make you see that the attitude that Bankok has taken towards Phnom Penh is way more open now and looks like progress is being made. I don't know why you can't accept it and keep on the bringing up pass issues.

How many times have you read on here that Thailand has come out to defend the statement of of some of their spokesman as not reflecting of Thailand, and personal views and now what Thailand opinion?

I think they have done well in not offending the Khmer and coming to admit that no doubt Khmer Preah Vihar is Khmer, but you still go on to claim they say claim that.. and this..

Haven't you been reading? or you're just stuck on the past?


Please, I'm kind of tire of that attitude of some Khmer people. Its really keeping progress from developing a better relationship with Thailand based on mutual understanding and respect.

Time to move on. Thailand is claiming our preah vihear and more. you heard it from them. Now move on and keep khmer's mouth shut.

Anonymous said...

There are many temples along the royal road from Angkor Wat to Phimai (such as Surin, Prachin Buri and Buri Ram) that have Hindu elements and Khmer style of architecture, and yet, indisputably they belong to the modern Siam (Thailand).

SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT......it was because they were Khmer land. In regard to Preah Vihear who would be stupid enough to build the entrance on someone else's land, again the same thing, it was because the entire area/region belonged to Khmer. SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT, remember the further you go back the more Thai have nothing.

Anonymous said...

The Thaicong are coming in different shape, size, and color but mentality they are all the same! This is the Thaicong theory at it best base on the Thaicong scholarly interpretation! The Thaicong are promoting xenophobic without realizing it because they continue to paint Cambodian as the aggressor to be hated by Thaicong population!

If the Thaicong keep distorting fact of history from the Thaicong population and one day they will be surrounded by enemy! That day will come soon enough!

By the way the Thaicong can take their mutual respect somewhere else! How can the Thaicong show their fucken respect toward Cambodia when they want to take something belong to Cambodia?

Fuck the Thaicong investment! Fuck the Thaicong trade! Fuck the Thaicong diplomatic relation! Fuck all the feel good Thaicong theory!

Case closed!

Anonymous said...

PREAH VIHEAR IS INARGUABLY BELONGS TO THAILAND. PERIOD!

IF MUTUAL COOPERATION CANNOT BE SUSTAINED -- WE'LL DEAL WITH KHMER MILITARILY.

Anonymous said...

well we dont have to be upset with this fucking comment on Bangkok Post, it is name Bangkok post for sure they will need to show that Bangkok is their pot of rice, since this comment comes out this way, we all should comment that bangkok is a land of Khmer empire, they should then return to Khmer,Bangkok post need to leak some thai king ass to be in business until today it is simple like this.

Anonymous said...

please. you can hardly deal with a few small provinces down south and now you want to stir up the resentment and warrior spirit of the Khmer people?

You should be afraid of that comment. Khmer people are capable of many things when they are together. Your military doesn't scare us.

You should be ashame of yourself that you take many of our temples already and still wish Preah Vihear belongs to you.

Klah Si Sach min Deng Kun Kru,
A tiger that has been fed without honoring the master.

you like to do your wai kru all the time, us Khmer are your ancient krus, so show your gratitude and show some humility.

Anonymous said...

I am Thai/Khmer, but I have Khmer blood in my roos than Thai. I told you before most Thai populations are more to Khmer than Chinese. We the new generations always consider that Khmer are close borthers than Thai/Chinese. Regardless of all this comments above, the new Thai generations respect Khmer more than the Chinky Thai (Chinese 1/2 Thai). I know our government fabricated alot of bullshit to us to let us stir things up or hate Khmer more but these are none sense. Believe me with this technology era we can browse the web and study more about our brother Khmers. We know that Khmer is the oldest nation in this corner of Asia (Southeast Asia). We remember Khmer were the mightyest nation in this corner. Most of the temples were built by Khmer in Thailand are belong to Khmer. No doubt about it. All the scripts on the stone we can't even read them. Sometime we paste cements over them and rewrite Thai scripts over them to claim that they are belong to modern Thai. We already felt ashame. I don't know why our people keep telling the new generations about the fabrication of the history. I must said Preah Vihear is soley belong to Khmer. I and most Thai respect that. Only a bunch of Chinky/Thai are bullshitting around now. Believe me if war go on I bet our Khmer Surin will be on your side. Today, Thai have 3-4 fronts with enemies. These Thai generals lack of vision to think far. They don't know what Khmer can do to us. Look back, Khmer Rough smashed them badly in Trat. Khmer/Thai support Khmer all the way!! Peace brothers . Bow to all Khmer(s)! So korop bong pa-own Khmer tang os. Som jom-reap lea.

Anonymous said...

My wife and I went to visit BUDDHA EMERALD PALACE in BANGKOK recently during the trip to Cambodia and we discovered on one of the walls of bas relief having KHMER RElIC and alphabets. I took the picture of the bas relief.

Now I presume that EMERALD PALACE partiallly built by KHMER ARCHITECTURE.

Anonymous said...

The scumbag is still trying... Didn't they know many of the provinces they live on are the Khmer's lands? That is why I suggest the Thai should get their history straight; so we can find peace for the region.

Anonymous said...

I like the answer from Khmer Surin. Thailand is now about 70%-80% chinese, but there is still minority khmer who are mostly poor farmers who know about their root than the Chinese; similarly with khmer krom. I believe that all three Khmers will unite one day and make khmer kingdom a bigger country. we will not be a minority to our homeland once we unite.

Anonymous said...

I had been to Bangkok and I see a few Thai and they are doing odd jobs as bus boy, prostitute, clean trash, police, driver, street vendor, solider otherwise mostly Chinese!

These Thai Chinese are fucken rude and they think they are more Thai than the Thai! It is kind of funny but it is true! Even Thaksin Sinawatra is Chinese and he never gives a fuck about the Thai King and he even undermines the Thai King like Hun Sen undermines the Cambodian King! Oh well! Thaksin is out of power now at the wish of the Thai King!

Anonymous said...

I don't like internet blog. too much name callings and swearing. can we all be civilized here.

i'm a khmer person and i'm not a member of any gov't. i just want to help solve this problem with cambodia and thailand over the vicinity of preah vihear temple.

i think cambodia is programmed to react quickly to what is left of the khmer empire like small chilren with aids in distress. unfortunately, many cambodians can not afford to lose any more temple or territory to their historical enemies, especially in the modern days.

everyone who are educated enough alread knew preah vihear temple is cambodia's. please make that clear. i think the issue at hands here is the argument over the 'jointly delevopment' of the area surrounding this ancient khmer temple. this is what both gov't need to sit down to discuss on how to jointly develop the area so both people in the area can have a better living condition. it is a sensitive area because preah vihear is happened to locate there. i think bilateral develop between cambodia and thailand will be beneficial to both people on both sides, including tourists who want o see the temple.

it is not fair for thailand to continue to say as an excuse, perhaps, that access from the cambodian side is not possible. it's just not fair to say this to cambodia. this is where the joint delevop would help to get rid of this claim. cambodia and thailand can cooperate to build roadway access from the cambodian side that can be connected to the road on thailand side. this way, can allow easily access from both sides so both people and tourists can cross at either border to visit this sacred temple. with tourist number increased, there have to be a permanent settle that cambodia wanted because, after all, it is cambodia's temple and naturally, cambodia wants a permanent settlement in the vicinity of preah vihear temple for they are the true owner.

please help make this clear because, i think now cambodia is probably misunderstood the issue at hands. i believe once the two gov't hammered this out, it is possible to have a cooperative development to the surrounding area of this temple. the argument shouldn't be over the ownership of the khmer temple, it should be the cooperation to jointly develop the area around the temple on both sides of the border to be fair to cambodia. cambodia had suffered loss enough already, and they don't need anymore problem. it is a sensitive issue, but i believe it can be worked out diplomatically and bilaterally. let's both people reconciliate; but there are a lot of works to do, though. khmer-thai friendship forever. please be optimistic, it is possible, but we both got to get to work to clear any misunderstanding. this is very important. a khmer person's opinion.

Anonymous said...

WE NEED ARMY IN CAMBODIA TO FIGHT. NO ONE WILL KEEP US PEACE THOUGH WE GAVE LOT OF LAND TO THEM.

DO WE WANT TO BE A LOSER FOREVER?

Anonymous said...

Fight man! fight!

Anonymous said...

2:13 AM I agree with you that Khmer are quick to react with anger when it comes to issues with their neighbours. I can understand their feeling towards the Thai and VN. My question to you is this: How can you share the benefit with someone that is not the rightful owner of it? Do you think the Thai would share the benefit with Cambodia if Preah Vihear is their?

It's like sharing one's beautiful wife with someone that falls in love with one's wife when they see her beauty and claim/follow her.

Anonymous said...

2:13 i agree 100% with you man. People have come to react over an issue that is quite clear already, Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia.

The thing to be discuss should be how should we develop it so that it can help Cambodia and Thailand. We can use this as a major stepping stone to our peace and friendship, or we can use this a big divisive power with our neighbor.

I think we are people should considered our options in terms of practicality and in the spirit of brotherhood and mutual assistance.

We can help each other protect and preserve the area surrounding this place and making the nearby clean and nice?

Anonymous said...

Yeah chinky thai, out of Thailand!! You come from China because you were poor, jobless and nothing to eat. You come to Thailand and you make yourself superior to Thai people. The same thing happened in Cambodia. All these shits because of fucking foreigner in our countries!! PThai and Khmer bother from the great Khmer Empire, let kick these chinky out from our countries!!!

Anonymous said...

The author of the article is so STUPIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, which is a typical characteristic of a brutish Siem in general anyway. Just because the temple is accessible via Thailand, it does not mean that the temple belongs to Thailand. Only a savage shameless Siems would think like that. Cambodia needs not to discuss her national property with Thailand. That is why it is such a thing call boundary. The Preah Vihear Temple inside the Cambodian boundary, not a part of Thailand. The illogical Siems lost their ground before and now they will be rap in the heads again. Consider the Cambodian Island of Koh Tral that the YOUNs took from Cambodia. The Island itself is very close to Cambodia and is even populated by the Khmer people. The island of Koh Tral is far away from Vietnam itself, yet Cambodia cannot even claim it because it was supposedly ceded to the YOUNs by the thoughtless French. Therefore, what belongs to Cambodia, the Siems should not try to claim because the Khmer should DEMAND the return of all the Khmer former territory back the Siems. The Siems should return to their native ancestral land of Sipsongpana or whatever that cursed place is. The best solution to do for Cambodia is to fence off the temple completely to tourism from Thailand. Now who will continue to talk about the accessiblity to the temple ever again. It is best for the Cambodians not the deal with the Siem thieves who committed haneous crimes against the Khmer humanity and nation. Cambodia should and MUST close the temple to all the ILLOGICAL Siem thieves.

Anonymous said...

To 11:19AM

Thank for the comment!

Anonymous said...

TO 11:19AM
Good job brother!
Very true we need to fence off the site than build an access way or path from our side. I've thought when Chea Sophara was a Phnom Penh he really want to build access way to the temple. But I hope the Hun Sen build one soon. So the Thai stop barking.

Anonymous said...

To 2:13AM

Can you share your beautiful wife with me? I am willing to develop and train her into a good house wife and I even willing to pay her too!ahahhahhah

By the way I am ugly as a monkey and hairy as an ape and stupid as caveman but I have a good heart and I want to share it with you and your beautiful wife!ahahhahah

Please accept my request and contact me as soon as possible!

Anonymous said...

what a lame excuse thais are making. just because accessibility is better on the their side of the border gives them rights to have a jointly development or whatever. yes, right. cambodia let's make accessibility permanent from our side of the border. by the way, who the f--k comes up with the so-called 'white-zones'? whitezone is not feasible with cambodia. we will not accept it and will never agree with that stupid idea. since when did this 'white- zone' area exist? when the icj ruled in 1962, there wasn't any such 'white-zone'. so, stop the lame excuse.

Anonymous said...

No peaceful talk. No compromise with chinky, and fucking Siem. What's the use of holding negotiation with this our Khmer ancestors'slaves. This Khmer's former slaves never have good wish with us.They pretend to be good in diplomcy, but in their deep-heart, they like the whole present Khmer belongs to them. We can stand on our own ability. The cliff Preah Vihea is the best view and attractive for visitors. They like this kind of view. The government has to hurry to build the road for facilitating visitors journey. Don't always depend on this chinky siem. Stand on our own!!!