A way out of the impasseWednesday April 30, 2008
Bangkok Post
Anyone who has been to Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, can attest to the breath-taking beauty of the ancient Khmer ruins atop the Dongrek Range on the Thai-Cambodian border. They might also feel the tension that seems to envelop the surroundings - a result of the bitter wrangle over ownership of the 11th century temple. Thailand and Cambodia should realise that visitors to this sanctuary appreciate the first aspect, not the latter. And if they want ever more travellers from all over the world to appreciate this architectural wonder of Southeast Asia, the authorities have no choice but to strike a deal. This means they must stop quibbling and start searching seriously for a way to manage the sanctuary together.
This option of joint management should have been clear from the start, considering the location of the sanctuary atop a hill that sits right on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, with the more convenient access located on the Thai side. Still, what should have been an issue for amicable discussion became a problem to solve, when Cambodia unilaterally requested the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to register the temple as a World Heritage Site last year. Thailand is opposed to the proposal, as such a listing would include not just management of the temple site but the outer areas that serve as a buffer zone, which lie in disputed territory and which have still to be cleared of mines laid by the Khmer Rouge.
Cambodia has been pursuing the World Heritage status by itself and it is expected that its application will be accepted this year. Without a resolution on the territorial conflict, however, it looks like the new status will bring more problems and feelings of animosity to the ancient stone ruins. This would be a pity and defeat the whole purpose of having it recognised as a heritage of the world.
The only thing that is clear in this otherwise very complicated tussle over Preah Vihear is the ruling by the International Court of Justice that the sanctuary itself is under Cambodian sovereignty. This judgement has left some room for argument about the surrounding area, where demarcation between the two countries has not been settled. In fact, the entire 195km border in the Preah Vihear area remains in dispute. The optimistic estimate is that it will take slightly more than 10 years to settle the border issue. The pessimistic forecast predicts it will take forever, as the Thai and Cambodian authorities hold two different maps when they come to the negotiating table.
Considering the circumstances, it seems likely the pessimistic view will prevail. For that reason, both countries might as well leave the territorial dispute aside and take the time to work on a solution regarding the temple itself. In this light, it would be in their best interests - and for Preah Vihear to receive the smooth, sustainable conservation and management it deserves _ to get the World Heritage status, while agreeing on some form of joint management of the overlapping areas. Neither country need concede any land area or agree on the demarcation line at this point. They only need to agree that since they cannot yet find a solution, they will therefore manage it together, with clear guidelines over which country would be responsible for which aspect of the management. Though the long-standing territorial dispute might not be solved, at the very least the long-overdue preservation and management of the much-admired ruins will be able to proceed.
This option of joint management should have been clear from the start, considering the location of the sanctuary atop a hill that sits right on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, with the more convenient access located on the Thai side. Still, what should have been an issue for amicable discussion became a problem to solve, when Cambodia unilaterally requested the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to register the temple as a World Heritage Site last year. Thailand is opposed to the proposal, as such a listing would include not just management of the temple site but the outer areas that serve as a buffer zone, which lie in disputed territory and which have still to be cleared of mines laid by the Khmer Rouge.
Cambodia has been pursuing the World Heritage status by itself and it is expected that its application will be accepted this year. Without a resolution on the territorial conflict, however, it looks like the new status will bring more problems and feelings of animosity to the ancient stone ruins. This would be a pity and defeat the whole purpose of having it recognised as a heritage of the world.
The only thing that is clear in this otherwise very complicated tussle over Preah Vihear is the ruling by the International Court of Justice that the sanctuary itself is under Cambodian sovereignty. This judgement has left some room for argument about the surrounding area, where demarcation between the two countries has not been settled. In fact, the entire 195km border in the Preah Vihear area remains in dispute. The optimistic estimate is that it will take slightly more than 10 years to settle the border issue. The pessimistic forecast predicts it will take forever, as the Thai and Cambodian authorities hold two different maps when they come to the negotiating table.
Considering the circumstances, it seems likely the pessimistic view will prevail. For that reason, both countries might as well leave the territorial dispute aside and take the time to work on a solution regarding the temple itself. In this light, it would be in their best interests - and for Preah Vihear to receive the smooth, sustainable conservation and management it deserves _ to get the World Heritage status, while agreeing on some form of joint management of the overlapping areas. Neither country need concede any land area or agree on the demarcation line at this point. They only need to agree that since they cannot yet find a solution, they will therefore manage it together, with clear guidelines over which country would be responsible for which aspect of the management. Though the long-standing territorial dispute might not be solved, at the very least the long-overdue preservation and management of the much-admired ruins will be able to proceed.
38 comments:
All khmer descendants, in Thailand and Cambodia, should managed the temple. That is the wills of the ancestors.
Cambodian side alone can manage and conserve this heritage. From my point of view, there would be no need help from Thai side, counting from technical matter to access to the temple.
Cambodia is building a road from her side providing the accessibility from Cambodia.
Thai had never experienced in conserve Preah Vihear temple but she is good at destroying it as history tell.
Stop barking from the prize.
Thais know full well that this temple and others now possessed by the Thai belong to the Khmers. All were built by the Khmer Kings. Even the land in which they live nowadays used to be the Khmer Empire territory. The reason the Thai enthusiastically and continually challenges the Khmer to have a "share" in tourism from the Khmer temple is that they know they can harass the Khmer with arrogence and rudness. Just ignore all their requests and ask them to stop all annoyance.
This article implies that registering P.vihear as a world heritage without resolving the land dispute in the surround area defeat the purpose of P. Vihear being registered. The article indicates that unilateral action by Cambodia can only bring more animosity to the ancient ruin.
This article is fishy... a bone was being thrown to the Khmer, when this article concedes the 1962 court ruling that P. Vihear belonged in Cambodia territory, but the article went ahead and presses the issue of joint management.
Anybody with some common sense can see that this author thinks the khmers are quiet stupid and does not understand the motive behind this article's push for joint management crap.
The term joint management implies that the Siam retain some ownership of the P. Vihear.
Equally, this clown who wrote this article is hiding this implied ownership behind flowery words. Slap the Khmer, and blow hot air up the Khmer asses and maybe the Khmer will soften their stance on P.Vihear.
Joint management, my Khmer ass....This clown knows that as long as Cambodia is at peace and gaining strength, the Khmer will focus more on P. Vihear as well as other territory which was illegally encroached upon.
Furthermore, this clown is buying time...if the Khmer agree to a joint management, the siam wins-because, the agreement would implies that the Khmer recognized the siam claim. And if by any chance the Cambodia became destablize, Siam will step in and attempt to undo the court case of 1962 by using whatever join management agreement as evidence of Khmer recognition of the siam claim.
Simply put, this article and the solution it offers is not sincere. If anything, it is down right manipulative.
this article is so bias toward cambodia. no surprise as it is called the bangcock post. also, demarcation my ass, as this article seemed to imply "contentious temple". khmers, please stand firm and do not allow any talks whatsoever on our preah vihear temple and go on with our own development plan and see what will happen. it is cambodia's and no "joint management" my ass. our great khmer kings built it, not the idiot siem. case closed. it is our territory and we can do whatever we please with it. just wait and see when our gov't get involved, we'll see black and white. forever enemy with the siem! i hate the fucking siem, get out of cambodia, you fucking asshole!
It is a naked scam. What the hell the Thai suggesting a joint-management Khmer property? Stop fooling yourself !
10:20, even kings are related to each other. Thus the Thai King must have a voice for their inheritance.
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bangkok and the whole Thailand could be the heritages of the Khmer King
Well then, Let's get going with the talk. No one can lives forever.
it belongs to us,the khmer.why does
the thai want to have the joint management? it is the unshamefully desire of how the thai is.
10:20 is confusing the issue which is the legal ownership of the land of phnom preah vihear. Presently Cambodia is the sole owner not Thailand. It is possible that the thai and khmer royal families are related. But the royal families were not the legal owners of the land of preah vihear at the 1962 world court decision. Cambodia was and Cambodia still is.
FROM PREAH VIHEA TEMPLE TO BANGKOK IS CAMBODIAN LAND THE F.UCKING THAI MUST STOP!!!!!BULLY AGAINST CAMBODIAN TERRITORY.ALL CAMBODIAN MUST STAND UP AGAINST THIS EVIL F.UCKING THAI EVIL BASTER!!!!I'M PROUND TO BE KOUN KHMER!!!!!!I WILL DEFENSE MY PEOPLE AND MY COUNTRY!!!LONG LIVE KHMER NATION!!! DOWN!!!!!!!!!FALL A SIEM AND A YOUN!!!!!
We need to take Thailand to court concerning Sukhothay, Ayudhaya,Khorat, Surin,etc....all of 198,000 sq. miles of Thailand belongs to Cambodia!
Join management with the Thai mean more profits for every one. They know how to make money.
Lets claim joint management of Sdok kak Thom, Phnum Rung, Ta Moan, among others, too.
Ah siem and ah yuon never give up its trickery.
Ah hun sen may give in, you know he has no Khmer conscience.
Why the Thaicong government continues to ask for the impossible?
Cambodian government can not commit economic prostitution for the benefit of the Thaicong government! The Thaicong government better fuck off and no more pimping! If the fucken Thaicong government want to make some serious money and it must go out into the world and earn the fucken money the hard way! But to use Cambodia to make money and is a no! no! No more pimping from the Thaicong government!
To 1:37PM
Why don't you tell your mother to join with the Thaicong to make more profit? The Thaicong sure know how to lift your mother skirt a lot higher to make more money!
You Thaicong bitch!
Thaicong vocabulary 101!
The Thaicong said, "temple is on a sheer cliff" as if the temple will fall off the cliff tomorrow but the fact is the temple is not on the sheer cliff!
The Thaicong said, " the only easy access to the temple is through Thailand" as if the only way to go to the temple is through Thailame but the fact is the temple can be accessed from all direction! No kidding! It is kind of funny to know that the Thaicong have to build road and bridge just to get to the temple!
So much for the Thaicong theory and logic!
The article, a Thai of course, suggested a joint management. Preah Vihear is a Cambodian temple. How about a joint management of Phimai and Phnom Rung temples? They are Cambodian temples, built by Cambodian kings but are now occupied and located in Thailand. Sound fair enough?
Preah Vihear is a khmer soul, Khmer people don't allow other country manage our territory.
The thai goverment want to see their embassy will be burned again?????
Preah Vihear is Cambodian temple!!!!!!!!!!
RAMY, Chunnam University, S.Korea
Thai clearly is the trouble maker... I suggest Cambodia should develop the areas from the Cambodia's side. Two things we can do to bring tourists to the temple:
1, rebuild stair case on the existing path, make sure it is wide enough to rest along the way. (it will be fun and memorable one to work up there - good exercise:)
2, build cable car or cable lift to bring tourists up there.
Once the tourists are up there, we can teach them about the rich history of the Khmer Civilization and Empire, and all other history entails. Khmer people can do it alone. We can do it better without any shit from anyone.
They are the opportunist. They wait for us to make mistake. Becareful with what you do from now on... Be smart, not a fart!!!
Or even helicopter, hot air balloons... sounds like fun...
let me ask them a dumb question: what makes siem think cambodia needs a "joint-management" of our preah vihear temple and areas? did cambodia ask them to joint us? or are they (siem) just dreamt that cambodia would? the answer is no, cambodia does not need your help with managing our preah vihear temple park! so get lost! you can only look, but you can't touch it. what part of 'no' don't thailand or siem understand? even if cambodia need help we'll ask you, however, do not assume that we need help with managing this temple. if unesco's requested that we get help, cambodia can ask japan, india, china, france, or another experts in archaeology, but thailand won't be on our list as expert. so, snap out of it already, siem! go to hell is all we care.
unesco may provide the fundings, however, the owner is still the decision maker, not unesco. so there is your answer. god bless cambodia. and don't forget that all of cambodia belong to our nation, the khmer people of cambodia; cambodia doesn't belong to a politician, the monarch, or any rich country on the planet. cambodia belongs to the cambodian people, not any special individual or group or invaders, thieves, criminal, etc..., thus, the cambodian nation can make the decision, not the thailand or unesco or what have you. understand!
in fact, even if cambodia did ask for financial supports, the technical works of all khmer temples can only be done in the khmer style by khmer people, not foreigners; otherwise that wouldn't look khmer angkor in style at all. khmer architect are the origin of khmer arts, it is very uniquely cambodia or khmer in style. sorry, foreigners like the thais can't do the same like khmer of cambodia can. so cambodia would prefer to use our own people for the management of our temples. god bless cambodia.
even if cambodia needs to hire a manager for our preah vihear temple, we have plenty of our own khmer experts in this field only and i don't think we need to hire thailand for managing our temple.
someone might argue but the thai knows how to make money or whatever, i say so do the chinese, the vietnamese, the american, etc., and cambodia have the right to hire anyone country to help us manage our preah vihear temple. thailand stay out of it, and don't make us mad because we will hate your race and boycott all your business in our country and cut out diplomatic tie with you. to say the least, we don't need you. i don't think we will ever need you to manage our temple. good bye, case closed!!
cambodia say " thailand if fired!" get lost!
How can the temple belong to Cambodia when it has no access to it? Something wrong here? This is like saying Cambodia own a car but Thailand has the key.
Yeah..the thai pirate @3:26 AM playing dumb here...Hello there you dumb arse Thai pirate!
To 3:26AM
This is like that your wife has a pussy and I have a dick! Is there something wrong here too? You see what I mean!
Khmer Temple can not be treated as ordinary object because it is a sacred place!
So much for the Thaicong theory and logic!
Okay then, better settle it 50/50 since one can't do without the other.
You Thai pirate,
The world court at the hague decided long ago that Preah Vihear is Khmer: What part of it that you don't understand, you pirate?
One Cambodian Kid
Yeah, but the court made some serious mistakes, and now the Thai want to appeal the judgment.
don't even waste our energy with the stupid, idiot thai person like this one on a khmer blog. whatever a thai say will not change our khmer mind. whatever, blah, blah...
the thai culprits only have excuses, they have no facts! eat this, you bastard!
Any fucken Thaicong want 50/50 and I want them to turn around and bend over! I will give them more than 50/50! Ahahhahahahh
These fucken Thaicong are pest!
Hey, Cambodia got the car, and Thailand got the key to get inside. Therefore, 50/50 is a fair deal.
Cambodian government doesn't make deal! Ahhahahhahhah
Now go make deal with your own kind Thaicong bitch!
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