Rioters set fire to the Thai embassy and attacked Thai-owned businesses in Phnom Penh
Many people were injured, and one was killed, as protesters burned and looted buildings
They were angry at alleged remarks by a Thai actress, saying Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand
The Thai government has demanded an apology and compensation for the riot damageTHAI-CAMBODIAN TIES
Thursday April 24, 2008
By ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Bangkok Post
Five years have elapsed since the burning of the Thai embassy in Cambodia in 2003, but the animosity still lingers on the ground between Thailand and Cambodia, especially in one of the nation's poorest provinces, Siem Reap. The ongoing dispute over Preah Vihear temple has only added rancour to the sentiment. At the mention of the word ''Syam Kuk'' - a well-known bass relief at Angkor Wat believed to depict Thai fighters marching in the Khmer army either as its alliance or subjects - a Cambodian tour guide immediately gave a testy response: ''Are you from Thailand? Thailand was our last enemy and they remain the only present enemy until now.''
This small incident shows that despite tireless efforts by both governments to heal the wounds, things might not necessarily be improving in the minds of the people. Siem Reap has just hit the record of receiving over two million tourists, mainly from China and South Korea. The history of the Khmer empire is being kept vivid for the Cambodians who are cashing in on their heritage.
Not all Cambodian guides hold a grudge over the Thai-Cambodian historical conflict, however. Tarth Nu, regarded as Khru (master) by other tour guides, carefully explained the history of the Khmer and the Khmer heritage without naming specific invading nations that drove the Khmer from their ancient capitals of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, to the present Phnom Penh.
Tarin Prom, a 34-year-old taxi driver in Phnom Penh, claimed that half of the Cambodians remained angry with Thai people and continued to hate them after the infamous torching of the Thai embassy. But he himself did not want any further trouble.
''I want peace and I don't want neighbours to quarrel any more. With the riots, not only did Thais stop coming here, other foreigners from the region are also fearful of this easily-provoked nation and are scared to return.''
Time has passed and the physical debris has been cleaned up. Hotels, restaurants and guesthouses that used to bear Thai names such as Chao Phraya, Thai or Siam, have gradually been changed to Khmer words such as Jayavaraman, or Angkor.
The Thai embassy has been beautifully rebuilt and is now secured with two high-tech gates. The private Thai companies have been fully compensated, mostly in kind and through tax breaks.
Yet, deep inside, the hurt is still there in the hearts of both Thais and Cambodians.
Thibodi Buakamsri, a history lecturer at Kasetsart University, said among other efforts that could heal the ill feeling, a rewriting of the history textbooks might help, as many of them were filled with prejudice towards neighbouring countries.
Intellectuals from both sides believe they should set things right for the future by making the contents of textbooks used in both countries' formal curriculum ''decent and with a proper attitude'' towards neighbours. It may sound simple but any revision would be an arduous task as it must change the core concept of each country's national history.
''We might need to pay more attention and resources in shaping other approaches to viewing our neighbours, aside from the historical perspective. This should not be the burden of Thai people alone. Both sides should do something,'' the academic said.
This small incident shows that despite tireless efforts by both governments to heal the wounds, things might not necessarily be improving in the minds of the people. Siem Reap has just hit the record of receiving over two million tourists, mainly from China and South Korea. The history of the Khmer empire is being kept vivid for the Cambodians who are cashing in on their heritage.
Not all Cambodian guides hold a grudge over the Thai-Cambodian historical conflict, however. Tarth Nu, regarded as Khru (master) by other tour guides, carefully explained the history of the Khmer and the Khmer heritage without naming specific invading nations that drove the Khmer from their ancient capitals of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, to the present Phnom Penh.
Tarin Prom, a 34-year-old taxi driver in Phnom Penh, claimed that half of the Cambodians remained angry with Thai people and continued to hate them after the infamous torching of the Thai embassy. But he himself did not want any further trouble.
''I want peace and I don't want neighbours to quarrel any more. With the riots, not only did Thais stop coming here, other foreigners from the region are also fearful of this easily-provoked nation and are scared to return.''
Time has passed and the physical debris has been cleaned up. Hotels, restaurants and guesthouses that used to bear Thai names such as Chao Phraya, Thai or Siam, have gradually been changed to Khmer words such as Jayavaraman, or Angkor.
The Thai embassy has been beautifully rebuilt and is now secured with two high-tech gates. The private Thai companies have been fully compensated, mostly in kind and through tax breaks.
Yet, deep inside, the hurt is still there in the hearts of both Thais and Cambodians.
Thibodi Buakamsri, a history lecturer at Kasetsart University, said among other efforts that could heal the ill feeling, a rewriting of the history textbooks might help, as many of them were filled with prejudice towards neighbouring countries.
Intellectuals from both sides believe they should set things right for the future by making the contents of textbooks used in both countries' formal curriculum ''decent and with a proper attitude'' towards neighbours. It may sound simple but any revision would be an arduous task as it must change the core concept of each country's national history.
''We might need to pay more attention and resources in shaping other approaches to viewing our neighbours, aside from the historical perspective. This should not be the burden of Thai people alone. Both sides should do something,'' the academic said.
16 comments:
That type of racist riot will certainly never to happen again. That much is for sure.
We lost over 50 millions usd for nothing. We could have purchased many farm equipments to cultivate our land with that money.
That is the lession learn for Thai. If Thai not treat us fairly, our warisome spirit is still alive among all Khmer even Khmer Surin. Ofently Thai used the power against small and poor countries like Cambodia and Loa by ally with the powerfull countries like British and Japan, but never agued with China or Burma even Burma onece burned the Ayudhiya.
When can Thai leave us live in peacefully? It is more than enough. Stop bothering Cambodia!
You idiot, the Thai didn't do anything, and you burn their embassy down for nothing, and many tax payers have to pay for your evil doer. You do that again, and you can kiss the planet good bye. You got that?
LET'S UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER,FORGIVE EACH OTHER
AND BUILD A GOOD NEIGHBOURING FRIENDSHIP PLEASE.
You really don't know why the Thais insult Cambodian people? It's the cheap characteristic of our leaders that makes the neighboring enemies look down on us.
Don't ever believe the Thaicong preaching do good mother fucker! Thaicong have no place for Khmer people in their heart! For Khmer people to gain any respect from the Thaicong and the Khmer people must rebuild their society and their country to the point of greatness that rival the Thaicong ambition!
There are no such things as the use of revision of Khmer-Thaicong history or any other ways to help heal the wound between the Khmer and the Thaicong because what have happened in the past are written in stone already and it can't be changed!
But there is hope if the Thaicong government can show their goodwill gesture through diplomatic channel and I am sure Khmer government will too!
Oh and more thing I need to say: it's a mistake for someone to think that the Khmer Surin will help Khmer people. Khmer Surin are not like Khmer Kampuchea Krom. Just think about it!
that's right, the thais need to respect cambodia as is. we are a sovereigned nation with ancient rich tradition and culture, and we are different; that is why we are called khmer people or cambodia. get used to it. if thailand can respect cambodia, we, cambodians won't have any problem with thai or siem. it goes both ways, you know. just because we were preoccupied with civil war, the KR atrocity, etc, doesn't mean we are not worth being cambodia. thailand needs a lot of attitude adjustment with cambodia if they want to get along with us because like the old saying goes: "what goes around will comes around to bite you in the ass." , sooner or later. cambodia as a nation is not that stupid like thailand think we are. thailand needs to correct its history and teach its young people to love and respect the neighbors like cambodia and stop claiming this and that from cambodia. consider your country is lucky with no past civil wars or the fact that you gained a lot chunk of the former khmer land and ancient temple ruins etc. however, that is enough already, don't be too greedy because your might lose it back, sooner or later. this is not a threat or anything, it's just a saying to educate thailand not to mess with cambodia for so long already. it is better for thailand to gain cambodia's love and affection and cooperation than to get the worst of us. due to the fact that thailand had borrowed many things from the khmer empire like culture, language, alphabets, system of gov't, custumes, tradition, arts, philosophy, and even people, etc, the two kingdoms have more similarity than differences. therefore, thailand ought to appreciate that and start teaching the facts in history instead of trying to fabricate and distort history due to hate or jealousy or what have you with the khmer people. cambodia can forgive thailand for borrowing our khmer civilization identity as the world borrowed from one another if your study world history at all. for example, the much of the western civilization are borrowed from the roman empire, the greek civilization, etc. so it is ok to say that you borrowed or adopted from other, instead of trying to conceal that fact and distort history to make problems for cambodia. even in the USA, a lot were borrowed or adopted from england which in turn borrowed from the roman and greek civiliztion, etc... so this is nothing new, ok! shouldn't feel ashame to teach to your young people that you guys had borrowed heavily from the civilization of the khmer people of cambodia. there is nothing to be ashame of. so please start teaching your history correctly. god bless both people.
The bully Thailand must stop bullying and/or cheating on its smaller neighbors, especially Cambodia. We are proud of our country just as much as you are proud of yours. We are small, because you stole our land, but we still know how to fight. Your history is a joke and the whole world knows that... Your vision of a friendly neighbor is only friendly when your country get the upper hand. Not a million years Cambodia will give in...
".. used in both countries' formal curriculum ''decent and with a proper attitude''...
This neighbor, the Siam, wants the Khmer to forget their criminal deeds they have committed toward the Khmer. The Siam wants to rewrite and modify the history so that both countries can live in peace. Siam, hear me: How can we forget all our losses of territory and heritage to the thief. It is easy for the Siam to forget and go on with all that you had robbed. But for us the momroy will linger indefinitely. You had committed horrible crime against the Khmer Empire.
lessons to be learned from all of this. Please don't let one apple spoiled the whole! We know what we have. They know what is belongs to us. It's written in stone. The world recognized it. That's all we (Khmer) have to remember.
using the words "borrowed or adopted" is too polite and incorrect, especially with regards to thailand from cambodia. the correct words should be "stealing from the khmer civilization of cambodia" is more appropriate because the thai never acknowledge that they borrowed or adopted their own cilization from the khmer civilization of angkor. we have the term plagerism and in college or academia that tantamounted to stealing when they don't credited the ideas or concepted or quotes etc where they had borrowed from.
And Cambodians remains ignorant as always....
Your mother remains ignorant as always!
1:39 I totally agree with you. The term borrowed is misuse throughout this topics. The meaning: take and use (something that belongs to someone else) with the intention of returning it. If it is true in terms of borrow, then when are they going to return it?
Also agree with 10:02.
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