Editorial by Khmerization
On the web at http://khmerization.blogspot.com
Read previous Khmerization’s editorial on the issue of Preah Vihear click here.
The dynamism of the protests and the tenacity and angers shown by the protesters should be a cause of concerns for some Cambodian leaders across the political spectrum, from both within the government and the opposition, but so far they have chosen to remain silent. Their silence and inaction must be viewed negatively as a sign that they don’t care one iota about Preah Vihear.
The Cambodian side must not be seen to be weak or to be seen as the wronged side. Cambodia’s silence could mean that we are scared of Thailand. Furthermore, Cambodia’s silence could be viewed by the Thai people and the Thai opposition parties that Cambodia is actually benefiting from the deal over Preah Vihear, when in actual fact Cambodia has been, I believe, short-changed by agreeing to list the Preah Vihear temple only. Cambodia could have resisted and insisted that the temple be listed in its entirety- the temple body and the surrounding areas. The fact that the Cambodian government agreed hastily to list only the temple and leaving the surrounding areas out of the listing, giving Thailand rooms to lay claim to the areas in the future, was a big mistake on the part of Cambodia. There are reliable speculations that the reason that Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to list only the temple was because he wanted the Preah Vihear temple listed before the 27th July election so that he can use it to campaign for the election. If these speculations are true, then Mr. Hun Sen has committed an unforgivable treasonous mistake by giving up territorial integrity in exchange for his own political gains. (Full details here).
Now the Cambodian opposition has given a new life of hope. It has given its first sign of unhappiness with the deal signed by the two governments, when the opposition’s chairman of parliamentary committee on border affairs, Mr. Son Chhay, requested the government to release the agreement. At the time of this editorial going to press, there is no news of any viewpoints from the opposition just yet regarding their reactions to the Preah Vihear deal. I hope that national interests will prevail and override all political interests and that the government can work with the opposition and other Cambodian experts for the common good of Cambodia and the Preah Vihear temple.
As I said all along, the application to list the Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List is the exclusive right of Cambodia and that other nations, including Thailand, have no right to meddle in this affair. The issue of the ownership of Preah Vihear had been a fait accompli since the International Court of Justice adjudicated to put it under Cambodia’s control in 1962. And the surrounding areas should be a fait accompli also if Thailand respected the maps drawn up by the Franco-Siamese Commission in 1904, 1907 and 1908 when the French Protectorate concluded the border treaty with Thailand , then called Siam, in 1908. But due to years of civil turmoil, Cambodia has lost the ability to protect those parts of the lands and they became no-man’s lands and, subsequently, became disputed zones.
In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it. I believe that, while the Thai side is stepping up the pressures on their government, the Cambodian side must also step up our pressures on our government and the UNESCO to ensure that Cambodia’s territorial integrity will not be violated when Preah Vihear temple is officially listed on the World Heritage List.
Read Pang Sokhoeun’s appeal to the nation about Preah Vihear here.
“In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it.”Anti-government protests over Preah Vihear in Thailand have gained momentum by the day. The protests, organised by ordinary people and Thai opposition parties, have almost been a daily occurrence in Bangkok and the size of the crowd had swelled the streets and parks. As of late, the protests were not confined only to Bangkok but have spread to the provinces. And lately, there are news that the protesters had applied for a permission to stage protests in front of a gate to the Preah Vihear temple but was refused permission by the authority and the protests were staged about one kilometre away from the temple. These people were protesting against a possible cession of some Thai lands to Cambodia under the current agreement between the two governments. Some have also called for the Thai opposition to the listing of the Preah Vihear temple. But most disturbingly, it is a call for the reclaiming of Preah Vihear from certain groups within Thailand that should incur the ire of the Cambodian people.
The dynamism of the protests and the tenacity and angers shown by the protesters should be a cause of concerns for some Cambodian leaders across the political spectrum, from both within the government and the opposition, but so far they have chosen to remain silent. Their silence and inaction must be viewed negatively as a sign that they don’t care one iota about Preah Vihear.
The Cambodian side must not be seen to be weak or to be seen as the wronged side. Cambodia’s silence could mean that we are scared of Thailand. Furthermore, Cambodia’s silence could be viewed by the Thai people and the Thai opposition parties that Cambodia is actually benefiting from the deal over Preah Vihear, when in actual fact Cambodia has been, I believe, short-changed by agreeing to list the Preah Vihear temple only. Cambodia could have resisted and insisted that the temple be listed in its entirety- the temple body and the surrounding areas. The fact that the Cambodian government agreed hastily to list only the temple and leaving the surrounding areas out of the listing, giving Thailand rooms to lay claim to the areas in the future, was a big mistake on the part of Cambodia. There are reliable speculations that the reason that Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to list only the temple was because he wanted the Preah Vihear temple listed before the 27th July election so that he can use it to campaign for the election. If these speculations are true, then Mr. Hun Sen has committed an unforgivable treasonous mistake by giving up territorial integrity in exchange for his own political gains. (Full details here).
Now the Cambodian opposition has given a new life of hope. It has given its first sign of unhappiness with the deal signed by the two governments, when the opposition’s chairman of parliamentary committee on border affairs, Mr. Son Chhay, requested the government to release the agreement. At the time of this editorial going to press, there is no news of any viewpoints from the opposition just yet regarding their reactions to the Preah Vihear deal. I hope that national interests will prevail and override all political interests and that the government can work with the opposition and other Cambodian experts for the common good of Cambodia and the Preah Vihear temple.
As I said all along, the application to list the Preah Vihear temple on the World Heritage List is the exclusive right of Cambodia and that other nations, including Thailand, have no right to meddle in this affair. The issue of the ownership of Preah Vihear had been a fait accompli since the International Court of Justice adjudicated to put it under Cambodia’s control in 1962. And the surrounding areas should be a fait accompli also if Thailand respected the maps drawn up by the Franco-Siamese Commission in 1904, 1907 and 1908 when the French Protectorate concluded the border treaty with Thailand , then called Siam, in 1908. But due to years of civil turmoil, Cambodia has lost the ability to protect those parts of the lands and they became no-man’s lands and, subsequently, became disputed zones.
In wrapping up this editorial, I appealing to all Cambodian politicians from all political persuasions to set aside their political ideology and unite for the common good of our territorial integrity and the Preah Vihear temple. The Preah Vihear issue is an issue for all Khmers and therefore we all have the obligation to protect it. I believe that, while the Thai side is stepping up the pressures on their government, the Cambodian side must also step up our pressures on our government and the UNESCO to ensure that Cambodia’s territorial integrity will not be violated when Preah Vihear temple is officially listed on the World Heritage List.
Read Pang Sokhoeun’s appeal to the nation about Preah Vihear here.
16 comments:
That is correct, the issue must be handled by Khmer and Khmer-Thai only. All foreigners must stayed out of our affair.
The Khmer govt. made a big mistake when it agreed to list only the temple. Now there is news that Thailand wanted to apply to list the staircase and other parts of the temple which is in dispute. Now look like the naivety or the stupidity of the Cambodian govt. might cost us great loss of our territorial integrity. Shame to Hun Sen and Sok An.
Let us once again burn down the siem embassy and kick their stupid people out of our country again!
they never think about our country...but only money...this is hun's period and his followers...later all cambodia land will be sold to yuon....and now even the citizen of cambodia also enjoys selling their land....why now think about just one prasat....many other prasats should also think and protected...but they steal...and sold most of the precious one....from when do the people of cambodia sell their land like crazy to foreigner...and enjoys with it....before u are poor but uuuu at least have land and a small home for the children to live..how about now...live in the forest...forest now also owned by someone....may our god buddha make all of awake and love our land and country ...cambodia
The Siam are like to do big demonstration, there are just a bunch of losers. They have no chance with the international court, they think they can revert the decision of the European court from 1962, good luck Siam. You better start doing demonstration in Geneva.
We would protest, but the CPP ONLY allow 1 person at a time to demonstrator. And what's the chance of mass demonstration approval by the CPP courts?
Preah Viheah is part of us T'ais. We are the children from King Suyvaraman the same. Our King has Khmer Morn blood and so we are entitled to our ancestor's Preah Viheah.
THANKs King SIHANOUK for having our
PREAH VIHEAH BACK.
MAY BUDDHA BLESS KING FATHER.
I agree with his Excellency Julio Jeldres!
Cambodian sovereignty is non-negotiable and no Cambodian people is asking AH HUN SEN to take on any responsibility on the issue of Khmer Phrea Vihear temple and he doesn't need to take everything upon himself to sign off Cambodian motherland piece by piece the same way he did with the Vietcong through the Vietcong treaties of friendship in 1985!
If the fucken Thaicong leaders want to play rough and all bet are off! Cambodian leaders can cut all entries into Khmer Phrea Vihear temple from the Thaicong sides and begin the process economic developments in commercial, residential, roads and highways construction and the Thaicong can go to hell for their blind ambition!
Cambodia will not and must not commit economic prostitution for the Thaicong against the will of Cambodian people!
That's good if you are the children of the King Suyvaraman then just handover the Bangkok and the other provinces to its owner.
Go see a doctor I don't know what the fuck is wrong with your blood,
you have leukemia or something?????
9:24 is 100% correct.
No so fast, 12:27, we are all Khmers here, and why does everything has to go to Cambodia? What is wrong with the other way around?
i'm ready to put my life in the front line for my country. i am half viet and khmer .no one thai should claimed anythings out of cambodia.
THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL KHMER TO COMES TOGETHER. SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND CONCENTRATE ON THE PREAH VIHEAR ISSUE. DON'T EVER FORGET THAT WE ARE KHMER. THEREFORE, WE WILL PROTECT AND FIGHT WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS.
"I WILL LET YOU TAKE MY LIFE BEFORE MY LAND!"
Hold on man, before you let them take your life, take along a bunch of cheap lives along as well. I dont have any remorse killing those siems, I mean i'd kill any siem now without thinking twice.
I meant, take along a bunch of cheap siem lives as well.
Post a Comment