Thai tourists visit the ancient Preah Vihear temple located in CambodiaPREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP) — The 11th-century Preah Vihear temple sits serenely on a mountaintop, just across the border from Thailand, with sweeping views over the blue-green Cambodian jungle.
The ruins of the Hindu temple are the most important example of ancient Khmer architecture outside of Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat, and have weathered centuries of wars and duelling territorial claims with Thailand.
The dispute seemed at an end two weeks ago, when Thailand gave Cambodia the green light to apply for the temple to be listed as a World Heritage site by the UN's cultural body UNESCO, a move that would draw in tourists and help maintain the temple.
UNESCO's 21-nation World Heritage Committee will consider the request during its annual meeting starting Wednesday in Quebec, Canada.
But the deal has sparked a political backlash in Thailand, and last week Cambodia closed its border near the ruins as more than 100 Thai activists tried to march there to protest the agreement.
Then a Thai court slapped an injunction on the government Saturday, preventing it from supporting Cambodia's bid.
"I've argued with Thais many times over this issue. Our Cambodian people will not be intimidated any more if the temple is listed as a World Heritage site," said Nuth Bunsoy, deputy chief of the nearby checkpoint into Thailand.
Preah Vihear, built to honour the Hindu god Shiva, stretches dramatically up to a cliff-top in the Dangrek mountain range, on the border with Thailand.
Thai soldiers in the 1950s occupied its series of complexes with elegant carvings linked by stone stairways and causeways, but they left after a World Court ruling in 1962 declared the temple belonged to Cambodia.
Although it sits on Cambodian soil, the stairway into the temple begins in Thailand, causing tensions over how to manage the site.
Former Khmer Rouge member Inn Noeun, one of 50 workers hired by the Cambodian government to maintain the ancient ruins, digs grass out of the steep stone staircase.
"I hope that Preah Vihear temple be listed as a World Heritage site very soon," said the 45-year-old woman, who moved to live near the temple a decade ago.
"The temple belongs to Cambodia. It is located in our territory," she said.
A 19-member delegation from Cambodia will push for Preah Vihear's naming as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The country began seeking World Heritage status for Preah Vihear nearly six years ago, but the temple has long plagued relations with Thailand.
When Cambodia last year attempted to have the site listed by UNESCO, the effort failed amid rumours Thailand had blocked the deal.
Many Cambodians dream that the ancient ruins, which bear the scars of the country's civil war, with bullet holes and signs warning visitors of landmines, will earn international recognition and attract much-needed tourists. That is also the hope of the government.
The listing brings "international recognition to the temple. It will also attract more foreign tourists with more income to the country," said Chuch Phoeurn, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture.
Tourism is one of Cambodia's biggest money spinners, and the government wants to develop attractions away from Angkor Wat so that visitors will stay longer.
More than 200 tourists were visiting the site each week before the border closed. Most of them were Thais on weekend trips, but Cambodia hopes recognition from UNESCO will bring in visitors from further afield.
The ruins of the Hindu temple are the most important example of ancient Khmer architecture outside of Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat, and have weathered centuries of wars and duelling territorial claims with Thailand.
The dispute seemed at an end two weeks ago, when Thailand gave Cambodia the green light to apply for the temple to be listed as a World Heritage site by the UN's cultural body UNESCO, a move that would draw in tourists and help maintain the temple.
UNESCO's 21-nation World Heritage Committee will consider the request during its annual meeting starting Wednesday in Quebec, Canada.
But the deal has sparked a political backlash in Thailand, and last week Cambodia closed its border near the ruins as more than 100 Thai activists tried to march there to protest the agreement.
Then a Thai court slapped an injunction on the government Saturday, preventing it from supporting Cambodia's bid.
"I've argued with Thais many times over this issue. Our Cambodian people will not be intimidated any more if the temple is listed as a World Heritage site," said Nuth Bunsoy, deputy chief of the nearby checkpoint into Thailand.
Preah Vihear, built to honour the Hindu god Shiva, stretches dramatically up to a cliff-top in the Dangrek mountain range, on the border with Thailand.
Thai soldiers in the 1950s occupied its series of complexes with elegant carvings linked by stone stairways and causeways, but they left after a World Court ruling in 1962 declared the temple belonged to Cambodia.
Although it sits on Cambodian soil, the stairway into the temple begins in Thailand, causing tensions over how to manage the site.
Former Khmer Rouge member Inn Noeun, one of 50 workers hired by the Cambodian government to maintain the ancient ruins, digs grass out of the steep stone staircase.
"I hope that Preah Vihear temple be listed as a World Heritage site very soon," said the 45-year-old woman, who moved to live near the temple a decade ago.
"The temple belongs to Cambodia. It is located in our territory," she said.
A 19-member delegation from Cambodia will push for Preah Vihear's naming as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The country began seeking World Heritage status for Preah Vihear nearly six years ago, but the temple has long plagued relations with Thailand.
When Cambodia last year attempted to have the site listed by UNESCO, the effort failed amid rumours Thailand had blocked the deal.
Many Cambodians dream that the ancient ruins, which bear the scars of the country's civil war, with bullet holes and signs warning visitors of landmines, will earn international recognition and attract much-needed tourists. That is also the hope of the government.
The listing brings "international recognition to the temple. It will also attract more foreign tourists with more income to the country," said Chuch Phoeurn, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture.
Tourism is one of Cambodia's biggest money spinners, and the government wants to develop attractions away from Angkor Wat so that visitors will stay longer.
More than 200 tourists were visiting the site each week before the border closed. Most of them were Thais on weekend trips, but Cambodia hopes recognition from UNESCO will bring in visitors from further afield.
15 comments:
Khmer must not let poverty lead them to the dark side. It is a tough fight, but with strong faith in Buddha, we can do it. I know we can because we have survived one of the worse atrocities in human history.
thankful to 10.00pm your soul is the same me .
Khmer people is great history
even they try us down ,we remain strong and firmly
CHEYO SAMDECH EUV.
ORKUN SANDECH EUV DOI BAN CHHNEASS PREAH VIHEAH YEUNG PI AH KAPIK SIAM.
CHEYO SAMDECH EUV, CHEYO.
SOM OY PREAH BARAMEI NEY PREAHBAT SURYAVARMAN II NOV CHEA MOUY KHMERS AND THAE REAKSA KHMERS OY BAN CHHNEASS POURK SAT TROV.
SOM PREAH BARAMEI NEY PREAH PUTH (BUDDHA) VIL VINH.
KAUN KHMER SNAEHA CHIET.
It is the right decision for UNESCO to list Preah Vihear to put an end to this issue, after years of Thailand inerference. Thailand must learn to respect Cambodia!!!
Nope, you can't listed or registered anything that is hot or stolen without the blessing from the rightful owner.
11:57PM, your f**king thieve, Kadou ma kong kak,
hot and stolen ach anh..
blessing ach anh..
Co-management, co-host? Oh Dek Cham ,Dam Chek tov.
may god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people forever. also, may god bless everyone who love, show interest and care for all things cambodian.
11:57PM, you are right. The rightful owner of the Preah Vihear temple is the same as the rightful owner of Angkor Wat, the Khmer. So, we are Khmers owners of Angkor Wat have the rights to register this temple. Whether the greedy Thais support it or not does not matter. You have stolen many Khmers's properties and cultures in the past. Don't even dream doing it again. You have brainwashed all Khmer people living in Thailand, but you can not buy or sell our souls. We are 100% in supporting the Khmers in the south of us in this case. We are Thai citizen, but we are still Khmers. You are one stupid and greedy Thai I have ever heard off. So, Cambodia should close the border and build road to the temple from Cambodia side. We'll see who will benefit. The Thais own the stairs up to the temple. Yeah, let them visit just the stairs. Tourists will fly to Cambodia by pass Bangkok. This is even better. All the Bests, from Khmer Surin.
Nonsense, Ah Khmer-Yuon, both Ankor and Preah Vihear belong to Khmer in Thailand. Who to you think fixed it all up? Do you know the meaning of word "Siem Reap"?
2:21,
NOT JUST THE STAIR; TOWARDS THE END OF A STAIR THERE'S A WOODEN FENCE. LOL
4:54 AM
you f***ing idiot. Siem Reap means Siam is defeated. You got it?huh Khmers in Thailand? huh?Yeah , they are khmers, but khmer ancestors' belongings should go to Khmers in Cambodia. Because we have our own country ,not ruled by chinese-Thai.
yes, siem reap in khmer means siem vanquished or defeated or flattened or losers. didn't they remember that? god bless cambodia.
So what? It doesn't us (Khmer) in Thailand were defeated.
Why the fuck would you called yourself Khmer if you lived in Thailand? Are you lost? Want to know what Khmerland looks like? Follow me, close your eyes..... I will lead you to Preah Vihear cliff. If you feel that you're descending............ you may open your eyes at anytime now.
1:07AM It does not mean that you are defeated. It means the thais (Siams) are. We should have kicked all the thais out off Khmer-Issan lands as well so that we all can live in peace.
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