Friday, July 18, 2008

Opinion on Preah Vihear by readers of the Bangkok Post

Friday July 18, 2008
PostBag
Bangkok Post


Temple of doom?

The current hoohah over the border temple of Khao Phra Viharn is an unnecessary disaster and by far the biggest loser is Thailand.

Virtually all tourist arrivals are from Thailand and they pay the same to pass through the national park on the Thai side as the Cambodians charge for entry.

Thailand should accept that the temple is irrevocably part of Cambodia and co-operate in developing the temple as a World Heritage Site.

A few disputed square kilometres are unimportant and developing tourism in Si Sa Ket, a poor province, and promoting good relations with Cambodia are far more important.

There is everything to lose from making the issue a political football and stirring up hysterical nationalistic fervour, and nothing to gain. The temple should become a symbol of a history and culture that can be equally shared between the two nations.

ANDREW HICKS
Surin
-----

Pointless conflict

It is sad to read about the unrest in Thailand that has caused more harm to the economy and credibility of the country. It seems the country is "heading back to the klong" instead of going forward. As for the Preah Vihear temple, some hot-headed people are taking reckless actions that could spark an unnecessary war between Thailand and Cambodia. I hope the situation will be resolved peacefully without military involvement.

SRILADA MARTIN NOVATO

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like they are opinions of foreigners living in bangkok.

Local thai opinions would be better.

Anonymous said...

Sound like Andrew Hick wants to see a Joint Development instead of war, and he's a Surin. Why don't you monkeys go and tell him, "NO".

Anonymous said...

If war, then both sides will lost lives. These thugs Khmer Rouge in Cambodia are not afraid of cutting thraot. China will secretely help these former Khmer Rouge Hun Sen.
This new war is not like in the old day Thai may think. Because these former khmer Rouge are ruthless and they drink blood. Their rule is to keep killing forward withno return.

Anonymous said...

Sound like you have read a lot of history of Khmer Rouge... You should read further more back about the history of yours and Khmer... Than you will no more argue, why the temple should belong to Cambodia. You deploy troops in our land base on your own made map!!! Come on... Man, you are insulting your ancester who had made it together with the French people in 1904 and 07. If you deploy troops like this, why you are not dare to occupy the temple? Than we will see what happen, probably your country have never been in war and your really want to get one now... BUt for us we are tired of it. We want to live in peace and please leave us alone you sick land hungry people...

Anonymous said...

That's correct. There will be heavy casualties on both sides. However, the Khmer in Thailand proposed to work together instead of Killing each other. Isn't that better for both sides, or you insist on keep keeping the temple that belongs to the Khmer in Thailand?

Anonymous said...

I'm just afraid of the ruthless Khmer Rouge may kill Thais of Khmer ethnics in Thailand that's all. Million Thais of Khmer ethnics are living in Thailand since Siam took Khmer land long times ago.

Thais keep Thais of ethnic Khmers to live at near the border to protect them in case Khmer rouge cut throat come.

Hun Sen has killed many like his boss Pol Pot and why do we think he won't do it again?

Anonymous said...

The temple now is under UNESCO protection. It is ruled that it belongs to Cambodia. We are Cambodia and UNESCO have already ask Thailand to be a member of the development committee. What else do Thailand want? Like it or not the temple is Cambodia's now. You want to join to develop the temple or not is up to you. But, going to war with your neighbors financially both sides loose. If you keep saying that the temple belong to Thailand (thais, khmers, loas, chinese or whoever live in thailand), it is against the will of the world. It is unacceptable.

Anonymous said...

There is not such thing called Issan province. It is the north-eastern region in Thailand. Are you Khmer from Si Sa Ket province? If so, go and help stop the demonstrators near the border. Can you speak Khmer? Your province is the poorest province in Thailand. You need our temple to economically survive. I understand that is why you want the temple badly. Don't worry, even though the temple belong to us, we will share with you in terms of tourists money. But first you have to stop the stupid Thais from claiming that the temple belongs to them. Use your brain, if you have one, to make sense of things nowadays. Things that happens centuries ago are histories. If you really want to talk about history, half of Thailand belongs to Khmer Kings. If you don't realize this, your brain may be of a side of a penut, which is smaller than those of monkies guarding the temple.