Cambodia and Thailand are on the brink of war after a dispute over the Preah Vihear religious monument escalated earlier this month. FRANCE 24 reporters travelled to the temple at the centre of the dispute.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
By C. Payen and S. Kane
France 24
Wednesday 23 July 2008
By C. Payen and S. Kane
France 24
Preah Vihear is an 11th-century religious monument located on the Thai-Cambodian
border. The two countries have been fighting over its sovereignty for a century and the temple's recent listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site has renewed the quarrel.
In Cambodia, where the listing request came from, everyone is talking about the dispute.
"Many Thai soldiers come in Cambodia. This is not good. Preah Vihear is in Cambodia, not Thailand. They can bring many many troops, we don't care!", a man named Rith told FRANCE 24 in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian officials talk about an imminent state of war. They have requested a UN Security Council emergency meeting as well as intervention from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bangkok strongly opposed its neighbour's demands.
Thai forces have been massing on their side of the border. After a near shoot-out a few days ago, reinforcements have been sent into the area. There are now thousands of soldiers on both sides, and the dispute is being exploited by Thailand's political opponents.
"The government is betraying the Thai people. We represent the people’s voice," said a nationalist Buddhist monk. "It is the people will that must be recognized, the old border treaties…these treaties give this territory and this temple to Thailand and Thailand only."
While the war of words escalates, planes are ready in Bangkok to evacuate Thai citizens from Cambodia if needed.
border. The two countries have been fighting over its sovereignty for a century and the temple's recent listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site has renewed the quarrel.
In Cambodia, where the listing request came from, everyone is talking about the dispute.
"Many Thai soldiers come in Cambodia. This is not good. Preah Vihear is in Cambodia, not Thailand. They can bring many many troops, we don't care!", a man named Rith told FRANCE 24 in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian officials talk about an imminent state of war. They have requested a UN Security Council emergency meeting as well as intervention from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bangkok strongly opposed its neighbour's demands.
Thai forces have been massing on their side of the border. After a near shoot-out a few days ago, reinforcements have been sent into the area. There are now thousands of soldiers on both sides, and the dispute is being exploited by Thailand's political opponents.
"The government is betraying the Thai people. We represent the people’s voice," said a nationalist Buddhist monk. "It is the people will that must be recognized, the old border treaties…these treaties give this territory and this temple to Thailand and Thailand only."
While the war of words escalates, planes are ready in Bangkok to evacuate Thai citizens from Cambodia if needed.
6 comments:
It is not worth the risk for Cambodia. Quit while you are ahead of the game. Go Joint development, now!
There are too many thai troops at our door step (in other part of the border).
The Hun Sen government should send troops there too, its not wise to let the thai soldier without keeping an eye on them.
Hun Sen's soliers are scaring like dog seeing tigerwood. The Thais army are looking tuff standing face to face with the Khmer undis
cipline army, wearing flip flop,+ they are just about ready to run for their lieves. They scare their families have no foods, no money, no home to live. If the war break out with Thailand, they will loose like khmene running down the mountain.
I totally agree Hun Sen must should send Khmer troops to counter balance the thai troops at the border.
You can send the 14 millions there, and it still wouldn't balance shit.
The guys using flip-flop are former Khmer Rouge. They fought almost their whole life. They scared thai??haahaa
I am afrid 1000 black bags to be send to Bangkok just like the defeated thais were killed by Lao during teriroty disput in 1989
DO YOU THINK OLD GUN ARE TOYS HA AHAAA
STUPID THAI BECAUSE YOU EXPREMEEEEEE PRIDE YOU WILL BE DEFEATED
Post a Comment