Op-Ed by Justin C. Sok
The recent political theater between the Thai and Cambodian military forces over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple has brought the international attention. The dispute first began when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application for the Temple to have World Heritage status. It has been speculated that the Preah Vihear Temple was deliberately chosen as a target for political and economic showdown, not for the benefit of Cambodia and her people, but for the mutual benefit and eternal acquaintance of the Phnom Penh government and some of the Thai counterparts. While the People’s Alliance for Democracy is taking opportunity to exploit the issue, and at the same time, attempting to peddle their way uphill to steal the spotlight, all parties have seemed to pointing their fingers at PM Samak Sundaravej as their scapegoat.
Ironically, the Thai government is suddenly appeared to have the symptom of amnesia about its country’s historical facts. Not only they refused to accept the International Court decision rendered in 1962, but they had also have sketchy details on records and documents, and/or perhaps ignorant about their own country’s history. The Thais had also refuted the recent UNESCO’s decision to grant Cambodia’s request for World Heritage status for its ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple. The Cambodians, on the other hand, have asserted the relevant historical and legal facts as evidence to prove that Preah Vihear Temple and the surrounding areas have been and are part of Cambodia.
Interestingly, one does not need to have a hyperactive imagination to comprehend that as the “National General Election Day is approaching, the increasing military confrontation over the Preah Vihear Temple has also become more intensified.” The build up of military forces over the Preah Vihear Temple was anything but incessantly for the Phnom Penh government in pursuit to continue their control of the government powerhouse on one side and economic exploitation on the other.
From the economic standpoint, there has been speculated that millions of dollars were invested by the Thai business investors in Koh Kong, Siem Reap, and include their pursue to secure their business contractual agreement, which was intended to make between the Phnom Penh government and the Thai business investment leaders over the Preah Vihear Temple and the surrounding areas. In the old days, business investors kept their secrets locked in their drawers; now the business investors can hire lawyers, hit men, bodyguards, and including armed forces to threaten and intimidate their counterparts and reap large profits.
From the political point of view, PM Hun Sen is using his political-presentation strategy to deliberately to shape and control, and possibly reasonable analysis is to “deflect public attention” from the National General Election. He is maneuvering for total political power control by fishing for popular votes before the general election, and at the same time, he would like to get his name on the Khmer historical literature for his achievement on the Preah Vihear Temple, which was recently granted by UNESCO for World Heritage site status. Undoubtedly, the agreement to hold a diplomatic dialogue between the two countries was made as a pretext to prolong the “alleged dispute” until after the National General Election Day is over.
While we are so occupied with the issue of Preah Vihear Temple, we are letting our guard down by not giving it enough attention to the Eastern and Southeastern sides of our border. To ensure that HE would be Prime Minister for another term, perhaps the new political campaign strategy has been planned out for the general election. Instead of flooding the country with more illegal Vietnamese immigrants to vote for the CPP, which would be too obvious for the eyes of the international representatives, his minions would probably have the ballot boxes filled up with casting ballots ready to be transported in during and after the Election Day to be counted.
Another interesting speculation is, the military standoff between the Thais and Cambodians over the issue of Preah Vihear Temple was deliberately staged as a “sideshow” to pull the wool over the eyes of the international representatives, who were appointed respectively by their governments for their mission to Cambodia to help monitor the election, that a war would break out at any given time. Therefore, they should not have planned to do any election monitoring in Cambodia for fear of their own safety. As for the old saying, “Keep stoking that fire and you’re back in business,” that is exactly what PM Hun Sen and his regime are doing, “Keeping on stoking the fire and surely, they’ll be back in business.” So if this is the case, the question is, “Who are the ones that always ended up get run over and burned every time?” Hence, with regard to the international law and the respect for bilateral ties for peace and security between the two neighboring countries, the Thai knew exactly what they are doing is a sheer “violation of Cambodia's territorial rights and international law.” But like the Khmer old saying, “Tum Pouk Men Tov, Pnov Men Mok.” It’s a strictly business between the leaders, “I scratch your back, and you scratch mine.”
Preah-Vihear-Cliff-Tragedy
Justin C. Sok
July 21, 2008
Ironically, the Thai government is suddenly appeared to have the symptom of amnesia about its country’s historical facts. Not only they refused to accept the International Court decision rendered in 1962, but they had also have sketchy details on records and documents, and/or perhaps ignorant about their own country’s history. The Thais had also refuted the recent UNESCO’s decision to grant Cambodia’s request for World Heritage status for its ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple. The Cambodians, on the other hand, have asserted the relevant historical and legal facts as evidence to prove that Preah Vihear Temple and the surrounding areas have been and are part of Cambodia.
Interestingly, one does not need to have a hyperactive imagination to comprehend that as the “National General Election Day is approaching, the increasing military confrontation over the Preah Vihear Temple has also become more intensified.” The build up of military forces over the Preah Vihear Temple was anything but incessantly for the Phnom Penh government in pursuit to continue their control of the government powerhouse on one side and economic exploitation on the other.
From the economic standpoint, there has been speculated that millions of dollars were invested by the Thai business investors in Koh Kong, Siem Reap, and include their pursue to secure their business contractual agreement, which was intended to make between the Phnom Penh government and the Thai business investment leaders over the Preah Vihear Temple and the surrounding areas. In the old days, business investors kept their secrets locked in their drawers; now the business investors can hire lawyers, hit men, bodyguards, and including armed forces to threaten and intimidate their counterparts and reap large profits.
From the political point of view, PM Hun Sen is using his political-presentation strategy to deliberately to shape and control, and possibly reasonable analysis is to “deflect public attention” from the National General Election. He is maneuvering for total political power control by fishing for popular votes before the general election, and at the same time, he would like to get his name on the Khmer historical literature for his achievement on the Preah Vihear Temple, which was recently granted by UNESCO for World Heritage site status. Undoubtedly, the agreement to hold a diplomatic dialogue between the two countries was made as a pretext to prolong the “alleged dispute” until after the National General Election Day is over.
While we are so occupied with the issue of Preah Vihear Temple, we are letting our guard down by not giving it enough attention to the Eastern and Southeastern sides of our border. To ensure that HE would be Prime Minister for another term, perhaps the new political campaign strategy has been planned out for the general election. Instead of flooding the country with more illegal Vietnamese immigrants to vote for the CPP, which would be too obvious for the eyes of the international representatives, his minions would probably have the ballot boxes filled up with casting ballots ready to be transported in during and after the Election Day to be counted.
Another interesting speculation is, the military standoff between the Thais and Cambodians over the issue of Preah Vihear Temple was deliberately staged as a “sideshow” to pull the wool over the eyes of the international representatives, who were appointed respectively by their governments for their mission to Cambodia to help monitor the election, that a war would break out at any given time. Therefore, they should not have planned to do any election monitoring in Cambodia for fear of their own safety. As for the old saying, “Keep stoking that fire and you’re back in business,” that is exactly what PM Hun Sen and his regime are doing, “Keeping on stoking the fire and surely, they’ll be back in business.” So if this is the case, the question is, “Who are the ones that always ended up get run over and burned every time?” Hence, with regard to the international law and the respect for bilateral ties for peace and security between the two neighboring countries, the Thai knew exactly what they are doing is a sheer “violation of Cambodia's territorial rights and international law.” But like the Khmer old saying, “Tum Pouk Men Tov, Pnov Men Mok.” It’s a strictly business between the leaders, “I scratch your back, and you scratch mine.”
Stop selling out of our national treasures!
Preah-Vihear-Cliff-Tragedy
Justin C. Sok
July 21, 2008
5 comments:
The French colonial treaty is no evidence to prove anything. They were ousted from the region long ago along with their treaties. If Cambodia doesn't have anything else. It needs to withdraw from the hill top to avoid causing more troubles in the area.
Hun Sen's soliers are scaring like dog seeing tigerwood. The Thais army are looking tuff standing face to face with the Khmer undisapline army 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 the Thailand, they will loose like khmene.
You guys never seen the KR in combat, they are tireless and they are fierce. I seen your Thai soldier against the KR with my own eyes it does not take the Siam soldiers were running for their life after a night.
If war broke will see if you right or not.
Oh so you want to put KR back to power to protect you like old time?
I hope you don't expect them to work for free.
Justin Sok, very interesting point of view; however, why does Hun Sen has to go through this if he already knew that he is winning?
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