By BUNN NAGARA The Star (Malaysia)
New Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag was appointed to his post on Saturday, took his oath of office on Sunday, and was in urgent talks in Cambodia by Monday.
Bangkok is scrambling to make up for lost time, after its former foreign minister Noppadon Patttama seemed as indifferent to Thai interests as Phnom Penh was consistently focused over the disputed 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple site.
In 1962, the World Court (ICJ) ruled that the temple stood on Cambodian soil, and Cambodia unilaterally filed for World Heritage List status. In May this year, Thailand agreed to that only if Cambodia’s filing excluded the disputed area around the temple.
But Noppadon and his Cabinet colleagues had apparently forgotten that access to the temple was on Thai territory. Different historical maps and border demarcations further complicated the plot.
Thai opposition critics chastised Noppadon, arguing that filing for world heritage status should have been a joint effort by both countries. Meanwhile Cambodia raised the nationalist stakes, applying for Asean and the UN Security Council to intervene, which nicely helped the governing party win last Sunday’s election with an increased majority.
Phnom Penh’s high-profile activism contrasts sharply with Bangkok’s sedate approach. Both countries had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2000, after which Cambodia let its soldiers and citizens enter the disputed area.
Earlier this month Unesco declared the area a World Heritage Site, pouring more attention on it. Thailand moved troops into the area it considers in dispute but which Cambodia interprets as its own.
Three Thai protesters got into the fray, military forces on both sides accumulated at the border, tensions soared, Thailand’s Constitutional Court annulled an earlier joint communique and Noppadon had to quit. His successor moved in swiftly, and Tej is seen as Thailand’s best hope.
The new minister is a royal adviser as a Privy Council member, after retirement as an experienced and respected career diplomat with no personal political agenda to distract him. He also happens to be chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Association.
Yet his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong is no pushover, has been a foreign minister for decades and is known to be a tough negotiator. On a personal level, both Hor and Tej are known to have worked alongside each other as ambassadors to France in the mid-1990s.
Earlier talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodia’s deputy premier Gen Tea Banh had already proved fruitless. The latest talks that began the week in Siem Reap started as a volatile mix of hope and anxiety.
They began on Monday morning, followed by a lull in the afternoon, then continued late into the night for a 12-hour stretch. The three major agenda items were a military pullout from the site, relocation of citizens in the area, and the disputed 4.6sq km territory itself.
By yesterday, both negotiating teams had agreed to advise their governments to “adjust” their respective troop levels from about 2,500 massed in the area. This would be done after official approval from both governments.
But fresh from an election win, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thailand would need to pull its troops out first. The Thai government, already in a weakened state, said this could take weeks since the Cabinet might first have to refer it to Parliament.
Further talks would focus on border demarcation and the job of clearing landmines in the disputed area. Both sides also agreed to establish a joint task force for the larger issues.
The decades-long dispute could have been more than a storm in the proverbial teacup, as the risk of spillage and escalation can be unpredictable. A reliable gauge of political temperament is business sentiment, and traders and investors have not been alarmed.
Politically, both countries know they stand to lose if the dispute drags on and extremists on both sides are allowed free rein. After initial nationalist spasms are allowed to work themselves out and subside, diplomacy would regain the initiative.
Bangkok is scrambling to make up for lost time, after its former foreign minister Noppadon Patttama seemed as indifferent to Thai interests as Phnom Penh was consistently focused over the disputed 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple site.
In 1962, the World Court (ICJ) ruled that the temple stood on Cambodian soil, and Cambodia unilaterally filed for World Heritage List status. In May this year, Thailand agreed to that only if Cambodia’s filing excluded the disputed area around the temple.
But Noppadon and his Cabinet colleagues had apparently forgotten that access to the temple was on Thai territory. Different historical maps and border demarcations further complicated the plot.
Thai opposition critics chastised Noppadon, arguing that filing for world heritage status should have been a joint effort by both countries. Meanwhile Cambodia raised the nationalist stakes, applying for Asean and the UN Security Council to intervene, which nicely helped the governing party win last Sunday’s election with an increased majority.
Phnom Penh’s high-profile activism contrasts sharply with Bangkok’s sedate approach. Both countries had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2000, after which Cambodia let its soldiers and citizens enter the disputed area.
Earlier this month Unesco declared the area a World Heritage Site, pouring more attention on it. Thailand moved troops into the area it considers in dispute but which Cambodia interprets as its own.
Three Thai protesters got into the fray, military forces on both sides accumulated at the border, tensions soared, Thailand’s Constitutional Court annulled an earlier joint communique and Noppadon had to quit. His successor moved in swiftly, and Tej is seen as Thailand’s best hope.
The new minister is a royal adviser as a Privy Council member, after retirement as an experienced and respected career diplomat with no personal political agenda to distract him. He also happens to be chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Association.
Yet his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong is no pushover, has been a foreign minister for decades and is known to be a tough negotiator. On a personal level, both Hor and Tej are known to have worked alongside each other as ambassadors to France in the mid-1990s.
Earlier talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodia’s deputy premier Gen Tea Banh had already proved fruitless. The latest talks that began the week in Siem Reap started as a volatile mix of hope and anxiety.
They began on Monday morning, followed by a lull in the afternoon, then continued late into the night for a 12-hour stretch. The three major agenda items were a military pullout from the site, relocation of citizens in the area, and the disputed 4.6sq km territory itself.
By yesterday, both negotiating teams had agreed to advise their governments to “adjust” their respective troop levels from about 2,500 massed in the area. This would be done after official approval from both governments.
But fresh from an election win, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thailand would need to pull its troops out first. The Thai government, already in a weakened state, said this could take weeks since the Cabinet might first have to refer it to Parliament.
Further talks would focus on border demarcation and the job of clearing landmines in the disputed area. Both sides also agreed to establish a joint task force for the larger issues.
The decades-long dispute could have been more than a storm in the proverbial teacup, as the risk of spillage and escalation can be unpredictable. A reliable gauge of political temperament is business sentiment, and traders and investors have not been alarmed.
Politically, both countries know they stand to lose if the dispute drags on and extremists on both sides are allowed free rein. After initial nationalist spasms are allowed to work themselves out and subside, diplomacy would regain the initiative.
13 comments:
How to settle Preah Vihear Dispute ?
No Problem with Preah Vihear issue-- we will win-win
Because-
1. We have much more Army Generals than Thailand has( we have a lot of Generals from 1 stars to 4 Top Gold stars
2. We have more Excellencies than Thailand has
3. We have more Samdachs, Oknha, Bandits (Phd.), Prime ministers (in 1995), Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, provincial Governors.... that Thailand has/ or than other counties world wide...
4. We have a lot of Military equipment such as Military trucks which are used to Transport illegal Loggings and Military Vehicles used countrywide to anywhere such as to restaurants and Bars...... We have a lot of Guns/pistols which are used every day in the cities and county sides to fire on people in ladies affairs disputes.
5. We have much more Luxury Cars-Lexus Landcruisers with Army & Police Plate Numbers that represent Our Top Generals and Excellency countrywide.....
6. The best way to settle such a problem is to send some hundreds of Cambodian Generals to the Disputed Borders.....Thais will be afraid of our numerous Multi-Generals which increase from day to day.
7. Send the so-called Development Army (the main Army troop playing Roles in Land dispute in Kampong Speu to Preah Vihear... they have experiences in illegally Occupying people's Land ... now let them to occupy our Preah Vihear.
8. But is the National Embarrassment that our Army (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) have used a lot of forces to fight with Local unarmed-Cambodians in Land grabbling... so our Armed forces (Army, Police Economy Police, and military Police-PM) may be too weakened now...
9. It is a National Embarrassment that most of our Generals just attack in the Cities and with Local Cambodians in Land disputes, small Disputes in Night Clubs, Traffic Accidents, Karaoke and any unnecessary Fire shots.
Note: when I saw the Cambodians army in Dispute with Thai Army ..It reminds me about the Royal Cambodian Army disputing with Unarmed People in Land Disputes in Cambodia; They can protect their land But for Preah Vihear how will it be going on....?
"Thai uses the same Trick as Cambodia uses in Land dispute with Local Khmer People-- as of when the empowered men deploy army to illegally occupy people's land... ".
Can we use or do we dare to use " Iron Fist /Steel Fist " ????
From Excellency Phd. Bandit, General 7 Diamond Stars, Oknha Achar Knoy
8:29 AM
A Chhkuot, I should send you to Prek Thnot to brainwash you!
Samdach Decho Hun Sen Should use Iron Fist/Steel Fist as he used to use within Cambodians..." But I think Khmer fight strongly only with Khmers...."
We ahve many Generals Excellencies Samdachs.. Ministers Deputy Minister Deputy Prime Ministers....
Governors..... Pleasde use Iron Fist NOT plastic Fist.."
The Khmer army is brave only with Khmer... this remind me about the Land Dispute with People in Cambodia... Thai understand well the Psycological Conditions of Khmers through land dispute while Armed forces are used to grab Lands by high Rank Officials,,Tycoons...I remember they also shot People Cows/buffollos when they walk around the Land of Tycoon Ly Yong Phat in Koh Kong... alot of cows/oxes...as animals were killed by our armies... BUT WHEN THE SIAMS CAME/COME IN OUR TERRITORY OUR GENERRALS ARMIES BECOME QUIET UNDER PRETEXT OF PEACEFUL PATIENT NEGOTIATION.....
"I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT KHER ARMY DO NOT DARE TO SHOT SIAMS ROBBERS....."
Please remember Copmpatriots....
Excellency Bandit General Oknha Achar Knoy= Phd. from Chea Chamreorun Unv. PPenh.
First, I would like every Khmer in this forum to understand the situation and avoid using UNCIVILIZED words against our compatriots.
It is very important that we must stand as one, and see what our government are dealing with that problem because nobody from the world talk to individuals, they talk to the govt.
All of us should understand that we wanna win this war in civilized and diplomatic way. ASEAN and UN already urges us to negotiate with Thai on that issue, even we brough this issue to them. Everybody knows that ASEAN is shit, because it needs consensus to decide on everything. So I expected that ASEAN would turn that issue to us again should we requested them to intervene. The UNSC would do the same by asking Cambodia and Thai continue to talk ..
Now we are doing what the world community asking us to do. Of course, we will seek the UN intervention as long as the talk fail.
FM on both sides agreed on troop widrawal from the pagoda is a good solution. It means that everything will turn back into the situation before 15th of july. We will have our pagoda there and our people living there and our army behind them.
Hun Sen is right to say that the Thai should move first. What do you want our govt. to do? Fight the Thai? Intimidate the Thai by bringing the case to UN immediately? yeah, Hun Sen can as he used to do that with his Khmer oppoents. But what happen next after the Thai losing face because of our government? Do you wanna live with all of our neighbors with a seal border? No communication? No trade? Is it possible? Yeah.. 2 or 3 years is possible but not more than that.
Remember that Hun Sen will not live forever, but Cambodia will, and Thai will. And we need a good neighbors to live on.
I think our govt. are fighting the Thai in a civilized way. The Thai will lose face in a way that they have to smile to us. And it will be the victory of all Khmers..NOT HUN SEN or CPP.
Hun Sen is trying to show that he is fighting (he is not), we know that if he does not go to the UN (he won't, against Nguyen wills)
Sooner or later Samak will pull Hun Sen's pants down.
When the thai deployed its troops to the border, it didn't refer this matter to the cabinet nor parliament. Now when their troops were asked to remove, they said they needs to seek approval from the cabinet and parliament.
This is a silly game played by the thai. Why they need to refer this matter to the cabinet and parliament when they deployed their troops without any approval from these sick institutions.
Who the hell is running your country?? Do you think we Khmer no nothing about this childish game you've been playing?
The country that is full of idiots is...anybody knows??? Yes, you're right...it's the God Damn THAILAND OR SIAM.
Sorry, but your Cambodian prime minister is an idiot. Do you think he can go against our military might?
If your prime minister dare to take the initiative, he'll lose, and the rest of Cambodian people will return to stoneage.
Also, every nations in the world knows that your prime minister is so damn stupid and reckless. And now he wants to play with us. This guy must be crazy. This is a suicidal.
Tell your prime minister to stop barking like a mad dog.
My PM will use Iron Fist............
Cheyyo Iron/Steel Fist
PHNOM PENH, July 20 (Kyodo) - Cambodia has sent a letter to the U. N. Security Council to press its case in an ongoing border dispute with Thailand, it was learned Sunday.
Sea Kosal, ambassador and permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, sent the letter on Friday to Le Luong Minh, president of the U. N. Security Council.
In the letter, Sea Kosal claimed that Thai soldiers began crossing into Cambodia's territory near the Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday.
He also claimed that the encroachment was motivated by opposition-led protests in Thailand following the inscription of the temple as a World Heritage Site earlier this month.
Thailand has repeatedly claimed that it has no troops in Cambodia but only in an undemarcated area of the border near the Cambodia-controlled Preah Vihear temple, which has been at the center of a bitter 50-year dispute between the two countries.
In closing, Sea Sokal wrote, ''While Cambodia exercises maximum restraint to avoid armed confrontation, we cannot ignore that Thai military provocation is to create a de facto 'overlapping area' that legally does not exist on Cambodian soil.
'' Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, who is also the government spokesman, told Kyodo News on Sunday that Cambodia does not seek assistance from the world body or any other third party in resolving the dispute.
He said by sending the letter Cambodia only seeks to inform the members of the U. N. Security Council of the situation at the border.
In a move to defuse tensions, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh is scheduled to hold a meeting with Thai Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit to discuss the matter on Monday in the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet. (Kyodo)
What the heck? UN Secretary General is YOUN also. No wonder, they don't want us to go UN.
My god!!
Le Luong Minh, president of the U. N. Security Council.
why access to preah vihear is easier from thailand side? the answer is because thailand violated the icj and the treaty of 1907 to unilaterally redraw the map to make it look that way. by law in accordance to the treaty of 1907 which again (let me remind everyone that the icj verdict used the map from the treaty of 1907 to rule in favor of cambodia) lawful and binding that the so-called 4.6 km2 (1.8 sq miles area) belongs to cambodia, not thailand. thailand unilaterally redraw the map to make it look like access is only made possible from thailand side; this is why cambodia have problem with thailand for contempt of court and for violating the international treaty of 1907. accessway is not in thailand; thailand stole it from cambodia! get it right, you ignorant siem thugs!!!! cambodia should take them to the UN council to talk about this violation of the treaty of 1907 and the icj verdict.
Achar Chmoy...LOL
If thieves enter my house and I have a gun and the way I act in this situation is no longer an issue whether I chose to act chicken or tough!
When it is time to protect my wife, my children and my personal property and the act of getting tough is no longer an issue because it is about acting on impulse and to fight and kill the intruders!
So for these Thai thuggish soldiers to enter Cambodian territory and creating trouble and they have to be defensive because after all they are fucken thieves! Cambodian soldiers should have killed all of them for being a fucken thief in the first place!
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