Op-Ed by Rath Khemara
The current military face off between Cambodia and Thailand over a parcel of land near Preah Vihear Temple is a lose-lose confrontation. The one question that both sides should ask and take a serious look at it is: WHO WILL LOSE THE MOST? With that said, let us examine some scenarios or disastrous consequences which could result from a war.
From a military perspective, it is clear that Thai military has more superior weapons in their arsenals than their Cambodian counterparts. But, one must remember that a superior weapon is good only when it could find and destroy its target. If anyone doubted that, just look at the U.S. army’s pursuit of Osama bin Laden.
As for the Cambodian military, they might lack good weapons, but they have experience and knowledge of the terrains—the most important asset that no superior weapon could defeat. Let me point out that the majority of Cambodian soldiers stationed along the Dangrek Mountain frontiers are former resistant fighters in the 1980’s. They know the Dangrek Mountain ranges like the back of their hands. In addition, the memory of Thai black clad soldiers abusing Cambodian refugees when they were gathered on the Thai-Cambodian border in the 1980’s are still fresh in their mind. The desire to see past wrong-doings pay back in a just manner is enough to motivate a rag-tag army to become an effective fighter. “I haven’t used it in 10 years and it’s gotten a bit rusty….But I am ready and I’m thirsty.” This quote from a Cambodian foot soldier should serve as a good advice to Thai supreme military commanders to think twice before embarking on any military adventurism. If the Thai armies still believe that strength and brute forces will always win, then they need to read the Cambodian children book story below to learn the truth.
From a military perspective, it is clear that Thai military has more superior weapons in their arsenals than their Cambodian counterparts. But, one must remember that a superior weapon is good only when it could find and destroy its target. If anyone doubted that, just look at the U.S. army’s pursuit of Osama bin Laden.
As for the Cambodian military, they might lack good weapons, but they have experience and knowledge of the terrains—the most important asset that no superior weapon could defeat. Let me point out that the majority of Cambodian soldiers stationed along the Dangrek Mountain frontiers are former resistant fighters in the 1980’s. They know the Dangrek Mountain ranges like the back of their hands. In addition, the memory of Thai black clad soldiers abusing Cambodian refugees when they were gathered on the Thai-Cambodian border in the 1980’s are still fresh in their mind. The desire to see past wrong-doings pay back in a just manner is enough to motivate a rag-tag army to become an effective fighter. “I haven’t used it in 10 years and it’s gotten a bit rusty….But I am ready and I’m thirsty.” This quote from a Cambodian foot soldier should serve as a good advice to Thai supreme military commanders to think twice before embarking on any military adventurism. If the Thai armies still believe that strength and brute forces will always win, then they need to read the Cambodian children book story below to learn the truth.
Rath Khemara
24 comments:
Everyone knows War is a lose-lose solution. Even if the Thai or the Cambodian prevail, they will still have to go through an expensive reconstruction phase, and that is why the Khmer People in Issan proposed Joint development, which is a long term win-win solution for all. There is no way for Cambodia to profit from the temple alone and leave the Khmer in Issan province in a cold.
you show us the Khmer in Issan that are protesting who are speaking in Khmer and tell them to come claim their Khmer heritage. We will work out with our brothers to give them free fare. But For a Thai thief, we say no can do. Sorry buddy.
I agree with this article 100%.
I hope Thais military leaders should learn this lesson before they start to thread Cambodia poor soldiers. These poor soldiers have waited for any chance to explode their rockets for a long times ago. We hope that Thailand must back off and to understand the reality of Khmer Soldiers. THe thais soldiers have nothing to win from Khmer lands from Dangrek to Preah Vihear towns. They may have to leave their death bodies scratching across Cambodian forests to feed animals. But for Khmer Soldiers, they have nothing to loose but their chance to grab and take home to be a wealthy citizen. If any war erupted, we just tell them take what they can grab from their ennemies, they will fight to their full potential. We have to remember when Vietnam soldiers walked into Cambodia in 1979, how many thousands of trucks load of goods they have taken back to vietnam from Cambodia? This time, it can be the same way.
But before anything can be going wrong, we must urge both side to dealt in dialogues and looking for peacefull resolution as a mean to stop war and let people to enjoy life with prosperity. Only idiots leaders who want to provoke war in which it will inflict people lives and properties. Areak Prey
PAD – People's Alliances for Democracy. They shouldn't use this name, it's too good to represent them these protestors. They should change it to People's Alliances for Dictatorship. It suits their purposes more since they have no respect for International Law.
seem from the international reports of REUTER/AFP/CNN/BBC etc its nots the Khmer Issan who are having trouble accepting the truth.
Its the unruly extremist PAD from Bangkock who shares no real Khmer connection that are barking up troubles.
See look, if there are Khmer in Thailand that should have say, they would be those Sisaket locals on border of Preah Vihear. Look like those guys have common sense in dignity. They know they're Khmer so they're happy to see the temple belong to Khmer that is why they blocking the insane PADTHAI noodle mass.
the world should not tolerate thailand for using military superiority over a sovereigned nation like cambodia, especially when they haven't even try the alternative ways i.e., the diplomatic community. for one, thailand isn't even any where close to the world's superpowers. plus, only the world's superpower nations like the USA are creditable because cambodia and most countries in the world do no think the USA is a tyrannical type of gov't. if any, the USA is helping other nations in the forms of humanitarian, exchange program, democracy, etc... but for thailand, i don't think anybody in the world would allow such a flip-flop gov't to rule the world. thailand is a bad example of what a nation should not do like when they threaten cambodia with their "superiority military or whatever. if they said they are buddhism, they know very well the meaning of karma or what goes around comes around.
Us khmer been through ALOT, we been abuse by foreigner, by neighbor, and and even our own kind, government. we are damm pissed now.
I think that the thais are testing hun sen brain to see if they can get anything from him the same he give our land to the viet.
It's hard to test his brain when he doesn't have one.
9:37, when you don't lived in Cambodia for centuries, you can't speak Khmer. It is just impossible. Language can't changed you from what you are.
However, you can't do DNA test to get to the truth.
if the thai make a war,the anger between us,thai and khmer,will never come to an end.lasts forever.
The mishandling of the "victory" in listing Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site could turn Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda and Preah Vihear temple itself into Thailand's Golan Heights.
Golan Heights is an area of highland Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 six day war. Israel has occupied it since then.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Correction: However, you can do DNA test to get to the truth.
10:37, Not everyone in Thailand are Chinese people. If there is war, it will be mostly Khmers against Khmers as usual.
Again Chinese people don't go to hindu temple to pray; therefore, they have no use for it.
10:37 You are wrong. Not living in Cambodia for centuries does not destroy your language. Betraying your identity does. You see over 8 million Khmer Krom in South Vietnam lived outside of Cambodia for centuries. We (I) have not forgotten my roots. The root of my identity lies in my language and readily to self-identify myself as Khmer.
Can your central Bangcockians PAD demonstrator do that?
So DNA test is pointless.
sound cocky and arrogant. since when Khmer had won any war?
war vs viet invasion, if you invade and you leave you lost.
this battle for sure,
war in the ICJ, you lost, you lost.
KHMER USA
Hey Siam if I were you I would not make thing worst than they are right now. I'm sure that Abishit and your king have a splitting headache right now. What a bunch of idiot they are, I hope they learn something out of this.
The current situation of the two countries seem to be at the record of worsen in the last decade. Some Thais and Khmer nationalist has fueled fire each other to provoke the war. Does the fighting is good for both countries ? the answer is NO. so please all of you reduce your sentiment and stay behind your leader to seek the solution throught a bilateral talk and mutual understanding. From Shiva
"...as for the Cambodian military, they might lack good weapons, but they have experience and knowledge of the terrains—the most important asset that no superior weapon could defeat..."
Remember, the Thai government are using their conventional soldiers with modern weapons in an effort to threaten our decades-of-war- experienced soldiers ... that does not frighten our brave soldiers.
I'm so very proud of our soldiers.
Khmer ultra-nationalist
10:50, I made a grammar error about DNA and I corrected it in post 10:37. That is the best way to know the truth.
As for language you are wrong, Most of Khmer in Vietnam doesn't speak Khmer either, just as many Khmer in Australia, France, ..., and US, and so far it is not even a half of century for them. Furthermore, Khmer Leu language is of a difference dialect from Khmer in Cambodia, but that does not make them Thai or Chinese, and I haven't even mention the Khmer-Mon in in central Thailand. At any rate, no one had died and make Khmer in Cambodia universal for all Khmer. Just use anything you like. Language is not that important nowdays because everyone is for themselves wherever they are.
Oh so they are no longer Khmer Rouge killers, is that what you are telling us, 11:29? Sounds like we got a bunch of flip-flopers here.
10:25 AM
I think the Cambodian prime minister should learn from the late John F. Kennedy's lesson during the Cuban-missile crisis.
Remember that time: the Rooski (Russian) chicken out.
Now, it's time for the Cambodian prime minister to emulate Kennedy's leadership.
Mr. prime minister, your men are ready for your command. You give us a green light, then they'll kill these son-of-bitches Thai black-clad extremists to protect our sovereign right.
Mr. prime minister, don't chicken out like the Rooski did!
9:47 AM
If these son-of-bitches Thai black-clad extremists think they're tough, why don't just take the first shot, and then they'll find out what'll happen -- and perhaps find out if they're super power or not.
Take the first shot!
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