Editorial by Khmerization
A while back I wrote in my editorials expressing my fears of Cambodia losing the sovereignty of the 4.6 square kilometres of the so-called “disputed zone” in the Preah Vihear precinct to Thailand. Now, with the Thai sending in the troops to occupy that zone, my fears have been realised. By applying to list only the temple body, the Cambodian government has acknowledged the existence of a “disputed zone” and has effectively given Thailand ammunitions in which to fight for the sovereignty of that zone. The Thai incursion into Cambodia’s territories is a sheer violation of Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity and it is a blatant aggression and an invasion. (Full details here).
From a Cambodian perspective, with the Thai refusing to withdraw the troops and with the Cambodian villagers being terrorised to flee this village en masse, the Thai occupation of this so-called “disputed zone” is a fait accompli. For those who were belatedly and proudly claimed that “Cambodia will lose nothing”, the likes of PM Hun Sen, Deputy PM’s Sok An and Hor Namhong and their proponents, they should hang their heads in shame and do the honourable thing by resigning.
Cambodia must not be complacent over the issue of these significant national interests and it must do everything to publicise this Thai invasion of Preah Vihear to the world in a grand scale to expose the Thai flagrant disregards for Cambodia’s sovereignty. Cambodia must bring out all the documents and maps related to the Preah Vihear temple and put them on the negotiating table for the Thai side to see. If need be, should Thailand fails to acknowledge the historical facts, Cambodia should involve outside mediation, based on historical facts. And if necessary, Cambodia should not vacillate in bringing Thailand to the International Court of Justice one more time.
Cambodia must vehemently reject the proposition and the notion of sharing this zone with Thailand. Cambodia must be firm in any future negotiations with Thailand, not just on this so-called “disputed zone”, but on border disputes in other areas as well. Cambodia has all the relevant documents and maps from the 1907 treaty and then again the decision of the International Court of Justice in 1962, to prove that the “zone” belongs to Cambodia.
The Thai ignorance of the historical facts regarding territorial claims between the two countries cannot be allowed to go on unchallenged. A week ago, the Thai protesters have called for a return of Battambang (Phra Tabong in Thai), Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces to Thailand, by claiming that they were once Thai territories. (Full details here).
Well, the Thai should know the history of their presence in that part of the region very well. They must know that they only moved from Nan Chao in southern China to settle in this region in the 13th century, while the Cambodians had settled in the region for more than 2000 years ago. And as recently as the late 18th century (1796?), Thailand had invaded and claimed suzerainty over more than 10 Cambodian provinces. Battambang and Siem Reap have been occupied by Thailand, then called Siam, in 1796(?) and were only returned to Cambodia in 1904 under the French pressure and in exchange for a return of the provinces of Trat and Buriram to Thailand. Other Cambodian provinces, like Surin, Kok Khan (now called Sisaket), Nokor Reach (Korat), Srah Keo (Sakeo), Baschem Borei (Prachinburi), Cholaborei (Chonburi), Aranya Protess (Aranyaprathet), Kanchanak Borei (Kanachanburi), Chanthak Borei (Chanthaburi) and Boeng Kork (Bangkok) and even up to the Ayuddya regions were all Cambodian territories, taken over by Thailand one by one up until the late 18th century (1796?).
My point in bringing all of these former Khmer provinces into the discussion here was to highlight the historical facts and to jog the memories of the Thai people that Cambodia hadn’t taken any Thai lands. But on the contrary, Thailand had taken vast territories of Khmer lands. If the Thai protesters wanted to reclaim Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, then these Thai protesters and, for that matter, the Thai leadership as a whole, must realise that Cambodia has every right to reclaim the territories of the more than 10 provinces lost to Thailand that have been mentioned above.
I would like to end this editorial by expressing my condemnation of the Thai incursion into the Preah Vihear region and, for the sake of regional peace and stability, I call on Thailand to withdraw their troops immediately and unconditionally.//
(Viewing the pictures of Cambodian and Thai troops facing off each other in Preah Vihear).
“By applying to list only the temple body, the Cambodian government has acknowledged the existence of a “disputed zone” and has effectively given Thailand ammunitions in which to fight for the sovereignty of that zone. The Thai incursion into Cambodia’s territories is a sheer violation of Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity and it is a blatant aggression and an invasion.”
A while back I wrote in my editorials expressing my fears of Cambodia losing the sovereignty of the 4.6 square kilometres of the so-called “disputed zone” in the Preah Vihear precinct to Thailand. Now, with the Thai sending in the troops to occupy that zone, my fears have been realised. By applying to list only the temple body, the Cambodian government has acknowledged the existence of a “disputed zone” and has effectively given Thailand ammunitions in which to fight for the sovereignty of that zone. The Thai incursion into Cambodia’s territories is a sheer violation of Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity and it is a blatant aggression and an invasion. (Full details here).
From a Cambodian perspective, with the Thai refusing to withdraw the troops and with the Cambodian villagers being terrorised to flee this village en masse, the Thai occupation of this so-called “disputed zone” is a fait accompli. For those who were belatedly and proudly claimed that “Cambodia will lose nothing”, the likes of PM Hun Sen, Deputy PM’s Sok An and Hor Namhong and their proponents, they should hang their heads in shame and do the honourable thing by resigning.
Cambodia must not be complacent over the issue of these significant national interests and it must do everything to publicise this Thai invasion of Preah Vihear to the world in a grand scale to expose the Thai flagrant disregards for Cambodia’s sovereignty. Cambodia must bring out all the documents and maps related to the Preah Vihear temple and put them on the negotiating table for the Thai side to see. If need be, should Thailand fails to acknowledge the historical facts, Cambodia should involve outside mediation, based on historical facts. And if necessary, Cambodia should not vacillate in bringing Thailand to the International Court of Justice one more time.
Cambodia must vehemently reject the proposition and the notion of sharing this zone with Thailand. Cambodia must be firm in any future negotiations with Thailand, not just on this so-called “disputed zone”, but on border disputes in other areas as well. Cambodia has all the relevant documents and maps from the 1907 treaty and then again the decision of the International Court of Justice in 1962, to prove that the “zone” belongs to Cambodia.
The Thai ignorance of the historical facts regarding territorial claims between the two countries cannot be allowed to go on unchallenged. A week ago, the Thai protesters have called for a return of Battambang (Phra Tabong in Thai), Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces to Thailand, by claiming that they were once Thai territories. (Full details here).
Well, the Thai should know the history of their presence in that part of the region very well. They must know that they only moved from Nan Chao in southern China to settle in this region in the 13th century, while the Cambodians had settled in the region for more than 2000 years ago. And as recently as the late 18th century (1796?), Thailand had invaded and claimed suzerainty over more than 10 Cambodian provinces. Battambang and Siem Reap have been occupied by Thailand, then called Siam, in 1796(?) and were only returned to Cambodia in 1904 under the French pressure and in exchange for a return of the provinces of Trat and Buriram to Thailand. Other Cambodian provinces, like Surin, Kok Khan (now called Sisaket), Nokor Reach (Korat), Srah Keo (Sakeo), Baschem Borei (Prachinburi), Cholaborei (Chonburi), Aranya Protess (Aranyaprathet), Kanchanak Borei (Kanachanburi), Chanthak Borei (Chanthaburi) and Boeng Kork (Bangkok) and even up to the Ayuddya regions were all Cambodian territories, taken over by Thailand one by one up until the late 18th century (1796?).
My point in bringing all of these former Khmer provinces into the discussion here was to highlight the historical facts and to jog the memories of the Thai people that Cambodia hadn’t taken any Thai lands. But on the contrary, Thailand had taken vast territories of Khmer lands. If the Thai protesters wanted to reclaim Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, then these Thai protesters and, for that matter, the Thai leadership as a whole, must realise that Cambodia has every right to reclaim the territories of the more than 10 provinces lost to Thailand that have been mentioned above.
I would like to end this editorial by expressing my condemnation of the Thai incursion into the Preah Vihear region and, for the sake of regional peace and stability, I call on Thailand to withdraw their troops immediately and unconditionally.//
(Viewing the pictures of Cambodian and Thai troops facing off each other in Preah Vihear).
22 comments:
All the more reason to urgently kick out these bastards.
There is no reason to negotiate whatsoever. Killinf off a couple of thais will bring to sanity.
Even their PM called the protesters "insane" but the still sent in troops inside cambodian territory.That is double talk.
Hun Sen do your job, you have enough to live on if you flee the country. Godam it be a man .
Hun Sen didn't show any constraint when killing off the unarmed opposition.
When it comes to facing armed agressors he is willing to negotiate.
TRAITOR . Leave and let the nation defend itself.
"Cambodia must bring out all the documents and maps related to the Preah Vihear temple and put them on the negotiating table for the Thai side to see."
LIGITATION not negotiation. There is nothing to negotiate.
AH HUN SEN thug is the most hypocrite animal on the planet Earth! Here AH HUN SEN the animal is willing to negotiate with the Thaicong aggressor but for ordinary Cambodian people, Cambodian opposition, and Cambodian monks and he is willing to kill them in a heart beat without any negotiation to show that he is the strongman of Cambodia!
AH HUN SEN glory day is over! If the Thaicong dare fire a single shot and it will be the present from God above and AH HUN SEN can no longer protect his power! Cambodia desperately need a new war to remove AH HUN SEN regime! And it will be the same way how the Vietcong remove POL POT regime!
Cambodia need chaos and out of chaos there will be ordered but this time Cambodia won't have AH HUN SEN to order them around!
HUN SEN is a common dictator. You find his kind everywhere in the world.
Take for example argentina, when they invaded the falklands, great britain rose up like a nation and drove them out. Soon afterwards the argentine junta was overthrown and jailed.
It is a pity we have a dictator to defend our country. He is protecting his own ass.
I personally have no hate for Hun Sen but he is bungling the situation. We khmer who suffered so much cannot afford to have a weakling fronting the imperialist thai. we need a khmer patriot.
True, when it comes to killing opposition activists Hun Sen never hesitate. But when facing foreign enemies, he is scared stiff. The Thai troops must be pulled out. Cambodia should not give in on any lands. Take them to court like in 1962.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2307130.htm?tab=latest
I don't want to turn this blog into an anti CPP forum. That is not my intention.
But the handling of this crisis reeks of inaptitude , indecision and simply put incompetence.
" Khmer soldiers sleeping side by side with the enemy in a cambodian pagoda"
This is absolutely surreal!
Thais are flexing their military superiority by flyng F16 jets over the area and occupying khmer territory blatantly.
And we sleep like babies with the thieves.
Shoot and damn the consequences!
Thais tested a strong man Hun Sen. Show your ruthless Khmer Rouge style old boy.
Who the hell are so stupid for not knowing that the temple built without the soil near by?
The land surrounding Temple belongs to Khmers. Give it up Bhumibol, the bastard who killed his own brother in cold blood. His family are no Royal but bastards thieves.
Suck Stupid Negro Thais
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/17/cambodia.thailand/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
HUN SEN should repell those invaders Thai back!!!
HUN SEN, you need to use your iron fists!!!!!!!
HUN SEN, what the fuck is he doing?
Lets do this!!
The signs already showing the Thai is at fault for aggressiveness that step their feet on our soils.
SHOOT THEM!!!!!!!!!
You! stupids above, so brave in internet why don't you go to Preah Vihear and make your stand there!
You see! if Hun Sen start a fight to imprest you fool and who are going to die? Hun Sen, top CPPs? NO the poor Khmere soldiar you see in the picture who are going to die and leave their family live without father to support!
We should try to use the peaceful way and International law first! Dont be a fool and babarian like the Siameses!!!!
Cambodia should call the UN, because the ICJ use the UN to make country respect its verdict.
To 11:47PM
Shut the fuck up fool! This is not about being brave on the internet!
The fact that a fool like you and AH HUN SEN thug continue to gave the Thaicong aggressor the ground to walk on to kill more Cambodian people and here you are still want to be find your peaceful Buddhist way! So tell me when did the Thaicong give a fuck about International Law? Never!
How about you give me the ground to walk on so that I can kill and rape your wife and children!
Who doesn't know that Cambodia is a dirt poor nation run by AH HUN SEN thug! So if it has to be that dirt poor Cambodian will have to go to war to protect their nation then it let be! At least these dirt poor Cambodian soldiers will die with dignity in fighting for Cambodia as nation! (What about the thousand of Cambodian homeless children in Cambodia right now? And who is supporting them? (Certainly not AH HUN SEN government!)
By the way, Cambodia didn’t go through 30 years of war learning nothing and if the Thaicong still insist on making war and the Cambodian will show them the 30 years of war experience!
I haven't post anything yet but just read. And 12:21 AM you are the most disgusting and despicable person I have ever heard. Your mouth is worst then Mr. Hun Sen. You probably have dignity lower then the so called cruel animal dictator.
you need to calm down and take things into perspective. Stop being irrational, stupid and salvage.
I am a Khmer living in Issan region and a Thai citizen. I do agree with those Khmers living Preah Vihear Province. I think Preah Vihear Temple belongs to people living in Preah Vihear province. No body else who does not live in Preah Vihear province has a rights on deciding the ownership of the temple. Keep in mind the Preah Vihear Province do exist. It is in northern region of Cambodia. But, Issan do not exist. Only the region does. But, mostly Loas people live there. We khmers are small numbers compare to others in the region. I hope this is clear to my brother who claims to be Khmer Issan in Issan province. You don't represent all the Khmers living here. So, stop using the name Issan.
So many years of fight or experienced in the war I think Cambodia will be more advantage than the Thai.
Khmer born as a warrior. We never aggressively invade no one.
Look at the situation now. Before we come to negotiation we must ask the Thai to withdraw so the talks can go on. No condition on the table.
HUN SEN must play this fight like a proud chess player.
I heard HUN SEN have alot of tactics when he played chess.
So this time he needs to use his strategies or tactics.
HUN SEN go protect our lands!!!!!!!!!!!!
12:21AM You son of a fool, your fucking fool father fuck your mother in a wrong way that why you fucking fool! And your dirt poor mother never give you any thing that make you fucking stupid and hate every thing!
You fucking come to Preah Vihear or Phnom Penh and say you fucking word in front of us and see who go forst you or the Thai soldiers!
May you chock with stupid words!!!
The Temple and the surrounding area belong to Khmer People in Issan Province centuries before ceded to France in the early 1900's to protect the rest of Thailand. And now that the French is no longer in control, the temple must be returned to Khmer People in Issan Province as it should be.
To 12:33AM and 1:22AM
Even if the Thaicong win the war in Cambodia and they take over Cambodia with their occupational military force and do you think there will be Khmer pro-Thaicong government like Cambodia of today have AH HUN SEN pro-Vietcong?
You are one stupid mother fucker to think like that! You mother fucker wouldn't understand the ramification of the fucken war in Cambodia! Tell you what if the Thaicong take over Cambodia tomorrow and the Thaicong are now bordering with the Vietcong!
The whole scenarios will play out like in the 1980 when China, US, and the Thaicong were supporting the Khmer Rouge to bleed the Vietcong in Cambodia for 10 years! But this time, the Vietcong will support the Khmer resistance fighters to bleed the Thaicong in Cambodia for as long as it will take to make the Thaicong withdrew their troop from Cambodia!
The Vietcong is just waiting for the opportunity to take revenge for what the Thaicong did to them in the 1980 by supporting the Khmer Rouge to kick their arse for staying in Cambodia!
I have no doubt the dynamic of war and politic will change complete but Cambodian people can rest assure that there won't be pro-Thaicong government in Cambodia!
Cambodia will not be the loser in this war but the whole Indochina and the Asean are the one that is a loser! The Thaicong should know better if they want to use Cambodia as the AFGANISTAN in the Southeast Asia because the Thaicong have more at stake than Cambodia!
I don't support the fighting because soldiers, civilians will die. but importantly, preah vihear temple will be damaged. the best solution is to negotiate firmly with thailand to ask them to withdraw their troops to pre-15th July, 2008 situation. ask un and international help. if can't succeed, take thailand to court by using 1907 treaty, maps and documents. thailand will be scared if we take them to international court because when the court examines the 1907 treaty they will see that thailand had taken much more cambodian lands than we think they did.
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