By Shen Min
BANGKOK, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- With the Preah Vihear temple issue still hanging on, Thailand and Cambodia have now engaged themselves in a new wrangle regarding another ancient temple on the disputed border.
This time it is about Ta Moan Thom temple, a 13th-century Khmer-style temple, or "Prasat" as Thais call, which is situated on Thai-Cambodian border between in Phnom Dongrek district, Surin province in northeastern Thailand and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.
Responding to latest reports that Cambodia has accused Thai soldiers of occupying Ta Moan Thom temple, over which Cambodian authorities also claimed ownership, the Royal Thai Army issued a statement on Monday saying that "Thai military deploying at Ta Moan Thom has their duty to look after the border area as usual. They have continuously done this mission for a long time."
"Thai military has been stationed on Thai site and never encroached into neighboring country. The situation in that area is still normal, military of both countries has closely coordinated to prevent crashes and any misunderstanding," the statement said.
It also said that the Thai Army will "do anything to protect the sovereignty of the nation" in line with the principle of maintaining good relation between two countries.
Earlier on Monday, Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit said that he has handed a letter to Cambodian authorities, stating Thailand's sovereignty over the land at the Ta Moan Thom temple.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Fine Arts Department has nominated the Khmer-style Ta Muen Thom temple, situated on disputed Thai-Cambodian border area, to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the department's director general Kriengkrai Sampatchalit said Monday.
Kriengkrai was quoted by local media as saying that the UNESCO is scheduled to consider the Thai nomination of the Ta Moan Thom as well as other Khmer-style temples in Thailand's northeastern provinces Surin, Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima under "the Khmer Civilization Route" during its meeting next year.
This move will be naturally viewed as a tit-for-tat pose to Cambodia's earlier successful bid to list the Preah Vihear temple as the World Heritage Site.
According to Kriengkrai, the Ta Moan Thom is located "just about 100 meters from the border in the Thai soil." The Fine Arts Department discovered and registered it as one of Thai ancient items in 1935, or about 73 years ago, he said.
The Thai side has since then renovated it and opened it for public long time ago, he said, adding the Cambodian government has acknowledged the renovation and all activities related to the place.
Kriengkrai responded to a recent report that the Cambodian troops tried to cross the border to visit the place, but was declined by the Thai army.
He said Ta Moan Thom has usually welcomed all visitors but the Thai army stepped in to take care of the Khmer visit because they came in uniform and were armed with weapons.
Nationalist sentiment has grown in both countries since Cambodia's bid to list the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple situated at a disputed border area as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Thailand then withdrew its support, with then Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama sacrificing his job to public emotion and judiciary oppugn, but it did not stop the UNESCO from adding the Preah Vihear to the World Heritage list last month.
Thai and Cambodian military have beefed up military presence along the disputed border since July 15 after three Thais including a monk were briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers for breaking into the temple, which had been closed to the public by Cambodian authorities as border tension rose.
On Monday, the Supreme Commander Boonsang also said the Thai army will provide relevant information for the Foreign Ministry for consideration before negotiating with its Cambodian counterpart over the Preah Vihear temple issue.
Thai newly appointed Foreign Minister Dej Bunnag is expected to hold a second round meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in SiemReap, Cambodia in an attempt to ease military and diplomatic stand-off between the two countries resulting from the Preah Vihear dispute.
The July 28 talks between the two sides produced no breakthrough but a joint statement in which the two countries agree no "adjusting military deployment" along the disputed border and act with restraint.
However, one week after the meeting, the two sides have shown no sign of reducing troops stationed there.
Boonsang said the withdrawal of troops has to be carefully discussed as the issue is sensitive, complicated and could affect the two nations' sovereignty.
BANGKOK, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- With the Preah Vihear temple issue still hanging on, Thailand and Cambodia have now engaged themselves in a new wrangle regarding another ancient temple on the disputed border.
This time it is about Ta Moan Thom temple, a 13th-century Khmer-style temple, or "Prasat" as Thais call, which is situated on Thai-Cambodian border between in Phnom Dongrek district, Surin province in northeastern Thailand and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.
Responding to latest reports that Cambodia has accused Thai soldiers of occupying Ta Moan Thom temple, over which Cambodian authorities also claimed ownership, the Royal Thai Army issued a statement on Monday saying that "Thai military deploying at Ta Moan Thom has their duty to look after the border area as usual. They have continuously done this mission for a long time."
"Thai military has been stationed on Thai site and never encroached into neighboring country. The situation in that area is still normal, military of both countries has closely coordinated to prevent crashes and any misunderstanding," the statement said.
It also said that the Thai Army will "do anything to protect the sovereignty of the nation" in line with the principle of maintaining good relation between two countries.
Earlier on Monday, Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit said that he has handed a letter to Cambodian authorities, stating Thailand's sovereignty over the land at the Ta Moan Thom temple.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Fine Arts Department has nominated the Khmer-style Ta Muen Thom temple, situated on disputed Thai-Cambodian border area, to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the department's director general Kriengkrai Sampatchalit said Monday.
Kriengkrai was quoted by local media as saying that the UNESCO is scheduled to consider the Thai nomination of the Ta Moan Thom as well as other Khmer-style temples in Thailand's northeastern provinces Surin, Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima under "the Khmer Civilization Route" during its meeting next year.
This move will be naturally viewed as a tit-for-tat pose to Cambodia's earlier successful bid to list the Preah Vihear temple as the World Heritage Site.
According to Kriengkrai, the Ta Moan Thom is located "just about 100 meters from the border in the Thai soil." The Fine Arts Department discovered and registered it as one of Thai ancient items in 1935, or about 73 years ago, he said.
The Thai side has since then renovated it and opened it for public long time ago, he said, adding the Cambodian government has acknowledged the renovation and all activities related to the place.
Kriengkrai responded to a recent report that the Cambodian troops tried to cross the border to visit the place, but was declined by the Thai army.
He said Ta Moan Thom has usually welcomed all visitors but the Thai army stepped in to take care of the Khmer visit because they came in uniform and were armed with weapons.
Nationalist sentiment has grown in both countries since Cambodia's bid to list the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple situated at a disputed border area as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Thailand then withdrew its support, with then Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama sacrificing his job to public emotion and judiciary oppugn, but it did not stop the UNESCO from adding the Preah Vihear to the World Heritage list last month.
Thai and Cambodian military have beefed up military presence along the disputed border since July 15 after three Thais including a monk were briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers for breaking into the temple, which had been closed to the public by Cambodian authorities as border tension rose.
On Monday, the Supreme Commander Boonsang also said the Thai army will provide relevant information for the Foreign Ministry for consideration before negotiating with its Cambodian counterpart over the Preah Vihear temple issue.
Thai newly appointed Foreign Minister Dej Bunnag is expected to hold a second round meeting with his Cambodian counterpart in SiemReap, Cambodia in an attempt to ease military and diplomatic stand-off between the two countries resulting from the Preah Vihear dispute.
The July 28 talks between the two sides produced no breakthrough but a joint statement in which the two countries agree no "adjusting military deployment" along the disputed border and act with restraint.
However, one week after the meeting, the two sides have shown no sign of reducing troops stationed there.
Boonsang said the withdrawal of troops has to be carefully discussed as the issue is sensitive, complicated and could affect the two nations' sovereignty.
8 comments:
Hey Siam what is this shit?
You look after your border on Cambodia territory?
I think it's time you take the time to solve your intestinal problem seriously.
Right now you king, military commander and Samak are bunch of kids.
Cambodia is doing the right thing to seek help from the United Nations (UN). It is not in the interest of Thailand to have the UN intervene in the affair of Preah Vihear, because she knows that Cambodia has more legitimacy and historical claim of Preah Vihear and its surrounding area than Thailand does. The UN will have to consider and abide by the 1962 judgment made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the recent recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that included Preah Vihear in the World Heritage List. If the UN were to side with Cambodia, then they would probably ask Thailand to withdraw from the disputed area.
Thailand is playing hardball because she knows Cambodia is no match with her militarily. Cambodia has no choice but to ask the UN for help. With the UN help Thailand will not dare to encroach further into Cambodia territory. If war were to erupt, Thailand would be condemned by the world and she will lose face. Additionally, the Muslims are now waiting for the right opportunity to stir troubles again in the southern region of Thailand if this latter decides to go to war with Cambodia. Thailand cannot afford to have war with Cambodia. Thailand may win in the short term but she will lose in the long run. Thailand fears the UN because among the five permanent members, Cambodia can count on France, China, and Russia to side with her. As to the US and the UK positions, nothing can be certain but if these two countries interpret the laws and historical facts properly, they should come to the conclusion that Thailand has no claim and basis over Preah Vihear and its surrounding area that she had ceded to Cambodia during the French-Siamese 1907 treaty.
The UN cannot ignore the ICJ judgment that recognized Preah Vihear belonging to Cambodia, because to do otherwise would bring chaos to the international rule of laws. There is no doubt, both based on the court of laws and historical facts, that the Temple of Preah Vihear is a Khmer heritage and belonging to Cambodia.
who???????? had removed Khmer from Morn Khmer? It pleasure to listen to this guy he had Morn Khmer come to his brain first, look like he did an extra homwork and IF Khmer had removed from the ancestor THEN there shouldn't be any mention about the Thai. Because the THAI doesn't exist at that time only minority SIAM.
Anyway I think this guy was not wearing YELLOW during his interview session. Otherwise he must have had build his home with his two hands. So he can posses the house. Hmm! may be the Morn Khmer thousand years ago was smarter then him, they make use of slave like SIAMESE to build temples ah huh that why the THAI feel belong. But they shouldn't SIAM was the one and who is the THAI?
Last IIF THAI is still SIAM THEN THAI still THIEVES. What the point of working hard twisting SIAM to THAI ah SIEM REAP sound familiar.
just my 2 cents
this is the problem we have with thailand. they like to steal cambodia's ancient relics and claim it for themselves. i mean, you one look at history or study the history of cambodia and thailand, it's always about thailand or siam stealing khmer land. remember they invaded a chaotic cambodia and looted angkor in ancient time. well, that similar pattern hasn't disappeared as siam tries again in this day and age. same pattern that they were doing for centuries against cambodia. now the entire world can see it happening right in their life time. imagine what it was like in ancient time when siam invaded and looted and took away our khmer people like artists, priests, even some of khmer royal family member. thailand loves to steal from cambodia; that is in their blood. what else is new? just look at the present size of cambodia compared to when we were an empire. it would be stupid for anyone not to notice it.
so, the struggle khmer people have with siam enemy is nothing new. it's always about losing our land, seas, and even cultural identity to thailand as thailand loves to steal, again steal, not even adopt or borrow, but steal cambodia's culture, ancient relics, etc... but of course, they cannot annihilate the khmer race and country although they tried numerous times in the past, especially during chaotic time, usually after the death of a powerful king or something along that line, then thailand and their thieves kind of people would tak full advantage of cambodia to try to sabotage or steal from us. khmer peole will never forget, for example, the legend of preah ko and preah keov. of course, cambodia is a force to be reckoned with. god bless cambodia.
Yeah, Thanks to modern day.
Now we can see each other within a blink and it is tough for the Thai to do anything.
If this world were back to 50 years ago or 500 years ago we will be doom already. With the technologies today such as Internet, news agencies, fax and email you name them we can see or know whats going right away.
Khmer Pride,
I bet the Thai don't know how to play poker.
We (Cambodian) got all the good cards. You name it such as straight flush, one of a kind and etc..
We will go all in when the UNESCO ready to list this temple Prasat Ta Moan Thom.
Haha!!! We got em all!!!!
We Khun Thais understand very well the spirit of your leaders who need only money and Power within kampuchea, he is strong man in Campuchea but weak with khun thais and Khun viet.....
we claim Preah viharn, ta man and others untill we return all to thais belongings and help the strong man in Power for half more century.... we again return Siam Rap, Badambang Posat..to our territory too...and use your leaders to be Priministers in this country forever under Thais Colony...
We Khun Thais learned a lot about the tactics, bad tricks of kampuchean administration applied with campuchean people to take over lands/land grabing and other properties.. so we used this trick/tactics to gain from Campuchia too... and we will win surely and Campuchea Army chief and leaders do not dare to fight with thais,,,,, please be sure sure we guarantee.. remember ...
Campuchea has no opportunity to protect territory they just fight within their country in Power Contest..
You see when just start of StandOff Cam-army has no equipment weapon and food to support army just Collecting from people, this is not sustainable...
And why Army Chief and high Rank officials are very Rich...
We This know that you have more Generals but least soldiers...
Campuchea is a most corrupted country so that we thais can buy any thing including its territory.....
Wichai rungrat
Krung Thep Mohanokorn
From Prah Viharn to Tamoan...to Siamrap, badambong , Nom Penh will belong to Krung Thep Mohanorkorn...
we will Offer Khmers PM to be PM forever, offer some millions dollars.....
Kampuchia will be under Siam+Viet Co-Colonisation
Wichai rungrat
Sokumvit V/krunmg thep mohanokorn
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