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Domestic tourism to Preah Vihear has more than doubled since its UNESCO World Heritage listing on July 7, despite the dispute between Thai and Cambodian soldiers which has been centred on the temple grounds.
The presence of machine guns and rocket launchers could not deter proud Cambodians from visiting Preah Vihear to pay their respects to the mythic 11th-century temple and its new hoard of guardians.
"Since Thai troops entered the temple, there have been fewer foreign tourists, but the number of locals visiting has doubled," general director of the Preah Vihear National Authority, Pheng Sameoun told the Post on Sunday.
According to Pheng Sameoun, the dispute has stirred such a torrent of interest in the temple that, if the surrounding infrastructure was developed considerably, it could come to rival the Angkor Wat temple complex as Cambodia’s leading domestic holiday destination.
Chheang Solina, 22-year-old Phnom Penh high school student, said she was shocked last Sunday when she saw Thai and Cambodian soldiers occupying the temple, but was reinvigorated walking through its corridors.
"When I arrived at the top of the temple, and breathed in the fresh air, I had a feeling of great pride to be born as a Khmer," she said.
She added that she was happy because the Naga statues seemed to eat the Thai troops.
Bad roads and high transportation costs didn't stop Seng Vireak, 19, and his family from making the daylong trip from the capital, bearing food and supplies to hand out.
Many locals have been witnessed making donations of money to monks and soldiers living there.
The presence of machine guns and rocket launchers could not deter proud Cambodians from visiting Preah Vihear to pay their respects to the mythic 11th-century temple and its new hoard of guardians.
"Since Thai troops entered the temple, there have been fewer foreign tourists, but the number of locals visiting has doubled," general director of the Preah Vihear National Authority, Pheng Sameoun told the Post on Sunday.
According to Pheng Sameoun, the dispute has stirred such a torrent of interest in the temple that, if the surrounding infrastructure was developed considerably, it could come to rival the Angkor Wat temple complex as Cambodia’s leading domestic holiday destination.
Chheang Solina, 22-year-old Phnom Penh high school student, said she was shocked last Sunday when she saw Thai and Cambodian soldiers occupying the temple, but was reinvigorated walking through its corridors.
"When I arrived at the top of the temple, and breathed in the fresh air, I had a feeling of great pride to be born as a Khmer," she said.
She added that she was happy because the Naga statues seemed to eat the Thai troops.
Bad roads and high transportation costs didn't stop Seng Vireak, 19, and his family from making the daylong trip from the capital, bearing food and supplies to hand out.
Many locals have been witnessed making donations of money to monks and soldiers living there.
2 comments:
It is kind of funny when AH Khieu Kanharith said that the UN can only give recommendation and the UN is not the one to solve Cambodian-Thaicong border conflict!
The United Nations is the highest world body to call upon to solve many small and big conflicts around the world! And it is the philosophy of the United Nations to solve conflict when it is small and manageable! Cambodia has the border conflict with the Thaicong since 1950 but because of the Vietname War and the Vietcong occupation of Cambodia has buried the Cambodian-Thaicong border conflict for 30 years! Now that the Cambodian-Thaicong border conflict resurface again and the United Nations have the responsibility to see that the Cambodian-Thaicong border conflict must end quickly and peacefully before the conflict could trigger an arm race and heading toward a bigger war in the future!
If the Thaicong still occupy Cambodian land, the new arm race is inevitable and the future war is certain!
The United Nations must step in now to help Cambodia to end the conflict! Cambodia has shown a lot of patience in dealing with the Thaicong invader but soon no more!
Shut up the Khmer unity destroyer! You want to tell the inside country people about your knowledge on world affairs. To what extend do your people know about power of the UN? Look at the middle east, what the UN can do to solve the problem of Israel's occupation in the region? War in the region has continued over several dicades. It cannot ended because of the US's interest in the region...
What the UN can do to help Iraq from the US's invasion? Cannot coz huge oil reserve for the US to counter its major rival, Iran.
Do you know who is the UN? It's just the forum for P5 to control the world...the UN's resolution is effective only when it serves well the best interest of the P5 or the stronger one among the P5...
So many thing to tell you, not to teach you...To sum up, what's Cambodia-Thai border issue could give the P5 a bowl of noodle? Frankly telling you, your sweet home, the US objected the Cambodian govt's call for UNSC's intervention a few days after 15 July...So, what's the best way? Bilateral approach prevails and now continue to acheive positively...
By your embiton and dream, the issue can be resolved in one night, but in reality not... We have a lot of things to take into consideration, measure our own stregnth and other side's strenght... I read your several writings posted since this issue erupted, you all are so eager to fight...Fighting is easy, now send all your clan and families to Preah Vihear coz the inside country people are tired of fighting over years...Now, your turn... Your clan and families have enjoyed happiness long time ago since runing away from the homeland to seek paradise...so come on...
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