Op-Ed by Shubha Singh
Express Buzz (India)
Bullets and gunfire echoed at an ancient Hindu temple complex on the border of Cambodia and Thailand recently.
Soldiers of the two South-East Asian countries exchanged fire in a bloody conflict which left two Cambodian soldiers dead and more than half a dozen soldiers wounded on both sides.
Located in a mountainous border region, the Preah Vihear temple has been claimed by both sides, but politics in the two countries converted the temple into a volatile issue ever since it was designated as a World Heritage Site.
The 11th century temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva was built by the Khmer dynasty which also constructed the more famous Angkor Wat temple complex. Situated on the edge of a steep cliff, which is part of the Dangrek Mountains, the temple overlooks the plains of Cambodia.
During the Angkor period, this part of north-east Thailand was controlled by the Khmer dynasty. The construction of the temple began in the 10th century, though the main part of the temple complex was built over the next hundred years.
The Preah Vihear temple is a well preserved site, mainly because it was difficult to access in earlier years. The temple complex has intricate carvings of Shiva in all his manifestations on the pillars, walls and lintels. But as the Hindu kingdoms in Thailand and Cambodia went into a decline, Buddhism began to gain ground in these areas and the site was converted into a Buddhist temple. At the time of Cambodia’s independence from the French, Thailand occupied the temple complex which is more easily accessible from the Thai side. Cambodia took the dispute to the International Court of Justice which ruled in Cambodia’s favour in 1962 on the basis of common maps in use in the region. Tensions were reduced between the two countries when the Cambodian government allowed visa free visits by Thai nationals and tourists from Thailand to the Preah Vihear temple.
Most tourists visit the remote temple from the Thailand side which has well paved roads connecting it. While the temple complex itself was handed over to Cambodia, a dispute remained over a small stretch of land about 4.5 km in length adjoining the temple.
The dispute flared up this July when UNESCO designated the temple as a World Heritage Site. The Thai people were incensed when it was revealed that the government in Bangkok had supported the Cambodian application to the UN’s cultural body. The Thai government was already in troubled political waters with strong anti-government protests, when nationalist sections accused the government of selling out Thai interests to the influential tourist industry. The constitutional court in Thailand ruled that the decision to support the Cambodian application to UNESCO without getting approval from the Parliament was illegal.
Thailand’s former foreign minister was forced to resign after the court judgment and the government moved in Thai troops into the border area. The Thai build-up on the border at Preah Vihear set off an emotive reaction in Cambodia, which was also in the midst of an election in late July. It resulted in a massive victory for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Tensions have been high since late July when the military face off began.
The high rhetoric seemed to reduce a week ago as Thailand moved back its troops in response to a deadline set by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
However, a sudden escalation led to an exchange of fire earlier some time ago.
For both countries, there is an urgent need to find a peaceful resolution and to ensure that tranquillity returns there.
Soldiers of the two South-East Asian countries exchanged fire in a bloody conflict which left two Cambodian soldiers dead and more than half a dozen soldiers wounded on both sides.
Located in a mountainous border region, the Preah Vihear temple has been claimed by both sides, but politics in the two countries converted the temple into a volatile issue ever since it was designated as a World Heritage Site.
The 11th century temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva was built by the Khmer dynasty which also constructed the more famous Angkor Wat temple complex. Situated on the edge of a steep cliff, which is part of the Dangrek Mountains, the temple overlooks the plains of Cambodia.
During the Angkor period, this part of north-east Thailand was controlled by the Khmer dynasty. The construction of the temple began in the 10th century, though the main part of the temple complex was built over the next hundred years.
The Preah Vihear temple is a well preserved site, mainly because it was difficult to access in earlier years. The temple complex has intricate carvings of Shiva in all his manifestations on the pillars, walls and lintels. But as the Hindu kingdoms in Thailand and Cambodia went into a decline, Buddhism began to gain ground in these areas and the site was converted into a Buddhist temple. At the time of Cambodia’s independence from the French, Thailand occupied the temple complex which is more easily accessible from the Thai side. Cambodia took the dispute to the International Court of Justice which ruled in Cambodia’s favour in 1962 on the basis of common maps in use in the region. Tensions were reduced between the two countries when the Cambodian government allowed visa free visits by Thai nationals and tourists from Thailand to the Preah Vihear temple.
Most tourists visit the remote temple from the Thailand side which has well paved roads connecting it. While the temple complex itself was handed over to Cambodia, a dispute remained over a small stretch of land about 4.5 km in length adjoining the temple.
The dispute flared up this July when UNESCO designated the temple as a World Heritage Site. The Thai people were incensed when it was revealed that the government in Bangkok had supported the Cambodian application to the UN’s cultural body. The Thai government was already in troubled political waters with strong anti-government protests, when nationalist sections accused the government of selling out Thai interests to the influential tourist industry. The constitutional court in Thailand ruled that the decision to support the Cambodian application to UNESCO without getting approval from the Parliament was illegal.
Thailand’s former foreign minister was forced to resign after the court judgment and the government moved in Thai troops into the border area. The Thai build-up on the border at Preah Vihear set off an emotive reaction in Cambodia, which was also in the midst of an election in late July. It resulted in a massive victory for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Tensions have been high since late July when the military face off began.
The high rhetoric seemed to reduce a week ago as Thailand moved back its troops in response to a deadline set by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
However, a sudden escalation led to an exchange of fire earlier some time ago.
For both countries, there is an urgent need to find a peaceful resolution and to ensure that tranquillity returns there.
6 comments:
aa Need to clear up the bias originally set up by the Thai. This Preah Vihear is a Khmer temple built (not a hindu temple) by Khmer king JayavarmanII in the 11 th century. Off course at that time we Khmer venerated gods shiva and vishnu, a part of our brahmanism before we changed to buddhism.
We known for 100% sure, the history, culture and the temples, however the recent conflict is just for power reason only.
The temple was built for khmer community on that mountain, and the monkeys from Cambodia got no business being up there.
please kid, the temple was built by the mighty Khmer empire, and Thailand had no business taking it or controlling the Khmer in those provinces. Move yourself back up to where you belong.
Hey! The prasat Preah Vihear during khmer built it up no Siem or Thai around there. Thai-Siem just on the year 1350 and khmer built prasat preah vihear brfore Siem-Thai stole khmer land ok.
don't forget the key word is "built by Khmer dynasty" of god-kings during the pinnacle of the Khmer civilization despite changes in political turmoil since because it takes a great race and civilization to make such gigantic achievement like the building of the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat temple of cambodia, etc... god bless cambodia.
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