Do these Cambodian civilians living inside Preah Vihear temple look like Cambodian soldiers to the Thais? Is Thailand that blind? (Photo: Reuters)Thailand investigates Cambodian presence
Tuesday October 28, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL AND WASSANA NANUAM
Bangkok Post
Thailand has suggested Cambodia may have violated conditions attached to a World Heritage listing by setting up a military base complete with heavy weapons at the Preah Vihear temple.
Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul said the Foreign Ministry was checking if the Cambodian government had built a military site and stationed heavy weapons in the temple compound.
However, he said Thailand would not lodge a complaint about its findings with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
He said it was the duty of the UN agency to look into the matter.
Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd added that the UN agency should decide if having military personnel and heavy weapons at the temple was in violation of the conditions laid out for World Heritage sites.
An army source said it would supply information to the Foreign Ministry to back up its claims. The information included soldiers and heavy military equipment being stationed at the temple, the source added.
The source said the Cambodian military had decided to use the temple ruins as a base because as a World Heritage site it would be safe from heavy arms fire from Thailand.
Preah Vihear was declared a World Heritage site on July 7 amid disputes between Thailand and Cambodia over sovereignty of the surrounding land.
The latest incident took place on Oct 15 in the disputed area at Pha Mor E Daeng in Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province. Three Cambodian soldiers and one Thai paramilitary ranger died.
Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia's Council for Ministers, said on Sunday that the Cambodian government had lodged a complaint with Unesco, claiming the temple had been damaged by Thai soldiers during the border clash on Oct 15.
Cambodia claimed rockets fired by Thai troops damaged the temple's staircase and a Naga statue.
But the Foreign Ministry and the army yesterday denied the accusation.
Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungwat said Thailand had evidence to verify that no rockets or heavy weapons were fired at the temple, as soldiers used only light arms for self-defence purposes.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has ordered the Suranaree Task Force to look into the Cambodian claims.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the task force backed up the ministry's stance.
The ministry has checked with Thai ambassador to France Thana Duangrattana and found the Cambodian government had not sent any evidence about the alleged damage to Preah Vihear to Unesco.
Mr Tharit said he suspected it was only a tactic by Cambodia to put pressure on Thailand.
He urged Cambodia to comply with the agreement made by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen to solve the problems by bilateral negotiations.
"If both sides adhere to this principle, they will find a way out and the life of people along the border will return to normal," said the spokesman.
The plan to resolve the problem by talks between Thailand and Cambodia was supported by other countries and the UN, he added.
Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul said the Foreign Ministry was checking if the Cambodian government had built a military site and stationed heavy weapons in the temple compound.
However, he said Thailand would not lodge a complaint about its findings with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
He said it was the duty of the UN agency to look into the matter.
Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd added that the UN agency should decide if having military personnel and heavy weapons at the temple was in violation of the conditions laid out for World Heritage sites.
An army source said it would supply information to the Foreign Ministry to back up its claims. The information included soldiers and heavy military equipment being stationed at the temple, the source added.
The source said the Cambodian military had decided to use the temple ruins as a base because as a World Heritage site it would be safe from heavy arms fire from Thailand.
Preah Vihear was declared a World Heritage site on July 7 amid disputes between Thailand and Cambodia over sovereignty of the surrounding land.
The latest incident took place on Oct 15 in the disputed area at Pha Mor E Daeng in Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province. Three Cambodian soldiers and one Thai paramilitary ranger died.
Phay Siphan, a spokesman for Cambodia's Council for Ministers, said on Sunday that the Cambodian government had lodged a complaint with Unesco, claiming the temple had been damaged by Thai soldiers during the border clash on Oct 15.
Cambodia claimed rockets fired by Thai troops damaged the temple's staircase and a Naga statue.
But the Foreign Ministry and the army yesterday denied the accusation.
Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungwat said Thailand had evidence to verify that no rockets or heavy weapons were fired at the temple, as soldiers used only light arms for self-defence purposes.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has ordered the Suranaree Task Force to look into the Cambodian claims.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the task force backed up the ministry's stance.
The ministry has checked with Thai ambassador to France Thana Duangrattana and found the Cambodian government had not sent any evidence about the alleged damage to Preah Vihear to Unesco.
Mr Tharit said he suspected it was only a tactic by Cambodia to put pressure on Thailand.
He urged Cambodia to comply with the agreement made by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen to solve the problems by bilateral negotiations.
"If both sides adhere to this principle, they will find a way out and the life of people along the border will return to normal," said the spokesman.
The plan to resolve the problem by talks between Thailand and Cambodia was supported by other countries and the UN, he added.
19 comments:
Preah Vihear is Khmer and on khmer land, the khmer soldiers are stationed there to protect it from the Thais and the stone looters, and possible vandals....so why the thais are acting like it's their? so childish.....thailand must stop complaining and whinging about how other people do to their properties.....and thailand must stop acting like they care more about protecting Preah Vihear than its owner because it's ridiculus.
these thai and vietcong, nothing but trouble maker, and theives by nature.
So consistent that everytime Thai open their mouth, lie come out from that faulty mouth. If one need to find anything, just take the opposite of what they said.
Logiquely thinking I don't see anything wrong. Sam dach Hun Sen is a very nice person he gave land to Vietnam also he can do the same to Thai. Vietnam and Thai their population is more than Khmer so the nice man wanted to do good thing to his neighbors. As budhism we use the word Chahn chea preah chhnas chea mear. We don't beleive in hinduism as sdach Khmer use to do. Do good thing this life next life you will receive great oppotunity. Hun Sen will be preah next life for sure.
Oh yeah 8:37 AM. Do good thing like you said. Stick a gun in to your arsehole and then pull the trigger....you will be a whole lot happier next life!!!
Right now most of us only focus on the enemy from the east but the enemy from the west had taken more land and more of its citizens come to live in Cambodia freely. With the help of Ah Kvak Hun Xen more and more Viet not only live in Cambodia but holding top positions and become top businessman as well.
Khmer ppl need to rise up and over thrown Ah Kvak Viet Slave in order to save Cambodia from being completely swallowed by Viet.
I have no respect at any articles from bangkok post written about the khmer preah vihear issue. At first i thought they are fair minded people in analysing the issue between the two countries. It seems like most of the journalists working for bkk post lack the knowledge in history, ignorance, or refuse to accept the facts. They are more interested in spreading false information to keep their nationalist ideas strong and getting other people's properties against the international community recognition of its true owner.
Bkk post even afraid to use the word Khmer temple, instead they use the word Hindu as if the preah vihear was not built by the Khmer....the fact is that the thais are so afraid to accept and acknowledge that their cultures and heritage were derived from the Khmer cultures because they think khmer is inferior to them.....i don't want to use the word hate here....
I thought Preah Vihear was award to Khmer by ICJ and also World Heritage. Why do you care so much about something that does not belong to you Thailand. May we ask what the Thai troops are doing on our territory?
Oh yea I forgot you got a new map unilaterally signed by yourself.
I heard that you want a bilateral talk, now you want the UN to intervene?
If you change your mind just write in the Bangkok Post, the media that contradict itself constantly.
Do not believe what BK Post say!It is true that they twist and turn their words so to the fact that it sounds fake and not legitimate. It seems everything that they report is bogus. Thailand has so much pride that they can't accept the fact that their ancestors and bloodline was Khmer. But what can you do when Khmer have the best land, culture, traditions and people that everybody wants to have and it shows with Vietnam and Thailand. We all know both these countries know Khmer have everything that they want so they try to take our pride from us and it pretty much comes down to JEALOUSY.
Cambodia needs to buy nuclear weapons from North Korea and end this fucken Thaicong border conflict once and for all!
The Thai foreign ministry needs to shut up. Thai soldiers encroach upon Cambodian soil and as a result Cambodia needs to defend itself and the security of the border area. How are the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces suppose to protect the integrity of Cambodia's sovereignty without securing the area that is most crucial in defending and protecting?
Seriously, the Thai government needs to place more focus on the Muslim insurgency in its southernmost provinces where hell is erupting, rather than try to steal a temple that has been awarded to Cambodia by the international community.
The history is repeat. When you have war with Thai you ask Vietname for help. Then, you give land to Vietname. It is repeat again for Cambodia as it used to have during Chey Chetha II in Oudong time. As the result, you lost the lower part of Cambodia (Kampuchea Krom). Now it started again you may lost Prey Veng or Svay Reing in future. So how to do? Solve it peacefully or sue to ICJ.
No shit.
I quoted from that rubbish article:
"The latest incident took place on Oct 15 in the disputed area at Pha Mor E Daeng in Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province".
Mother fucker, Siamese government and their ROYAL FAMILY.
The above phrase should be read as following:
"The latest incident took place on Oct 15 in the disputed area at Veal Entry (Eagle Court), Vat Keo Sikha Kirisvarak (Keo Sikha Kirisvarak Pagoda) and Sombok Khmum (Bee nest Point)where many bees lessoned the bandit army of siamese when they first encroached Cambodia.
These areas are deep into Cambodia Territory. So stop claiming that the fighting erupted in siamese land. You, siamese idiots are truly invaders!
My message to all siamese - Be true to yourself and your own race or you all will be punished by the King of Naga and other spirits taking care of Preah Vihear and other temples of Cambodia and epecially the dedicated and committed Cambodia Army.
It is in Thailand. Why you still claim it is in Cambodia? The fighting in our Land. I do not understand why you Cambodian always claimed that it is your land????? You do not see the map? It is shown that in our land THAI..
4:01 PM you are so ignorant and laughable. Keep on barking untill you chock with a piece of Khmer dirt, then you, thais are still labeled as thief to the world's eyes. Oh! let me add, you did this to yourself bro. You shoot yourself in the foot!!!!
4:01 PM, what you've been taught in school is all a lie. The map that you're referring was drawn by your dumb narrow minded leader (possibly drawn by the one-eyed one).
The last time I checked my text book; Siam wasn't exist as a nation. At that time there were just a handful of you siam living ships. We referred to you as sea thieves. You have no land of your own. We offered you hospitality and you siam turned around and stabbed us in the back. You and your ancestors are all like that.
You took most of our land and you still want more. When are you going to stop you sick bastard.
Thailand is such an asshole nation. Khmer have every right to protect her severeignty. The Thai thievs stepped into our soil illegally and tried to laid claim to our treasure,then we have every rights to have national soldiers to protect what belongs to us.
Thai asshole mother fucker. It is time for your fucking nation to die,die die,die,die you fucking thai mother fucker.
Wanted to shoot back to this stupid 4:01 PM but then told myself to rather save my words & energy because this pirate (mentioned by 11:23 PM) and his whole siamese nation will be punished by the deeds they have been doing.
Don't you see the map? map, your fucking head? If I re-draw cambodia map then the whole country of your fucking Siamese people will be part of which includes Chhiang Mai and Chhian Rai. No more land for your Phummibol Abbdulyadeth's palace already.
GET IT?
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