The Nation
The 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple will reopen tomorrow after being closed for months.
Seni Jitkasem, governor of Si Sa Ket province, where the entrance to the hill-top Hindu temple is situated, said the decision to reopen was taken because the Thai-Cambodian border situation had returned to normal.
Cambodia last year unilaterally got the temple listed as as a Unesco World Heritage Site, even though access to the ancient site is on Thai soil.
Seni said Lt-General Wibulsak Neepan, the commander-in-chief of the second region army, had endorsed the reopening of Thailand's Phra Viharn national park.
Phra Viharn is the Thai name of the Hindu temple whose original name was Preah Vihear.
"The reopening would benefit local tourism and related businesses. Tomorrow, we would reopen the entrance to the temple unofficially to welcome Thai and foreign visitors ahead of Valentine's Day which falls on February 14.
"In the second stage, we will prepare for a grand opening ceremony around April this year. We'll turn the Phra Viharn or Pa Mor E-daeng national park into a major tourist attraction in northeastern Thailand. "Initially, we will allow only Thai vendors and businesses inside the park," he said.
The Preah Vihear Temple became a hot political issue last year between the two countries when former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was accused of mishandling the sensitive bilateral issue regarding Cambodia's listing it as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Seni Jitkasem, governor of Si Sa Ket province, where the entrance to the hill-top Hindu temple is situated, said the decision to reopen was taken because the Thai-Cambodian border situation had returned to normal.
Cambodia last year unilaterally got the temple listed as as a Unesco World Heritage Site, even though access to the ancient site is on Thai soil.
Seni said Lt-General Wibulsak Neepan, the commander-in-chief of the second region army, had endorsed the reopening of Thailand's Phra Viharn national park.
Phra Viharn is the Thai name of the Hindu temple whose original name was Preah Vihear.
"The reopening would benefit local tourism and related businesses. Tomorrow, we would reopen the entrance to the temple unofficially to welcome Thai and foreign visitors ahead of Valentine's Day which falls on February 14.
"In the second stage, we will prepare for a grand opening ceremony around April this year. We'll turn the Phra Viharn or Pa Mor E-daeng national park into a major tourist attraction in northeastern Thailand. "Initially, we will allow only Thai vendors and businesses inside the park," he said.
The Preah Vihear Temple became a hot political issue last year between the two countries when former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was accused of mishandling the sensitive bilateral issue regarding Cambodia's listing it as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
12 comments:
Oh Gosh… Thais have the authority to do whatever/whenever they wish on Preah Vihear over Cambodian government’s right. Hun Kwack got nothing to control the area any more at this time only watching helplessly with his single eye sight.
Go Thai, Go… be your guess and your own will.
OK, Siems open the park on their soil. I appeal to Hun Sen to permanantly seal off the entrance to our Preah Vihear temple from the Thai side and develop necessary infrastructure from the Cambodian territory. Those who want to visit and climb Preah Vihear temple must come from Cambodia territory. We need to remind Siams that Khmers can stand on their own feet.
agree.
9:28 AM, absolutely agree.
Who's stupid enough to open the gate of Preah Vihear for Siem's benefit.
"Initially, we will allow only Thai vendors and businesses inside the park,".
How our poor Cambodians can profit from this? The statement is extremely intimidating, discriminating from mouth of an overproud individual.
stupid gov always crawl behind siam. why need negotiation? before military clash where siam troops?now where? why negotiation? ah current gov fears that by bringing the case to the third party namely UN or any prominent third party involved will provoke the very neccessary accord that is Paris Accord. Youn wants to end the border conflict as silent and peaceful as possible in order not to beat the drum about other supplemental treaties in the past.
khmers must seek the spirit and implementation of Paris Peace Accord!
why this stupid cpp government let siem do whatever they want. First negotiation then lick siem's dick, what a very stupid government.
These bastard bring all khmer down with them.
god bless my beloved Cambodia
Ask yourself too, why did you believe in what they are saying? It could be just a propaganda or bait. Hun Sen might not be stupid as you thought. If he is stupid, he would not have stayed in this position for decades.
just let him do the job. Siamese always test our stance through various means. You need to trust your government.
eat shit and die you CPP leech 10:16 AM!
10:36 AM, let's see Gov can do anything.
Wish stupidity will not be with its side.
The owner (Khmer on the mountain) should be the one to give name to their temple. Everyone else should stay out of it.
all tourists from the siem side of the border should be made to go around so to back visit preah vihear from the khmer side; this is siem people and other tourists who intended to come from the siem side can feel the anguish and suffering khmer people feel because of what the siem authority is doing to khmer. i'm sure if all fail, cambodia gov't should adopt and implement this requirement in order to make the point to thailand for their violation of the international treaty of 1907. i'm sure cambodia will find a way to retaliate them, sooner or later, if that's how thailand wants to deal with cambodia. so, thailand better act fairly to cambodia! we are not kidding about having all tourists from their side to use a long way in order to come visit our preah vihear temple; should only be allowed to come from our khmer side of the border, when push comes to shove! this way thailand will hopeful learn how we feel about them abusing and taking advantage of us, thinking that they are better than us or something. wrong policy, thailand! khmer people are not as dumb as you think we are! we will unite and push you back, if you continue to antagonize us again and again, nonstop! after all, we are a nation, not some kind of nomadic tribe or something!
Thailand wants to do whatever they wish on their side as long as they don’t come in Cambodian’s territory at this time. Little lion, Hun Sen will not allow Thai conducting business and pocketing million of dollars on his head. Although he has been criticized and cursed by many, he is not that stupid. He is a Cambodian and knows when to look and think twice before any action taken.
The road to Prea Vihear temple is being constructed. As soon as it completed, tourist will begin to pour in by accessing through this new road.
Bravo… Cambodia and the people! Keep the thieves away! Don’t let them take advantage and look down on Cambodia!
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