Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Preah Vihear will never belong to Thailand again ... It's time for the Thais to learn to say PREAH VIHEAR

Preah Vihear? Phra Viharn? A temple by any other name…

February 4, 2009
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation


It appears as if Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission wasted a lot of time yesterday discussing the 11th-century Hindu temple that sits on a cliff at the border. To an outsider, it is difficult to understand why senior diplomats from both sides needed to spend so much time trying to agree upon a name. After all, the huge stone structure is called Preah Vihear in Khmer and Phra Viharn in Thai.

However, things get a bit difficult when the name is linked to ownership.

Calling it Preah Vihear could mean that it belongs to Cambodia, while calling it Phra Viharn could give Thailand a sense of ownership.

Many nationalists believe the temple belongs to Thailand even though a 1962 ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said it belonged to Cambodia.

Still, Cambodia only proposed that the temple be called Preah Vihear after the Thai side suggested it be called Phra Viharn. The Thai negotiation team within the JBC had been given parliamentary mandate to insist that the temple be given the Thai name, said Vasin Teeravechyan, co-chair of the Thai side.

Thailand's suggestion that both names be used in diplomatic documents was rejected by the Cambodian side, which claims that the name Preah Vihear was already well known, while the Thai version was only used among Thai people. It also said that all English-language newspapers called the temple Preah Vihear instead of Phra Viharn.

In addition, Cambodia says that Thailand has no right insisting that the name be changed now when it had never been bothered about it before. The Foreign Ministry had referred to the Hindu temple at the border of the Si Sa Ket province as Preah Vihear until very recently, and only stopped using that name in its English-language press statements in late August last year.

In fact, its statement issued on August 8, 2008, which is still available on the ministry's website, refers to the controversial temple as Preah Vihear.

The ministry only realised that it should use the Thai name in English-language press statements when a group of ultra-nationalists staged a street protest against Cambodia's inscription of the Hindu temple last year.

In fact, Thailand only paid attention to the name when its nationalist pride was bruised. In the 1960s, the temple was widely referred to as Phra Viharn in official documents. That was when the country was in conflict with Cambodia over the ownership of the temple.

Former foreign minister Thanat Khoman, when he wrote to the then United Nations chief U Thant to express his disagreement with the ICJ ruling, referred to the temple as Phra Viharn.

Meanwhile things may have come to a standstill.

Vasin says that Thailand cannot accept that the temple only be referred to by its Khmer name and work on boundary demarcation cannot start until both sides agree upon a name.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

The temple belongs to Khmer on the mountain, and they want it called, "Phra Viharn".

Anonymous said...

This is nothing new about Thai’s intention on Khmer’s property. They’re doing this with no shame for themselves in front of International Community.

Khmer can’t accept this illegal demand to change the name especially when it’s belonging to Khmer as always. Everything has been documented for the ownership of the temple. No need to lesson to the theft at this point.

It’s time to send the case to United Nation once for all.

Anonymous said...

Thai did not exist when Preah Vihear was built. Siam absorbed khmer territory and adopted khmer culture. Khmer ethnic are all over thailand presently. Perhap those khmer are also forgot to speak a real khmer word already. Lot of those high ranking thai government are also have khmer ethnic background.

Preah Vihear is always for khmer and internationally known as khmer temple.

International historian scholar also acknowledge that siam move southward from China to conquered and absorded khmer land and culture.

For now, khmer still powerless; therefore, Siam and Youn calling all the shot for khmer. Khmer leaders and King are so dump. They can't stand on their own feet.

Anonymous said...

Khmer is Khmer and Cambodia is Cambodia.

Siam is Siam and Thai is Thai.

Preah Vihear is not Preah Viharn.

Anonymous said...

No, Khmer is not Khmer. There are Khmer-Thai, Khmer-Yuon, Khmer-Barang, ..., and Khmer-PotatoDigger. They they all can called their own temple whatever they want. We (Khmer on the mountain) will never interfere with their affair. However, at the same time, we don't want them to tell us (Khmer on the mountain) what to name our temple. Thus, "Phra Viharn" it shall be.

Anonymous said...

Fucking The Nation, Do not try to divert the world opinion.

Siamization of Cambodia will not happen in the 21st century. The Past is the Past, and Today is Today. If Khmers start to think about the Past, They will claim back their former territory YOU, Fucking Thais, stole from them ever since 800 year ago.

Anonymous said...

The Thai did not stole anything from Khmer on the mountain. You must be on drug or on a different planet to see otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes Khnom Ban Chea Noy Chea Mouy Srey Siem..Na. Oh yah I love Srey Siem.

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:30am. The temple is not only belong to khmer in the mountain, it to all Khmer everywhere. They prefer to call PREAH VIHEAR.

Only you (SIAM, Thai slave) want to call other name.

kkk

Anonymous said...

No, maybe your house belong to all Khmer, 10:47, but the temple belong to only Khmer on the mountain.

Anonymous said...

stupid fucking thai! viharn my ass bitch! why thai people are so fucking stupid. Thai people need to fucking learn the history of the khmer empire.

Anonymous said...

You stupid moron 11:14 on the mountain there are only monkey. Are you one of those monkey ? Come and suck my banana instead talking none senses Ai jibhai Ai bar loeut I hate you Thai slave.

Anonymous said...

Fuck The Nation. Supalak Ganjanakhundee wrote "...Many nationalists beleive the temple belongs to Thailand even...." if you referres "Many nationalists" to barbarian siam people that is correct. But if you means Cambodian people that is absolutelu not correct and you are illiterate.
Fuck pra chao you hour.
Fuck Vasin.

Anonymous said...

Its ashame again for Thais nationals...the way they want is just the way how to make trap to join management with Cambodia by using thier word to tell the world and take it from Cambodia as soon as possible...I am a Thais national I am so shy!!!!

Anonymous said...

Thais should know that half of Thailand was belong to Cambodia. Now you want to take our Preah Vihear more? you lost in front of the International court in the Hague and you lost at international support. Fucking Thais!! Fuck the king!

Anonymous said...

THai compares to human leeches ,it have never enough of it greedy even the real leech it drop it self off after it full.
Fuck your nation Thai

Anonymous said...

Aah thai monkeys must learn and accept that there is only one Preah Vihear. And that Preah Vihear is only exist in Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

I would like all people who has right to discuss about Preah Vihear temple protect our temple name ane not allow Siem request anything from Khmer.

This time A Siem want to change our temple's name , later on A siem will said that Preah Vihear is belong to them because there is no more name Preah Vihea in international.

Please all Khmer come to unit to protect our land, nation and culture.

Anonymous said...

Pouk Ah Siam Jung Rai! Thai people should be shot at one by one starting with their beloved king including the monkey on the mountain who's always on this blog claiming he's for Khmer people on the mountain which we all know he's ah jung rai siam perpetrator. Hahahaha!

Anonymous said...

I'm really disagree and disappointed with the THAI by calling our Prasat Preah Vihear to "Prah Vihan". There is no way, that countries in the world can go around and change names of other countries' belonging.

Khmer's word is Khmer's word, regardless weather they can't say it or pronounce it or not. They must be called what the owner's call.

What about we ask the Thai to change most of our former provinces. Such as:

Bangkok to Boeungkok
Nokon Rachiasima to Nokor Reacheasima
etc. and many many more.

Anonymous said...

What a bunch of idiot? If you don't live in Minnesota, you have no business naming anything in Minnesota. The same here. If you don't live on the mountain, you have no business naming anything on the mountain. How hard is that to understand? Even a 4 year old knows that.

Anonymous said...

be careful, cambodia, that's how thieves steal, they change it to their own language. actually, i don't think siem have their own language, they borrowed or even translate everything from our khmer language. look how closely the two languages are almost the same sound, just a slight spelling different. go figure! i think they should change thailand to "khmer leu" to make it official!

Anonymous said...

remember siem language are tonal, thus everytime they try to pronounce the khmer word, it became "prah viharn" or something illiterate sound, very unkhmer! i'm sure khmer people and the khmer experts knew that already! scrutinize more closely, they mispelled the khmer word i.e. preah = prah, vihear = viharn, so let's examin further, what does the illiterate siem tonal language "prah viharn" mean? "prah" is a siem's sound for khmer's "preah", and "viharn" is also a siem's sound for khmer's "vihear". thus, preah vihear means temple monument to the god-kings of the khmer empire, of course. there is no such thing as "thailand" or vietnam, then, only the khmer empire with our capital city at angkor! i think the name "thailand" was conceived in 1932 as before that it was known by khmer people and still is as "siem". even the great khmer god-kings during angkor had called these people "siem" and "youn", then as well. so, why should khmer people want to change that to please them? makes no sense!

Anonymous said...

The bottom like is that we need a crazy nationalist like Hitler in Germany, who wanted to help all German nationals in Poland, France, and many other neighborhood countries. He first invaded Poland just because for that reason, by building national spirit and producing weapons for war against his neighbor.

Anonymous said...

"Phra Viharn" is shorter and more efficient to use than "Preah Vihear." Thus, the choice is obvious.

Anonymous said...

there is no such thing as "phra viharn" in the khmer language; "preah vihear" makes more sense to all khmer people. it's like changing "phnom penh" to the siem's pronunciation "phanom penh". it's not "phanom", it's "phnom penh". same cocept with our preah vihear temple! stop dreaming, siem thugs!

Anonymous said...

That shows how much you know. "Phra Viharn" happens to be a modern word for the old rusty and backward word "Preah Vihear".

Anonymous said...

hey you at 7:30 am and 8:38 r u a fuuckin retard or waht khmer mountain people oooh wow you r a fockin dip shit u can take that dick out of your mouth you fockin stinky douchbag. khmer is khmer and it refers to all khmer you fockin ladyboi i kno you might be a thai or a laos wanna be thai or a viet person dat don't kno khmer history so fock. Can u define Khmer? well is you use khmer mountain then we are KHMER than you fockin nut head end of story you fake a ass tryin to post in every asian forums even asiafinest.com come on you are a lame as dick go ahead and called it wat you please. khmer people built it and yes khmer mountain people built it i kno u gonna say dat too so don't even. Same diareah shit comes out of you dick u sensless monkeyface. u don't kno jack so shut da fuckup and fuckoff khmer people you fake ass poser wanna be thai. Where thai come from china. where u came from? a pile of shit from my ass. u aint khmer nor from khmer mountain n when u use khmer its khmer end of story.

Anonymous said...

WT? You Psycho (12:30), Khmer maybe Khmer, but that doesn't give you Psycho any right to name my temple, my house, ..., my kid, anything you want. So stay the fuck out. You got that, looney?

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE RIGHT 3:46PM, THE FUCKING sIAM SHOULD GET THE FUCK OUT OF KHMER BUSSINESS!!!

Anonymous said...

gO ASK THE KHMER SOURIN DO THEY CALL PREAH VIHEAR OR THEY TALK SIAM! IF THEY SPEAK SIAM SO THEY ARE NOT KHMER!!!!FOOL!!!!