(Photo: Reuters)23/06/2009
EDITORIAL
Bangkok Post
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the government have some good ideas about moving ahead on the old, thorny and unfortunately violent issue of the temple of Preah Vihear. It is a shame that they have failed to develop those ideas properly. Instead of tackling the dispute as a many-faceted problem, they have sprung it on the public without notice or discussion. Instead of raising it with Cambodia as the temple's owner, they are taking it to the United Nations. Instead of treating Khao Phra Viharn Preah Vihear as an important diplomatic question, they are treating it as a political and military matter.
Two delegations are to strike out this week in opposite directions to address the temple issue. The local committee on heritage sites is heading for Spain. This Thai group has long had a low profile, acting chiefly as a liaison between the government and local authorities on one hand, and the World Heritage Centre of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on the other. The group supervises the management of the five designated heritage sites in Thailand: Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest, the Thung Yai-Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary, and the Ban Chiang archaeological site.
Heading for Phnom Penh will be Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Abhisit made an official visit to Cambodia last week but did not raise the temple issue with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Mr Suthep, who is no diplomat, must try to make the case that running the temple area is best handled by Thailand for reasons of geography or, failing that, by the two countries. That assumes Mr Hun Sen will agree to meet him.
Last weekend, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong held a special press conference just to criticise Thailand and to threaten more military clashes. On the Thai side, Mr Abhisit's policy seems consistent. A year ago, in the lead-up to the Unesco declaration, he and the People's Alliance for Democracy took a hard stance on Preah Vihear. But this sudden announcement has caught everyone off guard, including government supporters. It is unclear why the Foreign Ministry is being sidelined, since it has the staff and experience to approach their Cambodian counterparts.
The mission to the Unesco meeting in Spain appears in equal disarray. Mr Abhisit's sudden and unexpected decision to take the entire temple dispute back to Unesco is less than a week old. The Thai delegation is under instructions to ask the World Heritage body to withdraw last year's resolution to declare Preah Vihear as an official world heritage site under full control of the Cambodian government.
There is undoubted merit in Mr Abhisit's proposal for joint management of the temple region. But the premier may have set up the country for a fall. The public, Unesco members and Cambodia all have been given no preparation or background for the sudden initiative. Thailand is only an observer at the World Heritage Committee (WHC). One sees ghosts of 1959, when Thailand's advocate MR Seni Pramoj argued at the World Court that the temple was the property of Thailand. Lack of preparation by the team was blamed for the court's decision to award jurisdiction to Cambodia.
Joint management of theKhao Phra Viharn Preah Vihear area seems the only way to solve such a serious, even deadly, dispute. But that will require drawn-out negotiations by experts, with strong public participation. The Preah Vihear issue should not be a confrontation, but a common problem of Thailand and its neighbour, Cambodia. By constantly looking to the past, both countries are tacitly refusing to look to the future.
Two delegations are to strike out this week in opposite directions to address the temple issue. The local committee on heritage sites is heading for Spain. This Thai group has long had a low profile, acting chiefly as a liaison between the government and local authorities on one hand, and the World Heritage Centre of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on the other. The group supervises the management of the five designated heritage sites in Thailand: Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest, the Thung Yai-Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary, and the Ban Chiang archaeological site.
Heading for Phnom Penh will be Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Abhisit made an official visit to Cambodia last week but did not raise the temple issue with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Mr Suthep, who is no diplomat, must try to make the case that running the temple area is best handled by Thailand for reasons of geography or, failing that, by the two countries. That assumes Mr Hun Sen will agree to meet him.
Last weekend, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong held a special press conference just to criticise Thailand and to threaten more military clashes. On the Thai side, Mr Abhisit's policy seems consistent. A year ago, in the lead-up to the Unesco declaration, he and the People's Alliance for Democracy took a hard stance on Preah Vihear. But this sudden announcement has caught everyone off guard, including government supporters. It is unclear why the Foreign Ministry is being sidelined, since it has the staff and experience to approach their Cambodian counterparts.
The mission to the Unesco meeting in Spain appears in equal disarray. Mr Abhisit's sudden and unexpected decision to take the entire temple dispute back to Unesco is less than a week old. The Thai delegation is under instructions to ask the World Heritage body to withdraw last year's resolution to declare Preah Vihear as an official world heritage site under full control of the Cambodian government.
There is undoubted merit in Mr Abhisit's proposal for joint management of the temple region. But the premier may have set up the country for a fall. The public, Unesco members and Cambodia all have been given no preparation or background for the sudden initiative. Thailand is only an observer at the World Heritage Committee (WHC). One sees ghosts of 1959, when Thailand's advocate MR Seni Pramoj argued at the World Court that the temple was the property of Thailand. Lack of preparation by the team was blamed for the court's decision to award jurisdiction to Cambodia.
Joint management of the
17 comments:
hey, thailand, keep on dreaming about changing the icj court ruling. the icj verdict was just confirming that the preah vihear temple and surrounding areas always belonged to cambodia. your new political strategy or whatever you're talking about above is not going to reverse the historic icj ruling already! and stop saying cambodia listed our preah vihear temple unilaterally. of course we listed by ourselves because it's our temple. why would we need permission from thailand to list our temple? makes no sense to khmer people and cambodia! however, your unilateral map is illegal and in violation of the international treaty and law, ok! get you head out of your butt, ok! it's not that hard to understand the icj ruling and the international treaty, ok! so, get lost!
ps: all visitors to our preah vihear temple and surrounding areas must be from cambodian side of the border from now on. it's the new cambodian law, no acception, especially when the siem is so ignorant to understand this simple rule! and stop trying to block our easy access to our temple, ok! we, khmer people want easy access from our khmer side of the border, so stop trying to make illegal claim to our surrounding areas of our preah vihear temple. take your stinky bias people and bias out of cambodia because your bias reports about cambodia is so one-sided and unfair, to say the least! god bless cambodia.
6:00AM You seem like you are "Min Deng Kyal 100%".
we want to develop our preah vihear temple with unesco for all the world to see. so don't meddle in our internal affairs, siem thugs! get lost, cambodia don't need your stupid permission on preah vihear. what part of no don't you people understand? even a child can understand the word "no"! cambodia and khmer people say "no", go away already, we don't need siem telling us what to do on our lands. get lost, siem thugs and take your bias media and bias, ignorant, unruly little siem people with you, too! stay out of cambodia, you criminals!
Hello,
Cambodia Wake-up.I thought Hun Sen
Said if THAI Army came into our land just shoot them.Now they more troops what are we going to do,we doing somethings don't let THAI look down us KHMER ARMY. This time get them good okay, GOOD LUCK KHMER ARMY.
cambodia will be on defense. however, military is not the only way to go against thailand, here. wake up cambodia! don't forget, we can use the international law, against thailand for their illegal demand. thailand needs to understand that the ultimate decision is cambodia's, everything else is secondary, ok! so, thailand, don't start putting the cart before the horses, as they say! you people need a lot of education with cambodia!
shake hand between unfinished middle school and oxford graduate! no wonder ah thai look down on khmer!
in this picture one can see ah strongman bows to ah thai who stood straight with confidence! ah nis strong ter knong chnaing teh!
Just send Thai bustard to hell once for all. They’re fighting with the UN and Cambodia. Thailand is being watched by the world community for its aggressive greedy attitude, especially the stupid PM, Abhi-Shit dictator has been listening too much to his inner circle cabinet members on this matter.
Bankok Post “But the premier may have set up the country for a fall.” I agree 100% for sure.
Ah siem ment choal khbourn !
Now the world will discover who are the thais. What kind of people they are. They will continue to dream to get more land from Cambodia until they are told to forget it. But they refused to go to the UN security council how dare they now want to go before another UN body ?
in other countries, such a joint heritage preservation might work dandy. But in the case of Cambodia and Thailand, it is very bitter matter of pride.
How can the world ask Cambodia to share a heritage with a country which Cambodians felt have looted their national and cultural treasures for centuries and to add to insults; have continuously looked down on Khmer people and refuse to accept Khmer influence in Thai culture and instead persist to spread rumors of a dead Khom race or civilization whom the Tais killed off a long time ago. A group of people, which incidently uses the same written scripts the Khmer uses today and the same forms of beliefs, magics, tatoos, numbers etc that modern Khmer use?
To the Khmer people, it is not much that the Thais won't admit the Khmer influence that angers them, it is the blatant denial of equality of Khmer culture through Thailand's behaviors and arrogance and gloat of the miserable current Khmer society that Khmer despises the most.
For these reason, the Khmer people can't see why they must share share a heritage with people who not only have no respect for their culture and history but continuously insults them through fabrications of histories, and steadfastly encroached on their land.
For Thailand to claim Preah Vihear is a joint heritage, Thailand must first admit Thailand absorbs culture and heritage from Cambodia, something which Thailand would denies and would be completely ashamed to be associated with Cambodia in any way. So why is Thailand asking for a joint heritage then? One can only see the reason as money in light of this Thai-Khmer relationship history.
If I were the Cambodian government, I would agree to this almost absurd demand by Thailand-for sake of peace- only if:
1. Thailand comes out publicly to apologize it's arrogance and admits the influence of and contribution of Khmer to Thai society.
That includes the current Khmer-Thai citizens.
2. Treat Khmer with respect and equality. This should show in political negotiations, business transactions, migration policies and Thailand should cease to mistreat and misues Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand who are looked down upon.
3. Thailand setups a clear transparent program explaining how it's shared profit from joint heritage would go to benefit the Khmer people whose ancestors built this. How will the Khmer people of Thailand benefit this? Because obviously the Khmer people of Thailand has also a share in the ancestral heritage.
That means Thailand should create programs to educate it's citizens about the history of Khmer civilization in the area, and help to preserve Khmer culture in the existing Khmer communities in Thailand. This include helping funding Khmer language schools with the profit and preservation of Khmer culture in Thailand.
Mr. Chey Mongkol's program is a fine example of where Thailand can do to help Thai of Khmer descent safeguard their heritage.
Cambodians can't take the fact that Thailand would market off Khmer culture especially in those areas of Surin, and claim it as Thailand. This for Cambodian creates suspicious that the Thai only wants money and market more Khmer stuff off as Thai, including iconic cultural heritage. THis is why the Prea Vihear issue will not be resolved easily.
WOW! 8:07AM really got the point here...folks! well, what do you think guy?
No need such condition set forward for a joint heritage safeguard with Thailand. Cambodia in this present day is very firm that the site and areas surrounding is belong to Cambodia, the world knows that PERIOD.
Dear Friends,
Please find the hot news from Bangkok post. More Thai troop entered to border near Preah Vihea.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/18957/army-beefs-up-temple-forces
Thanks
Good Idea BKK Post but this is a bad behaved neighbor attitude. You all, Siemes, act as the robbers.
Dear Mr. Abhisit,
It is ridiculous that such in the powerful position as the PM of a country, you dare to try to claim a share of ownership with Cambodia on Preah Vihear. Please answer these questions, Mr. Abhisit:
1. Does Preah Vihear belong to Thailand?
2. Who has the rights to register Preah Vihear as the world heritage?
3. Did the UNESCO NOT know anything about who is the owner oh Preah Vihear?
4. How many state members voted for Preah Vihear Registration and stated this world heritage in the territory of Cambodia?
5. Do you think the UNESCO did not have any thorough study on the site before deciding to register Preah Vihear as the world heritage?
6. Do you have a real degree from Oxford?
7. Have you ever had a mental problem?
8. How did you manage to become the PM of Thailand?
If registering Preah Vihear as the world heritage involves the regional peace and stability, why don't you cry for any other registered heritages such as Pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China, or Taj Mahal in India? I advise you to do the following so that you can claim some more world heritages from other countries. You, Mr. Aphasit should send some troops to fight Egypt, China or India and cry out to UNESCO that the fighting breaks out and there is no peace in the region and the world, so you ask the UNSESCO to reconsider the registration of Pyramids, Great wall, and Taj Mahal. It could be possible you may get one for your country interest.
Oh My God! Mr. Abhisit.! Please go to school again.
These days, the sins Thais have committed for along time against the Cambodians have splashed back to all stupid Thais. These are Buddhist curses:
1. The stupid Thai leaders became greedily unaware of the international laws and agreements/MOU
2. Tsunami has hit this Country.
3. In the southern part of Thailand the Muslim people stand up for their freedom and independence.
4. Thailand is known only for sex industry esp. in Pattaya.
5. Thailand tries to be hostile with all neighbors such as Myanmar (badly treating Burmese ethnics), Laos (fierce fighting in the 1980s), Malaysia (alleging Malaysia for supporting the Muslim rebel, and Cambodia (trying to claim Cambodia-owned Preah Vihear)
6. The bloody hatred between the Yellow-shirt and the red shirt supports in the BKK.
7. The crazy yellow shirt demonstration leader (who said during the demonstration that occupying the international airport in BKKwas fun?!?...) became the Minister of FA.
9. The country leaders usually come to power through the coups or street demonstrations.
10. The country has the most cases of H1N1 (about more than 500) in ASEAN region.
Thailand claims as a Buddhist country but disregards the Buddha teaching: Avoiding cheating people, avoiding telling lies, avoiding greed, and showing sympathy…..
May Buddha bless Cambodia!
May Buddha help Thailand turn as humans!
Cambodia
Mr. Abhisit,
The greedier you are, the more dangers you will encounter. You remember, you were almost killed in a plane clash in Cambodia. That was why you delayed your trip for five hours back to your country. Your plane has a technical error!!
Another thing you must remember too is that about three or four weeks ago, your FA Minister Kasit was almost killed by a lightning strike in Koh Kong when he was trying to come to take the road to PP. Another Person who was almost shot dead in BKK a month ago was Sondhi who unusually shows unreasonable hatred to Cambodians. Take Care, Mr. Abhisit!!
HBO, Cambodia
Thank you Bankok Post for stating the true. I do aggree 100% "But the premier may have set up the country for a fall".
Why you Thai poeple want too much and so greed.
Why don't you Thai poeple care about and treat our Cambodian people as human being?
i told you all, karma will catch up with those who look down on cambodia and our ancient khmer people. what goes around comes around, really! god will see to it and the end. thank you god for loving and protecting and being fair and unbias with my country cambodia and khmer people. god bless cambodia.
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