Friday, July 10, 2009

Abhisit creating more tension over Preah Vihear

Friday, 10 July 2009
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

Dear Editor,

Since Preah Vihear temple was registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in Cambodia on July 7, 2008, I have been following the situation closely by reading your online news as my main source, and other online sources.

I found that Thailand often aims to make claims without any credibility or basis in fact over the Preah Vihear temple and the surrounding land.

Although I have never blogged about those nonsenses, I have decided to write this letter to you and offer my opinion after hearing that the current Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has made a statement that could start a new chapter of violence.

According to the Thai daily newspaper The Bangkok Post [June 17, 2009], Abhisit said that "the registration of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site had brought about conflict and losses, and this would appear to be against UNESCO's objectives in having heritage sites."

In fact, such a statement does not solve the conflict but creates a new one.

It appears that the dispute did not start after the registration of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. It started decades ago, although the World Court ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia.

The gunbattles and loss of lives that happened after the listing of Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site were purely created by Thailand in order to make it easy to claim and appear to be against UNESCO's objectives.

This is very dangerous because Thailand could continue to promote violence by trespassing in order to support its theory.

The real problem is not what the Thai prime minister has said, but it is because the Thai troops keep trespassing, and that is a fact.

To solve the conflict, the simplest solution is not to create a new one.

From day one when the Thai prime minister came to power without a vote, I started to question his knowledge and ability to solve this conflict and correctly interpret the verdict of World Court's rule in 1962.

Unfortunately, he failed that test.

Sam
Flordia, USA

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

802 AD Founding of the Khmer empire.
802-50 Reign of King Jayavarman II, founder of the Khmer empire
875-93 Building of Preah Ko
877-89 Reign of King Indravarman I, builder of the first Angkor reservoir, Preah Ko and Bakong
889-910 Reign of King Yasovarman I, who moves the capital to Ankgor and builds Lolei and Phnom Bakheng
893-925 Building of Bakheng Temple
928-42 Reign of King Jayavarman IV, a usurper who moves the capital to Koh Ker
944-68 Reign of King Rajendravarman II, builder of Eastern Mabon, Pre Rup and Phimeanakas
947-65 Pre Rup built
965-1010 Kleang temple built
967-1000 Banteay Srei built
968-1001 Reign of King Jayavarman V, who oversaw construction of Ta Keo and Banteay Srei
1002-49 King Suryavarman I expands the Khmer empire to its greatest extent
1010-80 Construction of Baphuon temple
1049-65 Reign of King Udayadityavarman II, who completes Baphuon and the Western Mabon
1066-1100 Angkor divided, with several contenders for the throne
1112-52 Reign of King Suryavarman II, builder of Angkor Wat and Beng Mealea. He extended Khmer influence to Malaya, Burma and Siam (Thailand) and distinguished himself religiously from former kings through his devotion to the Hindu deity Vishnu (to whom Angkor Wat is dedicated).
1100-75 Construction of Angkor Wat
1117 The Chams of southern Vietnam, long annexed by the Khmer empire, rise up and sack Angkor, burning the wooden city and plundering its wealth
1177-1230 Construction of Bayon Temple
1181 King Jayavarman VII defeats the Chams
1181-1219 Reign of King Jayavarman VII, who defeated the Chams and builds Angkor Thom, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm. Upon his death, the emprei begins to decline.
1351 Thais sack Angkor
1431 Thais sack Angkor again
1432 End of Khmer empire. Angkor abandoned to the jungle. Buddhist monks care for it over the following centuries.
16th cent Khmer court return briefly to Angkor, restoring Angkor Wat as a Buddhist shrine
16th cent Portugese travellers encounter Angkor and call it "the walled city"
17th cent A Japanese pilgrim draws a detailed plan of Angkor Wat, although he mistakenly recalls it was India
1864 Cambodia becomes a French protectorate
1860s "Rediscovery" of Angkor by the French (although it was never lost)
1868 Publication of Mouhot's Voyage à Siam et dans le Cambodge causes a public sensation, and soon Mouhot is lauded as the discoverer of the "lost city of Angkor."
1901 The École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) begins a long associated with Angkor by funding an expedition to the Bayon Temple.
1907 Angkor, until then under Thai control, is returned to Cambodia. The EFEO clear and restore the site, and in the same year the first tourists arrive - 200 in three months.
1930 First major restoration carried out, on Banteay Srei
1947 Siem Reap and other provinces sized by the Thais during Japanese occupation (since 1942) are returned to Cambodia
1960s Massive restoration project on Angkor Wat
1970-85 Khmer Rouge and Cambodian civil war stops restoration at Angkor
1992 Angkor is named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
2003 Angkor is removed from UNESCO's list of world heritage sites in danger

Anonymous said...

The Khmer Empire was a powerful Kingdom in South-East Asia. Its major architectural works (temples and sculptures) are located in present day Cambodia, where the capital of the empire was located. However, during long periods of time the Khmer ruled over parts of present day Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Like other major ethnic groups in the history of South-East Asia (the Thais, the Mons, The Chams) the Khmer are thought to have descended in the prehistoric period from the river valleys in Eastern Tibet and Southwest China. The Khmer appear first on the scene (in Chinese records) in the second half of the 6th century A.D. with the Kingdom known as Chenla.

[Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung, Buriram Province, Thailand]
Ascent to Phanom Rung (Buriram Province). Phanom Rung was built on between the 10th and 13th century A.D., but mostly during the reign of King Suriyavarman II (1113-1150 A.D.)

The Angkor era became the central area of settlement from the early 9th century up to the demise of the Khmer Empire in the early 15th century. The Empire itself had its ups and downs, and remained a single authoritarian state for only limited time periods, when strong military leaders where on the throne. Important leaders contributed by building new temple complexes in the Angkor area. Angkor Wat was constructed in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II. Jayavarman VII, considered to be the last great leader of the Khmer, built his new capital at Angkor Thom.

[Vishnu Lintel at Phanom Rung, Buriram province, Thailand]
Famous Vishnu Anantasayin lintel at Phanom Rung

During the reign of Suryavarman II the Khmer Empire incorporated most of present day Thailand. The Mon Kingdom of Haripunchai in Northern Thailand (Lamphun) was conquered. After the death of King Suryavarman II the Khmer Empire was somewhat in disarray and suffered military defeats at the hand of the Chams, who briefly incorporated Kambuja into the Champa Kingdom.

[Muang Tam, Buriram province, Thailand]
Muang Tam (Buriram Province). Muang Tam is located close to Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung. Muang Tam dates to the late 10th century A.D. (King Jayavarman V)

Jayavarman VII reasserted the Khmer and carried out many building projects. After Jayavarman VII the Khmer Empire entered into decline. The Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai managed to repel the Khmer. The Empire was threatened by the Mongols (but not annexed) under Kublai Khan in 1283.
The Thais became the persistent enemy of the Khmer in the following few centuries. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya conquered Angkor in 1431. Thereafter the center of the remaining Khmer Kingdom moved south to present day Phnom Penh.

[Buddha with Naga, Prasat Hin Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand]
Buddha (with Naga) at Prasat Hin Phimai (Nakhon Ratchasima Province). Prasat Hin Phimai was built around the turn of the first millenium, mainly by King Jayavarman V and King Suriyavarman I.

Since the Khmer reigned for long periods over extended areas of present day Thailand, Thailand has a substantial number of important Khmer monuments on its territory, mainly in its Northeastern Region (such as Phonom Rung and Muang Tam in Buriram Province, Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Muang Singh in Kanchanaburi province). Any look around the old temples of Sukhothai, Lopburi and Ayutthaya will also reveal strong Khmer architectural influences.

[Prasat Muang Singh, Kanchanaburi province, Thailand]

Prasat Muang Singh (Kanchanaburi).
Prasat Muang Singh all to the west of present Thailand, was built under the reign of Jayavarman VII ( (1181-around 1220)

More history and historical monuments of Thailand :
Ban Chiang Culture | Dvaravati Culture and Art | The Khmer Empire in Thailand | The Kingdom of Sukhothai | The Kingdom of Ayutthaya | With Bangkok as the Capital : Rattanakosin Period 1 | Rattanakosin Period 2 | Outside Rattanakosin

Historical Parks of Thailand : Sukhothai | Si Satchanalai | Kamphaeng Phet

Source (modified and abbreviated) : Wikipedia
Images by G.V., Bangkok, copyrighted.

Anonymous said...

I love licking my master one eyed hyena's ass while he is fucking mine.
And I want the whole world to know it.

I am a blind dog who needs leadership from my half blind hyena master.

PPU

Anonymous said...

Armed clashed between Khmer and Thai troops is unavoidable. It is coming and it is going to be bloody and heavy casualties than before. Perhaps run to hundreds and hundreds even thousands died and wounded

Anonymous said...

if thai have lose territory to Cambodia, thai doesn’t lost it because it is belong to thai but thai lost its part of territory promised by yuons. While yuons ho chi minh began its genocide operation in Cambodia yuons promised thai a part of territory and resources that will be sacked by yuons but at the end yuons only want to keep all preys sacked for it alone.

Abhisit Vejjajiva should not say “lost territory” to whoever but lost face to yuons in their bloody game. The thais like Chinese are losers to yuons

Anonymous said...

I’m feel sorry for little Khmer soldiers and poor khmer child who will die believing to defend Khmer territory but in reality, should they die for the suckers yuons kantop

Anonymous said...

1:21 AM
Khmers are also sorry for new Thai generations who are taught in all wrong histories.

Anonymous said...

Thailand is a confuse nation. That's why Thailand has a lot of shemales.

Anonymous said...

Damn dude Thai government sound like one bitter old hag loll. Abhisit Vejjajiva government is so fake and disgusting. The whole world stop buying and believing all that crap that Abhisit try to fool his nation. The only people that take this jerk serious are pathetic idiots. Moreover, Thais are full of envy and jealousy because Cambodia has a lot of marvelous ancient temples that Thailand can never be. Thais, one thing that you have to remember; almost half of your Siam Lands country was belonging to Khmer empire. So do not bark anymore.

Anonymous said...

He said he has never blogged of those nonsense means that he read them only, but never wrote in a blog.

Of course, the recent one year anniversary celebration of Preah Vihear listing in UNESCO is something like the acceleration of tension.

Be calm and try to use diplomatic solution as much as you can poor Cambodia and Thailand.

Any war and conflict will leave only suffering and retaliation.

Anonymous said...

FUCK THAILAND

Anonymous said...

the siem thieves or thugs often claimed they lost their territory to cambodia. look closely in the way their bias history is written, there are many key words that proved they actually stolen the so-called their lands and territories from cambodia or the khmer people. such clues are in such terms as "returned" the khmer lands and territories they stole from cambodia, the other is "annexed" khmer territories and lands. so, we all know that their so-called siem territories or lands were actually or originally belonged to cambodia whose khmer angkor civilization empire stretched to present-day burma (myanmar), down the malay peninsula and upper and across to the upper stretch of laos and northern vietnam. we all know that. so, for them (siem thieves) to unhumiliately claim that they lost lands to cambodia is so ironic when the fact was they actually stole those lands and territories from cambodia in the first place! in fact cambodia still lost a lot of our former khmer provinces to thailand, vietnam and even laos. what a shame for the naive siem people to say such thing without actually learning the facts on history going back even before they settled in khmer territories from nancho, china. khmer kings shouldn't let them settle in our territory in the first place. they are really thieves in khmer people's view. and for them to claim that they lost lands to cambodia is absurd, to say the least! it's not helping their case with cambodia, i'm sure! go back to nancho province of china where you came from, siem thugs!

Anonymous said...

by the way, where the fuck is the name thailand came from? their real name was siem kok in old khmer language! thailand seem so foreign in khmer people's view! we might as well change cambodia to khmerland as well to let them see and understand the real meaning of srok khmer as well. go figure!

Anonymous said...

This is the first pro-active comments ever. Nice.

Anonymous said...

the preas vihea conflict has started before Thai PM Abhisit Vejjaiva came to power . so, i think he is not the only one to blame .. it's the whole Thai Government .

Anonymous said...

Laisses Khmer tranquille et en paix mon cher PPU. Retournes chez-nous à Hanoi. Tu dois m'aimer sinon tu dois mourir, PPU!

Depuis Hanoi, ta plus jeune 7ème concubine Yuon, PPU!

Anonymous said...

Dear compatriots Siamese claim is not new, it's an old sagar, Siamese nerver got satisfy as long as Khmer nation is existing, they chose robery instead of bilateral understanding. This new provocation is to support it claims of Cambodian teritory where one time they use to occupied, before and during France colonized Cambodia, then Preah Vihea is the right choice for Abhi-Shit Gov't to raise Siamese force nationalist(Yellow Shirt), this ways migh help him to re-erecting the Siamese extreme fondamental to claim Cambodian land from us. Yes dear editor Abhi-Shit is raising a very dangerous question over our Khmer land.
Dowen to you Ah Siamese

Anonymous said...

Laisses Khmer tranquille et en paix mon cher PPU. Retournes chez-nous à Hanoi. Tu dois m'aimer sinon tu dois mourir, PPU!

Depuis Hanoi, ta plus jeune 7ème concubine Yuon, PPU!

Anonymous said...

What happens to one currency for Asia? or Asian's economic power? What happens to the whole region's unity? Thais must think Abhisit as their savior, but actually he begins to look more and more like their destroyer.

If Thaksin is also loyal to King Bhumibol, Thais ought to switch side, because they won't gain anything from this abhishit shit. It's the war with Cambodia, is what they will gain. Oh God, please help mercy on poor Cambodian and Thai's people.

Anonymous said...

Abhisit isn't helping the SRP either. Their loyal country men will switch side to join with the CCP. This is the only way they can keep a serous eyes on Abhisit. Forget about everything else, because it's now time to get ready for Abhisit and not Hun Sen. Thanks Thailand under Abhisit.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca

Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva (Oxford educated) was a fascist, the similarities of Mussolini of Italy during world War 2.

New Phally

Anonymous said...

8:30pm
You wrote: "Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva (Oxford educated) was a fascist"

according to your statement above, you are implying that mr abhisit is no longer a fascist.