Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Google to review Cambodian map over Preah Vihear Temple

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Google wrote to Cambodian government and said the company is going to review a map of the 11th built century temple of Preah Vihear, where the temple' s annex is also claimed by Thailand.

The letter, which was seen on Wednesday, said "we are carefully reviewing the Government of Cambodia's objection regarding the depiction of Cambodian borders in Google Earth, and we plan to respond to your letter more fully in the very near future."

Google, however, said in the letter that Google Earth combines satellite imagery, borders and place name data from a variety of public and private third party providers.

"Our data in every case has limited resolution. When we combine satellite imagery from one provider with border data from another, this can lead to visible inaccuracies," said the Google' s letter signed by Ross LaJeune, head of the firm's public policy and government affairs for Asia Pacific.

The letter also said that Google, who is always interested in improving the mapping data quality, recommended Cambodia to express her concerns directly to Tele Atlas who provided the Cambodia-Thailand border data.

"This will enable any changes to be reflected not only in Google Earth but in all products using data from that provider (Tele Atlas)," said the letter.

Cambodian government also sent a letter to Tele Atlas for correction, but was not immediately know if Tele Atlas has made any responses.

On February 5, Cambodia wrote to Google in which said of the map that "a frontier line between Cambodia and Thailand in the section of the Temple of Preah Vihear has been very wrongly marked which is radically misleading and totally misguiding." And Cambodian government asked Google to withdraw the map.

The 900-year-old Khmer temple was listed by UNESCO as Cambodia' s World Heritage Site in 2008.

The UN court of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 in which the court ruled out that the Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in the territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Google should have done better job then this and being neutral is the core of business or the media.

Before they post of publish they should inform both governments if those maps and drawing is correct.

Google is a failure!!!

Anonymous said...

Since when Cambodia invade Thailand. Only YOUN and Thai has taken Khmer's lands.

Give them all back to Cambodia and we will live in peace.

Otherwise Cambodia will eliminate you both from the face of the world.

We got help and technology from N. Korea. We will nuke Thailand first then YUON second.

Anonymous said...

To say that Google does not guarantee the accuracy of its map content is totally irresponsible. If they are international law abiding company, they should have at least follow the legal UN map of Cambodia, not a Thai unilateral map drawn up by Thailand. By using inaccurate map shows that they are taking sides. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Correction must be made immediately if Google is an honest company.

As far as the Thai accomplice, they are wrong if they think that they can use google map for their advantage in future land claims over Cambodia. We Khmer did it once in 1962 and we will continue to do it again when necessary to protect our beloved homeland from naked aggression.

Here is a site of Google Cambodia map: (Please zoom [+] to see the following areas)

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=11.55,104.916667&spn=10,10&t=h&q=11.55,104.916667

NOTES:

1. Pay special attention to Prasat Preah Vihear area (4.6 km2 Khmer land is completely in the Thai side, not reflecting the world court decision on June 15, 1962).

2. Poipet area (Cambodian visa office, Angkor Wat entry gate and some casinos are now shown in the Thai side, the actual border is at the bridge and O'Chrov river near Rong Gleua market).

3. Prasat Ta moan area (showing at least 2 temples of the 3 temple-complex on the Thai side).

4. Kampot/Takeo-Vietnam border at Prek Krobao area (border now is west of the canal, which used to be the canal itself).

Other areas will be examined as well.

Based on these maps, it is undoubtedly that the Thai governement conspired with Google to have the incorrect map online map in Thailand's favor. The RGC must demand correction per internally recognized map of Cambodia from Google and for the Thai government to issue an apology for its dishonesty and ill-will intention.

Anonymous said...

Don’t only ask them to excuse, teach them a lesson, sue google hun sen because of their unprofessional and biasness, they created conflict and violence against other people

Anonymous said...

Google is a private for profit organization.What it does is in its best interest. No more or less.

For Cambodia governemnt,so it must go straight to horse mouth to rectify such inaccuracy.

Work with Google and Tele Atlas in presenting UN recognized map in order to push Cambodia concern at the top of its list.

Understanding business nature and rules,Cambodia's pleasantry and cordial acknowledgement to Google reply which it can be a good idea in the long run.

While at it,Cambodia government shall politely ask Google to verify all borderlines whether with Laos or Yuon.

Anonymous said...

Pray the Lord! Amen!

Anonymous said...

this is a good first sign of cambodia is educating and informing the world to do the right thing. yes, google, one of the world authority on international mapping, should take into consideration the legality of the internationally agreed upon map of cambodia. it is always a good source to verify cambodia's map with one from cambodia, and it is a good idea to have someone cambodian gov't official or authority to edit or verify the map to make sure it is legally agreed upon by cambodia, not just the unilateral map from neighboring countries of cambodia. it's like writing a book on cambodia without asking a native of cambodia to verify the info to make sure they are writing without bias and correct the information in the book. same concept. also, since google mentioned that they get their map information from "tele atlas", which provide them with cambodia's map, cambodia should also educate tele atlas with the internationally agreed map of 1908 to tele atlas as well, so they all will have the correct internationally recognized map of cambodia, instead of misguiding the entire world who uses google maps for their travel, education, etc... good move by cambodia. god bless cambodia.

Anonymous said...

yes, before siem and khmer talk about any type of bilateral development along the common shared borders, both must first properly demarcate the borderlines before any bilateral talk. this is cambodia's proposal, not bilateral first, then demarcate later, that is not right. it should be properly demarcate first, then talk about bilateral developments along the common borders. this is how cambodia see as fair to us. otherwise, don't bother to talk bilaterally with cambodia, ok!

Anonymous said...

well, in the past, google never get anything info directly from cambodia, so it is cambodia's responsibility to provide them and tele atlas, where they got their maps of the world including cambodia, the correct cambodia map that is legally recognized internationally. yes, educate google about it, cambodia. they are not perfect in their work. we have to check for accuracy with them. remember, trust but verify, it's a good philosophy to have in life, really. god bless cambodia.

Anonymous said...

PM rejects International Court's intercession

* Published: 10/02/2010 at 04:58 PM
* Online news: Local News

There is no point in Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen asking the International Court of Justice to help settle the border conflict around Preah Vihear between Phnom Penh and Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

Mr Abhisit said the matter cannot be decided in the International Court because it had already given a ruling on Preah Vihear temple, and it settled the boundary on a map which Thailand did not accept.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia.

Mr Abhisit said the government would do all it can to protect Thai territory and not to lose the 4.6 square kilometres of disputed land around the temple.

Mr Abhisit's statement came a day after Hun Sen said he would file a case with the International Court at the Hague, asking that it demarcate the disputed border near the ancient khmer temple.

"Cambodia has reached the limits of its patience," Hun Sen was quoted as saying during a visit to the border area.

"Cambodia wants to solve this territorial dispute by filing a complaint to the international court at The Hague," he said.

He would also ask the United Nations to help solve the border issue.

The Thai Foreign Ministry and related agencies have already been directed to work on the legal issues which would be arise if Hun Sen goes ahead with his threat.

Government spokesman Pinithan Wattanayakorn said the International Court requires consent from both sides before it will consider a case.

The matter could be settled bilaterally, he said. Phnom Penh was going it alone in taking the issue to the International Court.

Meanwhile, internet giant Google has promised in a letter to Cambodia that it will review a map which shows the border running through Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodian authorities accused Google of being "professionally irresponsible" in a letter sent last week, because its Google Earth map depicts nearly half of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as being in Thailand.

"We are carefully reviewing the government of Cambodia's objections regarding the depiction of Cambodian borders in Google Earth, and we plan to respond to your letter more fully in the very near future," said Google.

The letter, dated Tuesday, was signed by Google's head of government affairs in Asia Pacific, Ross LaJeunesse, and sent to Cambodian cabinet officials.

It added that its map data was provided by Tele Atlas, an international mapping company.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, although the main entrance lies in Thailand. The exact boundary through the surrounding grounds remains in dispute.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over their border for decades, however tensions spilled over into violence in July 2008, when the Preah Vihear temple was granted Unesco World Heritage status.

Cambodia made its complaint to Google as its premier Hun Sen visited areas near the disputed border, making fiery speeches that accused Thailand of invading his country.

Four soldiers were killed in clashes near the temple in 2008 and three more in a gunbattle last April. Smaller flare-ups continue to be reported between troops in the area, with the most recent exchange of fire on January 29.

The border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Relations between the neighbouring countries deteriorated further in November after Hun Sen appointed ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives abroad to escape a jail term for corruption, as an economic adviser.

Anonymous said...

If Thailand think they can claim Khmer's land again. Cambodia will request the Hague to reclaim all the provinces from the year 1300 to present. See how they feel?

Anonymous said...

Over 50% of Thailand is belong to Cambodia if not it will be 100%!

Anonymous said...

My suspicion:

Google could have been bought and paid for by the Thais to do this net of complication in their favor.

Google responds that it will get back with the Khmer government "in the very near future". This sounds like the Google's mindset has been made up and the future response from Google would likely be the same - it would be a lobsided view and response that will still be done in favor of the Thai government.

Money talks. If the Thais could have actually & already paid Google in hundreds of millions of US dollars then the expected response to the Khmer government from Google will be as usual a favor to the Thais.

If all options are exhausted in finding the peaceful solution and the problem persists. The military option will be the last resort to clear out this problem once and for all. Khmer must be decisive in fighting for your belongings. Khmers must dare to die for the great cause.

Patriotic Khmer

Anonymous said...

that's what siem pad thugs are thinking. they will have a rude awakening soon when cambodia emphasized thailand's disrespect and contempt of the icj verdict. icj ruled that the surrounding areas with temple, etc., but siem pad thugs did not respect the court and held the court to contempt. i'm sure the court will have a lot of education to teach ignorant siem pad thugs once and for all. don't let siem pad thugs discourage us from using icj and UN security councils as they are the world authority when it comes to international treaties, international borders dispute, international law, etc, etc... really! good try, siem pad thugs, and keep on scrambling because your days are approaching. you violated the prestiges world court order and you kept on disrespecting cambodia with your bully, etc... we will see you in court for the last but permanent clear decision once and for all so in the far future you don't even dream of steal from cambodia and khmer people like this again! god bless cambodia.

Anonymous said...

cambodia courtship with thaksin in fact has nothing to do with siem pad thugs business because the preah vihear issue came before this. hey, we're not stupid, you know! so, stop making poor excuses, snotty pigs! you know what we do to pigs in cambodia, we barbecue them, ok! that's right you want to reborn as pigs, ok! you have bad karma for violating cambodia! god cannot help you, really!

Anonymous said...

Who knows, this event could bring the Thai down to its knees. It is about time what's come around will go around.

Khmer Empire!!
Karma to Thailand!
This Abhullshit will doom the Thai!!!

Anonymous said...

Plus google is an American and America is siding with Thailand as you all know from day one.

What else!

Anonymous said...

american business are very ethical, so when we complain to them, they will looking into it, really. it is our responsibility to provide them with correct map, because in the past cambodia never provide them with the map, etc, they only got them from siem and youn, so the map is distorted as a result. if we educate google about cambodia, yes, they will listen and correct the mistake. be smart, ok! wake up already! it's not google fault, we have to make sure they have the correct map by checking on them occasionally! this is a good start, really! when we complain, they know legally that they cannot ignore us, ok! know the american system,ok! american is not that bad like some people may think. they are the nation of law and ethics, really! cambodia can learn a lot more from my beloved america, you know! god bless.

Anonymous said...

the other one is lonely planet guidebook on cambodia, they too misrepresent the cambodia map in their publication of lonely planet cambodia which millions of tourists used for their travel to cambodia and more. look at the sea boundaries of cambodia on their map, it is so distorted and so unilateral in violation of cambodia official map. again, they probably got their map info from youn and siem only, not never consult with cambodia gov't for accuracy. we know should check on them and complain to them about misrepresenting our map as well, really! get a copy of loney planet cambodia and see what i'm talking about here!

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen must present all the issues (Map) to the UN or World Court with all lands and sea borders!!!

Our sea borders also shrinking from both neighbors.

Anonymous said...

if abhisit or thailand refused international decision and want to provoke war with Cambodia to claim Khmer territory, the world know what to do with Thailand. All hun sen need to do to win over abhisit and thailand as well as yuons is sized international court.

Anonymous said...

imagine abishit stand in the icj to explain siem pad thugs violation and lame excuses to the world. the world will react in disbelief! thailand and their siem pad thugs will walk back home empty handed again. they can never win with the law as the world now moving in the direction of the law everywhere more than violence, really! and when siem pad thugs try to act arrogant and by bullying cambodia in the eyes of the world court, we know how the world going to react to that! god bless cambodia. cambodia should not keep this as a secret issue anymore. tell the whole world about it, thailand and their siem pad thugs will be ashamed and humiliated, really! siem are meek people when it comes to public appearance, really! use that to cambodia's advantage, ok!

Anonymous said...

And the world court will laugh at them by saying "Look pal, Cambodia is a nation been violated and taken their lands from both of you Thai and Vietnam" and I (world court) can't seem to understand that Cambodia have that ambitious to take your land. Didn't you know your land was one part of Khmer Empire (Cambodia) back then. Cambodia is the one that lost a lot of lands.

Stop your greed and go back home withdraw all you troops from that area if not the ICJ will come down an observe all the moves.

You (Thai) is so lucky that Cambodia never request the return of all of their provinces from you.
Get out and get lost!!!

Anonymous said...

Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime

Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...

Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention


Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime

Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...

Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.

"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
  
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union 
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son 
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.  
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters. 
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.

Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.

Anonymous said...

Due to the sensitive issue of the border lines for Cambodia with all its neighbors, the delimiting map for Cambodia must carefully reflect with the one accepted among all parties which is the one deposited in the United Nation.

Google is still liable for inaccuracies of its maps regardless of its policy for inaccuracies in its mapping. Because their inaction of accuracies has caused damage to the populations and states of those countries and confusion and perception the world. It may not be that importance to Google but it has been a very very important to Cambodia. It has been very painful and humiliating chapter for Cambodia and Cambodians to have gone through with these two neighbors Thailand and Vietnam in our history. While Vietnam wants our territory, Thailand wants our culture icons and territory. The history has proven many times over that these countries are doing just that. They do it because they know they can at Cambodia's weak. I want Google to know there is a reason for everything. Cambodia's freak also has its own reason. But when we has called it enough is enough and that is when we have border issues.

Google can make it right while its image it is still squeaky clean. Google can also take a leader step to put everything straight and forward to all its global users of its business culture. You have to be in Cambodia's shoe to find out why we are so sensitive about these two countries in defending our culture and territory.

Anonymous said...

I want to email a letter to Google. Does anyone has their email address?

Anonymous said...

Google is a global private enterprise with its main headquarter in the United States. It has to operate within the parameter of and subjected to both domestic and international laws. Its products are sold and used throughout the world. Therefore they can be held liable for their defective products. They could cause lost of lives and limbs just like with the Honda's fire hazard and Toyota's brake and accelerator defects.

With that said, we are all perturbed by Google's neglect and oversight. But the Royal Cambodian Government is the official channel on this matter now with them. We don't want to jeopardize or even interfere in their current efforts in any way. Let them handle it for now and meanwhile we can get our eloquent emails/mails ready for Google and each of our state representatives and senators. We have our legs up over the Thai population here in the states. Let our votes talk for us if it comes to that. We all need to keep an eye on this like a hawk.

This is just my two cents.

Anonymous said...

Just go back to the past during Khmer empire all of you will know the truth about The Kingdom Of Cambodia.
May God bless the Kingdom of Cambodia and show the whole world how humble and kindness of our people the past,Now and the future!!!

Anonymous said...

4:36 AM
Fuck you! I have seen your comments two years ago. do you have anything new. Do you thinks all the people here read your awesome comments.

Anonymous said...

I read all your comments.

Anonymous said...

No "Overlapping" or "Disputed" 4.6 km2 Area...It's all within Cambodia!
ไม่มีพื้นที่ 'ทับซ้อน' หรือ 'โต้แย้ง' ๔.๖ ก.ม.๒...เป็นดินแดนในกัมพูชาตลอดมา!

The delineation of boundary between Cambodia and Thailand by the mixed French-Siamese commission was not a mere coincidence. It was done on the agreement that the French position in Indochina gave up Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; and Siam returned Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, and Battambang provinces, which it had conquered and occupied for over two centuries back to Cambodia. It's a misconception for Thais to think that the Franco-Siamese treaty of 1904-07 was an unfair treaty while France was a super power at the time. King Sisowath considered the treaty a major accomplishment during his reign by regaining Cambodia's most important historial land back. On the other hand, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam believed it was to the best interests of Siam for gaining Chanthaburi and Trat provinces from the French possession and safeguarding their major core country from being a colony of the west. Chanthaburi and Trat provinces proved to be a great bargain for Thailand today with a vast area of the Gulf of Thailand, islands, and large oil and gas deposits beneath the sea floor. This land trade off also gave Bangkok a more proportional distance away from Cambodia, roughly 120 miles from the border. The Franco-Siamese treaty of 1904-07 showed Annex I map with a clear and finite boundary line between Thailand and Cambodia. There were no so-called "overlapping" or "disputed" 4.6 km2 between the two kingdoms. The Annex I map was subsequently being used by the Royal Government of Cambodia under the leadership of then King-Father Norodom Sihanouk in the World Court case regarding Preah Vihear in 1962, in which the court ruled by a vote of 9 to 3 that Preah Vihear Temple and the adjacent areas was in the territory of Cambodia.

---Khmer Surin
---ชาวแขมร์จังหวัดสุรินทร์