Historian advocates joint control of border heritage sites
Sun, Jan 23, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Countries in the Mekong River basin and the Dangrek Mountain range should consider creating a trans-boundary world heritage site of cultural and natural resources to end their border conflicts, prominent historian Charnvit Kasetsiri proposed over the weekend.
Speaking at a seminar "Our Boundaries, Our Asean Neighbours" on Friday, Charnvit said countries in the region had a lot of cultural and natural heritage left by ancestors centuries ago, some of which were sources of conflict.
Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the Hindu Khmer temple of Preah Vihear for half a century. The proposal by Cambodia to list the ruined temple as a World Heritage site in 2008 fuelled conflict between the neighbouring countries.
A group of Thai nationalists want the government to block Cambodia's attempt to run Preah Vihear and kick a Khmer community out of the area adjacent to the temple.
A ruling by the International Court of Justice in 1962 found that Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia. Bangkok said it respected the court's ruling but argued that the temple's vicinity and even the land where the temple sits belongs to Thailand.
Preah Vihear temple was listed as a World Heritage site in 2008 but the Thai government, with strong support from nationalist groups, opposed its management plan. The two countries remain in conflict and seem to have no way to settle their differences.
Charnvit proposed what he is calling a "Mixed Cultural and Natural Mekong-Dangrek World Heritage" as a model to end the conflict.
There were some examples in the world, he said, where trans-border World Heritage sites had been possible, citing the Iguazu waterfalls - the world's largest - which are situated on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
The World Heritage Committee listed the Iguazu National Park for Argentina as a World Heritage site in 1984 and listed Brazil's part in 1986.
Countries in the Mekong basin should consider the same idea, as they had a lot of sandstone Khmer temples sitting across the boundary in the region, Charnvit said.
Preah Vihear could be jointly listed as a World Heritage site, as its main building is in Cambodia but the area around it is in Thailand.
Preah Vihear was in the same family with Wat Phou in Laos and Phanom Rung in Thailand's Buri Ram province, he said, and noted that two of them - the exception is Phanom Rung - were already listed as World Heritage sites.
"People in this region should think beyond the border and jointly list these temples as World Heritage sites," he said.
Charnvit conducted a set of studies on boundaries to help Thais get a better grasp about such matters. Misunderstanding about the boundary sometimes created trouble for people and conflict with neighbours, he said.
The research indicated that people in many parts of the world, such as in Europe, could move across boundaries easily, as if they don't exist. People in this region should also be able to overcome conflicts over boundaries some day, he said.
14 comments:
wow good move by thai historians. good idea for Thailand that want temples along the borders but not good Cambodia indeed.
*but not good for Cambodia
No use to negotiate with the Thai since Pra Vihear belong to khmer, whether you like it or not we will take back from what is ours to begin with. So, why would we agree to their deal or negotiate to please them?. BY nature off course we have to take or protect our property at all time. Khmer has suffered enough already and yet these Thai people have no compassion what so ever. Where are their morality? humanity and dignity? what a shame!...Mmmm the year 2012 is about come, so please repent now Thai people before it is too late. Lord Jesus is waiting on the other side for this short year coming.... Wisdom
Khun Thai Ey!..you must stop invading Cambodia and don't tell Cambodia to remove the sign. It's in our territories. You have not right to tell us what to do.
To a historian guy from Thailand . You know that Preas Vihear belongs to Cambodia but you want to join Cambodian to control that site . Would you let me join you control your asset that belong to you ?
What King Sihanouk had said franch, they got one hero in every 100 years and he said, Khmer got one hero in 800 hundred years, Hun sen is a hero indeed.The king was right, Wasn't he?.
If you stile think your boss is the real khmer compatriot, thinks it again, to me he is just a chinese vendor who try to make aliving by the name of Khmer compatriot, looke at bunch of SRP are they capable to do anythings? they worth nothing wasn't it right? if he Sam rainsy was a real Khmer compatriot he should call on to UN or USA or European union or he arouse Khmer unity against pol pot during darknes time, it is not now for him to stand up for Khmer intrest, when we already having peace and progressing. Now you clearly see Sam rainsy family from father to son are cheated Khmer for their own wealthy rich,Now you know that don't you? Now we are in peace and being establish our country in every feild and in every sectors to catch up with our neighboring countries I think you sould use your wisdom to help and to contribute in rebuilding cambodia and stope your blind believe in serving individaul and thos selfishnes who looking to grab power by acttacking your own nation. If you continue to writ the article base on your own benificial or interest in your own group you will never show the truth to the truth of the real issue. Mike
that´s a good step in the right direction. Everything is good what stops the war at the border ;)
Thailand is known as the world's 20th largest country in terms of total area, to think that can be considered as one of its neighbor. For sure whatever the decision is, it is was being decided for a good cause. Joining, helping one another and lending hands is one of the many things that can lead peace and stop war, its just like finding suitable house or place where in you can spend some quality time with your love ones just like what Texas Ranches For Sale used to do.
WOULD THAI LAND LET CAMBODIA HAVE A JOINT CONTROL OF, SAY BANG KOK OR SO VANNA PHOUM AIR PORT?
unfortunately, khmer people don't see or think like this siem historian, which serves only siem's interest, of course! first of all, we know siem thugs are always tried to steal from cambodia. it's in history! just look at where cambodia's old khmer provinces are right now! so, that in itself makes khmer people think twice about co-own anything with siem or youn for that matter! enough said already, the waterfalls in laos should be shared by cambodia as well, you know! by the way, l'bak koun waterfalls on the mekongs between laos and cambodia belongs to cambodia, not laos, ok! and wat phou should've been in present-day cambodian territory, not laos, ok! the french then should've known better and so forth! cambodia have been a victim of foreign take over since. how could khmer people of cambodia trust anyone for that matter and so on!
2:01AM! Go back to Chenla, boy!
We have to start from some where that logic and lawfull with the rest of the world!
Use your brain, bublehead!
9:56AM! you mother was a whore and see would do any thing to share youe behind!
You got to be shitting me, Thailand dogs. Another cleverly dumbass move? What make you think Cambodia is going to joint control Preah Vihear with you? That shit won't fly. You're going to have to kiss that idea goodbye. It going to take you mobilizing your military to take it from Cambodia's hand, that if you can take it from Cambodia. Do you want to go back to square one again? Ask yourself a question, is it worth for? I know this temple mean a lot to you because you stole from Cambodia, but it mean a lot to Cambodia than it means to you. So you can shove the idea of taking Preah Vihear back, up your king ass.
siem people are biased toward cambodia. we can tell from all their tone of voice! no wonder khmer people hated them back!
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