Map of the 1962 ICJ's verdict: Areas above yellow line is Thailand. Areas below yellow line is Cambodia. Red stars with arrows are spots where clashes took place on 3rd April, 2009.Opinion by Khmerization
15th May, 2009
The recent diplomatic wars of words between Thailand and Cambodia over claims and count-claims of compensation for damages caused by recent border clashes are a cause for concerns. The wars of words will certainly increase military and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours if both sides do not seek a compromising solution any sooner.
Cambodia had sent a diplomatic note demanding for $2.1 million in compensation from Thailand for the destruction to a Cambodian market and villagers’ homes during the 3rd April fighting.
Cambodia believe that it has the right to seek reparations for damages to 264 stalls that caused 319 families to be homeless because their stalls and homes were deliberately and directly targeted by Thai shells.
But, Thailand, who, due to its military superiority, has signalled that it will never budge to Cambodia’s demand. Instead it has responded with a threat of counter-claims. The Thai response was nothing short of dishonesty. It is arrogant and it is full of threats. By trying to absolve its responsibility, Thailand, had turned around and claimed that those stalls and homes were built on Thai soils and threatened to lodge a counter-claim.
Mr. Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, had gone another step by reminding Cambodia about the military rules of engagement that would inevitably cause collateral damages.
The Thai claims had ignored many fundamental factors about military rules of engagement and facts involving the history of the Preah Vihear disputes. Military rules of engagement dictates that both sides of the military conflict must refrain from targeting civilian entities. Thai army, in this case, had undeniably broke the rules of engagement by deliberately targeting the Cambodian civilians.
Thailand had also ignored the International Court of Justice (ICJ) fundamental rulings when it claimed that the areas belong to Thailand or that they are situated in a dispute zone.
One of the ICJ’s rulings stated that “Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw troops or police from the Temple, or its vicinity on Cambodian territory”. This clearly shows that the ICJ had adjudicated the areas in the “vicinity” of the temple as belonging to Cambodia. Maps from the 1904-1908 Treaty, signed by both Cambodia and Thailand, had also put the Preah Vihear temple and the areas in its “vicinity“ in inside Cambodia. So, the notion that the surrounding areas had not been adjudicated by the ICJ is a misconception.
In another front, the Thai Nation newspaper had attacked the integrity and the sincerity of Cambodia in relation to the border conflicts. It called Cambodia’s claims of compensation as “absurd” and “another step backward for peace”. It also accused Unesco of ignoring the Thai court injunction by deciding to inscribe the temple unilaterally without Thailand’s agreement. It had also accused Cambodia of not being “sincere about reconciliation”.
The Nation’s accusation is preposterous. First, Unesco, as an independent international institution, does not need to seek Thailand’s permission to inscribe Preah Vihear temple because the temple is solely and exclusively the property of Cambodia.
Secondly, Cambodia has been very sincere and patient for the last ten months. Cambodia had refrained from using force when Thai soldiers forced their ways in to occupy the Preah Vihear vicinity on 15th July, 2008. Cambodia was very patient and sincere in engaging Thailand peacefully and diplomatically, even though Thailand had appeared to have played games with Cambodia during the many fruitless talks. Cambodian soldiers were forced to use force only as a last resort when Thai troops, in a provocative and arrogant manner, repeatedly encroaching on Cambodian territories that resulted in the deadly clashes on 15th October 2008 and 3rd April 2009.
The Nation newspaper, and Thailand in particular, had on many occasions accused Cambodia of laying fresh mines that have maimed many Thai soldiers. The Thai accusation is a self-admission that the areas claimed to be Thai territories are actually located inside Cambodian territories because it is impossible for Cambodian troops to cross into Thai territories and lay mines there.
Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come. If Cambodia desires to be treated equally and with respect, then it is imperative that Cambodia strengthen its economic and military powers significantly.
15th May, 2009
“Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come.”
The recent diplomatic wars of words between Thailand and Cambodia over claims and count-claims of compensation for damages caused by recent border clashes are a cause for concerns. The wars of words will certainly increase military and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours if both sides do not seek a compromising solution any sooner.
Cambodia had sent a diplomatic note demanding for $2.1 million in compensation from Thailand for the destruction to a Cambodian market and villagers’ homes during the 3rd April fighting.
Cambodia believe that it has the right to seek reparations for damages to 264 stalls that caused 319 families to be homeless because their stalls and homes were deliberately and directly targeted by Thai shells.
But, Thailand, who, due to its military superiority, has signalled that it will never budge to Cambodia’s demand. Instead it has responded with a threat of counter-claims. The Thai response was nothing short of dishonesty. It is arrogant and it is full of threats. By trying to absolve its responsibility, Thailand, had turned around and claimed that those stalls and homes were built on Thai soils and threatened to lodge a counter-claim.
Mr. Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, had gone another step by reminding Cambodia about the military rules of engagement that would inevitably cause collateral damages.
The Thai claims had ignored many fundamental factors about military rules of engagement and facts involving the history of the Preah Vihear disputes. Military rules of engagement dictates that both sides of the military conflict must refrain from targeting civilian entities. Thai army, in this case, had undeniably broke the rules of engagement by deliberately targeting the Cambodian civilians.
Thailand had also ignored the International Court of Justice (ICJ) fundamental rulings when it claimed that the areas belong to Thailand or that they are situated in a dispute zone.
One of the ICJ’s rulings stated that “Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw troops or police from the Temple, or its vicinity on Cambodian territory”. This clearly shows that the ICJ had adjudicated the areas in the “vicinity” of the temple as belonging to Cambodia. Maps from the 1904-1908 Treaty, signed by both Cambodia and Thailand, had also put the Preah Vihear temple and the areas in its “vicinity“ in inside Cambodia. So, the notion that the surrounding areas had not been adjudicated by the ICJ is a misconception.
In another front, the Thai Nation newspaper had attacked the integrity and the sincerity of Cambodia in relation to the border conflicts. It called Cambodia’s claims of compensation as “absurd” and “another step backward for peace”. It also accused Unesco of ignoring the Thai court injunction by deciding to inscribe the temple unilaterally without Thailand’s agreement. It had also accused Cambodia of not being “sincere about reconciliation”.
The Nation’s accusation is preposterous. First, Unesco, as an independent international institution, does not need to seek Thailand’s permission to inscribe Preah Vihear temple because the temple is solely and exclusively the property of Cambodia.
Secondly, Cambodia has been very sincere and patient for the last ten months. Cambodia had refrained from using force when Thai soldiers forced their ways in to occupy the Preah Vihear vicinity on 15th July, 2008. Cambodia was very patient and sincere in engaging Thailand peacefully and diplomatically, even though Thailand had appeared to have played games with Cambodia during the many fruitless talks. Cambodian soldiers were forced to use force only as a last resort when Thai troops, in a provocative and arrogant manner, repeatedly encroaching on Cambodian territories that resulted in the deadly clashes on 15th October 2008 and 3rd April 2009.
The Nation newspaper, and Thailand in particular, had on many occasions accused Cambodia of laying fresh mines that have maimed many Thai soldiers. The Thai accusation is a self-admission that the areas claimed to be Thai territories are actually located inside Cambodian territories because it is impossible for Cambodian troops to cross into Thai territories and lay mines there.
Peaceful co-existence between neighbours can only possible if they treat each other with respect. Cambodia, being a small and weak nation, has not been treated with respect by its powerful neighbours to the west and east since time immemorial. And, as long as Cambodia is weak economically and militarily, Cambodia will continue to be disrespected by its neighbours for many centuries to come. If Cambodia desires to be treated equally and with respect, then it is imperative that Cambodia strengthen its economic and military powers significantly.
