Mon, Aug 18, 2008
Nirmal Ghosh, Thailand Correspondent
The Straits Times
WHEN Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong meet today at the seaside town of Hua Hin, their tranquil view may be clouded by their countries' tangled and contested history.
Even though tension at Preah Vihear is now lower with most troops withdrawn by both sides last Friday, it is a challenge to sort out boundary issues, not least because nationalists in both countries have eclipsed the voices of liberals and objective scholars.
Cambodian media and the blogosphere have matched Thai nationalists abuse for abuse, and ahead of the Hua Hin talks, Cambodian nationalists yesterday held a demonstration in Phnom Penh denouncing Thai 'thuggery'.
Even though tension at Preah Vihear is now lower with most troops withdrawn by both sides last Friday, it is a challenge to sort out boundary issues, not least because nationalists in both countries have eclipsed the voices of liberals and objective scholars.
Cambodian media and the blogosphere have matched Thai nationalists abuse for abuse, and ahead of the Hua Hin talks, Cambodian nationalists yesterday held a demonstration in Phnom Penh denouncing Thai 'thuggery'.
