Preah Vihear Plov Chbabb Reu Plov Chbaing a Peom by Sam Vichea

Kamnap (Yuon Angkiem Siem Angkell), A poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea

Prince Sisowath Thomico weighed in to support Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres over Preah Vihear issue

Prince Sisowath Thomico greeted by his supporters.

Dear Readers,

The debates over the issue of Preah Vihear have gotten interesting by the day. Since Khmerization published a translated article from everday.com about new Thai incursions into the Preah Vihear precinct, Khmerization has received emails from at least three high-profile and eminent personalities. Mr. Norbert Klein, a high profile NGO executive in Cambodia, has weighed in by raising the issue of the 2008 Joint Communique which, according to Mr. Klein's understanding, seems to concede that the territories around the Preah Vihear temple belong to Thailand. Mr. Klein's rationales have attracted Khmerization's detailed response.

Khmerization's exchanges with Mr. Klein seem to attract the attention of Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres, an official biographer of ex-king Sihanouk, who then weighed in the debates with his very thoughtful analysis.

The latest email has been particularly of great interests to me because it came from a Khmer royalty who is very proficient in the history of Khmer borders, particularly the history of Koh Tral Island. Prince Sisowath Thomico, a son of Prince Sisowath Methavi, has been a controversial figure in the not-so-kind and cut-throat politics of Cambodia but, when it comes to Khmer borders and history, he should be commended for his uncompromising patriotism and his unquestionale knowledge. Below is his email to Khmerization:

Dear Sir,

I would like to weigh in the debate regarding the official name of Preah Vihear. As my friend Ambassador Julio rightly pointed out, up to now, all official notes issued by the Royal Government of Thailand referred to Preah Vihear as Preah Vihear not "Khao Phra Viharn" as now surprisingly demanded by Thailand.

As a matter of fact, international relations are ruled by international laws, international/bilateral treaties and international/bilateral conventions. As far as Preah Vihear is concerned, the last official treaty/agreement/judgement refer to the Temple as Preah Vihear, including the infamous June 18, 2008 Joint Communiqué.

There is no mention of "Khao Phra Viharn" in any international document ever since the June 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice of the Hague. So, it is clear that Preah Vihear is the only name that ought to be used while referring to the Temple in any international negotiation/treaty/convention/agreement.

Last but not least: Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. It has to be referred to under its Cambodian name. It would be laughable and irrelevant if Cambodia ever wanted to refer to Ho Chi Minh City as "Prey Nokor" in official bilateral/international document. The same goes for Preah Vihear.

Regards

Sisowath Thomico

Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres on Khmerization vs. Norbert Klein regarding Preah Vihear issues

The letter below from Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres was sent to Khmerization in response to exchanges between Khmerization vs. Norbert Klein regarding the Preah Vihear issue. I wish Ambassador Jeldres for his interests in the discussions - Khmerization

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Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres

Official Biographer of H.M. the King Father

Samdech Preah Upayuvareach Norodom Sihanouk

of Cambodia

9 February 2009

Dear Sir:

Thank you for drawing to my attention the exchange of views on Preah Vihear between yourself and Mr. Norbert Klein.

May I point out that for all intents and purposes the Joint Communiqué between Cambodia and Thailand of 18 June 2008 seems to have been conceived purely to comply with the requirements of World Heritage Listing. I am inclined to believe so for the following reasons:

1. In all subsequent diplomatic notes between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as on their separate communications to other countries and the United Nations regarding Preah Vihear (and I think I have an almost complete set of these written communications), neither kingdom has mentioned the 18 June 2008 Joint Communiqué.
2. The Thai Parliament never approved the Joint Communiqué of 18 June 2008 and the Thai Foreign Minister at the time –Mr Noppadon PATTANA, was forced to resign as Foreign Minister for having signed the Joint Communiqué. At the time, the Thai Democrat Party, then in opposition, was strongly opposed to the Thai Foreign Minister having signed the said document.
3. Concerning the use of maps, both countries have used the maps their respective delegations used in presenting their countries’ cases to the International Court of Justice in 1962. Again, no mention has been made of the map annexed to the Joint Communiqué of 18 June 2008.

Lastly, as a matter of further interest and in view of recent Thai requests that the name of Preah Vihear be also described as Khao Phra Viharn in official documents of the two countries, may I point out that in previous written communications by Thai officials and diplomats, up to 17 October 2008, they had used the wording “Temple of Preah Vihear”, for instance in the notes to the President of the UN Security Council by Thai Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Don Pramudwinai. I fail to understand why Thailand is now insisting on the use of “Khao Phra Viharn” in official documents when Preah Vihear is well known and has been accepted as the proper name for the temple by the international community for many years.

Yours sincerely,

(JULIO A. JELDRES)

Cambodia is ready if Thailand invades

Cambodian soldiers guarding the Preah Vihear temple.

Radio Free Asia
By Chea Makara
27th December, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

The Cambodian government has reiterated that Cambodia is ready if Thailand violates the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Cambodia while the current border disputes have not yet been resolved.

Minister of Information and government spokesman, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, has told reporters on Saturday like this: “If Thailand decided to invade, we will not allow them to invade us easily. We have been prepared, even if Thailand has many jet fighters, that we are ready because in the war it is not important if they have jet fighters or not, because in the early stages of fighting they have to consider which side will suffer the most heaviest casualties. So, it is not so easy for Thailand (to invade Cambodia).”

Mr. Khieu Kanharith said that if the fighting along the borders erupted, Cambodian requires around 17,000 to 20,000 troops.

He added that after the clashes between Khmer-Thai troops on the 15th of October, 2008, the Cambodian government has conceptualised three possible scenarios. First, Cambodia and Thailand must resolve all border problems in a total package. Secondly, there will be military confrontations without actual fighting occurring. And thirdly, wars will break out along the borders between the two countries.

Mr. Khieu Kanharith added that the Cambodian government has chosen the second scenario and that is to avoid armed conflict and continue to engage in bilateral talks and the Cambodian government can complain to the United Nations only when Thailand invades Cambodian territories.

Please note that border disputes with Thailand had occurred after Unesco had decided to inscribe the Preah Vihear temple into a world heritage list in July, 2008.