Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A report from Preach Vihear temple on 28 June indicated that black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter the perimeter of the Preah Vihear temple, but they were prevented by the Cambodian authority posted there. The Thai soldiers then pulled back.
The source which reported the information to Rasmei Kampuchea confirmed that about 200 black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter and occupy the Preah Vihear temple which belongs to Cambodia, but the local authority there did not allow them. The source indicated that this is not a first time that Thai soldiers made the attempt to enter the Preah Vihear temple. On 24 June, the Thai soldiers also showed their intent to take such action also, but the Cambodian authority prevented them once already.
Preab Tan, the Preah Vihear provincial governor, recognized over the phone that, indeed, the black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter the Preah Vihear temple, but that the Cambodian side did not authorize them. He indicated that these soldiers wore army uniforms although they were not armed and they asked to visit Preah Vihear temple.
Preab Tan added that the local Cambodian authority prevented the entrance to the Thai soldiers and informed them that if they want to visit the temple, they must wear civilian clothes, and they must buy tickets like any other tourist because the temple is under the sovereignty and ownership of Cambodia, and that no uniform soldiers (from other countries) can enter. He indicated that in the past, Thai soldiers attempted to enter the perimeter of the Cambodian temple, but the Cambodian side always prevented them by giving them the same reason. Preab Tan added that even if Cambodians want to enter the Thai territories, they must also obey by this rule.
Preah Vihear temple was under dispute between the two countries in the 60s. The Hague International Court of Justice decided to give the ownership of the temple to Cambodia in 1962, and the decision angered Thailand. The action taken by the Thai soldiers coincide with a time when Cambodia is asking UNESCO to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. Thailand opposed Cambodia’s request by claiming a number of problems. The Cambodian delegation led by Sok An to the UNESCO meeting will return back at the beginning of July.
The source which reported the information to Rasmei Kampuchea confirmed that about 200 black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter and occupy the Preah Vihear temple which belongs to Cambodia, but the local authority there did not allow them. The source indicated that this is not a first time that Thai soldiers made the attempt to enter the Preah Vihear temple. On 24 June, the Thai soldiers also showed their intent to take such action also, but the Cambodian authority prevented them once already.
Preab Tan, the Preah Vihear provincial governor, recognized over the phone that, indeed, the black-clad Thai soldiers attempted to enter the Preah Vihear temple, but that the Cambodian side did not authorize them. He indicated that these soldiers wore army uniforms although they were not armed and they asked to visit Preah Vihear temple.
Preab Tan added that the local Cambodian authority prevented the entrance to the Thai soldiers and informed them that if they want to visit the temple, they must wear civilian clothes, and they must buy tickets like any other tourist because the temple is under the sovereignty and ownership of Cambodia, and that no uniform soldiers (from other countries) can enter. He indicated that in the past, Thai soldiers attempted to enter the perimeter of the Cambodian temple, but the Cambodian side always prevented them by giving them the same reason. Preab Tan added that even if Cambodians want to enter the Thai territories, they must also obey by this rule.
Preah Vihear temple was under dispute between the two countries in the 60s. The Hague International Court of Justice decided to give the ownership of the temple to Cambodia in 1962, and the decision angered Thailand. The action taken by the Thai soldiers coincide with a time when Cambodia is asking UNESCO to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. Thailand opposed Cambodia’s request by claiming a number of problems. The Cambodian delegation led by Sok An to the UNESCO meeting will return back at the beginning of July.
