The second meeting of Cambodia-Siam Foreign Ministers Meeting in Siem Reap, 28 July 2008, is considered by both sides sucessful have not produced anything positive result yet. The number of troops stationed around Preah Vihear temple remained steady until 31, July 2008 since Siam troops entered illegally on Cambodia's soil.
It's acknowledged that the resolution will take time and patience. However, we are very concerned the current situation. Camboda don't want to see our sacred site were used as a hostage of conflict. We want to see the temple as a tourism destination and economic development area.
In reality, Siam government has no real intention to make compromise, they seem to provoke the war with us and still have the intention claiming Preah Vihear. Moreover, they use the temple case to raise the ultranationalism. As far as we have seen, Siam have a huge internal political matters amongs the different factions in the country.
Cambodia has the absolute advantages in term of public international law and diplomatic means . In regard to military strategy, although Cambodia's military equipment is weak and low, Cambodia's military strategy and will power is higher than Siam troops. For the good sake of the nation, Cambodia don't want to make a war with neighbor, make a peace in order to transform this areas to be a cooperation, development border.
Finally, I would say that the tension eases on condition that Siam has the real intention. In case of declaring war on us, Siam losts its prestige as a civilised nation and image as a democratic country and rule of law nation on the world. The international community will condemn.
Peace alwasy with us, God bless Cambodia and curse Siam.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Preah Vihear is Cambodian's territorail souvereignty.
Thai should respect the decisions of ICJ in 1962 and 32 nd World Heritage Commitee of UNESCO in 2008. It's useless to claim Preah Vihear Temple as Thai belonging. Otherwise, Thais should learn again about their own history, who you are and where you are from. There are lots documents writing about the history of Thai and Cambodia. I think what thai is doing now not like to promote Preah Vihear as tourism destination but also make the world know Cambodia clear as well as they know the ICJ decision and the listed Preah Vihear as World Heritage. So , they jump to conclusions that Thai is doing something that the world not accept and also violate of UN charter
Most of Thais should read these articles which make them clearly understand.
BURNING ISSUE
By Supalak GanjanakhundeePublished on July 17, 2008
Bruised nationalism is stimulating feelings of hatred between Thais and Cambodians. Anti-Cambodian sentiment is growing stronger as Thais - who consider themselves superior to their southeastern neighbours - feel they have lost face because Cambodia managed to have the Hindu temple listed as a World Heritage site.
The listing of anyplace as a World Heritage site is not a matter of gain or loss. But many Thais are convinced of loss, because they've been told repeatedly that the listing means Thailand has lost sovereignty over Preah Vihear. So, as Cambodia celebrated last week's World Heritage listing, many Thais felt bitter.
Legal misinterpretation by intellectuals has confused the powerful Thai sense of ownership. The entire world is aware that in 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Preah Vihear was "situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia".
As a member of the United Nations, Thailand had to accept the ruling and hand the temple over to Cambodia. In the decades since then, there has been no legal bid to reclaim the site. Some legal experts intentionally misinterpreted Article 60 of the ICJ's rules by saying it reserved the right to reclaim the temple.
As a member of the United Nations, Thailand had to accept the ruling and hand the temple over to Cambodia. In the decades since then, there has been no legal bid to reclaim the site. Some legal experts intentionally misinterpreted Article 60 of the ICJ's rules by saying it reserved the right to reclaim the temple.
In fact, the article merely says that "in the event of a dispute as to the meaning or scope of judgement", the court will construe such matters upon the request of any party.
Therefore, in the language of the law, de facto and de jure, the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia.
Therefore, in the language of the law, de facto and de jure, the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia.
For the past 46 years, the Thai authorities have never dared use Article 60 to ask the ICJ for clarification of the meaning or scope of its ruling. Such action may have caused further loss of territory, because in making its original decision, the court referred to a French-made map that swallowed up a large swathe of so-called "overlapping" area in Cambodia's favour. The whole mountain where the temple stands may now be under Cambodian sovereignty.
Many Cambodians have been quoted in their local media as saying Thailand's unlimited greed would end up bringing the country shame. One Cambodia woman at the temple told The Phnom Penh Post she was increasingly worried that the dispute would turn ugly.
Many Cambodians have been quoted in their local media as saying Thailand's unlimited greed would end up bringing the country shame. One Cambodia woman at the temple told The Phnom Penh Post she was increasingly worried that the dispute would turn ugly.
"We are concerned that the Thais have come here to create trouble," she said, referring to hundreds of Thai protesters who gathered near the temple a few weeks ago.
The group threatened to storm it. On Tuesday, three of their number carried out the threat and were arrested by Cambodian authorities and held for several hours. This kind of emotion will likely destroy the fundamentally good relations between the two countries in the short-term future if both sides allow feelings to get out of hand.
The group threatened to storm it. On Tuesday, three of their number carried out the threat and were arrested by Cambodian authorities and held for several hours. This kind of emotion will likely destroy the fundamentally good relations between the two countries in the short-term future if both sides allow feelings to get out of hand.
Then there is a technical problem. Former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was forced to emphasise Thai concerns linking the heritage listing with sovereignty before the World Heritage Committee in Quebec, Canada. That stance could become a powerful argument for Cambodia to use in opposing Thailand's forthcoming application for World Heritage listing of the adjoining area downhill from the temple within two years.
The World Heritage Committee pointed out its regulations stipulate that the listing of any World Heritage site has nothing to do with sovereignty. However, the Thai team arguing against the listing insisted the committee recognise the domestic political sensitivity of the Preah Vihear site.
Phnom Penh may now be able to turn the tables on Bangkok, since Cambodia also claims sovereignty over territory containing many archaeological sites along the border, including the area downhill from Preah Vihear.
Phnom Penh may now be able to turn the tables on Bangkok, since Cambodia also claims sovereignty over territory containing many archaeological sites along the border, including the area downhill from Preah Vihear.
It is difficult to imagine what may happen in the future if Thailand is forced to cut "overlapping" areas off of the sites it proposes for listing. In fact, Thailand may ultimately be left with no sites along the border for which to apply for World Heritage listing.
Temple could draw millions of tourists
Strong feelings of nationalism are stirring in Thailand with discourse on "land and sovereignty", while Cambodia is seizing the opportunity provided by the listing of the 900-year-old temple, says Associate Professor Pipop Udorn of Thammasat University's Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy.
For Cambodia - where about 35 per cent of the people live below the poverty line on less than Bt6 a day - Preah Vihear is a potential "economic miracle" that could help it achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals, Pipop said at a symposium on "Politics and Nationalism - The Preah Vihear Case".
"It [inscription on the World Heritage List] means a new airport, cable car, hotels, casino, employment for more than 300,000 local people, and US$2 billion [Bt67 billion] from tourism income," said Pipop, adding that Cambodia's Tourism Action Plan targeted 3.12 million tourists by 2010.
Preah Vihear's World Heritage listing reflects the success of the Cambodian government's Economic Quadrangle policy under Prime Minister Hun Sen's administration. Conversely, it reflects failure by the Thai government to inform the public about the benefits Thailand could share from the listing, Pipop said.
Thai governments since 2005 had supported the World Heritage listing by Cambodia and had already provided financial assistance to build Road No 67 linking the attractive tourist site of Siem Reap to the Thai border next to Preah Vihear, he said.
Associate Professor Surachart Bamrungsuk agreed Thai society could do a much better job of turning the conflict into a real benefit.
Promoting the Preah Vihear site as a "Joint Cultural Development Area" or "Joint Tourism Area" would be an option to enable both countries to enjoy economic benefits as well as cultural development, Surachart said. Thailand's northeastern Isaan region would become a gateway to Indochina through cultural links.
"Today if we do not accept anything [the International Court of Justice's ruling and the decision of the World heritage Committee], we must answer to the world community on how we are going to coexist with others," said Surachart, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and an expert on national security.
The International Court of Justice, in a nine-vote-to-three ruling, judged Preah Vihear to be "situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia" some 46 years ago.
A letter by the then interior minister of July 6, 1962 to the prime minister stated: "Thailand is obligated to withdraw police, guards or other security from the Preah Vihear site by adhering to the principle that Cambodia will keep the remains of the Temple of Preah Vihear and the land beneath it." But anti-government groups, including senators, the
opposition and some academics claim the temple sits on Thai soil.
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