Unesco must help create peace, not war

PREAH VIHEAR DISPUTE

Unesco must help create peace, not war

Published: 15/02/2011 at 02:34 AM
Newspaper section: News

On June 15, 1962, when Thailand lost its sovereignty over Preah Vihear Temple, or Prasart Phra Viharn in Thai, many art historians were shocked. Had Thailand mishandled the court case? Perhaps yes. But we should remember the political situation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Without the talent of King Chulalongkorn the Great and the skill of Thai diplomats, Siam might have been completely swallowed by the French and British colonial powers.

In this picture taken Feb 8, 2011, a Cambodian soldier patrols the ancient ruins of Preah Vihear, an 11th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 apparently blocked the French extension towards Siam for the main reason that most of the boundary line had been imposed by intimidation, to Thailand's disadvantage. (Luckily the colonial power had no inkling of the offshore gas deposits in the Gulf of Siam.) At that time Thai officials were wary of raising a border dispute at the risk of reviving French Indochina's appetite for Siamese territory. That was why no official complaint was raised regarding Phra Viharn and Siam failed to react.

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Writer: Jean-Michel Beurdeley

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jeakhmer
Post : 5
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Discussion 4 : 27/02/2011 at 01:23 PM4
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To mend and prosper the future relationship between the two people, true history should be well educated to avoid extreme nationalism, Cambodia has been fallen victim of Thai internal politics. There should be real acknowledgement in the Thail educational and historical records on who the Khmer and Kham are. This should be enough for the countries in this century since current Thailand had advanced their territorial expansion through many centuries, Cambodians have lived through very bitter history with Thailand. Based on the ICJ and its annex map, it is very clear that there is no 4.6 kms of conflicting land, the issue came up right after thai map was made secretly without internal recognition and thai internal politics took place and diverted to the border issue, Poor Cambodia, it becomes as a hostage of the Thail politicians.
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joe
Post : 84
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Discussion 3 : 17/02/2011 at 08:10 AM3
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Preah Vihear conflict is Thailand creation, fueled by it domestic politics. It is absurd to blame the UNESCO for listing Cambodian temple under Cambodia territory. I am speechless how absurd it is.
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nokor
Post : 95
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Discussion 2 : 15/02/2011 at 08:12 AM2
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There are 17 Cambodia provinces that Thai took over, where do you think Khmer pple went?
17 provinces of Khmer people. were they kicked out or were they allowed to continue living in THAILAND?

Cambodia existed way before Thailand (formerly known as Siem).
Cambodian culture, language and customs existed WAY before Thailand.

Thai, you can deny and fabricate all they want.
Only Thais will be the mis-informed.
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akara
Post : 14
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Discussion 1 : 15/02/2011 at 07:03 AM1
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Everyone in the world knows History knows that for hundreds of years ago even b4 Thailand existed that the Kingdom of Cambodia was bigger than what it is today. Cambodia been losing land to Thai little by little because of former khmer kings. Cambodia people built angkor wat and preah vihear. Cambodia was vast b4 but shrank to present day. Thailand been making up history, and thats what they teach in thier school, the people of Thailand been recieving the wrong info about history. Look at the khmer language even almost the same as Cambodia.. Where did Thailand get thier language from? Be4 thier was even Thailand.. The Khmer Empire exist first.. The Khmer Empire was vast stretch beyond Thailand border.. think about it, those who claim to say Cambodia took Thai lands and preah vihear.. Some country out there know khmer history,
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Unesco must help create peace, not war | Bangkok Post: opinion