Thailand
and Cambodia rattle the war drums in an unlikely dispute over a
Buddhist oasis of peace
 Cambodia
is appealing for the United Nations to intervene in the “volatile
and tense” standoff over a disputed Buddhist temple on the
Thailand-Cambodian border after Thailand refused to withdraw troops
and rejected offers of mediation, Cambodian officials say.
The UN’s
Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, is “closely following the
situation” and is “concerned about the current escalation
of tensions between the two countries, including the buildup of
troops” according to an official UN statement. Ban called for
restraint, urging a diplomatic solution.
Both sides
have a considerable interest in fanning the flames of a long-running
cultural dispute in a region where border disputes have been largely
solved—unless political considerations reawaken them. Cambodia
is in the throes of preparing for an election on Sunday, with
otherwise disheartened opponents of Prime Minister Hun Sen attacking
him for his handling of the situation, not to mention his new
emphasis on the Cambodian ownership of the 10th century
temple, an architectural jewel.
In the
meantime, in Bangkok, Thailand’s government, led by Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej, has been beleaguered for months by
protesters demanding his ouster. Sovereignty of the Preah Vihear
Temple has become a Thai hobbyhorse to power.
Addressing
international diplomats, Cambodian VIPs and media Wednesday,
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Cambodian attempts to
avert the crisis – including urging the withdrawal of troops on
both sides of the disputed area, relocating border residents and a
market further inside Cambodian territory and to setting up an Asean
ministerial group to help resolve the standoff – have all been
rejected by Thailand.
“In
spite of our maximum restraint, in spite of our spirit of compromise,
we have not received a positive response from the other side,”
he said. The appeal to the UN was a last resort, Hor Namhong
stressed, adding that the situation leaves Cambodia with only two
choices: accept Thai occupation of Cambodian territory or to appeal
to the UN Security Council. As to the first option, “who can
accept that?” he asked.
Thailand
seems to be preparing for a fight, he continued, with “thousands
of troops, tanks and artillery” massing close to the border.
“In the face of an imminent state of war, and a very serious
threat to our independence and territorial integrity, we had the
obligation to resort to the UN Security Council,” the minister
said, adding that a request for an urgent meeting had been submitted
Monday. He hoped the Security Council would convene to discuss the
temple, known as Preah Viheah, early next week.
The US
Ambassador to Cambodia, Joseph Mussomeli, yesterday expressed similar
sentiments. “We have suggested to both sides that troops not be
augmented. When you have that many young men, with that many weapons,
in that close proximity, there’s always a danger of violence,”
he told reporters. “We remain hopeful that this thing will be
resolved bilaterally. It would be better it this could be resolved in
Asean.”
During his
address, Hor, the foreign minister, repeatedly referred to
Thailand’s obligations under international law and criticized
their lack of officially endorsed maps. Cambodia is using maps agreed
by the French government and Thailand (then known as Siam) in 1908
and subsequently endorsed by the International Court of Justice in
1962, he said, which that show the temple as being 700 meters inside
Cambodian territory.
In
contrast, “Thailand drew their own map,” he noted.
Official
demarcation was further discussed by Pen Ngoeun, secretary of state
for the Council of Ministers, at another press conference yesterday
afternoon. Maps based on the 1908 French-Siamese agreement and the
1962 International Court of Justice ruling
were passed out, the disputed temple shown clearly inside the
Cambodian border with a red dot.
Thai King
Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, signed off the
1908 agreement, noted Information Minister Khieu Kanharith. The Thais
later reneged on the deal, he added, spurring then-King Norodom
Sihanouk to bring the dispute before the International Court
of Justice in 1962.
The
situation at Preah Vihear remains tense.Cambodian soldiers stationed
in the disputed area have orders to fire “in self-defense
only,” Khieu Kanharith said. However, he warned that “Cambodia
is a sovereign state and we need to defend our country.”
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
Coal surge is unabated, raising environmental concerns
Vietnam takes command of the issue
If Siems want to make war I want to know how strong they are? Khmer got enough exprienced about fighting.If Siems want to fighting with us, go ahead I'm ready to protect my father homeland.