Preah Vihear Dispute Stays Still

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Posted by Rocky at 9:14 PM

The Arrogance Government

The Preah Vihear temple dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has been dragged for more than 6 months so far; however, the sun of the problem is not yet to set. To me, since the problem erupted in july 2008, as a Cambodian citizen, I feel like there is no dispute of fact to asking for as what the Thai have claim. Even though, I wasn't born long enough to witness the ICJ judgment when Thai returned the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but according to the same judgment, whether who ever read the judgment both young and old generation or westerner and easterner, the judgment says that "the temple of Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia then that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw any military or police forces from the temple and turn it back to Cambodia." Thank to ICJ that spelled out of every single word that relate to the temple really clear and understandable for the Thai to understand that that temple is not belong to them. As a result, Thailand withdrew its troops and returned all sculptures to the temple.

Is that the Preah Vihear temple issue finished? no not yet. Then what is the problem right now, and what are Thai people asking for? According to the incident that erupted in July 2008, this time it was not really about the temple anymore, but the surrounding areas of land about 4.5 square kilometers that Thailand insists that it belongs to them according to its unilateral map that drew alone by its side with American support. This claim is really disturb me a lot lately because every time I look at the map and the judgment, I do not see it as what the Thais see. For Thais, they claim that the judgment was settled only the Preah Vihear Temple but not the surrounding land. So let get to the point. According to the claim, who we are going to blame for? Should we blame the ICJ that did not spell it out every single object that exist on the map that their use for the judgment? Suppose to say that the ICJ did ruled it out clearly that the surrounding land is also belong to Cambodia, do they have to spell it out of forests, rocks, mountains, lakes, and etc... Or this is what a civilize country would do as what the Thais always claim of who their are.

In reality the judgment made clear enough to spell out the meaning of the current issue. Whoever read the judgment, whether westerner or Asian, but maybe not Thais, will see that the judgment is understandable that the surrounding areas is belong to Cambodia. I have attached the map below for the readers to read and do your own judgment. According to the map that was also used by the ICJ, how can you say that the temple is belong to Cambodia but not the surrounding area? Let me quote a phrase from the ICJ judgment again "the temple of Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia". What the judgment said is the temple does locates in Cambodia territory. If the temple is in Cambodia territory, why not the surrounding areas?



It seems like the problem was not about the judgment but about the map. The main problem is there are two maps have been used between both sides. Thailand has constantly rejects of using the map that its signed with French, a Cambodian protector, in 1904 by its own government. It claims that the map is unusable because it was unfair for Thailand. To Thai government, the 1904 map was signed because Thailand was forced to do so by French and its army. In addition, the whole Thai nations was at stalk of becoming another French colony as what happened in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

However, what all of those have to do with Cambodia? To me, I think that there is nothing has to do with Cambodia. Especially Thailand really should not use that reason to excuse to rise up the border problem with Cambodia but to respect its government decision because without that agreement, Thailand should had became as one of French Indochina country and its country future should have changed by now. Instead, after taking benefit from the agreement, it turns its back and rejects to recognize the agreement for now. What kind of a civilize nation is that? To me I think that, this kind of action is nothing but just only reflects its own ignorance and arrogant behavior and especially to damage it own reputation in the world community.

In conclusion, it should has not come to this point and the lives of two Thai soldiers should have been saved by their own government, if Thailand acts as a civilize nation in this 21st century. It an honor to die for the sake of their own nation but it seems like their die for the ignorance and arrogance behavior of their government instead.