Cambodia’s Preah Vihear and Siam’s blindly greed

Cambodia’s Preah Vihear and Siam’s blindly greed

23 June 2009
Op-Ed by Kok SapOriginally
posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com


Today the news from reliable source, Thailand delegation complaint against UNESCO decision over Cambodia Preah Vihear registration as world heritage has been flatly rejected by UNESCO meeting in Seville, Spain.

Preah Vihear is more than a firefight spats with Cambodia but it is the wake of Khmer patriotism for the inhabitants in old Khmer territories. Siam has prevented Khmer reunification since 1768 up to 1893. In order to sooth Khmer old sentiment, Siam had forced itself to return barely 1/3 of Khmer territories to Cambodia under French guns in 1893. From that defeat, Siam half Sino monarchs signed agreements between 1904-1907 with French Indochina governors to recognize Cambodia presently borderline which included Preah Vihear temple compound.

In 1962 after several armed clashes, Cambodia had honorably taken its dispute to the International Court of Justice in Hague and won the case. But Siam had not only reneged Court rulings but continued to perpetuate Preah Vihear temple and surrounding areas as its property.

To achieve its ambitious plot, Siam ruling family had employed and recruited Khmer ethnics and Cambodia dissenting politicians to wage border war against Cambodia government since. From the 50's on, Siam goal was to create insecurity and confusion for Khmer border villages from developing and establishing Cambodia sovereignty. Best, it forbade Khmers within Siam control from associating and rekindling with Khmers on the opposite side of its borderlines. Siam is one of the worst genocidal abusers in the region as the Yala-Pattani independence struggle seems to prove to the outside world how hypocritical Siam ruling family has been.

To many observers' eyes, Bangkok ruling family and PM Vejjajiva government attempts to capitalize its domestic unrest and political turmoil over Khmer Preah Vihear and border demarcation. PM Vejjajiva is hoping to rally support for his illegal government to stay in power after the opposition demands to have a new general election soon.

For centuries, Thailand has grown from no identity nation to what it is at the expenses of Khmer people. During the tyrannical rule of Marshall Sarit Dhanaraja and his under links back in the late 50's and 60's, Khmer language and customs were eradicated and forbidden from practice and carry on by the Khmer descendents living under Siam rule. Khmer scripts and literacy were destroyed and considered taboos and unacceptable for Khmer inhabitants in plateau regions to learn.

The Bangkok elites and palace Junta networks backed a Brit -Sino born Abhisit Vejjajiva to take over the government house barely five month ago. Now that the opposition threatens PM Vejjajiva power longevity, he is in despairs and colluding his ill will plot to polarize domestic political dysfunction over Cambodia's Preah Vihear registration with UNESCO.

Preah Vihear, a Khmer built temple in the 11th century, has been an old sore to Siam then Thailand imperialistic appetite since its late evil doer dictator Sarit Dhanaraja rule during the 50's and 60's.

Before Sarit reign of terror, Sino dominated Siam palace, employed a Khmer descent named Khuang as its Prime Minister and dictator to suppress and persecute Khmers. Khuang was born to a Khmer family and Siam palace lackey from Battambang.

Today, UNESCO has remained steadfast in maintaining its decision in honoring Preah Vihear as world heritage property and Cambodia, its sole proprietor.

A Brit-Sino born PM Vejjajiva visited Cambodia recently to feel out the pulses of Cambodia over its violation over Preah Vihear sovereignty and purposely not to raise his hidden agendas over Preah Vihear and border demarcation to Cambodia government attention. Thailand continues dispatching its intelligence operatives to gather vital information in Cambodia in disguise ranging from truck drivers, gamblers, and entrepreneurs based in Phnom Penh.

So as it seems Preah Vihear becomes a lightning rod for Thailand political failures in the world democracy arena if only Cambodia had gone ahead with its plan to lodge complaint with UN, NAM and ASEAN.

From all aspects, Thailand has had opportunities to shine over Cambodia tragic past for years and yet it wanted no better for Cambodia as its ASEAN neighbor and origin of cultural and language. The ASEAN 2015 implementation of common interest and market identity will be at risk if Thailand maintaining its over zealous attitude and rogue colonial power over Cambodia. However, it's humble to know and hear UNSECO decision to reject Thailand ill will complaint and honor Cambodia wish to share its heritage with the world humanity.