Seeking Solutions about Preah Vihear Border
It is now not the issue of listing Preah Vihear temple into world heritage site, but the border issue, mainly and firstly made by Thailand side. Territory surrounding the temple is solely claimed by Thais. Actually, according to actual situation, the judgment made by international court in 1962, the French-Siam treaty and agreement in 1907, it is clearly seen that the surrounding areas of the Preah Vihear temple, especially the place, The Pagoda of Preah Vihear Temple, belongs to Cambodia.
Thai opposition has used this to fight against the Thai government and now the Thai government agrees to claim its possession over the dispute land, by sending an official letter to Cambodia. From day to day, it is seen that troops from Thailand increased in numbers. It is a bad tension.
Today, a so-called General Border Committee of Cambodia and Thailand is going to meet to talk about this issue. Some have optimistic and others had pessimistic. It would be that the two parties reach an agreement to ease the tension. Withdrawal of Thai army is a good solution and let everything the same it was before the 15th July 2008. It was the situation where no Thai troops, not many Cambodian troops, only a small number of Cambodian border soldiers, Cambodian people living at the pagoda. This must be a good solution. Then, it will be not a confronting of soldier forces, but a challenge for border issues. After this, it should let the government of Cambodia and Thailand to talk more among them to seek further solution.
Coming to this point, it is good if Cambodians and other friends could know well about the 1962 jurisdiction of international court, the French-Siam agreement in early 1900s, the 1991 Paris agreement. This is a good tool to solve the border issue. At the same time, Thailand as a country of ASEAN member shall use laws and negotiation to solve this border issue, and not military. It is understood that Thailand and Cambodia all wish to see peaceful negotiation.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:36
I hope both country will respect each other and solve this problem peaceful.
It is a good time for Cambodian to learn more about ourself as well as for Thai.
Non-violent is alway a better choice.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:36
But peaceful that we may lose, may not be acceptable. Think of it. if we agree, thai can do like this for other cases.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:36
I think that Thai will not respect Cambodia. The Preah Vihea Temple belongs to Cambodia but Thai still do not agree. I think that Thai doesn’t want peace.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:36
I do not believe that there will be violence resulting from this military escalation. Thailand has too much to lose in a border skirmish with Cambodia; there business ventures in our country are too important to jeopardize for a mere piece of land, 4.6 square kilometers. Also, I think that the Thai government doing this is simply to appease the Thai people and the opposition party, who are enraged and wanted to sack the Thai government of its current leadership. From an economical stand point, Thai has much to lose to act otherwise. Plus, if there were to be a border war, the international community would surely condemn their action, for it would be in clear violation of the 1962 International Court of Justice ruling.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36
Thaks Sothy for sharing us this news. To me, bilateral negotiation means overlapping area do exist. I don’t find any benefit for Cambodia from this bilateral negotiation at all.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36
The negotiation between the both countries failed. I supported for what the Cambodian government did not agree with Thai requests.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36
now is the problem about preah vihear or 4.6 square kilometers land?
i don’t understand why they have to confront each other. Whether ICJ gave that piece of land to cambodia or not, Cambodia must have legal document to verify that. So does ICJ (and so does Thailand). Why don’t show the world that document.
Do you think the document is posted somewhere on the internet? I want to read it myself to see which country is lying to the world and its people.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36
and you have the firsthand document of French Siames Agreement?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:36
Hello everybody, Your ideas are fine and this is good to share. I think it is not issue of land square of 4.6 km. It is the border issue, which shall be clear between Cambodia and Thailand from now on as we may not want this happen again with other border territory of our country in the future. I heard that now Prasat Tamoan of Oddar Meanchey province is covered by Thailand.
We need to solve the internal election, create a government and then all shall strongly focus on it. Now is just to not make people afraid of war or fighting.