Cambodian and Thai Bloggers on Disputed Preah Vihear Temple
Rising serious tension between Cambodia and Thailand started when UNESCO, on July 7, 2008, declared temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. The 11th century temple has long been a subject to dispute between the two nations; in 1962, Hague-based International Court of Justice ruled that the ancient Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia, a decision opposed by many Thais.
As the news of the inscription of Cambodia's 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple announced by the World Heritage Committee early this month in Quebec, Canada, a large number of text messages were sent via cellphone to share the exciting news during the midnight (Phnom Penh time).
People of the two countries witness the power of pride and nationalism, again, particularly at the time that Cambodia heading to national election on July 27 and that Thailand is struggling with her own internal politic.
Not surprisingly, as the world is more connected, at least virtually, Thai and Cambodian citizens begin their discussions on the Internet for the first time. A post of link with title “Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia,” appeared on Global Voices Online on June 24, attracted 70 comments (at the time of writing this post).
Nationalism versus Rationalism
Somongkol Teng, a former Fulbright scholar, proudly announced the official news of the newly inscribed temple on his blog, which has attracted a number of comments from his readers, including people in neighboring country Thailand.
A comment left by a Thai citizen, who identifies as Tavorn Kamboonreang, on Somongkol's blog post, has led to a long, heated discussion.
On July 10, 2008, Tavorn commented:
Dear Khamen(Cambodian) Neighbors,
You think you win the Preah Vihear World Heritage now but soon you will see that you lost because UNESCO will send 7 nations including Thailand to “invade” your country. UNESCO ripped our two countries apart by siding with you and your foxy politicians. You know where you belong. Look at Phnom Penh which was built to model after Bangkok by King Narodom who lived and worked in Bangkok under Thai Royal Patronage for years. Rejoice now but be prepared to get back to be under Thailand’s protection again because you need to be where you belong. I am your Thai neighbor and it’s my duty to help you get back to your good sense. Remember who help you when your country was under the Khmer Rouge-Pol Pot and your refugees had nowhere else to run to but Thailand. Please take care and be grateful.
Does an individual opinion reflect the Thai society in general? Thai native Isriya Paireepairit, a technology columnist for a number of Thai newspapers and magazines, wrote a post on the issue in Thai language (he also provides translation here) that:
I quoted the follow up article by Dr. Charnvit Kasetsiri. He stated that Preah Vihear is definitely belonged to Cambodia from both historical-archaeological and legal. The Thai claim (geological) has never been supported by World Court.
Another blog post of his deals with one of his friends, who lives in the United Kingdom. Isriya asked an interesting question in response to a campaign running by his friend who wants to claim back Preah Vihear temple for Thai citizens.
I quoted my conversation with my Thai friend (I'm living in UK at the moment) to demonstrate the general public's view on this incident. This friend now wants to “bring back Preah Vihear” to Thai people. I question them as ‘is Preah Vihear really belonged to us? (So we can
get it back). I also quote Thongchai Winichakul, a famous Southeast Asian History Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He wrote an article about nationalist. The title can be translated as “Preah Vihear will be yet another racism timebomb”
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Several thousand people gathered at Wat Phnom to celebrate the day. Savada Khmer [in PDF], a song composed by Samdech Sangha Raja Jhotañano Chuon Nath (1883 -1969).
Savada Khmer translated into English
All Khmers, please remember the root and history of our great country
Our boundary was wide and well known
Others always thought highly of our race
And always placed our race as the elders.We have great heritage and culture
Which has spread far and wide in the Far East.
Religion, arts and education,
Music, philosophy and strategies are all that we have spread.All Khmers, please remember our roots and history
Which speaks of the grandeur of our great race
Make up your mind and body and try hard to rebuild
In order to lift the value of our nation
To once again rise to the greatness that we once had.
Is the power of nationalism as strong as the power of love? So far, at least two public events organized in the Cambodian capital to celebrate the important event as well as to reclaim the so called ‘unity’ for the country. Donations have been made, largely by Phnom Penh-based business people, to help military at the Cambodian-Thai border. Cambodian journalism lecturer Moeun Chhean Nariddh takes a look at the history of nationalism used in the mainstream media to fight against French colonialism, then the Chinese and Vietnamese dominance. The opinionated media trainer wrote an op-ed to a daily newspaper that:
…Nevertheless, the media’s role in promoting nationalism is not new. The pioneer of Cambodian media started the first Khmer-language newspaper in 1936 with the explicit mission to promote nationalism and engage in Cambodia’s struggle for independence from French colonial rule. A nationalistic Cambodian press appeared first to challenge French rule, then the Chinese and Vietnamese dominance in Cambodia’s economy and politics, and also American “imperialism,” until the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975.
Richard, an observer and blogger at Connecting the Dots, wrote a blog post that the current Thai government, under-fired for it first supported Cambodian government in getting the temple listed, which it later withdrew due to an injunction issued by Thailand's Administrative Court to suspend any move endorsing Cambodia's bid to list the ancient temple as UNESCO's World Heritage site:
Although the court ruled against Thailand, many Thais never accepted the ruling in their hearts. As a result the signing of the documents between Thailand and Cambodia was all it took to set this off. Thailand’s ruling party the People Power Party (PPP) is under attack for a variety of reasons, this signing became just another avenue of attack. The signing was ruled to be in violation of the Thai constitution in that parliament was excluded. The reputation of the PPP of not caring about laws, rules and the Thai people and now also being seen as very possibly giving up Thai soil to Cambodia has set this nationalism movement in motion. This has lead to escalation of conflict ant the site of the temple with both Thai and Cambodian military on the scene. There is no doubt to outsiders that the temple issue is being used as leverage to force this apparently useless Thai government out.
In an article appeared in Bangkok-based Prachatai, an independent online newspaper, Harrison George discusses the history (including what led to an anti-Thai-riot in 2003) of the two countries, both are members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
And now our ignorance of Thailand’s history is threatening relations with Cambodia. We’ve seen this before. In 2003, in the run up to Cambodian elections, actress Suvanant Kongying was falsely reported in the Cambodian press (possibly by a rival company to the Mistine cosmetics she was fronting for) as saying that Angkor Wat should be given back to Thailand. ‘Given back’, because it had been stolen from Thailand by the Cambodians.
The Khmers, whose schoolbooks seem to be as nationalistically one-sided as everyone else’s, got understandably irate about this. But so did the Thais. When the news was breaking I was told by 2 Thais who had the benefit of a university education, that Suvanant’s alleged statement was so obviously untrue it must have been fabricated. I asked what they meant. Cambodia couldn’t have ‘stolen’ Angkor Wat from Thailand, they explained, because Thailand had never occupied it.
Live update from Preah Vihear province:
I've just received an update from Geffrey Cain, our Contributing Author, who is currently is Preah Vihear province to cover the news. Here is his message sent to me on July 20, 2008:
Writing from the Thai-Cambodia border where I'm covering the dispute. Needless to say, things out here are incredibly tense. Yesterday we had a major stand-off between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at a pagoda, where they raised their guns at each other and threatened to fire. Today the Thai military has deployed cannons facing our position.
74 comments
I would like to response to the blog in stating that we as Khmer should be grateful. I’ve survived the killing field and lived in the Thailand camp. I came to the US and I worked hard to get my electrical engineering degree. I would like to encourage you to talk to more Khmer who lived in the camp between late 1979 – 1983. You will discover many things what Thai in region had done to Khmer. Thai rapped our young women as they cross the border to escape the killing and the cross fire between Khmer Rough and Vietnamese; and others that I can’t express in words. Life in the camp was like a prison, I have 8 friends who were killed by Thai in the camp. So, let me put it to you this way, as I am sure you will not be able to imagine what I am trying to express; we were like the Jews and Thais were the Nazi. We had our freedom when we moved to Philippine. So, please kindly understand the history of what we went through in the Thailand camp “suffering” before asking us to be grateful. This is the very problem that we are facing under the current status quo, there are more Thai like you who jump into the conclusion very narrow minded. Now, please open up your heart and understand the history. Let’s start with your current Kingship, it was adopted from Khmer, the Buddhist practice where it came from , Khmer; you can find this by going to the Thai’s temple and read bali where it has Thai’s writing, yet, you should ask why is Khmer’s writing there as well. Now, who was in that region first, Khmer or Thai? Was Thai under the Khmer’s emperor at that time? Khmer had role that region for over 600 years. What is the history of Thai before 12 century?
Dear All,
I have been through the situation, and I do realised that there are very few Thais who claims Preah Viheah belongs to them.
The Opposition party in Thai is a real hyprocritcal, he would try anything in his power to become popular includes the cause of shame for his nation. Gentlemen this is politics, sometime politics are suck.
Politics may performs well if there is a true justice, but if there an illness it will collapse and cause chaos.
We are Asian why can’t we work together like Europe, look at Northen Ireland they were fighting years and years and finally it has come to conclusion that peace is all about sharing and working together.
I can see where the problem is coming from. the neighbour! when I say neighbour i mean those who live a real close to Border they may feel from time to time that Preah Vihear is belong to them just like English and Irish in the North.
I think by given them the right to access and the right of dual citizenship probably one of the best solution. again this is only a suggestion.
It is complicated, but again the World Court has made decision, and we must not violating this rule.
You know Opposition just admit the fact and enter a flee bargain, Go on there are lots more thing to focus in politics.
ItS so clear that preah vihear belong to cambodia.But i am sad to hear so much hate and anger.Those emotions will lead to violence and blindness.I am khmer I love my country and i want peace not hate.The past is the past we need to reconstruct our country and to heal from all the suffering.But without violence and hate.I understand the anger of khmer people but it will never bring back our great civilisation.We should support the peace between the two country because hate will bring war and desolation.DEATHS ,no more school for the childrens on both side of the country.CAmbodia just start to get up and to grow so keep the country without hate and violence,bring the light to our people and not to push each other become extremist.by the way i lost my parents during the khmer rouge regime and i was eight years old in 1975 .THAT because of hate and ignorance,. i was orphan and survive alone eating what i found in the dirt .BElieve me hate will bring nothing except misery and suffering to all people ;khmers and thais.An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”say the MAHATMA GANDHI.
sensei pat, you’re an idiot!!!
Thai soldiers invading Khmer sacred land and you want Khmer to obey Thai soldiers with arms, guns, grenades and cannons on Khmer heads. Khmers have been surviving from Thai thieves today, because Khmers stand off fighting against Thai thieves. Don’t tell me that you are a Khmer, Khmers don’t protect Khmer property and protect Khmer interest, they are not Khmers. So get lost and leave Khmers protecting Khmer property and Khmer interest from Thai thieves!!!
sensei pat,
Your past living story was very much the same as my story and we survived, but I also survived from Thai killing too.
Well make story short, Khmer rouge was the internal problem, and now this is not the internal and we have to face the issue per our Cambodian interest.
I see some looser comments that Preah Vihear international park or what so ever…; my point is if you want to make comment make sure that we Cambodian own this Temple, not Thai or any country and yhis for our interest.
KHMER KID ONE: way to go I agreed with you pal.
I do agree with you and am not protecting thailand interests at all but what am trying to say is we khmer have to stay smart in the front of the thai provocations it is clear that they always want something from us they even send our own brothers from surin to fight us.AND those khmers surin are certainly afraid of the thai autority for their family.It is not the first time that khmer surin turn their swords against us .Of course what i mean is that if we can win without any fight it would be better for us.WE have to stay smart by Asking the united nations to condemn thai invasions.and am aware that if i have to fight for my country i will do.I am khmer and proud to be.I believe they never attack they have to much to lose.
Dear All,
I hv just got this website fm my skype Friend.
It’s good and very helpful to show how Thais act to Khmer.
I hv read the Cambodia news on Saturday that some of Thai military went into our soil and our military there saw and told them this is Khmer soil, why u came here?, so they duno how to say they just digged some of our Khmer soil and carry back to their place.
“What are they trying to do? Can not win then even some of soil also must rob!!! Any Thai can explain about this???”
Sensei Pat,
I do agree with you, being a Khmer Im very proud myself that has our own country, religion and acestral temples that’s y the other dun have like us try to be invasive.
Even Im a small lady but if need to fight for my country sure will do it.
Fanie you have a very good spirit! I think it was about time that khmer people become one to defend our country.AND thank you for your understanding.WE will win this case because we are on the good side of the law.Personnaly i dont blame the thai people but the thai government and their politics of expansionist.THey have to teach the the thai the real history of our khmer civilisation.TO respect your neigbours you Ahave to learn about their culture and history before starting any judgement or prejudice.AND thai people learn the wrong history about us.
MSG to Rumtum and all thais who think you helped khmer refugees;
Are you talking about refugee camps in thailand??
I have a lot to say. thai’s army is the worst and most evil I’ve ever seen. since i was born i heard the history of the Vietcong dam tae ong on khmer head shit, but it was just heard never seen in real life, but thailand; i saw with my own eyes and its still in my head. i can never forget what thai soldiers did to my khmer people in the camp. they’re so evil killing many refugees, treating them horribly such as raping wives and daughters in front of husbands and others . i remember a time where I was just a kid, there was a family next to my dome. during the day time thai soldiers kept an eye on khmer women and girls waiting for dark to come so they could rape them such as family pu soun tahan .. 5-6 thai people tied him up and raped his 17yr old daughter and his wife right in front of him and his other small kids. they beat up him badly and in the morning pu soun got axe khmer call pu tao to walk in to tahan thai group but those tahan thai shot and killed him then made up story to tell the U N. khmer refugee dies just like a dog in thai refugee camps . another time i was not in the thai camp yet, I was in 007 camp which was belonged to serey ka jeat camp “para”. i saw a bunch of tahan thais rape two khmer girls. I believe it was over 10 soldiers that raped the 2 khmer girls right on entry way where khmers go buy stuff from thai people. after they raped them, they hung those girls underwears, tied them together and lifted them up high enough to make other khmers go under and they charge 10 bath each go under. noone wanted to go under, they just kicked them and there was no other way to go. because the patrol did not let anyone go anywhere. underwear was drenched with blood and the girls still completely naked near them in the bush and they just laugh and talk shit sip baht kaw ma sip baht uak pai then laugh as if it were something funny. many khmer guys were so shocked and mad but they didn’t know what to do because the thais had weapons and they we are just regular people. We did nothing wrong, we were just trying to go buy food supplies just to feed family make them profit anyway but instead of them being happy they treat us like a dog. this is just a few stories. i even wrote a book, i can still remember how the thais gave khmers such a hard time, like going thru hell and that doesn’t even include phnom dang rek. they took U N money and cheat them, they lied right into the U N eyes, lied to every refugee, push them to the mine and blew it up then many died all over jungle so sad. all khmers who read this article must remember if you gone thru that time of thai hell, its time to stand up fight for whats right. i’m not surprise when i heard on RFA radio that during an interview some Khmer guy volunteered to go back to join khmer troops if a war would erupt with thailand. myself also, 100% would volunteer to join too if we had a war with thai. Im sorry if i offend some good thai friend, but this is true story that I can never, in a million years, be forgotten.
Writing this caused tears coming from my eyes . I thought I’d never have to remember this devastating time ever again, but it seems I did.