Cambodia to mark 12 years of Preah Vihear Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

[geovalin]

After a long and contentious struggle, the Preah Vihear temple is set to mark its 12^th anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List today. On 7 July, the Government of Cambodia is set to organise a ceremony at the Preah Vihear Temple to mark this auspicious day.

 

The National Authority for Preah Vihear, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has been making safeguarding efforts to preserve the value and authenticity as an outstanding historical monument, whilst urging international community to continue their assistance to preserve the value of the Temple.

 

In order to preserve the site, UNESCO has been assisting the government in organising the International Coordinating Committee for the Conservation and Enhancement of the Temple of Preah Vihear (ICC-Preah Vihear), following the model of management of the Angkor World Heritage Site. Commending the Prime Minister’s leadership for the preservation of country’s heritage sites including Preah Vihear temple, Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, expressed UNESCO’s commitments for the preservation of rich cultural heritage of Cambodia.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50742088/cambodia-to-mark-12-years-of-preah-vihear-temple-as-a-unesco-world-heritage-site-today/

[Kerryd]

Sure to <deleted> off some locals I imagine. I remember the last time Thailand and Cambodia went at it, back in 2008. Lot of rhetoric and accusations that Thaksin had made a secret agreement with Cambodia to "give up Thailand's claim" to the site in exchange for some lucrative business concessions in Cambodia. (Thaksin and Hun Sen are old buddies.)

All because some idiot cartographer 113 years ago didn't do his job right and accidentally (or incompetently) drew a line on the map that didn't take the natural watershed into consideration, thus "snipping" a piece of land that should have been considered "Thai" and giving it to Cambodia.

Had he done his survey properly, the temple would be located in Thailand, like many other temples are along the border. I went to the Khao Pra Wihan (as it is known in Thailand) National Park a little over a year ago. Frikken 400 baht entrance fee for foreigners (100 for Thais). The guy collecting the money pointed out the sites I could see on a map of the park.
Little did I know that 2 of the 3 "attractions" he pointed out (the temple itself and the 2 Stupas) were on the Cambodian side of the wire. 

By wire I mean the triple layer concertina wire fence separating the Thais and Cambodians. I wandered around trying to find the sites and heard someone shout something. Looked around and saw a Thai soldier pointing at another soldier, then at me.
Not sure if the guy shouting was annoyed that the other soldier hadn't noticed the "old white guy with a camera" wander a little too close to the wire, or he was just getting his attention.
In any event, I wandered a bit more and noticed the soldier just followed behind me. I think his job was to make sure I didn't in fact try to cross the wire or do anything that might cause a ruckus. 
As I couldn't get anywhere close to the temple, not even to get a decent zoomed shot, I started to head back to the parking lot. The soldier that had been following me peeled off when he saw I was heading back to the "safe area".

The Thai military keeps a contingent right at the site and it looks like there's a small encampment on the other side, almost like a small village, at the base of the rise to the temple. Wandering around I could see camouflage bunkers and other interesting features, like the waste receptacles that were actually built to be mini bunkers that a soldier could hide in and shoot at anyone coming down the road.
Also noted all the holes in the ground from (presumably) mortar rounds during their last skirmish. Not sure why they didn't fill them in and pour new cement to cover them. Maybe left as a reminder for the troops. 

Ta Muen temple in Surin (near the border with Buriram) also sits right smack on what is now the Thai/Cambodian border. I went there on the same trip. 
Of course, when the Khmer built those temples 800-1,000 years ago, there was no border. They liked to build on high features (tops of hills/mountains) that gave commanding views of the area, and could also been seen for miles by the people in the area.

At Ta Muen, you go through a military checkpoint (no hassle) and there are signs telling you not to photograph the military camp that sites directly next to the temple. When I started to go around the base of the temple I saw a small gaggle of soldiers chatting. As I started to walk around the far end, one of them left the group and started following me. 
Found out why (sort of) as I got to the South side of the temple. There was a small dirt road into the trees heading South and barely 50 meters away was a Cambodian military contingent. The Thai soldier following me was there to make sure I didn't accidentally stray down that road (and to warn me if I tried to take any pics of the military installations).

(I'm ex-Army and I was able to easily see a number of bunkers and covered trenches around the temple facing towards the Cambodians.)

One stand out of the Ta Muen temple was the size of the laterite stones they used to build it. Huge !! I thought I was looking at a medieval fortress ! Had to be the largest laterite stones I've seen at any temple site in Thailand so far !

 

                        The South side of Ta Muen Temple in Surin                                                     Looking over at where the Preah Vihear (or Pra Viharn) temple is.
                  (the Cambodian border is a few meters behind me).                                                       I'm actually standing right at the razor wire fence.
    

I've been tempted to make another trip to Cambodia just so I can get up to Preah Vihear one day. 
It's kind of like travelling to Bangkok and walking up to the front entrance to the Grand Palace and being told "sorry, try again in 5 years" (or more).

Oh well, probably not going to happen this year at least but I've got plenty more ancient temples on my "to do" list to keep me busy for a while !

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, Kerryd said:

I've been tempted to make another trip to Cambodia just so I can get up to Preah Vihear one day.

I sincerely hope you manage it - a fantastic long day out from Siem Reap. I did the trip back in 2016 whilst in Cambodia. You are quite correct, despite the long flight of steps up to the temple starting at the Thai border, entrance is closed. You can only access the UNESCO site from within Cambodia. All vehicles have to park at a visitor center at the base of the mountain and then having paid the entrance fee you are conveyed by special motorcycle (if adventurous) or special 4x4 up a mind boggling narrow road to the summit and the temple complex. The road is one-way, up during the morning and down during the afternoon. Plenty of cafes and souvenir shops at the summit car park. When I visited, Cambodian soldiers were on patrol and in residence with sandbag barricades facing Thailand. Also present were Cambodian Tourist Police Officers who kindly assisted visitors - in my case as a Thai Tourist Police UK Volunteer, by taking me on the back of a motorcycle up to the temple itself to save my weary old ex-pat legs! If ever you get the chance - do visit!!

 

 

[VirgoSG]

Such a shame this glorious Khmer temple site is still disputed.  If there was any sense, the two nations should agree to share the spoils, and allow full access from both sides.  But I'm not holding my breath...

I was there 15 years ago, when you could enter the whole temple area from the Thai side, and I remember the visit like it was yesterday.  A rainy day, but none the worse for it...

Photos and a brief wrIte-up here:

https://pbase.com/howardbanwell/preah_vihear

[Aspaltso]

2 hours ago, andy said:

Memories...

 

2003-ish I think, rental dirt motorcycle from Phnom Penh, a few days and a few hundred kms of dirt/tracks to the base, then rode up a crazy steep brand new dirt road to the top (heard you had to climb up prior to that - yikes).  Asked around, slept in a hammock in a hut at the top for $5, then off to Siem Reap the next day.  Some amazing sections of trails with thick forest, hope there are still some trees around there, it was beautiful.

That must have been incredible. I can't imagine what the countryside in Cambodia was like back in 03. Lots of trees missing now unfortunately.