Source: Google Maps

 

In a bold move, the Thai Army has firmly rejected Google’s decision to mark the contested Ta Muean Thom temple ruins in Surin as part of Cambodia.

 

Major General Winthai Suvaree stated on Wednesday that Google Earth's markings hold no legal weight, emphasising Thailand's historical claim to the site.

 

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) insists that geographical evidence and historical administration by Thailand strongly demonstrate sovereignty over Ta Muean Thom, located in Phanom Dong Rak district.

 

They argue these ruins have been part of Thailand long before Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Registered as an archaeological site in 1935, the temple's restoration by the Fine Arts Department further underscores Thailand’s stand.

 

The RTA highlighted the involvement of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which has developed road systems for better access to the site, with artefacts showcased at the Surin National Museum.

 

Despite Google’s depiction, Thailand's claims remain steadfast against Cambodia's petition to the International Court of Justice, which they do not recognise.

 

Deputy Defence Minister General Natthapon Nakpanich expressed hope for continued dialogue with Cambodia through the General Border Committee.

 

While Cambodia's border remains closed, positive signs of resumed informal talks with Thai officials hint at potential diplomatic progress.

 

The Ta Muean Thom ruins lie at the heart of broader border disputes, yet the Thai government remains resolute in affirming its territorial rights and seeking a peaceful resolution with their Cambodian counterparts.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-03

 

 

Thai logic  would hold that because. the Netherlands built roads in Indonesia and exported multiple religious works of art to the Netherlands, that Javas still is a part of the Netherlands.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Major General Winthai Suvaree stated on Wednesday that Google Earth's markings hold no legal weight

Sure they don´t, but I am also pretty sure that the markings have been checked and follows the legal boundaries.

People need to understand only Thailand knows what is correct, not the rest of the world

He will surely be up for medals and promotions 😉

 

Time to ban Google in Thailand.

6 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Thai logic  would hold that because. the Netherlands built roads in Indonesia and exported multiple religious works of art to the Netherlands, that Javas still is a part of the Netherlands.

 

Google and Cambodia are working on what French colonist dictated were lands/borders of Cambodia, problem is they didn't take into consideration what the neighbors thought of that plan. Thailand told the French to go "F" themselves, thus we are where we are now.

I'm sick to death of Google and never use as verb. And have uninstalled all Google features that I can.

As a browser & Search Engine I use Duck Duck Go.

The Culture Minister will side with Google, I'm sure.

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

People need to understand only Thailand knows what is correct, not the rest of the world

They re-painted it so it's theirs 

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

I'm sick to death of Google and never use as verb. And have uninstalled all Google features that I can.

As a browser & Search Engine I use Duck Duck Go.

Please tell us all why, then we can possibly follow suit. I take it you use an iPhone.

I use Brave as my browser, and ChatGPT or Co-Pilot for searching everything else, sometimes Leo, Perplexity, and have been known to utilise Gemini. 

8 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Please tell us all why, then we can possibly follow suit. I take it you use an iPhone.

I use Brave as my browser, and ChatGPT or Co-Pilot for searching everything else, sometimes Leo, Perplexity, and have been known to utilise Gemini. 

Did Google Earth get it right that the Gulf of Mexico should become the Gulf of America?

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

Did Google Earth get it right that the Gulf of Mexico should become the Gulf of America?

Just now, KannikaP said:

It depends on where you live. Falklands = Malvins, English Channel = La Manche, what is Gibraltar in Spanish.

 

This is the Asian version of the Israel/Palestine conflict. It just keeps going on and on and on and on and on and on!!! 

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

I'm sick to death of Google and never use as verb. And have uninstalled all Google features that I can.

As a browser & Search Engine I use Duck Duck Go.

Did that two years ago. Took me two weeks to complete. 

I believe that the Thais waited until the time to appeal the ICJ's decision had run out, then found out that ignoring the ruling didn't change the ruling, and only then started whining.

9 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Google and Cambodia are working on what French colonist dictated were lands/borders of Cambodia, problem is they didn't take into consideration what the neighbors thought of that plan. Thailand told the French to go "F" themselves, thus we are where we are now.

 

Thailand too has had an expansionist and aggressive past in respect to land grabs. Over a few centuries, Cambodia went from a regional power to a weak and bullied state,with Siam and Vietnam both trying to dominate and grab its territory. Siam and Vietnam fought several wars over Cambodia, with the result being that Siam and Vietnam decided in 1845 that they would jointly rule Cambodia.  It was done without the free agreement of the Cambodians. Siam and Vietnam wished to carve up the country and in a desperate move to save itself, Cambodia agreed to become a procterate of France. In effect, it was Siam's overstep and greed that laid the groundwork for future French expansion into Laos.

 

I really don't think that Thailand  told the F to go F themselves. On the contrary, the horrific murder of Grosgurin, the French Commissioner of the Khammuan District Grosgurin and 17 Vietnamese  militia members who were burned alive in a house  in Kian Khet they were occupying, set Siam up for a humiliating lesson. The French subsequently sent their gunboats up the Chao Praya river and were fired upon by the Siamese defenders. The French responded by continuing to sail up to the Royal palace , anchoring off shore and giving the Siamese the ultimatum of surrendering the territory east of the Mekong, removing the occuping Siamese forces,  paying compensation for damages suffered by the French and  putting the responsible party on trial for the  mass murder  at Kien Ket or seeing the palace shelled. Siam caved in and agreed to French terms. That seems more of rubbing the Siamese nose in its poop rather than a F off to France.  

Thailand seems pretty serious about its history with the temple ruins, especially since it’s been registered and restored for a long time. The fact that there’s ongoing dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia is good, though. Hopefully, they can sort things out peacefully without things getting tense.

9 hours ago, Magictoad said:

I'm sick to death of Google and never use as verb. And have uninstalled all Google features that I can.

As a browser & Search Engine I use Duck Duck Go.

 

I see. How do you feel about Microsoft? Are they acceptable?

8 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

This is the Asian version of the Israel/Palestine conflict. It just keeps going on and on and on and on and on and on!!! 

actually the southern insurgency since 1948 is the Asian version of ongoing Israel/ Palestine conflict.

 

South Thailand insurgency - Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

On 7/3/2025 at 6:38 AM, webfact said:

Source: Google Maps

 

In a bold move, the Thai Army has firmly rejected Google’s decision to mark the contested Ta Muean Thom temple ruins in Surin as part of Cambodia.

 

Major General Winthai Suvaree stated on Wednesday that Google Earth's markings hold no legal weight, emphasising Thailand's historical claim to the site.

 

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) insists that geographical evidence and historical administration by Thailand strongly demonstrate sovereignty over Ta Muean Thom, located in Phanom Dong Rak district.

 

They argue these ruins have been part of Thailand long before Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Registered as an archaeological site in 1935, the temple's restoration by the Fine Arts Department further underscores Thailand’s stand.

 

The RTA highlighted the involvement of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which has developed road systems for better access to the site, with artefacts showcased at the Surin National Museum.

 

Despite Google’s depiction, Thailand's claims remain steadfast against Cambodia's petition to the International Court of Justice, which they do not recognise.

 

Deputy Defence Minister General Natthapon Nakpanich expressed hope for continued dialogue with Cambodia through the General Border Committee.

 

While Cambodia's border remains closed, positive signs of resumed informal talks with Thai officials hint at potential diplomatic progress.

 

The Ta Muean Thom ruins lie at the heart of broader border disputes, yet the Thai government remains resolute in affirming its territorial rights and seeking a peaceful resolution with their Cambodian counterparts.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-03

 

 

Google stay out of it 

I guess this will go over to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as did the Preah Vihear temple dispute, which TH lost to KH.

12 hours ago, BayArea said:

actually the southern insurgency since 1948 is the Asian version of ongoing Israel/ Palestine conflict.

 

South Thailand insurgency - Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

Oh, I’m sorry. I had no idea that there could be only one equivalent to that conflict in Thailand.