KPV - The Temple Of Doom

[Andrew Hicks]

Khao Phra Viharn, the Khmer style temple in Cambodia just over the border from Si aket has become a political football, doomed once again to be a bone of contention between the two countries.

I've been there ten times and want to go another ten but it's hard to follow the arguments without maps.

The Democrats are saying that if Thailand participates in applying for listing as a World Heritage Site, her sovereignty to 4.6 square kilometres of territory will be lost. This must be nonsense and an irresponsible use of a difficult issue as a political issue, but I have an important question.

Does anyone know??? Has anyone seen a map of the said lost square kilometres??? And if so where are they?

The car park or what?

There have been references to the pond being in Thailand. What pond? Not the stone lined pool half way up the avenues surely?

The decision of the World Court was by reference to maps drawn up in the colonial era so why is there now such uncertainty as to where the border runs?

Love the Samak government or love them not but I have to applaud their positive pproach to co-operating with the Cambodian government on this issue. At least I think I do... but I haven't seen the map.

[Scott]

Yes, this issue seems like a tempest in a tea pot, but I guess that's because it's not OUR land!

[tuky]

Geographically, surely it must be Thai?

Having said that, whether it belongs to Thailand or Kampuchea/Cambodia it is still a wondrous place to visit.

I carried my daughter up the steps, now that is something I will never forget (or perhaps recover from?).

[Andrew Hicks]

Geographically, surely it must be Thai?

Having said that, whether it belongs to Thailand or Kampuchea/Cambodia it is still a wondrous place to visit.

I carried my daughter up the steps, now that is something I will never forget (or perhaps recover from?).

I agree it should be in Thailand but there's no going back on the decision of the World Court now.

The judges reached a very formalistic decision in favour of Cambodia on grounds that the Thais appeared to have acquiesced in the agressive claims of the French based on maps prepared by them which included the temple within French Indo-China. The Thais just smiled and said mai pen rai.

The usual presumption in international law is that a border follows the watershed which in this case is the top of the cliff, thus putting the temple complex in Thailand. But that was not how the decision went and now it's time for the Thais to acquiesce and accept it graciously.

But dear friends,my question is still not answered.

Is there no Thaivisa geezer who can tell me...

... WHERE ARE THE CRUCIAL 4.6 SQUARE KILOMETERS THAT THE THAIS ARE STILL DISPUTING???

[Payboy]

... WHERE ARE THE CRUCIAL 4.6 SQUARE KILOMETERS THAT THE THAIS ARE STILL DISPUTING???

it's the empty plot between the democrats ears...

[slimdog]

A bit more info can be found at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/main_dispute.html

http://www.preah-vihear.com

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=690

links added

Edited July 1, 2008 by slimdog

[midasthailand]

Khao Phra Viharn, the Khmer style temple in Cambodia just over the border from Si aket has become a political football, doomed once again to be a bone of contention between the two countries.

I've been there ten times and want to go another ten but it's hard to follow the arguments without maps.

The Democrats are saying that if Thailand participates in applying for listing as a World Heritage Site, her sovereignty to 4.6 square kilometres of territory will be lost. This must be nonsense and an irresponsible use of a difficult issue as a political issue, but I have an important question.

Does anyone know??? Has anyone seen a map of the said lost square kilometres??? And if so where are they?

The car park or what?

There have been references to the pond being in Thailand. What pond? Not the stone lined pool half way up the avenues surely?

The decision of the World Court was by reference to maps drawn up in the colonial era so why is there now such uncertainty as to where the border runs?

Love the Samak government or love them not but I have to applaud their positive pproach to co-operating with the Cambodian government on this issue. At least I think I do... but I haven't seen the map.

Andrew, in your post you seem to have omitted any reference to the supposed deal done to allow Thaksin to build a casino on a Cambodian island, said deal is the reason that the Samak government so readily agreed to the Cambodian claim, according to some in opposition. I do not have an opinion either way, I'm just pleased that the site is to be listed (no matter what country it is in).

[Andrew Hicks]

A bit more info can be found at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/main_dispute.html

http://www.preah-vihear.com

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=690

links added

Thanks indeed for these responses which are very helpful. A close study of the early nineteenth century boundary commission maps compared to those you have shown me would be necessary to understand the basis of the current dispute.

However, a Thai government should cooperate with Cambodia in every way possible with a joint or other application for listing as a World Heritage Site as Thailand as the main access point for tourists has the most to gain. This is what they seem to have tried to do, though as always motives are questionable.

The temple is sadly under-exploited for tourism. It is a very hot place and an early start is ideal, yet there is no accomodation on the Thai side.

No, I tell a lie. There is an excellent place run by a farang called Trond. Suan Loong Daeng is a delightful homestay for the night before if your resulting hangover does not make scaling the steps up to the temple an experience that causes a pounding in the temples.

I hope the dispute doesn't drag on as I feel bad for the local vendors who lose their liveilihoods when the temple is closed for fisticuffs.

Incidentally, is the temple open at the moment or has it been closed again?