Thailand's Preah Vihear Nightmare

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Thailand's Preah Vihear nightmare

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

The dispute over the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple will forever be a nightmare unless Thailand can form a common stand to negotiate with Cambodia.

Without a consensus in society, even the International Court of Justice may not be able to bring about a successful conclusion to the long-festering dispute.

And the country is likely to plunge deeper into misery if and when the ICJ issues interpretation of the 1962 judgement concerning Preah Vihear.

Presently attention is being focused on the ICJ's order for provisional measures, particularly the provisional demilitarised zone and the withdrawal of Thai and Cambodian military personnel.

But the ICJ's order goes beyond provisional measures. By an unanimous decision, the 16 presiding judges rejected Thailand's request for dismissal.

This means the ICJ will proceed to interpret the 1962 judgement as per the Cambodian request.

Following two public hearings in May, the judges have outlined interpretation to cover three issues.

First issue is the meaning and scope of Preah Vihear vicinity on Cambodian territory. At issue is not the precinct of the temple but its vicinity.

Thailand contends instantaneous compliance on the judgement pertaining to vicinity on the Cambodian side of the frontier. But the two countries appear to have differing views on frontier and vicinity.

Second issue is whether the obligation for troops withdrawal imposed on Thailand in 1962 is of the continuing or instantaneous character.

Legal jargon aside, the ICJ is about to interpret whether Thailand was right to remove troops from certain areas but keep on the deployment at other areas surrounding the temple.

Third issue is whether the 1962 judgement did or did not recognise with binding force the line shown on the map (drawn up in 1907 by the Franco-Siamese Mixed Commission) as representing the frontier between Cambodia and Thailand.

Interpretation on this last issue is most critical because the ICJ will either validate or invalidate Thailand's claim in regard to the Thai-Cambodian borders pertaining to the temple.

If Thailand continues to allow partiship and domestic political rivalry to cloud judgement, then the prospects for two neighbouring countries to achieve a win-win solution is virtually nil with or without the ICJ's interpretation and provisional measures.

All sides, particularly the rival Democrat and Pheu Thai parties, must form consensus on how to handle the temple's vicinity, otherwise the country may end up an outcast in the international community.

-- The Nation 2011-07-20

[lovelomsak]

I think this quote from this article says it all

Quote

All sides, particularly the rival Democrat and Pheu Thai parties, must form consensus on how to handle the temple's vicinity, otherwise the country may end up an outcast in the international community.

Unquote

As just an observer of things the above quote is my worst nightmare. I was so confident Thailand was on its way to becoming a major player in the world economy, but it appears perhaps I was wrong. There appears to be just to much internal strife to let it happen.As the old saying goes "They are shooting themselves in the foot"

[Steely Dan]

The temple spat is symptomatic of a larger malaise. Geographically Thailand has loads going for it, but if a selfish power struggle waged by little men with big egos continues then Thailand will hit the self-destruct button. If the army are intent on keeping their influence over Thailand then the Preah Vehear temple farce will be the warning sign pointing to such an eventuality.

[tragickingdom]

There is no nightmare, there never was a nightmare, till a handful of yellow shirts supported by the Thai equivalent of the Murdoch press "the Nation" who needed a subject to divert attention from democracy raping generals. A new government will resolve the problem in months.

[backtonormal]

There is no nightmare, there never was a nightmare, till a handful of yellow shirts supported by the Thai equivalent of the Murdoch press "the Nation" who needed a subject to divert attention from democracy raping generals. A new government will resolve the problem in months.

Agree never was a problem. This was squared away on 3rd July. Two mates dont squabble over a pile of rubble.

[geovalin]

There is no nightmare, there never was a nightmare, till a handful of yellow shirts supported by the Thai equivalent of the Murdoch press "the Nation" who needed a subject to divert attention from democracy raping generals. A new government will resolve the problem in months.

You are right, this border problem is artificially created by yellow shirts to make a war.

But remember: A yellow shirt wish is an order. Yellow shirts are the political tool of the army and of the invisible hand. If they (army, invisible hand and yellow shirt) want troubles at the border there will have troubles, even with a wise gvt.

[Asa]

The Thai can live fine without the temple. It was closed to Thai during Vietnam occupation and Khmer Rouge 1976 offensive push to General Lonnol forces. If does not really matter, trade and crossing border will remain the same.

I visited the site twice, last time 15 years ago. At the end of paved road, there was small creek running across. We have to walk down to it and then up on the other side to meet the base of the stairs. It was on Thai side with many Thai troopers. The border then is at the 19th staircase where there was a gate with Cambodian flag and few Khmer soldiers. Nothing much on the temple but ruins and dog excrement. Spectacular view at the cliff though, and we can see Chom Kasan village clearly from here.

[BanTamo]

having logged about 30 visits between 1999 - 2003 i can assure you the site is certainly not a 'pile of rubble.' its a spectacular part of world heritage and incredibly fragile without a proper management plan. but it is a fact that the new government will have this damaging situation back in order within days of taking office.