Thailand Opens Replica of Preah Vihear

[geovalin]

Khmer Times/Ros Chanveasna and Jonathan Cox

After five months of construction, the Thai military has opened its scale replica of the Preah Vihear temple complex on Pha Mor E-Daeng cliff, with officials telling local press they hope the model, which is a tenth of the size, will draw more tourists to the Thai side of the disputed border. Since 2009, the Cambodian government has blocked direct access from Thailand’s Kantharalak district in Sisaket province to the 11th century Hindu temple complex.

Thai officials could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Col Thanasak Mitraphanont, the former chief of the 23rd Ranger Regiment and a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly, told the Bangkok Post on Monday that the replica temple “aims to send a message to Cambodia that Thailand is ready to jointly develop the land.” According to the Post, the replica, which overlooks the temple complex itself, cost 5 million baht (about $140,000). However, it is doubtful whether the miniature Preah Vihear will persuade Cambodian government officials to allow joint development of the temple complex or reopen the border.

“We have no expectation to reopen the [Thai] entrance to Preah Vihear,” General Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for the National Defense Ministry, told Khmer Times. “The decision to reopen depends on the government,” he added, declining to respond when asked which government officials would be responsible for such a decision. Pou Sothirak, head of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said that despite Thailand’s efforts towards joint development, Cambodia should maintain control of the management of the temple complex.

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/24211/thailand-opens-replica-of-preah-vihear/

[Bob12345]

If the model is a tenth of the size, were the bribes also only a 10th of the normal going rate?

[SOTIRIOS]

...imitation is flattering...but....

...wonder if they would have been as welcoming if the other side had done something similar....

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Waste of money. Talking about money, where did it come from (to build the fake) ? Or do the army have millions lying around in their budget (if so why are they financing non military expenditure from their budget)? Or was it done with "donations". like another famous park ?

[sanukjim]

Waste of money. Talking about money, where did it come from (to build the fake) ? Or do the army have millions lying around in their budget (if so why are they financing non military expenditure from their budget)? Or was it done with "donations". like another famous park ?

The army does have millions around To release some of that millions they come up with a plane to build this replica of the temple.Lets say that the cost of the project is 500,000 baht.The head of the project gets a relative or in this case, another army commander to bid on the construction 5,000,000 baht thus releasing 4,500,000 to be shared with a few fellow army commanders. Viola,a new car or two.

[Srikcir]

One-tenth the size, one-tenth the attraction.

Cambodia needn't care.