[Tlc] TC-border politics

[justinm at ucr.edu]

See two stories below.
Thanks,
justin


http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/topstories.php?id=128602
 
Cambodia stays cool

By Prasit Saengrungruang in Aranyaprathet

Despite concerns about a political backlash similar to the ransacking of the Thai Embassy in 2003, the Cambodian public and media are reacting calmly to the raging Thailand controversy over Preah Vihear temple.

    Read more on the Preah Vihear issue in Sunday Perspective - Click here)

"Cambodia has the right to seek a World Heritage status for Preah Vihear temple, and Thai people also have the right to protest against it," said Mr Sou Chamroeun, deputy director of Bayon television station in Phnom Penh .

"The Cambodian government and its people understand the issues raised by Thai politicians and they believe bilateral relations will not be harmed," Mr Sou said in a telephone interview with Perspective last Thursday.

The interview was conducted at the same time as the no-confidence debate in the Thai parliament, where the opposition Democrat party accused Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama of acting beyond his authority by signing a joint communique with Cambodia to have the ancient temple listed as a World Heritage site.

"The World Court has ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia and everyone must respect its ruling," said Mr Sou, who is also a deputy chairman of the Cambodian Writers Association.

He dismissed fears about adverse reactions against the Thai people and businessmen living in Cambodia. "It is unlikely that there will be a repeat of the 2003 events," he said.

In January 2003, a Cambodian newspaper article falsely alleged that a Thai actress claimed that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand. Other Cambodian print and radio media picked up the report and furthered the nationalistic sentiment which resulted in riots in Phnom Penh on January 29. The Thai Embassy was burned and properties of Thai businesses were vandalised.

Mr Sou's views are shared by Mr Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information of Cambodia, who said any problems concerning the temple's boundaries should be settled by the joint Thai-Cambodian committee, which holds regular meetings.

In his opinion, both Thailand and Cambodia will benefit from tourism and related businesses if Preah Vihear temple is listed as a World Heritage Site. In fact, he noted, Thailand would gain more than Cambodia because most of the tourists would have to pass through Thailand in order to visit the ancient temple.

During the censure debate, the Democrats insisted the Thai government's support for Cambodia's unilateral listing of Preah Vihear would remove Thailand's right to have ownership of the temple reviewed. Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cambodian map that Foreign Minister Noppadon had acknowledged could put Thailand at a disadvantage in talks to settle the borderline with Cambodia .

The Thai media have demanded to know why a number of Cambodians have moved into a disputed area near the temple. If these Cambodians stay there permanently, it might cause Thailand to lose part of the area in dispute.

On this issue, Mr Hourt Song Hak, a reporter for the Cambodian daily Koh Santipap, agreed that the Cambodian settlers must be moved out of the area. Other than that, it is the Cambodian government's right to seek the listing of Preah Vihear, which belongs to Cambodia, as a World Heritage Site, he told Perspective.

Interestingly, the Cambodian reactions to the controversy are typically in stark contrast to the nationalistic mood of Thai politicians, media and academics.

Thai historian Thepmontri Limpaphayom has suggested that if the Cambodian request is put on the agenda of the World Heritage Committee in Quebec early next month, Thailand's World Heritage Committee should resign to pressure other member states of the World Heritage Committee to postpone considering the issue.

Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit said the Royal Thai Air Force had already put its transport planes on standby in case it was necessary to evacuate Thais from Cambodia if the issue gets out of hand.

During the height of violence in Phnom Penh on Jan 29, 2003 - when rioters attacked the Thai Embassy and the premises of Thai-owned businesses, including Shin Corp, then owned by the family of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - the Thai government sent military aircraft to Phnom Penh to evacuate Thai nationals, while angry Thai protesters demonstrated outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attributed the government's failure to prevent the attacks to incompetence, and noted that the riots were stirred up by extremists. The then chairman of the National Assembly, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, claimed that opposition leader Sam Rainsy had directed the attacks. Rainsy, instead, said he had tried to prevent the violence.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=128592
 
Democrats rap Cambodian foreign minister
 
 

The Democrat Party on Saturday hit back at remarks by Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who accused "some Thai politicians" of turning the Preah Vihear temple issue against the otherwise warm ties between the two neighbouring countries.

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, deputy secretary-general of Democrat Party, a former deputy foreign minister and now serving as the Democrats' shadow foreign minister, said his party was not happy after "an important person in Thailand's neighbouring country" expressed negative views on politics in Thailand.

It was understood that the Cambodian foreign minister was criticising the opposition for bringing the temple issue to parliament this week - specifically the Democrats.

"The Democrat Party reaffirms its stance which benefits every party," said the Democrat's statement.

"The party realises historical, architectural, cultural and religious significances, and thinks it is most appropriate to register Preah Vihear. But the registration must be carried out with proper principle and in line with existing atmosphere."

The shadow minister said his Democrat Party attached utmost importance on "warm relations and good cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia, but said that relations must be based on mutual benefits, understanding and a determination not to take advantage of each other".

It is not only the Democrat Party which is worried about what the Thai government had done on Preah Vihear, the statement said. Senators, journalists, lawyers, academics and representatives of the wider community are also unhappy.

The Administrative Court issued an injunction on Saturday ordering a temporary halt in carrying out further activities related to the Thai cabinet's endorsement of the Cambodian map of Preah Vihear. (See details in Top Stories)

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Friday accused Thai opposition politicians of exploiting the cross-border dispute to advance their own domestic political agenda. He warned that they might endanger bilateral relations.

He warned that the Preah Vihear issue could "affect the very good friendship and cooperation our two countries have had so far." (TNA)


______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu