TIME TO END THE THAI-CAMBODIAN CONFLICT OVER PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

Preah Vihear Temple is a Hindu temple built during the Khmer Empire, situated atop a 525-metre cliff in the Preah Vihear province in Cambodia. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia. During different periods it has been located in Cambodia and Thailand in turn. Following Cambodian independence and during the Thai occupation of the temple site, it was listed as being in Thai territory. The ongoing conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over land has led to periodic outbreaks of violence for more than a hundred years. Maps drawn up by other authorities and court cases ruled in favor of Cambodia being the rightful owners in spite of the fact that access to the temple site was very difficult. It seemed that a peaceful solution had arrived but that was not the case.

The scar was again opened in 2008 when the Temple was to be declared a World Heritage site with both Thailand and Cambodia agreeing. It did not go according to plan as Thailand backed out. This current disagreement has led to a continuing presence of troops from both sides of the border. Physical conflict implying multiple deaths are becoming the only approach between the two countries while the war of words is still on and not likely to solve anything.

Thailand has now submitted a 900-page report to the ICJ, while Cambodia did the same thing in April 2011 in order to interpret its 1962 verdict that awarded temple ownership to them. However, it never clarifies the ownership of the area around the temple. The ICJ has asked both countries to submit their written observation by November 21 (that is two days ago). Thailand is willing to promote a smoothly discussion with Cambodia having in mind that the government they will be treating with this time has nothing to do with the previous government, prior to the Cambodian independency.

Meanwhile, Cambodia has asked Indonesia, as the outgoing chair for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to continue its role as mediator for the border dispute. As Cambodia has officially become the 2012 ASEAN chair, the country cannot act as both player and referee at the same time in negotiations about the border dispute with Thailand so the need for Indonesia to take part as a mediator on this issue is quite important.

I agree in this case that following the map given by France in 1907 cannot really tell whether a border territory is part of one country or the other one. I think this should have been discussed by the two countries themselves. The idea that Indonesia should take part on the conflict is right now a necessity because as I have said before, Cambodia now, taking into account its position as in the Asean. This conflict needs an outsider who can play the arbitrator role. The question now is, Is Indonesia really impartial within this conflict? This is an important fact because not resolving this situation would lead into an even longer and harmful conflict that has been going on for too long. I think now is the right moment. The situation in Cambodia has changed and the relation between the two countries, besides the obvious conflict, is (short of) getting better. As one could say, it’s now or never. So let’s hope for the now instead of the never.

http://pattayatoday.net/news/thailand-news/thailand-hands-in-border-report-to-icj/