Preah vihear temple, set on top of the Dangrek Mountains in between Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province and Thailand's North Eastern Si Sa Ket Province the temple has been the site of centuries of occupation and conflict. Building started in the 9th century but most of what still stays today was built in the 11th and 12th centuries by the Khmer Kings Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II. I actually predates Angkor Wat (Cambodia's other world famous temple complex) by around 100 years. The site was occur in the earlier period of the Hindu deity Shiva through the mountain gods of Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara and the complex is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods. To be more details inscriptions at the temple show accounts of King Suryavarman II including activities such as religious rituals and festivals. In recent years the temple has been a popular tourist attraction with a steady stream of visitors which was arriving from the easily from the way of Thai side. Due to the temple's location on the edge of a cliff the Cambodian entrance is somewhat more difficult to pass, although significant infrastructure development is expected in the next few years. Cambodia and Thailand took the matter to the ICJ in 1959 and agreed to abide by whatever ruling was issued because of that was unable to resolve the situation bilaterally. Thailand was confident of a positive outcome to their own benefit but in hindsight they were badly informed and believed far too much in their own propaganda. In 1962 judgment was made in Cambodia's favor that assigned them sovereignty of Preah Vihear and ordered the Thai Army to withdraw from the area. In June 1962, International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague to rule on the question of which country had sovereignty over Preah Vihear and ordered the Thai Army to withdraw from the Preah vihear temple. The ICJ's decision to rest on the fact that over many decades the Bangkok government had not border disputed that agree with the map that was drawn up by the French, and agreed to at the time by the Siamese authorities, that incorporated Preah Vihear into Cambodian territory.. Fortunately, Preah Vihear suffered only very little damage over Khmer Rouge period. Especially, preah vihear was became a world heritage in July07, 2008. To sum up, before and after Preah Vihear temple became the world heritage, Cambodia and Thailand has many conflict.
III. Cambodia and Thailand conflict
In the past, both country has also has a clash with each other in 2003 about Angkor Wat temple case, when a Thai TV actress said that she will come to Cambodia unless Cambodia give Angkor wat temple to Thailand. At that time, many Cambodian were disappointed with her and most of student and workers make demonstrate (there was burned on the Thai ambassador), moreover, at that time all the TV in Cambodia no longer have Thai movies until now . Cambodia and Thailand diplomatic relation become very worse after our Prime minister appoint former Thai Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to be his economic adviser. In 2008 while their having ASEAN meeting, Cambodia also suggest ASEAN's assistance to find the solution of peaceful settlement of Thailand border conflict, but because of its strict adherence to the noninterference principle, but ASEAN ask Cambodia to resolve the dispute with Thailand; as the result negotiation were failed to reach a solution. After Cambodia putting Preah vihear temple as the world heritage, Thailand did not satisfied with it, they said they had a map show that Preah Vihear is refer to them but Cambodia also show their map that came from France unlike Thai. After this, Thailand said that even Preah vihear temple refers to Cambodia but the land surround Cambodia was their-own land not Cambodia. Therefore, it led to the conflict between Cambodian and Thailand from 3rd October to 18th, there had a small clashes between Cambodian and Thailand; wounding two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier. Mean while, Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, claim to Thailand Prime minister to withdraw from Cambodia. In January 2010, there also have also had another clashes from 24th to 31th January, 2010, The first small conflict, one Thai soldier was killed, with Cambodian troop's firingAK-47assault rifles and B-40 rocket propelled grenades. And another small conflict in April 2010 clash, on April 16th 2010,Cambodia and Thai Forces opened fire with each other near Cambodia's northwestern border but no one killed from both side. Moreover, The Thai military confirmed the shoot-out fortunately; nobody was injured. Last but not least, both countries also took their own ambassadors from each other to their countries.
VI. Weakness of ICJ & Solution
We had discussed about the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand on preah Vihear temple and now it is the time for us to talking about some weakness of International Court and justice. Justice (ICJ). As we already, on June 15th, 1962, ICJ made the judgment that recognize that Preah Vihear was in the territory of Cambodia by nine votes of twelve judgments based on the Franco-Siamese Mixed Commissions. Moreover, ICJ also remands Thailand to withdraw from Preah Vihear temple. By contrast, in 2008 why Thailand still claims that the land that surrounding Preah Vihear Temples is their own? Next, why ICJ did not come to show that those land are belonging to Cambodia? So, when both countries reach a solution, if both countries still claim that those lands were belong to them. Both countries still show about the differences map that show about their right to control the land surrounding Preah Vihear Temple. Like Cambodia, using the map that was draw by French and Thailand using the map that called Annex I, and we did not know clearly that the Annex I map come from and who is the wideness. Even ICJ had claim that Preah Vihear Temple is belong to Cambodia but Thailand still want to get the surrounding land without any useful evident. Moreover, when Cambodia made a meeting to discussion for finding a solution Thailand always disagree and sometime they did not come to join due to the Cambodia daily Newspaper. In addition, ICJ seems to be quite because they did use any enforcement to Thailand to respect what they had claimed. As we already know, both countries are the member of ASEAN but when Cambodian asks ASEAN for taking any action in this conflict, ASEAN was disagree. The reason this conflict because of ASEAN has to respect the non-interference. Moreover, Cambodia also asks for UN to help but it seem like UN cannot involved solving the problem in this conflict Last but not least, we could not find any possible solution if both countries still remind that the land surrounding Preah Vihear Temple is their own unless both countries agree to respect one of those map. By the way, we will see the future perspective and conclusion in the Next MC, that MC #5.
V. Future perspective and conclusion
After we have known about the relation between Cambodia and Thailand, ICJ and Preah Vihear issue, Conflict between Cambodia and Thailand as well as the weakness of ICJ and some solution, now it time for us to know more clearly about future perspective of Preah Vihear temple. After the Prime Minister Hun Sen from Cambodia had the fourth meeting with Prime minister from Thai land, they reach the solution by do not have conflict with both countries. Moreover, both countries allow people from their country to come to another country without VISA for 14 days from 16 December 2010, and Thailand also bring their goods to do a business trade in Koh Pech Center. If we look on that solution, we would see that both countries would be living in the peaceful but on 17 December 2010, some military from Thailand come into the Preah Vihear border. Therefore, we can say that Thailand and Cambodia conflicts will take longer time to end or maybe it endless until Thailand give up their ambitious to the Cambodia territory. In conclusion, Cambodia and Thailand conflict would be end but it take longer time that we cannot estimate. Moreover, after this conflict end their relation will be closer again like before2008.
