SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog » border dispute

Indonesian observers to be sent to disputed border

noelbynature — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:41:00 +0000

Indonesia confirms that a team of observers will be sent to the disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand at Preah Vihear.

Preah Vihear, cc image

Indonesian Observer Team Will Head to Cambodia-Thai Border
Jakarta Globe, 17 January 2012

In the wake of recent developments related to the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Monday that Indonesia would continue the long-delayed plan to send an Indonesian observer team to the border.

“I can confirm this thanks to the positive outcome of discussions between the Thai and Cambodian governments,” Marty told the Jakarta Globe.

“Both countries reaffirmed their wish to have an Indonesian observer team in the 4.6-square kilometer provisional demilitarized zone as a follow up to the International Court of Justice ruling,” he added, referring to the disputed area surrounding the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple, to which both countries have claims.

Full story here.

Preah Vihear: ICJ orders troop withdrawal on both countries

noelbynature — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:48:02 +0000

The International Court of Justice orders Cambodia and Thailand to both withdraw their troops from the disputed area, setting up a demilitarized zone while the court prepares to clarify its previous 1962 decision to award Cambodia Preah Vihear.

Thai-Cambodian troops ‘must leave Preah Vihear temple’
BBC, 18 July 2011

Thailand, Cambodia ordered to withdraw troops
The Nation, 18 July 2011

ICJ Ruling
The Nation, 18 July 2011

UN court orders Thai, Cambodian troops to withdraw
Channel NewsAsia, 19 July 2011

The UN’s highest court has ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw troops from a disputed border region near an ancient temple complex.

Cambodia had asked the International Court of Justice for a ruling after fighting broke out around the Preah Vihear temple earlier this year.

The temple is in Cambodia. Both nations claim some of the surrounding area.

The judgement is part of a long-running case in which the ICJ is attempting to clarify earlier border rulings.The UN’s highest court has ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw troops from a disputed border region near an ancient temple complex.

Cambodia had asked the International Court of Justice for a ruling after fighting broke out around the Preah Vihear temple earlier this year.

The temple is in Cambodia. Both nations claim some of the surrounding area.

The judgement is part of a long-running case in which the ICJ is attempting to clarify earlier border rulings.

Thailand pulls out of Unesco

noelbynature — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:07:22 +0000

The big news over the weekend is Thailand’s withdrawal from the Unesco World Heritage Convention, after the World Heritage committee supposedly decided to accept Cambodia’s management plan (The plan was apparently tabled for discussion). It looks like Thailand has upped the ante now, and with their withdrawal it means that their country no longer has to comply with Unesco rulings. I wonder how this withdrawal will affect their relations with Cambodia and also, what their resignation means for their other world heritage sites like Ban Chiang, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Also, how does the current Thai elections, scheduled for this Sunday, fit into this issue?

Border villagers living in fear
Bangkok Post, 27 June 2011

Cabinet to discuss WHC implications
Bangkok Post, 27 June 2011

Thailand withdraws from World Heritage Convention
VOV News, 27 June 2011

UNESCO Director-General regrets the announcement of Thailand’s intention to denounce the 1972 World Heritage Convention
Unesco Press, 26 June 2011

Thai leader defends leaving UN heritage site body
AP, via Today, 26 June 2011

Thailand quits heritage body amid temple row
AFP, via Saigon Giai Phong, 26 June 2011

Thailand pulls out of World Heritage Convention
MCOT, 26 June 2011

Government to pull out of WHC
Bangkok Post, 26 June 2011

Thailand threatens to quit World Heritage group
Bangkok Post, 25 June 2011

Preah Vihear plan set for UNESCO review
Phnom Penh Post, 24 June 2011

The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has expressed her deep regret following the declaration of the Thai Minister Suwit Khunkitti during the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee being held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 19 to 29 June 2011, on the intention of Thailand to denounce the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Irina Bokova reiterated that “The World Heritage Convention of 1972 is not only the foremost international instrument for the preservation and protection of the worldâ€™s cultural and natural properties which have Outstanding Universal Value, but also widely recognized as an important and indispensable tool to develop and encourage international cooperation and dialogueâ€.

Contrary to widely circulated media reports, the World Heritage Committee did not discuss the Management Plan of the Temple of Preah Vihear nor did it request for any reports to be submitted on its state of conservation. Moreover, it needs to be clarified that UNESCOâ€™s World Heritage Centre never pushed for a discussion of the Management Plan by the Committee.

The politics behind Preah Vihear

noelbynature — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:25:49 +0000

I like Al Jazeera. As a news network, I’ve found the overage to be pretty good, especially when compared to the other western, more established networks (*cough* CNN). In this feature piece, the politics behind the conflict at Preah Vihear is discussed, with particular focus on the Thai side of the border.

Preah Vihear, wikicommons image

Who does the Preah Vihear temple belong to?
Al Jazeera, 04 June 2011

Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Kraisak Choonhavan is alarmed by the impact of ultra-nationalism on his own government. “The PAD has been critical of the Thai government for the past two years. Now they have become jingoistic, which is very dangerous,” he said.

Recent fighting between Thai troops and the Cambodian army in the disputed border area adjoining the temple inflicted minor damage and defaced part of the stone walls in early February 2011. Even the UNESCO flag of protection for ancient monuments suffered bullet holes.

Responding to rolling street protests by his former PAD allies in the capital Bangkok earlier this year, the Thai prime minister assured the public that the border clash “shows that we never fail to protect our sovereignty” and even called upon UNESCO to revoke the World Heritage listing of the Preah Vihear temple.

Dr Paul Chambers, a Thai politics specialist at Payap University in Chiangmai, told Al Jazeera, “the Yellow Shirts and the Thai Patriots’ Network have succeeded in building up an ever-growing Thai nationalist frenzy in Bangkok”.

With the ruling Democrat Party led by prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva still playing the “Cambodia card”, there appears to be zero chance of resolving the border dispute before the election.

Thai academic Dr Pavin Chachavalpongpun, based at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, told Al Jazeera that “the current conflict is not really about Thai-Cambodian conflict, it is more about Thailand’s own conflict”.

Cambodian-Thai conflict fuelled by ignorance

noelbynature — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:54:10 +0000

I suspect that the present conflict over the shared borders between Cambodia and Thailand are fuelled by politics and parties capitalising on nationalist pride more than historical or archaeological accuracy. So it’s no surprise, and in some sense it is, that students don’t know about the histories of their neighbouring countries which has also contributed to the heated arguments over the ownership of the temple and the land surrounding it.

Border Conflict Helped by Ignorance: Scholar
VOA News Khmer – 05 April 2011

While Cambodia and Thailand continue their protracted dispute over the border, scholars in the US said last week both neighbors should look deeper into their history and remove internal politics to ease the tension.

…

While acknowledging that Thai-Cambodian conflicts have deep roots, he also noted that both countries have little understanding of their related histories. Students in Thailand know little about the history of Angkor Wat, while Cambodians remain unaware of their religious ties to Thailand, he said.

Unesco representative meets with Thai and Cambodian officials over Preah Vihear

noelbynature — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:22:20 +0000

Over the last week, an envoy from Unesco has been in talks with the Thai and Cambodian governments over the dispute at the Preah Vihear border as well as to inspect the damage done to the temple from the recent fighting. The envoy will visit the temple with Indonesian observers (who are appointed on behalf of ASEAN) in a couple of weeks time.

UNESCO envoy due on Sunday
Phnom Penh Post, 23 Feb 2011

UNESCO Envoy To Visit Cambodia, Thailand
Bernama, 24 Feb 2011

Unesco envoy to meet Kasit, Suwit
Bangkok Post, 25 Feb 2011

Proposed Thai-Cambodian JBC In Jakarta, March 7-8
Bernama, 25 Feb 2011

Unesco told to delay consideration
The Nation, 26 Feb 2011

Unesco special envoy ‘supports Thai stance’
Bangkok Post, 26 Feb 2011

UNESCO envoy arrives
Phnom Penh Post, 27 Feb 2011

A special envoy from UNESCO arrived in the Kingdom today to discuss the preservation of Preah Vihear temple following deadly clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border near the 11th-century site earlier this month.

Koichiro Matsuura, formerly the head of UNESCO, will be in Cambodia until Tuesday to hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and other senior officials.

Matsuura was originally scheduled to travel to Preah Vihear on Tuesday to assess the damage sustained by the temple over four days of fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops that left at least 10 people dead and displaced thousands of civilians.

The envoy said today, however, that this visit had been delayed.

Chuch Phoeurn, chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said the trip had been postponed for two weeks to allow Cambodia to prepare for the arrival of military observers from Indonesia who will be monitoring the situation along the border as a result of an agreement reached between Thailand and Cambodia last week.

Full story on the Phnom Penh Post.

Preah Vihear: ASEAN to send observers

noelbynature — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:01:41 +0000

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will send monitors to the disputed border at Preah Vihear to assess the situation there. The sending of ASEAN monitors is seen as a compromise between Thailand’s and Cambodia’s differing stands on resolving the conflict; the former wants to resolve issues bilaterally while the latter is seeking the intervention of the UN. An unofficial ceasefire is currently in effect to prevent further bloodshed and damage to the ancient temple.

ASEAN to send monitors to Thai-Cambodia border
AP, via the San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 February 2011

Military observers will be sent to the Thai-Cambodian border to enforce an unofficial cease-fire in place since deadly clashes erupted near a disputed 11th century temple, Southeast Asian foreign ministers said Tuesday after emergency talks.

Each country has accused the other of starting the conflict in which at least eight people have been killed and thousands displaced, and both until now have disagreed on how it should be settled.

But Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after a meeting with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations that both Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to a proposal to send up to 40 military and civilian observers to the remote, mountainous area.

The unarmed observers – all from Indonesia – will “observe the commitment by both sides to avoid further armed clashes” and provide accurate and impartial reports about complaints of violations, he told reporters after the 90-minute meeting in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

Read the full story here.

Preah Vihear: Ceasefire brokered

noelbynature — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:41:31 +0000

The Phnom Penh Post reports that a ceasefire has been brokered between the Thai and the Cambodian forces over recent fighting near the Preah Vihear temple. Weapons fire from the last round of fighting reportedly damaged the ancient temple and the prolonged dispute has strained relations between both countries.

Preah Vihear, wikicommons image

Border ceasefire brokered
Phnom Penh Post, 20 February 2011

Cambodian and Thai military commanders have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in the disputed areas close to Preah Vihear temple, after clashes in the area earlier this month left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured on both sides.

Touch Ra, deputy chief of the border relations office in Oddar Meanchey province, said today that military commanders from the two sides met for a two-hour closed-door meeting on Saturday attended by Hun Manet, Prime Minister Hun Senâ€™s eldest son.

â€œThe result of the meeting has not been revealed as it was held secretly,â€ Touch Ra said.

But he added that since the meeting was conducted, the situation along the border has returned to normal.

â€œMost of the people have returned to their homes and are continuing with their businesses.

Reads more on the Phnom Penh Post.

Thai MPs petition to put Preah Vihear listing on hold

noelbynature — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:49:29 +0000

120 Thai MPs petition the House Speaker to request that Unesco delay listing the controversial temple until the borders can be properly demarcated.

Govt MPs oppose listing of P.Vihear
Bangkok Post, 16 Feb 2011

UN urges cease-fire, peaceful Thai-Cambodia settlement
AP, via Todayonline, 16 Feb 2011

Cambodia urges ASEAN ceasefire deal with Thailand
AFP, via Todayonline, 18 Feb 2011

A total of 120 MPs of the Democrat Party and its coalition partners on Wednesday afternoon submitted a letter to House Speaker Chai Chidchob calling on him to ask Unesco to put the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site on hold.

The letter was accepted by Deputy House Speaker Col Apiwon Wiriyachai.

MP Atthaporn Ponbutr said he and his colleagues oppose the listing of the ancient temple because the area around it is still in dispute and the scene of clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops from Feb 4 to 7 that caused death and injuriy to soldiers and civilians of both sides.

â€œThere are photos which show that Cambodian troops used Preah Vihear temple as an operations base, which is a violation of the principle and conditions for listing of a world heritage site and has put the temple at risk of being damaged,â€ he said.

UN trying to mediate between Thailand and Cambodia over Preah Vihear border

noelbynature — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:02:53 +0000

The situation at the Thai-Cambodian border near Preah Vihear remains tense as the UN tries to mediate talks and a ceasefire between the two countries.

Thailand-Cambodia border dispute: UN calls for truce
BBC, 14 February 2011

Abhisit needs to move fast over Cambodia row
The Nation, 15 February 2011

Unesco must help create peace, not war
Bangkok Post, 15 February 2011

Cambodia Says Thais Used Cluster Bombs in â€˜War of Aggressionâ€™
Bloomberg, via Jakarta Globe, 15 Feb 2011

UN urges peaceful Thai-Cambodia settlement
AP, via Jakarta Post, 15 Feb 2011

Unesco to hear Thai viewpoint
Bangkok Post, 15 Feb 2011

Security Council urges restraint
Phnom Penh Post, 15 Feb 2011

Tourist bodies issue warning
Phnom Penh Post, 15 Feb 2011

Excerpt from The Jakarta Post:

The U.N. Security Council expressed “grave concern” Monday at recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia and called on the two sides to establish a permanent cease-fire and settle the dispute peacefully.

The council gave strong backing to the efforts of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations – which includes both countries – to help resolve the conflict in the disputed border region surrounding Preah Vihear temple, a protected U.N. World Heritage site. ASEAN foreign ministers will discuss the clashes at Feb. 22 meeting.

Cambodia and Thailand have accused each other of starting the latest clashes which began on Feb. 4 and continued through Feb. 7. The battle over a hilly patch of land in the remote countryside is rooted in a decades-old border dispute that has fueled nationalist passions and has been driven by domestic politics and conspiracy theories on both sides.

Cambodia asked for the Security Council meeting, calling for U.N. peacekeepers or observers to prevent a renewed outbreak of violence, or at least a fact-finding mission. Thailand has repeatedly said it wants the dispute resolved bilaterally, without U.N. intervention.