damn neighbors

[dab69]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41421904/ns/world_news/

at it again with Cambodia on the border.

[Beachlover]

There's some pretty mixed and wild reports coming out of this series of engagements. The Thai army reported 64 Cambodian Army soldiers dead and over a dozen vehicles and armoured vehicles destroyed from one artillery bombardment... that's a shocking number of fatalities and a big waste of life. I wonder when they'll be a verified report from a trusted media source on what really happened...

[thrillbill]

As a farang, I most likely do not understand the "whole" picture of who "owns" ancient Preah Vihear temple, but the place was neglected/ignored by both parties until it became a UNESCO sight. For Thailand that has had political turmoil the pass three years which has cut into tourism (and foreign investment) you would think the government would realize that seeing this ridiculous dispute on BBC, CNN, and other international networks will AGAIN keep foreigners from coming to LOS. (except the gay tourist).

[Beachlover]

The Government has internal and external pressures. Internal pressures dictate they need to defend Thailand's sovereignty and pride.

[stevehadders]

The temple, by UN Decree is deemed to be in Cambodia. The UN accepted that the main entrance was in fact in Thailand, but the majority of the structure lay in Cambodia.

The last bombardment by Thai Army destroyed part of the remaining structure - which has really upset Phnom Penh

An international Court, not the UN, ajudicated on the matter in the 1960s and using a French colonial map, awarded the Temple itself to Cambodia. No decision was made on the territory around it, thus the problem with both sides claiming a 4.6sq km piece of land. I'd say divide the disputed area between the two, but neither of these mutton headed countries would agree to that. As an aside, anyone who has actually visited the temple and the surrounding area might question the wisdom of the court's ruling as the border runs along the edge of a steep cliff, but curves around the temple which sits on the same edge of the same cliff.
As for saying it was neglected by both sides - tosh. Thailand can't do anything as its in another country, and for years it was a stronghold of the Khymer Rouge, leaving the present Cambodia government with an expensive legacy to look after, and lots of landmines to clear.

[fedssocr]

well, the fact that it is a Khmer temple would seem to give the Cambodians priority when it comes to ownership. Certainly there are several other Khmer empire temples scattered around Thailand as well, but when it's basically on the border it seems logical that it is really Cambodia's cultural heritage much moreso than the Thais'.

It's two bad all of these countries have so much hate and mistrust towards one another. Otherwise they could just share the damn thing.