2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off

Infobox Military Conflict


date = 2008
place = Cambodian - Thai border
status = Ongoing
combatant1 = flag|Cambodia
combatant2 = flag|Thailand

2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off began between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand as the latest round of a century-long dispute involving the area surrouding Preah Vihear Temple between Amphoe Kantharalak, Sisaket Province and Choam Khsant District, Preah Vihear Province where Thailand claims that demarcation has not yet been completed for the external parts of the area judged by International Court of Justice in 1962.The Nation Newspaper. Tuesday, August 5, 2008. VOLUME 33 NO 51950 ] It has now extended to the Ta Moan Thom complex between Surin Province and Oddar Meancheay Province. Furthermore, historians and scholars expect that this stand-off will be extended to Sdok Kok Thom Temple, currently located in the boundary of Amphoe Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand [ [http://www.komchadluek.net/2008/08/04/x_main_a001_214503.php?news_id=214503 คมชัดลึก เจาะข่าว ทั่วไทย หนังสือพิมพ์ ยอดเยี่ยมในงานประชุมหนังสือพิมพ์โลก 2005] th icon]

Background

The Preah Vihear temple has been the subject of often rancorous debate within Cambodia and Thailand and between the two nations since the very early 20th century.

Preah Vihear Temple was built during the 9th and 10th centuries by the Khmer Empire. As the empire reached its zenith and began a slow decline, the Ayutthaya Kingdom began its climb to the modern-day state of Thailand. Siam and Vietnam conquered Cambodian territory in turn during Ayutthaya Era, Thonburi Era and Rattanakosin Era. During the early Rattanakosin, France colonized Vietnam, resulted as Cambodia being a Thai colony until the conquering of France.

In 1867, Franco-Thai treaty renouncing Thai suzerainty over Cambodia , and leaving Siam for the control of Battambang, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meancheay provinces [http://www.charnvitkasetsiri.com/PDF/PreahVihearFor20June.pdf Prasat Phra Viharn - Case study of political history - Nationalism] , "Page 5 of 15" th icon] , which officially became provinces of Thailand. In 1904, the map was made and state the temple as being on Thailand's boundary. Later in 1907, the 4 provinces were ceded back to France in an exchange for regaining Thai sovereignty of Trat Province and Amphoe Dan Sai of Loei Province, in a border treaty between France and Thailand, during the state visit of King Rama V to France. In 1907 the Thai-Cambodian border was mapped by the French on behalf of a bilateral border commission. The principle was that it should follow the watershed line. By this, the temple would be in Thailand's boundary according to the principle. However, the subsequent map showed Preah Vihear Temple as being in Cambodia, which is different from 1904 map.Despite this, Thailand circulated the map for official use . The circulation significantly affects current dispute. [www.preah-vihear.com]

During World War II, Thailand took advantage of the 1940 French surrender in France to regain Khmer and Lao territory lost in the 1904 and 1907 exchanges; Battambang Province of Thailand (modern day Battambang Province and Pailin municipality, Cambodia), Phibunsongkhram (modern day Siem Reap, Oddar Meancheay and Banteay Meanchey provinces, Cambodia), Nakorn Champasak Province (modern day Champassack Province, Laos) and Lan Chang (modern day Xaignabouli, Laos); "(See map below)" Beginning in December 1940, this invasion started the French-Thai War. The Thai army and air force, better equipped and outnumbering the Colonial French forces, easily won on land. The French acheived a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Koh Chang. The Japanese forcibly mediated the conflict, fearing that the invasion would affect their colonies in Southeast Asia.Important events during the reign of King Rama VIII -- Bangkok; E.Q. Plus adventure series, 2008. 160 pages. ISBN 978-974-06-9559-2 th icon] . A general armistice was declared on January 28, 1941. On May 9 a peace treaty was signed in Tokyo, with the French being coerced by the Japanese into relinquishing their hold on the territories demanded by Thailand.

On December 8, 1941, a few hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan, demanding the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier, launched the invasion of Thailand. After six to eight hours of battles, Thailand's Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram ordered a ceasefire. Shortly thereafter Japan was granted free passage, and on December 21, 1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance with a secret protocol wherein Tokyo agreed to help Thailand in regaining territories lost to the British and French colonial powers, in exchange Thailand had to assist Japan in her war against the Allies.

After World War II, Thai Prime Minister Pridi Phanomyong agreed to return the captured territories to France, as a condition for not being regarded as neither an aggressor nor a member of the Axis Powers so as not to suffer a similar fate to Germany, Japan and Italy, and admission to the newly created United Nations. First, United Kingdom and Soviet Union willingly regarded Thailand as an aggressor. With help from the United States that support the returning of territories and Free Thai Movement reasons, Thailand eventually was not regarded as an aggressor.

Upon Cambodian Independence and the French withdrawal in 1953 Thailand occupied Preah Vihear Temple in 1954.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice in the Hague, the Netherlands, awarded ownership of Preah Vihear Temple to Cambodia, stating that the 1907 map clearly showed Preah Vihear as being in Cambodia. Thailand reacted angrily as the map did not follow watershed line, which had been the agreement of the bilateral border commission. Thailand eventually reluctantly handed over the temple and limited surrounding areas, but has never withdrawn from the surrounding land, in contravention of the 1962 ICJ judgment, claiming the border has never been officially demarcated. [www.preah-vihear.com]

The ownership dispute reappeared in recent years after Cambodia submitted an application to UNESCO requesting that Preah Vihear be designated as a World Heritage site. Thailand contended that the application requested such designation for land surrounding the temple that Thailand considers belong to it. In the interest of cross-border relations Cambodia withdrew the application, and in 2008, after winning support from Thailand, submitted a modified map requesting the designation only for the temple but not the surrounding land.

The Preah Vihear temple issue, both its location and listing, has become the subject of nationalist political posturing in both Cambodia and Thailand:

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) , the biggest Thai protester group, has turned the temple into a cause célèbre wedge issue in its battles against the People Power Party government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in their attempts to unseat the current (57^th) cabinet of Thailand. [cite web|url = http://bangkokpost.net/090708_News/09Jul2008_news13.php |title = Bangkok Post | General news | WHC plan for Preah Vihear 'most unusual' |accessdate = 2008-07-20] In 2006 the PAD led street protests that led first to the Thai general election of April, 2006, won by then-incumbent former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party and then to the military coup of June 2006, which ousted Thaksin Shinawatra. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is commonly seen as a proxy for the self-exiled Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) government of Prime Minister Hun Sen used the possibly coincidental timing of UNESCO's annual meeting and the listing of the temple as a World Heritage site in its campaigning for the July 27, 2008, parliamentary election.cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7507425.stm |title = BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Political tensions driving temple row |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Page last updated at 14:16 GMT, Tuesday, 15 July 2008 15:16 UK |author = Jonathan Head]

Timeline

* In January 2008, the Thai Defense Ministry from the 56^th Cabinet of Thailand protested Cambodia's attempt to register the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site without agreement from Thailand. [http://news.sanook.com/social/social_239605.php]

* In March 2008, Cambodia informed Thailand of their plan to register Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site.

* In April 2008, Thailand (the 57^th cabinet) and Cambodia planned a talk on the issue before the registration. Thailand insisted that it would support the registration of the temple but that the process 'must not affect the disputed borderline'. [cite web|url = http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2008/04/25/thailand-cambodia-and-unesco-meet-over-preah-vihear/ |title = Thailand, Cambodia and UNESCO meet over Preah Vihear | SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog |accessdate = 2008-07-20]

* On June 18, 2008, Thailand and Cambodia made a joint communique regarding the temple registration. [cite web|url = http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/08/headlines/headlines_30077585.php |title = Bangkok's Independent Newspaper |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Tue, July 8, 2008 : Last updated 18:24 hours |author = The Nation]

* On June 22, 2008, Cambodia closed the border crossing to Preah Vihear in response to Thai protests held at the border crossing. The protests were championed by anti-Thaksin opposition figure, self-declared bankrupt Sonthi Limthongkul, who claimed the government of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej had gained business concessions in Cambodia in payment for ceding Thai territory to Cambodia when negotiating the Preah Vihear site map that would be presented to UNESCO in Quebec, Canada. [cite web|url = http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011368406 |title = Cambodia Closes Border With Thailand At Preah Vihear Temple | AHN | July 20, 2008 |accessdate = 2008-07-20]

* On June 30, 2008 the "Nation" newspaper in Bangkok published an editorial online highly critical of the People's Alliance for Democracy for its use of Preah Vihear temple in its campaign against the People Power Party government of Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej. [cite web|url = http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/06/30/politics/politics_30076876.php |title = Bangkok's Independent Newspaper |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Mon, June 30, 2008 : Last updated 9:41 hours |author = Thongchai Winichakul special to The Nation Published on June 30 |coauthors = 2008]

* On July 2, 2008, as UNESCO began its annual meeting in Quebec, Canada, the Bangkok Post online published a Deutsche Presse-Agentur (German Press Agency) report that erroneously stated that Preah Vihear partially sits on Thai territory. [cite web|url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=128686 |title = Bangkok Post Breaking News |accessdate = 2008-07-20] Following the Thai government's decision to support Cambodia's bid for World Heritage listing, anti-Thaksin Shinawatra Thai opposition figures mounted a legal challenge against Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.
** The Thai Constitutional Court finally upheld the suit on 7 July 2008 in an 8-1 judgment that the foreign minister's joint communique with Cambodia was 'unconstitutional'. [cite web|url = http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssInvestmentServices/idUSBKK2838520080709 |title = Thai rulings fuel election talk, PM not worried | Reuters |accessdate = 2008-07-20 ] [cite web|url = http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=5126 |title = MCOT English News : Thai Court rules Thai-Cambodian communique in breach of charter |accessdate = 2008-07-20] Whilst UNESCO met in Quebec, Canada, there were about 20 Thai people standing and protesting outside holding sign "Noppadon, you are a LIAR" and Thai flags.

* On July 8, 2008, thousands of Phnom Penh residents marched through the streets in celebration of the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO. On the same day, the Municipality of Phnom Penh held an evening outdoor concert at Wat Phnom to celebrate the inscription of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO earlier in the day. The concert was nationally broadcast on CTN, emceed by Cambodia's biggest television star and featured traditional Khmer performances as well as a fireworks display. Despite persistent rain, thousands of Cambodians attended.

* On July 10, 2008, Thai Foreign Minister Nappadon Pattama resigned over the listing of Preah Vihear by UNESCO. His resignation followed the 8-1 judgment by the Thai Constitutional Court that he had violated Article 190 of Thailand's 2007 Constitution, which calls for a public debate and Cabinet-level approval before any such authorization can take place. [cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7499116.stm |title = BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thailand foreign minister quits |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Page last updated at 09:54 GMT, Thursday, 10 July 2008 10:54 UK]

* On July 14, 2008, 8,000 Cambodians filled Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena for a concert hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and simulcast on Bayon Television. Sok An had just returned from UNESCO's annual conference in Quebec, Canada, where Preah Vihear was inscribed as a World Heritage site. [cite web|url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/15/content_8545444.htm |title = Cambodia holds big concert to hail Preah Vihear temple as world heritage_English_Xinhua |accessdate = 2008-07-20]

* On July 15, 2008, cross-border tensions flared after Cambodian authorities arrested three Thai nationals who had crossed the closed border in an effort to plant the Thai flag on the temple grounds. Several dozen Thai soldiers were reported to have subsequently crossed the border. One Thai soldier lost his leg to a landmine detonation. [cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7506872.stm |title = BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thai troops 'cross into Cambodia' |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Page last updated at 15:28 GMT, Tuesday, 15 July 2008 16:28 UK] cite web|url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gU5d6jYmj-2GLu3WXVoep1qJ9HOw |title = AFP: Cambodian, Thai soldiers reportedly draw weapons |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = 2 days ago |author = 2 days ago] [http://www.bangkokpost.com/200708_News/20Jul2008_news002.php]
** Thailand maintains its troops are deployed to protect its sovereignty and ensure that any protests by Thais near the temple remain orderly, although a senior Thai military official acknowledged that the troops were on "disputed" ground.

* On July 16, 2008, Thailand increased the number of troops stationed in the illegally-occupied border region [cite web|url = http://www.preah-vihear.com |author= Bora Touch |title = Preah Vihear Temple and the Thai's Misunderstanding of the World Court Judgment of 15 June 1962 |date= 29 June 2008|accessdate = 2008-07-20] adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.

* On July 17, 2008, the total number of troops at the temple increased to over 1,000, with some of the 400 Thai troops in the area occupying a Buddhist pagoda within Cambodian territory. Thai forces have denied they are inside Cambodian territory. [cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7511417.stm |title = BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Troop build-up at hill-top temple |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = Page last updated at 11:14 GMT, Thursday, 17 July 2008 12:14 UK] [cite web|url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6tp2tO94iKNqIquUil4we_HH52QD91VEHA81 |title = The Associated Press: Cambodia, Thailand deploy more troops |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = 3 days ago |author = SOPHENG CHEANG - 3 days ago] cite web|url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gU5d6jYmj-2GLu3WXVoep1qJ9HOw |title = AFP: Cambodian, Thai soldiers reportedly draw weapons |accessdate = 2008-07-20 |date = 2 days ago |author = 2 days ago]
** In a letter to the Thai Prime Minister, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops and protesters from the area. [cite web|url = http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSBKK41696 |title = Cambodia PM says Thai border row getting worse | Reuters |accessdate = 2008-07-20 ]

* On July 18, 2008, the Thai government handed Cambodia a letter from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisting Thai troops are deployed on Thai soil. In a letter to Hun Sen, the Thai PM said Cambodian troops and buildings on the disputed 4.6 km² (1.8 sq mi) area were a "violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity", but that his government was "resolved to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation." [cite web|url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=128939 |title = Bangkok Post: Top Stories |accessdate = 2008-07-20] [cite web|url = http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSBKK18950620080719 |title = More troops, rhetoric in Thai-Cambodia temple row | International | Reuters |accessdate = 2008-07-20 ]

* On July 19, 2008, the Thai and Cambodian governments sent more troops and heavy guns to the disputed border [cite web|url = http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0719/breaking28.htm |title = More troops sent in Thai-Cambodia temple dispute - The Irish Times - Sat, Jul 19, 2008 |accessdate = 2008-07-20] ahead of high-level talks scheduled for 21 July 2008 between the Cambodian defence minister and Thailand's supreme military commander. [cite web|url = http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSBKK18950620080719?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title = More troops, rhetoric in Thai-Cambodia temple row | International | Reuters |accessdate = 2008-07-20 ]

* On 21 July, 2008, Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Ban and Thai Army commander Boonsrang Niempradit held talks in Thailand. The talks achieved no outcome. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/21/content_8742004.htm]

* On 22 July, 2008, Thailand rejected the assistance of ASEAN in resolving the border dispute. Thailand's statement came as ASEAN foreign ministers began a meeting in Singapore. The BBC reported that Cambodia had requested UN assistance in resolving the border dispute. The previous week the Cambodian government denied it had made such a call after similar news stories were published. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7518741.stm]

* On 23 July, 2008, a spokesman for Cambodia' s prime minister suggested that Cambodia may take the case to the International Court of Justice, as was done in 1962.

* On 24 July, 2008, Cambodia announced it would postpone its request to the United Nations until the bilateral negotiation at Siem Reap in 28 July was finished.
** Cambodia and Thailand held the meeting on 28 July without any results.
** Reportedly, both sides are in favour of a troop withdrawal, beginning with Thailand's army; the date when Thailand would withdraw its troops was not agreed on, however. [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2318239.htm?tab=latest]

* On August 1, 2008, Bun Rany, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, conducted a Buddhism ritual in a temple that is in a disputed-area; thousands of Cambodian people also joined the ritual. The anti-Thai government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leaders on that night led thousands of their supporters in a rival ritual, by praying Suttas that the Gautama Buddha gave to his monks, this is to prevent any negative effects from the Cambodian one, they claimed. Furthermore, there were numbers of Thai people accusing Bun Rany conducted a black magic, aimed to weaken Thailand; they believed so as Cambodia has many expertise of black magic. [ [http://www.bangkokpost.com/020808_News/02Aug2008_news01.php Hun Sen's wife hosts huge Preah Vihear temple ritual] en icon]

* On August 1, 2008, The Nation newspaper in Thailand published an editorial criticizing Cambodia for calling on the international community to help resolve the Preah Vihear stand-off. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/08/01/opinion/opinion_30079507.php]

* On August 3, 2008, Cambodia claimed that Thailand occupied a second Angkorian-era temple complex, Ta Moan Thom and Ta Moan Touch, in Oddar Meanchey Province. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7539412.stm]

* On August 5, 2008 Kriengkrai Sampatchalit, Thailand Fine Arts Department director replied to Cambodia, after many angers of Cambodians, "The Prasat [Ta Moan Thom Temple] is located just about 100 metres from the border on Thai soil."
** According to the Thai authorities, the Ta Moan Thom complex is in Thailand territory as evidenced by the Fine Arts Department's registration of the ancient ruin as a Thailand national archaeological site 73 years ago in 1935.
** Tharit Charungvat, Thailand ministry's chief spokesman said, "Thailand has not boosted the number of its troops [in Ta Moan Thom Temple] ."
** Thai Army chief Anupong Paochinda said Thai troops would remain at Ta Moan Thom because the temple is in Thailand. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30079881&keyword=Ta+Muen]

* On August 7, 2008 ASEAN reported that both Thailand and Cambodia have withdrawn their troops from the Ta Moan Thom temple area to their original bases, according to AFP [ [http://www.aseanaffairs.com/page/thai_cambodia_troops_withdraw_from_second_disputed_temple "Thai-Cambodia troops withdraw from second disputed temple", "ASEAN Affairs.com" (August 7, 2008)] ] .
** Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly is expected to visit the area near the Preah Vihear Temple, but not the Temple itself, according to Cambodian sources. Cambodia and Thailand will hold a second foreign ministers' meeting in Thailand on August 18 2008 to seek a peaceful solution to the 25-day-long military standoff over the border dispute [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/08/content_9042321.htm "Cambodia: Thai PM plans to visit Preah Vihear area", "Xinhua" (August 8, 2008).] en icon ] .

* On August 14, 2008, both nations' militaries agreed to reduce troop levels at Preah Vihear Temple prior to a meeting between their foreign ministers. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7560474.stm BBC News] ]

* On September, 2008, Cambodia accused Thailand sending troops to occupy Ta Moan and Ta Kwai temples; despite the fact that Thai Fine Arts Department registration of the ancient ruins in 1935, with Cambodia as French Indochina and is not part of 1962 judgment. [ [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09/20/politics/politics_30083957.php The Nation] ]

* On October 3, 2008, Thai and Cambodian troops opened fire on each other on the dispute territory near the Preah Vihear Template. The fighting last for nearly 3 minutes, causing 2 Thai soldiers and 1 Cambodian soldier injured. [ [http://vietbao.vn/The-gioi/Thai-Lan-Campuchia-do-loi-cho-nhau-ve-vu-cham-sung/62242397/159/ Thái Lan, Campuchia đổ lỗi cho nhau về vụ chạm súng] vi]

* On October 4, 2008, commanders of the two countries met at their disputed border area amid accusations that each side had caused a border skirmish on the previous day. Hosted by Cambodian commander in the area Srey Dek and his Thai counterpart Colonel Chayan Huaysoongnern, the two sides called for the situation to return to normalcy. [ [http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/270628/Default.aspx Cambodian, Thai commanders meet at border site] Vietnam News Agency]

See Also

* Preah Vihear Temple - the temple that causes this stand-off
* French-Thai war - a war between Thailand and France to gain Thailand's lost territories to France as results of the French colonization.
* Siam Nakhon Province - a period when Thailand had its sovereignty over territories involved Preah Vihear Temple.
* Royal Cambodian Army
* Royal Thai Army

Notes

External Links

Territorial map

* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/b/b0/Map_Thailand_3Province_Indochine.pngMap of the regained modern day Cambodia's territories during 1941] (The part highlighted in red is Battambang Province; blue is Pibulsongkram Province; green is Nakhon Champasak Province)
* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/th/d/d6/Map_Thailand_LanchangProvince_Indochine.pngMap of the regained modern day Laos' territories during 1941] (The part highlighted in black and white-stripe is Lan Chang Province)

Other websites

* [http://www.preah-vihear.com/ Preah-Vihear.com] Preah Vihear Temple and the Thai's Misunderstanding of the World Court Judgment of 15 June 1962
* [http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=284&code=ct&p1=3&p2=3&case=45&k=46&p3=5 1962 Final Judgment of Preah Vihear Temple] - International Court of Justice