Police and villagers block a convoy of nationalist protesters from reaching a disputed ancient temple on the country's border with Cambodia, 700 km (435 miles) northeast of Bangkok July 17, 2008. A political uproar in Thailand over Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site has been stoked by anti-government groups seeking to oust Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's shaky ruling coalition.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)Photo Tools
iol.co.za
July 17 2008
By Nopporn Wong-AnanKantaralak, Thailand - Thai police and angry villagers blocked nationalist protesters on Thursday from rallying at an ancient temple at the centre of a diplomatic row with neighbouring Cambodia.
A political uproar in Thailand against Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site has been stoked by anti-government groups seeking to oust Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's shaky ruling coalition.
The issue has also raised fears the spat could escalate, five years after a dispute against another Cambodian temple, Angkor Wat, saw a nationalist mob torch the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"Go home, go home, you troublemakers!," one woman shouted at members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is leading a nearly 2-month old street campaign against Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in a 2006 coup.
The 900-year-old temple has been a source of tension for decades since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia, a ruling that still rankles Thais.
The latest flare-up - which has seen a buildup of troops on both sides of the border - was sparked by Bangkok's support for the UNESCO listing, which the PAD said was tantamount to selling out Thailand's heritage.
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama quit last week after a Thai court ruled the joint communique he signed backing Preah Vihear's listing was illegal because it was an international treaty that required parliament's approval.
The case has left Thai diplomacy in limbo, with Samak saying this week his cabinet ministers were afraid to sign any statements after a bilateral meeting.
The PAD seized on the court ruling, vowing to go after the rest of Samak's cabinet and step up a street campaign that has worried investors. The main stock index has dropped 23 percent since the protests began on May 25.
"Political temperatures will rise inexorably, and Thailand will become increasingly ungovernable, in the interim," Chulaongkorn University professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak wrote.
Hundreds of riot police and villagers blocked the PAD convoy 11 kms from the temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary between the two nations.
"These people have been mobilised by local businessmen who have interests in Cambodia," PAD leader Veera Somkwamkit said.
Prasert Aramsrivorapong, chief of the Kantaralak district where the villagers live, said the PAD had no right to stir up trouble on the border.
"Soldiers are dealing with the problem at the temple. We don't want these people to cause any trouble," Prasert said.
Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of border violations and sent more troops since the stand-off began on Tuesday when three Thai activists were briefly detained on the Cambodian side for trying to plant a Thai flag there.
Despite the aggressive rhetoric from both sides, diplomatic efforts appear to be underway to end the stand-off.
A joint border committee, set up years ago to resolve disputes between the fractious southeast Asian nations, will meet on Monday "so that both sides can discuss issues together in a spirit of neighbourliness," the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
In Phnom Penh, government spokesperson Khieu Kanharith said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Samak had spoken on Wednesday night and agreed to send their defence ministers to Monday's meeting.
"This meeting is not about technical issues, but about easing tensions on the border. We hope the problem will be solved next week," he said.
July 17 2008
By Nopporn Wong-AnanKantaralak, Thailand - Thai police and angry villagers blocked nationalist protesters on Thursday from rallying at an ancient temple at the centre of a diplomatic row with neighbouring Cambodia.
A political uproar in Thailand against Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site has been stoked by anti-government groups seeking to oust Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's shaky ruling coalition.
The issue has also raised fears the spat could escalate, five years after a dispute against another Cambodian temple, Angkor Wat, saw a nationalist mob torch the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"Go home, go home, you troublemakers!," one woman shouted at members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is leading a nearly 2-month old street campaign against Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in a 2006 coup.
The 900-year-old temple has been a source of tension for decades since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia, a ruling that still rankles Thais.
The latest flare-up - which has seen a buildup of troops on both sides of the border - was sparked by Bangkok's support for the UNESCO listing, which the PAD said was tantamount to selling out Thailand's heritage.
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama quit last week after a Thai court ruled the joint communique he signed backing Preah Vihear's listing was illegal because it was an international treaty that required parliament's approval.
The case has left Thai diplomacy in limbo, with Samak saying this week his cabinet ministers were afraid to sign any statements after a bilateral meeting.
The PAD seized on the court ruling, vowing to go after the rest of Samak's cabinet and step up a street campaign that has worried investors. The main stock index has dropped 23 percent since the protests began on May 25.
"Political temperatures will rise inexorably, and Thailand will become increasingly ungovernable, in the interim," Chulaongkorn University professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak wrote.
Hundreds of riot police and villagers blocked the PAD convoy 11 kms from the temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary between the two nations.
"These people have been mobilised by local businessmen who have interests in Cambodia," PAD leader Veera Somkwamkit said.
Prasert Aramsrivorapong, chief of the Kantaralak district where the villagers live, said the PAD had no right to stir up trouble on the border.
"Soldiers are dealing with the problem at the temple. We don't want these people to cause any trouble," Prasert said.
Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of border violations and sent more troops since the stand-off began on Tuesday when three Thai activists were briefly detained on the Cambodian side for trying to plant a Thai flag there.
Despite the aggressive rhetoric from both sides, diplomatic efforts appear to be underway to end the stand-off.
A joint border committee, set up years ago to resolve disputes between the fractious southeast Asian nations, will meet on Monday "so that both sides can discuss issues together in a spirit of neighbourliness," the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
In Phnom Penh, government spokesperson Khieu Kanharith said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Samak had spoken on Wednesday night and agreed to send their defence ministers to Monday's meeting.
"This meeting is not about technical issues, but about easing tensions on the border. We hope the problem will be solved next week," he said.
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