France 24Wednesday 23 July 2008
Cambodia and Thailand are on the brink of war after a dispute over the Preah Vihear religious monument escalated earlier this month. FRANCE 24 reporters travelled to the temple at the centre of the dispute.
By C. Payen and S. Kane
Preah Vihear is an 11th-century religious monument located on the Thai-Cambodian border. The two countries have been fighting over its sovereignty for a century and the temple's recent listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site has renewed the quarrel.
In Cambodia, where the listing request came from, everyone is talking about the dispute.
"Many Thai soldiers come in Cambodia. This is not good. Preah Vihear is in Cambodia, not Thailand. They can bring many many troops, we don't care!", a man named Rith told FRANCE 24 in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian officials talk about an imminent state of war. They have requested a UN Security Council emergency meeting as well as intervention from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bangkok strongly opposed its neighbour's demands.
Thai forces have been massing on their side of the border. After a near shoot-out a few days ago, reinforcements have been sent into the area. There are now thousands of soldiers on both sides, and the dispute is being exploited by Thailand's political opponents.
"The government is betraying the Thai people. We represent the people’s voice," said a nationalist Buddhist monk. "It is the people will that must be recognized, the old border treaties…these treaties give this territory and this temple to Thailand and Thailand only."
While the war of words escalates, planes are ready in Bangkok to evacuate Thai citizens from Cambodia if needed.
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