Another temple row heats up

Ta Moan Thom temple is only partly restored as the Fine Arts Department was told to suspend its work years ago due to the unsettled border conflict.

The Bangkok Post
Wednesday August 06, 2008

Ta Moan Thom, like Preah Vihear before it, is now occupied by troops protecting a disputed border, writes Piyaporn Wongruang

Situated on top of a remote hill on the Dong Rak mountain range in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district, Ta Moan Thom is the latest ancient temple caught up in the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Like the Preah Vihear temple before it, Ta Moan Thom is now occupied by soldiers attempting to protect the boundary line.

''There is almost nothing left of Ta Moan Thom but scars,'' said associate professor Sakchai Saisingh, an archeologist from Silpakorn University, who has been studying Khmer temples in Thailand's northeast.

According to Mr Sakchai, Ta Moan Thom was built around the late 11th century, shortly after Preah Vihear on the same mountain range, in the Baphuon style, a Khmer artistic method dedicated to and influenced by Hindu Gods, and in particular Shiva.

The remains of the temple suggest it was rather compact. It only comprises a main prasat where a linga, built for worshipping, is located. The main prasat is surrounded by galleries.

The temple is accompanied by the two other structures of Ta Moan and Ta Moan Chod, which were built with Buddhism influence about 200 years later, during the time of Jayavarman VII.

These add-ons were a rest house for worshippers and a hospital, respectively. Although Ta Moan Thom temple was smaller than the Preah Vihear temple, it was no less significant.

Sitting on top of a hill, the temple signifies the mountain of Sumeru, the centre of the Buddhist cosmos, where the mortal world is linked to heaven by a naga bridge.

Also of significance is that, according to a study by historian Dhida Saraya, the temple was located on an ancient route between the Lower Cambodia Plain and the Korat Plateau, reflecting the cultural dispersal in the area.

Tharapong Srisuchart, the Thai archeological office's director, said the Fine Arts Department registered Ta Moan Thom as a national heritage site over 70 years ago. It then began restoring the temple as well as the accompanying prasats, although intensive work began around 10 years ago. The restoration of Ta Moan and Ta Moan Chod has now been completed, but not Ta Moan Thom.

This is because the department was instructed to suspend the work years ago by the government, which anticipated problems over the unsettled boundary line.

So far, the department had only put back in place some fallen stone blocks. The top of the main prasat is largely untouched, with several blocks lying on the floor, said Mr Tharapong.

Mr Sakchai said it is important the two countries look beyond the boundary line and find ways to manage unresolved problems.

Fixing an idea on a boundary line and being obsessed with geographical ownership can stir up further conflicts among Thais and Cambo dians, who might be misled into believing that they own properties and land on the other side, leading to attempts to take them back, he said.

''What we have to realise is that some cultural properties represent the past, and that doesn't necessarily mean it has something to do with the present,'' said Mr Sakchai.

''Cultural properties from the past need to be considered under a specific context of time, and they should not be linked indefinitely to one side.''

Ta Moan Thom temple was pushed into the spotlight on Sunday, when Cambodia accused Thai troops of occupying an area it claimed to be on Cambodian soil.

The Cambodian complaint reportedly came after its soldiers were barred from visiting the temple on Saturday. Thai military officers as well as diplomats rejected Cambodia's complaint, saying Thai soldiers have been stationed around the temple for years.