Ta Krabey: the Cambodian Ambassador shows his determination

Cambodge Soir

21-09-2008

While confirming the sovereignty of his country over the temple of Ta Krabey, despite the military and diplomatic attempts from the neighbouring Kingdom to take control, Ung Sean condemns these Thai intrusions.

Tit for tat. “On the geographic maps, the temple of Ta Krabey, known under the name of Ta Kwai in Thailand, is located on Cambodia’s territory”. This small clarification, using very diplomatic terms, was written in a mail sent by the Cambodian Ambassador to Bangkok to the Foreign Minister of the neighbouring Kingdom. “This action is a violation of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Cambodia”, wrote the Ambassador.

Yet, on 16 September, the Permanent Secretary of the Thai Foreign Minister had sent a “reminder” to the Cambodian Ambassador, in which he accused Cambodia of having “violated its territory” by sending military on the site. According to him, the temple indeed belongs to the Thai province of Surin. As a consequence of the Preah Vihear dispute, Thai soldiers are increasing the number of incursions on Cambodian territory, under the pretext that the outline of the border remains vague.

Ung Sean reminds that, at 6pm on 10 September, about one hundred military from the neighbouring country invaded and occupied the temple, despite the repeated protests from the local Cambodian authorities, before leaving the next day.

These tensions go on since last July’s registration of the temple of Preah Vihear on the Unesco World Heritage list. Because of the Thai crisis, the border issue is dragging on.