Recently the dispute between Thai and Khmer over Preah Vihear has been escalating a bit earlier this week. Based on report from Voice of America, Thailand has threatened to withdraw support from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization if the U.N. World Heritage Committee backs a Cambodian plan to manage a 900-year-old temple site bordering the two countries.

Bloody unbelievable, I say!  Just because Thailand “funds” this U.N organization doesn’t grant them the right to this site. Apparently, this is just another of their clever tactic ways of buying this landmark through a third party who has no right to justify who manage what. It is not their land, so they wouldn’t understand the pride and glory that comes with it. This site, not to mention numerous provinces and villages that Thailand has already successfully claimed, has been one of Cambodia’s few heritages and prides for hundreds of years. Preah Vihear may be located near the border between the two countries but it is still on Cambodia soil and Cambodia has every right to manage the site. If it is in Cambodia, then Cambodia should have the full authority to protect and care for this place. And as far as I know, the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has been doing his best to protect and maintain this site for the people of Cambodia.

Where land and possession are concerned, Thai has always been cleverly manipulative and persuasive in getting what was righteously completely or partly belonged to Cambodia. They have drawn their own maps and exaggeratedly stretching their border miles into Cambodia, and thus, the foreigners deemed it correct. And while Thailand freely voiced their claims and everything from food to tradition, Cambodians have been too very humble.

Just to name a few, ever heard of Thai chilies and Thai eggplants? Ok…well that’s odd; because I’ve eaten them all my life and strangely enough they are very popular in Cambodian cooking and Khmer grow them all the time. Why don’t they call them Cambodian or Khmer chilies? Matter of fact, I haven’t come across any food item that has Khmer in their label. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you know of any.

Anyway, the same applies to everything else for Thai.  Since the initial foreign discovery of Angkor Wat, Thai has been undeniably rotten with envy over this national gem. Angkor Wat is the irrefutable physical proof of Cambodia once very powerful empire and respectable ancient ingenuity. And not only Angkor is the iconic symbol of the Kingdom of Cambodia; it has attracted worldwide attention from every corners of the world and generated hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars from tourists.

Now, please I’m not promoting hatred or trying to create propaganda. I just hope Khmer will fight to protect what is ours and not be bullied by surrounding countries. Cambodia has lost many, many invaluable rights during the last two centuries, from people to land to cultures.  Whatever happened to Khmer Surin and Khmer Kampuchea Krom? Now in modern world, it’s impossible to lose what is ours unless we allow it. And I hope Preah Vihear  along with Angkow Wat and smaller temples will remain Cambodia’s pride and possession until the end of time.

Read more about Preah Vihear Depute:

Cambodia claims win in UNESCO tussle over temple – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhyr2pl9sCLBgkK42CXKfFwCOPSQD9H9GMK80

Thailand Threatens to Pull Out of UN World Heritage Committee Over Border Dispute – http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Thailand-Threatens-to-Pull-Out-of-UN-World-Heritage-Committee-Over-Border-Dispute-99549969.html