For over two weeks now, hundreds of armed personnel have faced off at the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple that for decades has struggled to shake off its geographical ambiguity. No, this in not a temple in India but on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. Uma Vishnu explainsWhat are Thailand and Cambodia fighting over?Both sides are laying claim to an 11th century Hindu temple, Preah Vihear. The Khmer temple, situated on a 1,720-feet-high cliff in the Preah Vihear province of Cambodia, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Much of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the kings Suryavarman I (1002-1050) and Suryavarman II (1113 -1150). The temple and about 4.6 square kilometres of land around it form one of the 16 sites at the border that are involved in territorial claims between the two nations. Although the temple is easier to reach from the Thai side, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple to Cambodia in 1962. It’s a decision Thailand has never come to terms with.Why has the controversy taken a combative turn? Earlier this month, Unesco listed the temple as a World Heritage Site after an application from Cambodia and using a map supplied by Cambodia. That left Thailand squirming. Thailand says the Cambodians are using a century-old map of a disputed temple to gain more territory. Would they go to war over the issue?Neither government appears to want a war and there are plans for the countries’ defence ministers to meet soon. But the issue has inflamed nationalistic passions and Thai and Cambodian soldiers are camping at the 900-year-old temple, which is perched on a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains. Two weeks ago, a small group of Thai protestors entered the temple grounds and Cambodian soldiers were deployed to confront them. Cambodia calls the confrontation “an imminent state of war” and has asked the United Nations and its Southeast Asian neighbours to intervene. A bilateral meeting last week failed to resolve the issue. Why are the stakes so high for both countries?For decades, Cambodia was off the world’s tourism map as the Khmer Rouge held the country in its grip. But after the Khmer Rouge surrendered in the late nineties, Cambodia revived its tourism potential and focused on Angkor Wat, the famous 12-century temple complex. Now, it hopes to repeat the trick with Preah Vihear. The dispute comes at a critical time for both countries, doesn’t it?Yes, Cambodia held its general election on Sunday and Thailand’s shaky coalition government is smarting from attacks by the Opposition. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s opponents are using the issue as a political weapon, accusing him of selling out the country’s heritage to further the business interests of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup and whose supporters now head the coalition government. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama had to resign over the issue. Thailand’s Corruption Commission has begun investigating Samak and his cabinet over charges that his government supported Cambodia’s bid for World Heritage status to the temple. In principle, the investigation could lead to the impeachment of the government
