Preah Vihear Thailand Cambodia United Nations Wasted Time

Yesterday, the Foreign Ministers from Thailand and Cambodia presented their “case” regarding the Temple Ruins and the surrounding land of Preah Vihear to the United Nations.  The United Nations basically told them both to pack their bags and go home.

Preah Vihear Temple Ruins

Here is what the UN Security Council’s president, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, said:

“Members of the Security Council further urged the parties to establish a permanent ceasefire, and implement it fully and resolve the situation peacefully through effective dialogue.”

Now Cambodia wanted a third party to mediate the Preah Vihear negotiations and Thailand wanted to have this resolved bilaterally.  Both Foreign Ministers and also the leaders of both countries interpreted that sentence as saying that they won and the UN agrees with them.

Both claim victory and both maintain face. And the UN puts out a statement that says nothing and I consider to be totally wishy-washy showing that the UN doesn’t have a clue and can’t do anything even if it wanted. Wasted time and wasted money with nothing accomplished.

Preah Vihear Temple Ruins Cambodian Flag

So, now, ASEAN will hold a meeting in Jakarta, and both sides will be represented.  They will chat, nothing will be accomplished, and both will again claim victory.  Thailand will argue that ASEAN doesn’t need to be in attendance and that Thailand and Cambodia can resolve this dispute over Preah Vihear between themselves.  And we will be back to square one.

In the mean time, soldiers will still have to stand watch, fire a few rounds at each other periodically, and the local villagers will either remain displaced or fear for their lives.  Pawns in a political chess match.

It is too bad that neither side could show a little love on Valentine’s day, but, both had to maintain face in front of their constituents.

Preah Vihear Temple Ruins Grounds

A real shame as the Preah Vihear temple ruins are a fantastic sight to visit. I’m just glad I got to go a couple of years ago and see it before this dispute came into play.

This will go on and on and on with both sides using it for political gain.  The only ones to suffer are the locals, the soldiers and the tourists who would have come, but now won’t.

Preah Vihear Temple Ruins Wall

Both sides can claim victory at Preah Vihear, but both sides are losers.

Tags: border cambodia clash dispute foreign ministers preah vihear soldiers thailand united nations