Heavy hearts, ancient stones
30/07/2010
Bangkok Post
Editorial
What is the point of having stone ruins recognised and developed as a World Heritage site when these ancient stones may yet have to stand as sad and solitary witness to a war? Had circumstances been simpler, there would never have been any dispute over what the answer should be.
First, the 9th century stone temple of Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, deserves to be protected for its architectural integrity and cultural value. Any status or recognition given to the site so that it can earn the attention and financial assistance it needs and deserves, should always be welcome. There is no question that this Hindu temple should be preserved and promoted as a destination for travellers from around the world. Second, war is a needless, destructive affair for any country, let alone neighbouring nations.
But of course, the circumstances surrounding the cliff-top, hundreds-of-years-old stone temple are anything but simple. For decades Thailand and Cambodia wrangled over where one country's border began and where the other's ended and in whose territory the temple stood, until the matter was brought before the International Court of Justice, which ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia.
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