PREAH VIHEAR - THE TENSION

AUGUST 1 - There are tens of thousands of troops on the Thai-Cambodia border at Preah Vihear Temple--more Thai than Cambodian. At some points the Thai and Cambodian soldiers are face to face. My Cambodian friends tell me the Thai are better armed and outfitted than the Cambodian troops. This has been the situation since before UNESCO declared the temple a World Heritage Site more than a year ago as the Thais lobbied and demonstrated against the declaration that the temple belongs to Cambodia.

Fortunately talks between Thai and Cambodian diplomats and high officials continue. I tell my Khmer friends that as long as talks are going on, there is hope for a good result/agreement ultimately. Stop talks--bad sign.


Very few tourists today...about ten including me and my driver. All from the Cambodia side because the border crossing here is closed. Visitors from Cambodia side used to be able to walk across the border for a day into the Thai markets and visitors from the Thai side were able to walk across the border for the day into the temple and Cambodian markets.

Another difference is the thousands of soldiers--everywhere...on the temple, in the temple, around the temple, road up to the temple, along the border. There are foxholes with guns and rockets positioned towards Thailand.

On this day a delegation of high military officials and judges was inspecting the situation here. Soldiers stationed here and the visiting inspectors were all friendly. I was able to exchange greetings, short conversations and get pictures.

Did you see the soldier in camaflouge against the temple wall?

CMAC -- Cambodia Mine Action Center deminers are working to broaden the areas that are free of landmines and unexploded ordinances around the temple and along the border on the Cambodian side so the military can maneuver safely. CMAC is an organization of Khmer deminers -- trained by France and funded by France and Germany.