There was monumental evidence proving that Samdech Techo Hun Sen is a peace-maker. His wise leadership saved Cambodia and Thailand from war that ultra-nationalist elements on both sides of the frontier intended to ignite, simply for political gains. On the issue of war and peace, he gave a clear, simple and easy explanation so that humanity and posterity, especially the Cambodian people understand their implications by stating that “it is not difficult to go to war, but it is difficult to know when to stop it.” His word of wisdom must be resonated and must find the ways to resonate among the entire Khmer nation and fair-minded leaders of this region and the world. He carried out his job of avoiding war, seeking and reaching peaceful resolutions, restoring good and friendly relations, transforming and developing the frontier region for the benefit of the two peoples without compromising territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and without humiliating others. His profound knowledge and his extensive experiences as a statesman and a commander-in-chief allow him to grasp the various situations and understand different people to the smallest details. He said: “It was the intention of a number of people to turn the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear into war and armed conflicts.” But the facts and the truth as seen by Samdech Techo were that “the Thai soldiers have come and encroached upon us but they do not have offensive weapons. First they said they came to fetch their protestors who had illegally entered Cambodian territory and would return to their side in the evening. Unfortunately one of the soldiers stepped on mine and was later pronounced dead. Then more troops have been sent in.” The risks of an armed conflict are getting greater by the minutes, the hours and days and it took a peace-maker to cool it off.
The “issue of Preah Vihear,” regardless of the call to war by the Thai ultra-nationalists and the Cambodian opposition Parties, is not the issue of the temple, but the issue of the land adjacent to the temple due to the difference between Cambodia and Thailand for using two different maps. Cambodia uses the map left by the French, under the 1904 Convention and 1907 Treaty between France and Siam. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague also decided that The Temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia under its 15 June 1962 Judgment. The map left by French has been used as proof by Cambodia and won the case. On the other hand, Thailand was using a recent map drawn unilaterally by Thailand, not under any prior Convention or Treaty, creating a so called “overlapping area,” that the peace-maker has adroitly and successfully avoided armed conflict and war, then attempted to resolve the claim on the “overlapping area” by both Cambodia and Thailand through peaceful means, bilaterally, then under ASEAN auspices, and at the UN.
Undeterred by the lack of progress and profoundly determined to help relieve the heavy political burden on Thai political responsible leaders of all colors, and aiming once for all for a lasting peace between the peoples of Cambodia and Thailand, especially those living in the areas, the peace-maker has led the Royal Government of Cambodia to request the ICJ on 28 April 2011 for “Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia vs. Thailand)” and to request for “Indication for Provisional Measures Order” of which a ruling was handed down on 18 July 2011, indicating a four-point provisional measures, an order for compliance by each Party, and a decision that“until the Court has rendered its judgment on the request for interpretation, it shall remain seized of the matters which form the subject of this Order.”
The efforts of the peace-maker are legendary. The result cannot be anything, but peace for the two peoples living side by side separated only by a frontier line. His reasoning is down to earth and should be understood by all, the supporters of the Cambodian’s People Party (CPP), as well as the supporters of the opposition parties. This issue of “Preah Vihear” is something above and beyond the political parties’ line. He said: “We cannot deny the natural fact that Thailand and Cambodia are bordering with one another; we cannot ask Thailand to move elsewhere and we also cannot move; we have to stay where we are; We need trades with Thailand and I would take this opportunity to appeal our people not to boycott Thai goods or products.” He meant to say that it is unwise to make the two countries enemies to one another.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen is a true peace-maker. All the Cambodian people regardless of political party’s affiliation must not have any difficulty to find valid reasons to take pride and tell the world that Samdech Techo Hun Sen is a true peace-maker.
Prof. Pen Ngoeun
Advisor
University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
11 September 2012