The tension between Thailand and Cambodia primarily stems from a long-standing border dispute, heavily focused on the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.
Here’s a breakdown of the key causes:
* Colonial-era border demarcation: The roots of the dispute lie in maps drawn by the French colonial power in 1907, which were intended to delineate the border between then-Siam (Thailand) and French-controlled Cambodia. Thailand argues these maps are inaccurate and were not knowingly accepted, while Cambodia uses them as the basis for its territorial claims. The vagueness of the watershed line used in the mapping has allowed for competing interpretations.
* The Preah Vihear Temple: This ancient Hindu temple, perched on a cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, is the most prominent flashpoint.
* ICJ Rulings: In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple itself lies within Cambodian territory, based on the 1907 French map. However, Thailand continued to claim the surrounding land. In 2013, the ICJ reaffirmed its ruling, declaring that the land around the temple also belonged to Cambodia.
* Nationalist Pride: For both countries, the temple is a powerful symbol of national identity and cultural heritage. This fuels strong nationalist sentiments, making it difficult to compromise on territorial claims.
* UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cambodia’s successful bid to list Preah Vihear as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 further intensified tensions, as Thailand feared it would legitimize Cambodia’s control over the surrounding territory.
* Unclear Borders Beyond Preah Vihear: While Preah Vihear is the most well-known, there are other ancient temple sites and areas along the 800km shared border where demarcation remains disputed, such as Ta Muen Thom and Ta Krabey temples.
* Recent Escalations and Triggers:
* Landmines: Recent clashes have been triggered by incidents involving landmines, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of newly planting them (which Cambodia denies, attributing them to remnants of past conflicts).
* Political Instability: Domestic political upheaval in both nations can sometimes exacerbate border tensions, as leaders may use nationalist rhetoric for political gain.
* Military Encounters: Direct military confrontations, including exchanges of fire and accusations of territorial incursions, frequently lead to diplomatic breakdowns and further escalate the situation.
In essence, the tension is a complex mix of historical grievances, unresolved colonial-era border issues, the symbolic importance of cultural sites like Preah Vihear, and ongoing nationalistic sentiments.