Cambodia appeals over ‘imminent war’ on Thai border

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Title – Cambodia appeals over ‘imminent war’ on Thai border
Source – The Daily Telegraph
Date – 23rd July 2008

I’m not sure anyone really believes there is an ‘imminent war’ brewing between Thailand and Cambodia, but certainly this situation can not be ignored and it is worth keeping half an eye on.

It is the ability to read behind the headlines that provides us with the information to travel more safely and to make sound judgements on the countries and the regions of those countries we should visit. For now the area round the Preah Vihear temple should be out of bounds to travellers (effectively it is, as governments from both sides have restricted movement). But in Thailand it is the southern border region with Malaysia is substantially more dangerous at this time, yet it doesn’t hit the headlines quite like this.

So what is behind the headlines? Well the most simplistic explanation is an unfortunate coincidence of political manoeuvring taking place on both sides for wholly different reasons. Which side of the border this temple lies on has been in dispute for decades, but the people who live in the region on both sides have lived in relative harmony for almost as long, only ever disturbed by decisions made in far away capitol. Tourists rarely visit region and certainly not in the numbers seen elsewhere in these much visited countries.

But there is nothing like a symbol of national pride to galvanise public opinion when your political candidate or party needs a boost; not just in Asia but all over the world. In Cambodia the troop build up happened to coincide with an election and national pride in a country whose modern history is so tragic, is a very powerful tool; sending in troops to protect a 900 year old temple you have claimed as your own sends a strong message. In Thailand it was actually the opposite; the foreign minister cooperated with UNESCO to give the temple national heritage recognition, which was seen by political rivals as ceding ownership to the Cambodians. This was too easy a target for political opponents in a country still in some political turmoil following a bloodless coup in 2005; the sign of conceding without a fight too much for politicians to take and leading to the resignation of the foreign minister and assertion through the deployment of troops to their claim on the temple.

The outcome is troop movements from both sides towards a potential flash point. There is no political will to actually fight, but the concern is always that one little thing can set things off. History is littered with conflicts that started ‘by mistake’; politicians find it much easier to step-up than to back-down. What happens if patrolling soldiers surprise each other and shots are exchanged or worse someone is killed? When in an area still littered with landmines someone puts the wrong foot forward? Wherever there is a build up of troops from different countries there is the potential for rapid escalation.

For this reason it is really very important that travel planning includes keeping up-to-date not just with the news from the different destinations you visit, but what is behind the news; Thailand does not need to be avoided as a destination, but you need to know which parts of Thailand to avoid. Similar troop build ups happened on the Venezuelan, Colombian and Ecuadorian borders earlier this year and Africa is full of similar situations that have turned out very badly indeed. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop examines the flashpoints in the world and at your specific destinations. We provide you with the tools and the appreciation of how and why you should maintain an interest in the political situation at your destination(s).

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.