Raising High Spirit of Patriotism in Face of Aggressive Ambition of Thai Politicians and Military

Once the Cambodian respected Preah Vihear temple has been registered one of the world heritages on July 7, 2008, Thai political and military circles, academics as well as some other history misguided extremists have clearly shown their aggressive ambitions over the Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity basing their arguments on an illegitimate map which is internationally unrecognized and unilaterally drawn by the Thais. It is worth recalling that on July 15, 2008, three Thai citizens crossed over the fence and intruded the Cambodian territory, when soon after under the pretext of coming to get them back, dozens of Thai black-uniform soldiers (rangers) invaded Cambodian territory and occupied the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Buddhist monastery adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple. This has then caused a situation of border tension. Since then, Thai continued to intrude the Cambodian territory and caused three consecutive armed clashes - on October 3, 2008; on October 15, 2008 and April 03, 2009, bringing about destruction on the Cambodian people. It is in this situation, heroic soldiers of the Cambodian armed forces have exercised our rights to victoriously defend the territory.

The Royal Government of Cambodia under wise leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has implemented its dignified obligation in defending territorial integrity as well as providing peaceful living for our people. Furthermore, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, in his capacity as the country’s leader with so much experience, has shown clearly intention to make the Thai-Cambodian border a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing region, while trying to avert tension and confrontation, more so fighting, because Cambodia and Thailand are neighbors, for whom war would provide no interests, but destruction to the people of the two countries. Testifying this goodwill intention, on August 22, Samdech Techo Hun Sen publicly declared troop readjustment, in which 50% of our soldiers in the front were to be withdrawn to the rear. It was well received and greeted from both national and international public opinions. However, the goodwill was not positively responded from the Siamese leaders and extremists. Everyone knows full well that Preah Vihear is not their only target of aggressive ambition but also a political hostage that conflicted Thai politicians fighting for power use as a means to agitate Siamese nationalism and attract support among their people.

On September 19, the Siamese extremists paraded their demonstration across Si Sa Ket province and aimed for the border in view of attaining the Khmer temple and the adjacent 4.6 square kilometer land which they have claimed unilaterally to be Siamese. But they were rebuffed by people in Si Sa Ket and Siamese competent authority. Facing with this situation the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has always been ready to take up obligation in defending every inch of the fatherland’s territory.

In response to affirmation of the Siamese leaders, including comment by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand that the 4.6 square kilometer land belongs to Siam and the road that the Cambodians have just built to access the temple must be used also by Siam, on September 28, 2009, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen sent a strong and clear message to the Thai leaders that “such an assertion by the Royal Government of Thailand is unilateral and aimed at invading and occupying the Cambodian territory and this is not acceptable.” Cambodia recognizes no so-called overlap or conflict area. Cambodia recognizes only the map which is left by the French-Siamese convention and treaty of 1904 and 1907, which have been reaffirmed by the International Court in The Hague in 1962, and wherein it is referred to again in the Thai-Cambodian Memorandum of Understanding in 2000. Samdech Techo further said “the Khmer land is the one that is internationally recognized and we recognize no other map drawn up unilaterally by Thais and therefore it would be torn up if it were to be brought up for negotiation.” Samdech Techo also proposes to the Thai leaders to cease using Preah Vihear temple in pursuance of internal politics.

In a period of over one year, after the Siamese have overtly shown their ambition of aggression on the Cambodian territory, the Cambodian people of all walks of life and circle, urban and rural, young and old, have affirmed resolutely their patriotism. Our people have been sharing resources in supplying foods, medicines and utensils to the front. Officials and people in general have taken their times to visit our soldiers who stand our ground in the front, which must be seen as excellent gesture and once again illustrates bonds between the rear and the front. This has been enormously encouraging for our armed forces. It also brings the aggressors to their attention that the whole people of Cambodia have built up solidarity and united under the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia, with Samdech Techo Hun Sen as their leader. We are ready to thwart any enemy or extremist groups who, because being history misguided, have come to invade the Cambodian territory.

For our bright future and that of many generations to come, every Cambodian should remember well bitter and suffering pasts that the country had been invaded of its territory, plundered of national cultural heritages, and been scorned because the fact that we lost national solidarity dues to incorrect leadership, power thirst, and disrespect of will and interest of the people. In the recent history, those negative factors had once again appeared to our destruction. Therefore we must hold on to those lessons from the past while determining to prevent the bad history from recurring. As of present, even though the new world seems to be strengthening the course of implementing principle of peaceful coexistence, whereas war is not the means to solve problem, and while it is true that invasion of territory is not considered international order, still the recent event has clearly shown that ambition of aggression aimed at our territory has not yet ceased. It is in this judgment that we must continue to raise high spirit of patriotism, while sparing no physical and spiritual efforts in building and developing our nation quickly aimed at abolishing socio-economic backwardness, and firmly strengthening justice, equity, love and mutual confidence.

On this basis we will certainly be strengthening and expanding our national unity around the Royal Government of Cambodia for the sake of defending our nation and failing all forms of aggressive ambition from outside.