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Thailand has on 30th July lodged a letter of complaint against the reconstruction of a market near the staircase of Preah Vihear temple, destroyed by Thai shells during the fighting on 3rd April, 2009.

The Thai action came one day after Cambodian troops started rebuilding the market under the order of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Gen. Sor Thavy, Deputy Governor of Preah Vihear and chairman of the market reconstruction, told Koh Santepheap on 2nd August that the Thai side had accused Cambodia of violating the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2000. However, he said that Cambodia did not violating the 2000 MOU because the market existed long before the MOU was signed. Mr. Sor Thavy said up until now three market buildings of 4 metres by 10 metres had been completed.

The Cambodian side claimed that the market was constructed in 1998 and there are about 319 Cambodian families living and making their living inside the market. Cambodian officials claimed that during the armed clashes on 3rd April, Thai soldiers deliberately shot at the markets with rockets, burning it to the ground and displacing the 319 Cambodian families living near the market perimeter. The Cambodian government had lodged a compensation claim with the Thai government, but the claim was refused because the Thai side said that the market is located on Thai territory.

At the same time, a group of Thai ultra-nationalists, led by Mr. Wirak Sumkwamchid, leader of the Sisaket chapter of People Alliance Against Corruption, had on 1st August conducted a ritual ceremony in Sisaket town to pray to the god Shiva to help them take back Preah Vihear from Cambodia.

In the ceremony, Mr. Thepmontri Limphayom had acted as a priest. Using three coconut fruits, he prayed to the god Shiva in front of an altar to help Thailand take back Preah Vihear temple from Cambodia and to de-ritualise the Cambodian ceremonies conducted earlier.

However, Cambodian officials said the earlier ceremonies conducted by the Cambodian side at Preah Vihear temple were aimed at calling for peace and not as a curse to the Thai people as perceived by the Thai side. The ceremonies were also conducted to pray to the spirit of Ta Dy, a heroic ancient Cambodian commander who committed suicide by jumping the Preah Vihear cliff. They were also calling for the god Shiva to help in convincing the Thais to withdraw their troops.

Source: Koh Santepheap newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization