On September 10, an ASEAN observer team to Cambodia made a special trip up to the Preah Vihear Temple. Walking under the blazing sun across the ancient stone pathways, they took a close look at the damage left behind by last year’s shelling. To be honest, this World Heritage site took a heavy hit; the delicate carvings and architecture left by our ancestors are now scarred with bullet holes and scattered rubble all around.
Ministry of Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata just shook her head when talking about it. She told the team that last year the Thai military hit the site with heavy artillery and sent in drones and warplanes to drop bombs, practically aiming to completely destroy the ancient monument. A ceasefire only came into effect late last year, but the Thai forces turned right around and put up barbed wire, dug trenches, brought in shipping containers, and even paved concrete roads, slowly creeping right up to the Preah Vihear border.
Despite all that, local officials still made it clear that Cambodia has always been willing to sit down and talk peacefully about the border, relying on international law and bilateral mechanisms to sort things out. For true peace between both sides, everyone just needs to play by the rules. With the observer team dropping by for a field inspection these past few days, everyone is cooperating fully, hoping that this ceasefire will be genuinely implemented so local residents don't have to live in fear anymore.
