Angkor Wat: The Show

Prince To Seek 'Unity' in Third Royal Party

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 September 2008

Prince Sisowath Thomico says he is seeking to keep royal family members politically relevant.

[Editor's note: With two fractured royalist parties coming out of the national election, Prince Sisowath Thomico, a cousin of King Norodom Sihamoni, says he has a plan to revive the royal name. With Norodom Ranariddh running his self-named party from exile, and Funcinpec winning only two seats in July's election, Prince Thomico has announced he wants to established a unifying party. He sat for an interview with VOA Khmer at his cabinet office at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.]

"I want to remind people of the royalist stance. Currently, the principle of the royalists is not interpreted clearly. That's why the voice of royalists has been disqualified and there is disunity among the royalists. Because there is no clear ideology, no clear theory, no clear principle, and no clear stance. Right now the royalist side has only individual principles, individual theories, and individual stances"

"My stance is that the royal family and the royalists can join in unity under the king and the government to show the national problem"

Q. You have a plan to set up a new political party, following the formation of a new government later this month. What is the main purpose of this party?

A. I have a plan to find a way not to disqualify the voice of the royalists. And I must set up a new party, but it is not clear how I can set up the new party.

Q. How will you set up the new party?

A. I want to remind people of the royalist stance. Currently, the principle of the royalists is not interpreted clearly. That's why the voice of royalists has been disqualified and there is disunity among the royalists. Because there is no clear ideology, no clear theory, no clear principle, and no clear stance. Right now the royalist side has only individual principles, individual theories, and individual stances.

Q. You set up the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party in 2006, but later you gave up on the party and joined the Norodom Ranariddh Party, and then Funcinpec. Why do you want a new party?

A. Because now Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party have weakened, endangering the Cambodian royal family in politics. I recognize my political process failed in unifying the royalists. I also recognize I lost to [NRP Secretary-General] You Hockry and [Funcinpec Secretary-General] Nhiek Bunchhay, who are the leaders disunifying the royalists. I cannot let the royalists lose. I must find a way to put value to the royal family and royalists once again.

Q. How will your planned party help promote the honor and prestige of the royal family and the royalists in the Cambodian political arena?

A. When the Khmer royal family becomes the national symbol, especially in the political sense, and when the royal family serves the king to protect the national culture and works hard to show the big national problem. I hope to do so. I hope and believe all walks of Khmer citizens can unify together to protect the border, sovereignty and culture. My stance is that the royal family and the royalists can join in unity under the king and the government to show the national problem.

A Too Many "Play Safe Game"

Both parties have also confirmed they will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but would join the Assembly the following day

Original and full story by Phnom Penh Post - Opposition-takes-vote-fight-abroad

What's a fascinate and careful planned strategy!

By accepting to take oath on the 25 September 2008 is to recognize the results of election so far then why bother to engineer the "Play Safe Game".

Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mr. Kem Sokha and elected members of SRP and HRP will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly scheduled for 24 September 2008.

At the same time, to step up their opposition to the results of this year's election, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha decided to jet out last Wednesday on a crusade mission tour of Europe and USA in high hope to convince the foreigners [ I believe that foreigners will not sell themselves to the CPP if we take clear documents to show them] not to sell themselves to the CPP who is accused by SRP and HRP to engineer its landslide victory through the manipulation of voter lists prior to the July 27 poll.

On 2 September 2008, Mr. Sam Rainsy sent a letter to HRH King Norodom Sihamoni - informed his Majesty of his intention that his 26 delegates will refuse to take oath at the same time as the CPP elected representatives scheduled for 24 September 2008, however, want to take oath on the day after the parliamentary opening session [25 September 2008].

At the same time, Mr. Sam Rainsy has another plan on his sleeve, should the case refuse by his Majesty, Mr. Sam Rainsy and his delegates will go to a sacred place in front of the Royal Palace.

Here how this so called "play Safe Game" is being played at this very moment:-

1] Lobby the international community particular those who are signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, is a prime and utmost motive for both Mr. Rainsy and Sokha's trip to Europe and USA, who are obliged under the agreement to assist Cambodia in election process and ensure that it shall be free and fair.

2] Mr. Sam Rainsy is well aware that his crusade would be an uphill battle due to the fact that EU has stated all along that election is failed short of key international standards and it's up to Cambodians whether or not to accept the results.

3] Mr. Sam Rainsy letter to HRH King Norodom Sihamoni is just to be on safe side than sorry should the crusade mission fail.

4] If His Majesty agreed upon Mr. Sam Rainsy's request [take oath the day after National Assembly's 1st session] then he has something to fall onto.

Politic shall not all about play safe game than feel sorry and put their supporters and followers in any kind of awkward position.

Politicians do really speak people's languages - the kind of languages that they think people want to hear but not necessarily reflect or match the great expectations of people who empowered the party want to see.

In the naked eye of million plus people who voted for the party [SRP & HRP], the dead-lock so far seemed to be a serious affairs Cambodia cannot tolerate any longer and desperately need to change for a better and greater democratic and transparent society but deep down it is a case of manipulation in which the followers and supporters of the party failed to see through.

By stepping their opposition to the results of this year's election is to show their supporters and followers, as well as Cambodia people; that SRP and HRP are deadly serious about any type of engineered manipulation for a landslide victory. This [action], of course; is indeed a good deed and in line with democratic principle.

By accepting to take oath on 25 September 2008, the day after the new National Assembly opening session, is said so far to recognize the election results however party is chosen to keep to themselves and not wanting to disclose to their followers and supporters. This [action] is nothing more than the party psychological and egoist game in getting the followers and supporters rally behind the party for now and hope that soon enough people will forget about it.

Word best describe for this particular scenario

What SRP & HRP Talk In Public and Do Behind The Closed Door Is Two Completely Different Affairs

New show to take audiences through history of Angkor Wat's 'discovery'

Courtesy of Phnom Penh Post : 4 September 2008
Written by Peter Olszewski
Thursday, 04 September 2008

Extravaganza to follow French explorer A.H. Mouhot on dreamlike journey through Khmer legends

Organisers are ready to top last year’s lavish Angkor Wat multimedia spectacular with a new production at the end of this year. IT'S been described as a cross between television historical-romance razzmatazz, mysticism and a traditional music-and-dance stage spectacular, and the promoters call it a "sensory odyssey through magnificent multimedia performances".

But whatever you call it, it was, in showbiz parlance, a smash hit when it debuted last year at Angkor Wat.

A new version of the show will run again during the coming peak tourism season. The lavish outdoor performance is called The Legend of Angkor Wat and subtitled "When History Comes to Life". It will run for six weeks, from December 5, 2008, to January 31, 2009, at an under-the-stars venue set up inside Angkor Wat itself. Performances will be held nightly except Sundays, Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year's Eve (December 31).

While tickets are not cheap - $60 for standard and $80 for premium seats - sales through international agencies have already been brisk. In August more than 3,000 tickets were sold in Japan alone.

The outdoor venue has 100 VIP seats, 400 premium seats and 400 standards seats, and, if the season is sold out, the collective audience will total almost 50,000.

The show is organised by Siem Reap's Bayon CM Organizer Co Ltd, a joint venture with Bayon TV
General manager Ladda Patthanun Chaiprasert said the venture is put together with the cooperation of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

All historic and cultural details of the show, the script and choreography were developed and supervised by Proeung Chhieng, vice rector and dean of the Faculty of Choreographic Arts, at Phnom Penh's Royal University of Fine Arts. A crew of over 120 helps stage the show which has a cast of 160.

PETER OLSZEWSKI

Bayon CM Organizer general manager Ladda Patthanun Chaiprasert gets ready to put on a show. The show has a storyline that criss-crosses in time, centering on the adventures of 19th-century French philologist and explorer Alexandre Henri Mouhot who is mistakenly credited for "discovering" the Angkor complex. While other foreigners had been aware of its existence, Mouhot's visit and his evocative writings popularised the temples in the West, and the rest is, as they say, history.

The Legends show plays with that history, beginning with Mouhot's arrival at Angkor in 1860. He lapses into unconsciousness and, in his dream state, a beautiful Apsara woman guides him back in time to the legendary beginning of Khmer civilisation, with the marriage of the daughter of the king of the nagas.

Subsequent scenes take Mouhot through the King Suryavarman II era, and then it gets even more weird: an exploration of the creation of Apsaras.

Thailand Unique Style of International Relationship

Thailand is surely glad that its two small and immediate neighbours to the southeastern are "Cambodia and Laos" and not "Myanmar and Vietnam", otherwise would have to think really hard of the dire straight consequences if troops to be deployed in such a hostile manner.


The sad fact [deployment of military/stand-off at Preah Vihear] would never have happened and can be avoided completely had certain groups of Thai publics and politicians particularly the opposition reacted more appropriately to the temple's inscription as a World Heritage site, and could somehow, in their own term and manner, sort out their differences instead of politicizing the issue [Preah Vihear Temple] and dragged Cambodia into its own domestic problem.

1962
Thailand and Cambodia took their dispute over the temple's ownership to the International Court of Justice in 1962, when Thailand lost the case.

For 46 years, the world has known that the ancient temple belongs to Cambodia, as per a the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and that Thailand has no whatsoever right to the ancient archaeological site.

Negotiations

The world has known for 46 years that Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia, as per a the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled [Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia and Thailand has no right to the ancient archaeological site].

Cambodia, however, with good faith and openness of her attention, sincerity and due respects for its immediate neighbour - Thailand, has entered into dialogue after dialogue, negotiation after negotiation for a good 7 years to teething out any differences on the enlist of Preah Vihear Temple as one of many World Heritage site of cultural significant before securing a joint-communique duly signed by both side: The former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama of Thailand and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An [Thailand, in the last minute ditch during the Vancouver session, tried to block Cambodia by demanding a joint-management which was also objected].

Just days after the successful enlisted of the ancient temple [only temple was enlisted by the areas along the temple remains to be dealt by Joint Border Commission], Thailand deployed its troops and tanks to the disputed areas. Since the stand-off, there were 3 high level meetings between the Defence and Foreign Ministers from both side, and the fourth was called off by Thailand just shortly before the scheduled meeting start without any prior warning.


There were not any fruitful conclusion however both side agreed on replying of troops, to defuse tensions along the border, seeing almost all their troops from the ancient temple site on 16 August after a fraught and a month-long stand-off, but there were reports that Thailand soldiers are still occupying the Ta Moan Thom temple, claimed by Thailand that their troops are stationed there for years, and disputed by Cambodia that the temple situated in its territory.


The Tidal Waves Behind the Incursion Into Cambodia

PAD started as an organization - the "Government Watch Dog", turned politic but failed to secure enough supports and votes for the top job during 2007 election [another democratic election since 2006 after the Military Junta rolled its tanks and mobilized its elite "Black Uniform Army" to the heart of Nation, Bangkok, overthrown the then its legitimate democratic elected government of Prime Minister Thakshin Sinawatra while he was abroad, addressing the UN assembly].

There's no One Size Fit All solution but the Drop in the Bucket surely created Tidal Waves

With brilliant idea of the mainstream mass media who have always sorted to exploit all issues as a hot news commodity to their advantage, PAD surely knows the time has arrived and shall make full use of them to seizing the momentum for its political gain.

The successful enlisted of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage site of cultural significant by the Cambodia is just an excuse for PAD to legitimise its policies and actions while their main intention so far is to get rid off the months old legitimate democratic elected government whose they thought is the figurehead of the former ousted legitimate government by the Junta.

Nationalism is indeed not out of fashion.

PAD has been heavily exploiting and stirring up the sentiment of Thai publics and angering nationalist who are still naively claim ownership of the ancient temple [after 46 years, they couldn't get over the fact that Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia].

PAD has been able to push the government to one corner and holding them at bay: seeing the sudden deploying of Thai military mights and muscles to its southeastern border "Preah Vihear Temple" instead of rolling tanks, armoured personal carriers and elite black uniform army to the heart of capital Bangkok as seen in 2006; intimidating its immediate small and friendly neighbour "Cambodia".

Thai Arm Force's New Toys
Thailand recent purchase US$600m worth of military hardware, consisted of six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters, one Saab 340 aircraft equipped with the Erieye AEW radar system and a command-and-control system to link the fighters with the Erieye system, are additional to the existing fleet, and that further defence procurement is speculated to include submarines and the delayed purchase of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) this year [2008].

[the Nation: Fighter Purchase - Heralding Thai Military Modernisation Programme? written by RSIS's Ron Matthews and Curie Maharani].

The overthrown of Thaksin has failed Thailand in securing the US F16 figthers, which was initiatted by the Thaksin government [Americans were banned on selling to countries where government was overthrown].

Thailand International Relationship Style

Thailand is surely know how to employ Military Mights and Muscles as the only Mean Of Getting Attentions from its small and friendly immediate neighbour

On July 15, the well equipped Thai armies with modernized military hardware and tanks, were deployed to the disputed areas followed by Cambodian armies were there to stand guard from any farther incursion and subsequently the built up of forces by both side in and around the disputed area and tension rose accordingly; following the announcement by UNESCO that it has listed the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple as one of the world's heritage site of cultural significant.

Thailand international relationship style in this particular instance, in the eyes of Cambodians, is indeed a hostile act rather than the new trend adopt by many countries around the world; where bilateral, open and honest dialogue as mean to resolve any differences

"Russia's Attack on Georgia, "That (the use of forceis simply not the way in which international relationship can be run in the 21st century". "This is equally valid in the case of the Thai-Cambodian territorial dispute over Preah Vihear Temple", said Mr. David Miliband Brittish Foreign Secretary. [the Nation" Thais and Cambodians must learn to be good neighbours].

I do agree with Mr. David Biliband that resort to military arm conflict and stand off as the only solution and tool to settle any dispute or differences is not really a wise option to conduct international relation in the 21st century. However, Thailand has chosen to act so.

The case here is not so complicated and is really showing the unique Thailand's style of international relationship in dealing with small country without taking into consideration that:-

1] Preah Vihear Temple is not belonged to or a break away or renegaded Thai province as seen in the restive south where Thai-Muslim engaged in all kind of undiscriminating attacks whether or not they are ordinary citizens, public servants or people from different religions.

2] There are any Thai citizen[s] who reside along the border, indeed in great danger as it happened in Georgie which was seen as the motive for Russia to engage in all out war to protect those citizens are said to hold Russian citizenship.

The sad fact [deployment of military/stand-off at Preah Vihear] would never have happened and can be avoided completely had certain groups of Thai publics and politicians particularly the opposition reacted more appropriately to the temple's inscription as a World Heritage site, and could somehow, in their own term and manner, sort out their differences instead of politicizing the issue [Preah Vihear Temple] and dragged its immediate neighbour into its own domestic problem.

Thailand is surely glad that its two small and immediate neighbours to the southeastern are "Cambodia and Laos" who are indeed less population and weak in terms of military mights and muscles to stand up to such intimidation or fence themselves in case of war.

Thailand would have to think really hard of the dire straight consequences if troops to be deployed at "Myanmar and Vietnam's border" in such a hostile manner.