Oddar Meanchey provincial governor Mean Chanyada poses for a photo with provincial administration staff and Cambodian military personnel at Ta Moan Temple. Supplied
Oddar Meanchey provincial governor Mean Chanyada has encouraged Cambodians to visit the Ta Moan Temple, adding on February 19 that Cambodians are free to organise activities and sing the national anthem as usual.
“Despite recent incidents, our authorities have not stopped the singing of national songs, including the national anthem or historical Khmer songs. This is normal, and it is not the first time,” he said.
On February 13, a group of Khmer visitors to the temple were admonished by Thai soldiers for singing the Cambodian national anthem while at the temple.
According to Thai media outlet The Nation, Thailand’s Army Area 2 sent a letter of complaint to Cambodia’s Military Region 4 on February 18 over what it described as “inappropriate behaviour” by Cambodian soldiers and civilians at the Ta Moan Thom temple.
The same outlet reported that the letter urged Cambodian authorities to advise tourists visiting the temple to “respect the law and avoid any inappropriate behaviour” to maintain positive relations between Thailand and Cambodia.
Chanyada added that while minor incidents occasionally occur, border troops from both countries coordinate and discuss the issues through the established working mechanisms of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
“Ta Moan Temple is an ancient Khmer temple that people often visit, and sometimes they engage in other activities, such as singing the national anthem or traditional Khmer songs,” he told The Post on February 19.
The governor took to social media a day earlier to reiterate that the situation at the temple remains normal, despite recent claims in Thai media of tensions between the militaries of the two neighbouring Kingdoms.
“The situation in the Ta Moan Temple area is normal. Please come and see the ancient temple, part of the heritage gifted to us by our ancient Khmer ancestors,” he said.
Ta Moan Temple is located in the Dangrek mountains, in Kok Mon commune’s Ta Moan village, of Banteay Ampil district, approximately 48 kilometres from the Oddar Meanchey provincial capital, Samrong.
The Thais acknowledge that the ancient temple is Khmer, but still claim it is located in Thailand’s Surin province.
In a video, Chanyada said he led a delegation from the provincial administration to visit the temple. He confirmed that as of 3.10pm on February 18, the situation remained normal.
“We have nothing to discuss regarding the peace of our two countries. No one has encroached on anyone else’s territory. Let the border commissions of both countries do their job,” he told a Thai military officer, during the visit.
On February 18, Border Protection Police Battalions 702 and 905 joined elements of the Royal Cambodian Army to inspect border markers in Oddar Meanchey, the provincial police reported.
Their mission was to prevent illegal crossings and other crimes while monitoring any new developments along the border.
The conflict over the Ta Moan Temple stems from unclear border demarcations that date back to the French-colonial era and has been used by Thai nationalists to stoke anti-Cambodian sentiments.
Following tensions around the nearby Preah Vihear Temple in 2008, the dispute intensified, leading to minor skirmishes between the militaries of the two nations, particularly in 2011.
Unlike Preah Vihear, which the International Court of Justice ruled as legally Cambodian in 1962, Ta Moan has not been internationally adjudicated.
Thai nationalist rhetoric has fuelled tensions, though recent years have seen diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflict.
ASEAN and bilateral talks have also sought a peaceful resolution to the issue, and both governments have promoted tourism in the area.
As the sovereignty claims of the ancient Khmer temple remain unsettled, tensions may resurface.
