How could Thai people know the truth about The Temple of Preah Vihear, if and when Thai managing editor at the Nation Multimedia Group, Thanong Khanthong himself keeps on sending out misinformation to the readers of The Nation.
I do not believe that Thanong Khanthong does not know that the ICJ by its 15 June 1962 Judgment awarded the ownership of the Temple of Preah Viher to Cambodia, and the ICJ 11 November 2013 Judgment dealt with the interpretation of the “vicinity” of the Temple only. It leaves me to believe that in writing and in publishing even a short reference to the ICJ 11 November 2013 Judgment inside an important analysis on Thai politics, “As the pressure rises, something’s got to give,” on 22 November 2013, Thanong Khanthong, by design, intended to project his image of a nationalist when it come to Thailand’s neignbour to the East. This attitude might have pleased Thai ultra-nationalists, to the detriment of professionalism and intellectuality.
To preserve the context of his insightful analysis about Thai politics, and it is for the sake of honesty and common sense that I quote the entire sentence of his writing, that is: “Strangely enough, the House Speaker and his backers issued no protest over the World Court's ruling last week against Thailand's ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple.” Actually, as it had been already explained here above, “last week” ICJ Judgment was not about “ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple”.
Sending out misinformation about the sovereignty and territorial integrity is a very dangerous political game. It goes against the efforts to achieve a peaceful border area for development by the governments of Thailand and Cambodia. Associating circumstances of a purely Thai internal political event to those that are related to the international judicial matters for the purposes of drawing similarities or dissimilarities is not a smart move. It is questionable. It opens up a big hole for shooting.
It is unfortunate that Thanong Khanthong was sending out misinformation on the Temple of Preah Vihear to The Nation’s readers, intentionally. Instead, he could have been at the forefront to promote the truth and wisdom about the history, legality and legitimacy of the World Heritage Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear.
26 November, 2013
Pen Ngoeun,
Member of Press and Quick Reaction Unit
Office of the Council of Ministers,
Royal Government of Cambodia