An Open Letter From Scholars of Southeast Asia

An Open Letter from Scholars of Southeast Asian Studies

Concerning the Preah Vihear Case

Faculty of Liberal Arts,

Thammasat University

Siam/Thailand

July 2008

To Teachers, Parents, Mass Media, Students, and the People of Thailand and Cambodia,

The recent border dispute over the “Preah Vihear” World Heritage site has led to a series of highly emotional protests from some organizations and individuals in Thailand, leading to a situation of unwarranted hostility among them and between people of the two countries.

Scholars of Southeast Asian Studies, whose purpose is to contribute to knowledge about the Southeast Asian region, wish to emphasize that the root of this border dispute is in the historical and cultural legacies of Thailand and Cambodia. Facts and interpretations of historical evidences should be conducted with respect to the truth, and not to serve partsan political interests. Accordingly, we would like to propose the following:

1. In the case of ‘Preah Vihear’, we fully support the ruling of the International Court of Justice on 15 June 1962 at The Hague, Netherlands; that the sovereignty over the “Preah Vihear” belongs to Cambodia.

2. We support and promote the vigorous debates over contentious issues, providing that the knowledge should not be used to cause prejudice and antagonism between neighboring countries that may even lead to warfare.

3. We recognize that various countries in the region share a common history and culture. These commonalities should serve as the foundation of international cooperation to protect human dignity and for fraternity among nations, particularly in the face of increasing challenges to all countries in the region posed by globalization.

4. We recommend that the necessary steps should be taken to resolve this dispute through organizational mediation. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should initiate this process to achieve this goal.

We urge teachers, parents, mass media, students, and the people of Thailand and Cambodia to call for a peaceful solution to this dispute, based on respect for the integrity of all Southeast Asian nations.

Yours sincerely,

Signed (enclosed)

To co-sign this letter, please send your name and affiliation directly to Akarapong Khamkoon <akhamkoon@hotmail.com>
(Among the first signatures are…)

Dr.Charnvit Kasetsiri

Former Rector, Thammasat University

Associate Professor Dr.Thanet Aphornsuvan

Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University

Assistant Professor ML.Thitirat Laddawal

Director, Southeast Asian Studies Program, Thammasat University

Mr.Akkharaphong Khamkhun

Southeast Asian Studies Program, Thammasat University

Thongchai Winichakul

University of Wisconsin-Madison