Symbolic promotion of peace
2 weeks ago, more than 70 representatives from civil society in Cambodia and Thailand came together in Siem Reap to discuss about the promotion of peace and the defusion of tensions between the two countries.
The consultation workshop titled ‘The Road to Peace between Thailand and Cambodia’ was jointly organised by the Working Group for Peace (WGP) and the Thai Volunteer Service (TVS).
The workshop culminated in a peace march through Siem Reap on Sunday afternoon, with participants lighting incense and candles for the symbolic promotion of peace.
Several areas along the border between Cambodia and Thailand, especially the territory around the 11th century temple of Preah Vihear, are still disputed between the two countries.
In 1962 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the location of Preah Vihear temple falls under Cambodia. However, the most accessible road to the temple is located in Thailand. The 2008 awarding of World Heritage status to the temple led to a build-up of military presence on both the Thai and Cambodian sides of the border. As a result, civil society in both countries became concerned of a possible violent escalation of the conflict.
“In the last year Preah Vihear became a big issue, as well as tensions between red and yellow shirts within Thailand. The media made the issue very hot, and the young people in Thailand begin to feel hatred against Cambodia. We feel that we need to do something about this”, said Somkid Mahissaya. Somkid is a representative of the Thai Volunteers Service Foundation. The Working Group for Peace was established by civil society actors in 2008 in response to concerns over increased borders disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.
At the end of the workshop, the participants released a joint statement calling for action in finding a peaceful solution for any existing border conflicts, and changes in media reporting, history telling and education to promote understanding and peace. “Through our joint statement we want our ideas to be heard. We want to show how grassroots people feel about conflict, and how they want policymakers to consider peaceful solutions”, said Chhit Muny, a representative of the Cambodian organization Youth for Peace. “Also we want to show to all Thai and Cambodian people that we are still working together and we do not want to break the friendship that exists between our people”.
Meeting in progress
During the workshop, the participants stressed the importance of involving youth in peace building efforts. “The young generation does not have good knowledge about the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand. They get a lot of information from the media, and there are a lot of misunderstandings”, said Mahissaya.
The civil society actors also made presentations about culture and traditions in their countries, to focus on similarities instead of differences, and build trust. “The cultural section is to find the common things between us, to see the common culture, and to show that we feel the same”, said Cheang Sokha, Director of the Youth Resource Development Program in Cambodia and spokesperson for the event.
The new year, called Chol Chnam Thmey in Cambodia and Song Kran in Thailand, was selected as the common theme for the workshop. “The new year tradition is similar between both countries, and during the new year we forget and forgive, and make wishes for the future. It is a symbolic starting point for working together”, Mahissaya added.
The Working Group for Peace represents a unique movement in Cambodian and Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) mobilizing organizations and individuals to work together and act for peaceful change. Huot Thavory, director of Khmer Ahimsa, stressed the importance of civil society actors working together.
Peace March
“Most NGOs work separately to reach their goals. This consultation is a chance for NGOs to work together”. She was critical about NGOs or NGO staffs that are reluctant to cooperate, demonstrating feelings of competition and lack of trust between civil society actors. “In Cambodia we have a saying: “If you commit rowing your boat down the river, do not put your legs against the waves”. It will just make the process slower”, she stated.
The participants developed an action plan of activities during 2010, including exchange visits and awareness raising activities between Cambodia and Thailand. “The action plan is made with participation from everyone”, explained Mahissaya. “It comes from the ideas of our participants, including Buddhists, Christians and Muslims, and also one representative of the Karen minority hill tribe in Thailand. There are villagers, young people, media, academics NGO activists and male and female monks. They represent the diversity of the countries in the Mekong region”.
