Cambodian-Thai enmity at root of riots

Reports of slur open old wounds among neighbors

By Matt McKinney and Rafael D. Frankel, Globe Correspondents, 2/2/2003

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - As mobs rampaged through this city last week, one of the rioters exhorted the gangs to ''teach Thais to stop looking down on Cambodia.''

The rallying cry helps to explain the explosion of street violence Wednesday against Thais and Thai-owned businesses.

People in both countries say the unrest fed on some Cambodians' longstanding mistrust of their wealthier, more-developed neighbor and insecurities about Cambodia's national cultural treasure.

Rioters, led by groups of students, stormed the Thai Embassy, restaurants, and factories after rumors spread that a Thai soap opera star had suggested Thailand was the rightful owner of the Angkor Wat temple complex.

At least one Cambodian died, eight Thais were injured, and the Thai government has estimated the damage at $23 million.

Although it now appears doubtful the actress made such comments, the reports fueled a commonly held belief among Cambodians, and one often admitted by Thais, that citizens of the richer, larger country assume a superiority complex when it comes to Cambodia, analysts said.

The countries share the same branch of Buddhism and many cultural traits.

But while Cambodia has struggled to recover after years of war, Thailand became a major force in the local economy.

Cambodia remains dependent on imports from Thailand and has been swept by a wave of Thai music, movies, and television shows.

Dr. Charnvit Kasetsiri, a professor of Southeast Asian history at Thailand's Thammasat University, said that ''in some ways the Thais know they are modern compared to Cambodians.''

''In recent history, during the period of colonialism, and in the American war in Indochina, [Thailand] escaped all the trouble,'' he said. ''So we've become very successful, and we look down on our neighbor.''

The Hindu-Buddhist Angkor Wat, so central to Cambodia's identity that it is incorporated in the country's flag, has figured prominently in the enmity between the countries, during territorial wars between their ancient dynasties.

The sculptured walls of the main temple, which was completed in 1150, show a band of Thai mercenaries marching with Khmer soldiers.

But in 1431, the Thais - then known as Siamese - returned to sack Angkor Wat and seize some of its treasured possessions, setting off a battle for control.

The Thais held the property until they were forced by French colonialists in the late 19th century to return it; the temples again fell into Thai hands during World War II, but were soon returned to Cambodian control.

A dispute over access to the temples continues today. Cambodia completed an access to the remote Preah Vihear temple, near the countries' shared border, after Thailand shut down an entrance to protest what it said was pollution coming from Cambodia.

''If you go back to Angkor, that's the height of Cambodian civilization, and the Thais took over, literally, and then absorbed the high civilization of the Khmer,'' Kasetsiri said. ''So with this kind of inferior-superior complex, a kind of family, love-hate relationship with Cambodia has developed. This makes some bad feelings between the two nations sometimes, and it's very sensitive.''

That sensitivity was palpable not only in the rioting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, but the day after in Bangkok, when hundreds of Thais gathered at the Cambodian Embassy in their own protest and tore down the Cambodian national emblem on the front wall of the embassy.

The crowd only dispersed after it heard a message from King Bhumibol Adulyadej, seen as the highest moral voice in Thailand, urging the protesters not to resort to violence.

For now, both countries are trying to repair their damaged relations after the riots, which prompted Thailand to downgrade diplomatic links and cut economic ties with its neighbor.

Many Cambodians say they are worried that the violence could take a toll on the country's efforts to shed its ''war-torn'' reputation and assure foreign business leaders and tourists that stability has finally been achieved.

''The challenge for [Cambodian] Prime Minister Hun Sen now is to move on with this as gracefully as possible and try to restore full diplomatic relations with Thailand,'' said Kao Kim Hourn, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. ''Cambodia didn't deserve this at all.''

McKinney reported from Phnom Penh; Frankel from Bangkok. Material from the Los Angeles Times was included in this report.

© 2003 Globe Newspaper Company