Poll: Push Cambodians out

10 August, 2010
Bangkok Post

Nearly 70 per cent of people polled recently agreed that the government should push Cambodians out of the overlapping area near Preah Vihear temple as it is Thai territory, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA)reported on Tuesday.

NIDA poll said this was the opinion of 69.55 per cent of respondents.

They said this should be done through peaceful means, to protect the country’s sovereignty and minimise the problem of illegal migrants, NIDA poll said.

The poll on the “Preah Vihear Temple Problem” from Aug 8-9 harvested opinions from 1,133 people in all regions of the country.

A total of 21.62 per cent of them disagreed with the majority, saying it would create more conflict between the two countries which could escalate to a war, while 8.83 per cent were not sure and wanted to hear the reactions from both sides on the ancient temple case.

Asked whether the government should revoke of the memorandum of understanding on the ancient temple made by the previous government in 2000, 40.60 per cent supported this, saying the MoU had put Thailand at a disadvantage.

But 32.13 per cent of them disagreed, and said the MoU could help prevent Cambodia trespassing in the overlapping area, and that its revocation could escalate the border dispute, while 27.27 per cent were unsure.

Some 63.55 per cent of the respondents said Thailand should not withdraw from the World Heritage agreement nor resign its membership as it would bring no good to the country and Thailand would lose the benefit of maintaining World Heritage sites in the country.

But 19.86 per cent of them agreed, saying there would be no disadvantage as Thailand can maintain its World Heritage sites without help.

Most respondents supported the idea that the government should ask the World Court to review the 1962 ruling on the right to Preah Vihear temple. They thought the verdict was unfair.

Other disagreed because the court had already given its ruling. The case should not be raised again, to prevent further conflict.

And 77.93 per cent of the respondents said the government should make the Preah Vihear temple case part of the national agenda, because it is a crucial issue.