Thai-Cambodian border conflict spills into entertainment and fashion

Tensions between the Thai and Cambodian militaries have intensified following a series of border incidents, allegedly provoked by Cambodian troops.

The spat now appears to have spilled over into the entertainment, fashion and social media worlds, fuelled by nationalistic sentiments.

The first conflict flared on February 13, when a Cambodian army general led a group of 25 spouses and other family members of Cambodian troops to Prasat Muang Thom, an ancient temple, located on the Thai-Cambodian border, in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand’s north-eastern province of Surin.

The Cambodians then sang their national anthem, to suggest that the temple ruins belong to Cambodia.

This was, however, objected to by Thai troops stationed at the temple and led to the convening of a meeting of the General Border Committee on May 1.

The Thai side was led by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai who, after the meeting, ordered Thai troops to withdraw from the temple to avoid confrontation.

The unilateral withdrawal provoked an angry reaction from Thai nationalists, who accused him of siding with Cambodia because of the personal relationship between the Shinawatra family and the family of former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen.

They also expressed concern that the withdrawal of Thai troops from the temple would pave the way for the Cambodians to claim the area.

Phumtham claimed, however, that his order was in compliance with the MoU 44, signed between Thailand and Cambodia to settle the overlapping territories issues between the two countries. He assured that Thailand would not lose any territory.

The commander of the Second Army Region, Lt-Gen Boonsin Padklang, refused to move and ordered the troops to stay put instead, to protect Thailand’s territorial sovereignty. Para-military rangers have subsequently been deployed to support army.

Lt-Gen Boonsin told the Thai media on Thursday that the border situation remains calm and unchanged, after talks between commanders of the two armies. He also said that he has ordered troops to avoid confrontation with their Cambodian counterparts.

Boonsin also confirmed that Cambodian troops trespassed on Thai territory last week, at the Chong Bok border pass in Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani province.

He said that the Cambodians dug a trench and set up a border outpost, with reinforcements being sent to the area.

He added that Thai troops had spoken with the Cambodians, informed them that they were trespassing on Thai soil and asked them to pull back, which they did.

Nevertheless, conflict flared on social media when a Cambodian actress, Yem Sreypich, commented in her Facebook post that a traditional costume, worn by a Thai actress in the Thai movie “Phra Ruang”, was a copy of a Khmer costume. Yem Sreypich also appeared in the movie.

Her comment drew criticism from many Thai netizens, who asked why a Cambodian actress was chosen and whether there were no other Thai actresses qualified for the role. Some Thai netizens even suggested that Thais should boycott the movie.

Then there was another critical comment from Miss World Cambodia, Julia Russell, who alleged that the Thai traditional costume, worn by Miss World Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri at the Miss World pageant in India, was a copy of a Khmer costume.