A Cambodian soldier stands in the centre of the Ta Moan Thom Temple, part of the Cambodian border region which is disputed by Thailand. Pheng Pong-Rasy/DC-Cam
The recent skirmishes on Cambodia’s border with Thailand re-ignited a long simmering dispute over Cambodia’s borders, but as tragic and as provocative as they are, particularly with the preventable death of a Cambodian soldier, they are not the challenges to Cambodia’s sovereignty that we should fear.
Cambodia’s sovereignty is far greater than isolated skirmishes and petty border disputes with its neighbours. Cambodians should feel proud and ever more confident in the leadership of the government that has exercised exceptional discipline, professionalism and strategic diplomacy in resolving the conflict in a way that works as best as it can toward peace while upholding Cambodia’s dignity. This is a moment for national pride as much as unity.
The sovereignty of the Cambodian nation extends across centuries and for the Khmer people across millennia, so challenges to our country’s sovereignty should be analysed with this history in mind. Equally important, the sovereignty of a nation is far more than just border defence. Rather, in contemporary society, sovereignty is the sum of strategic civil, military, civil-society and private commitments and resources brought to bear in the defence of the nation.
Cambodia’s sovereignty is a product of a whole society calculus that far exceeds the circumstances, issues and commitments specific to the current crisis with Thailand.
Cambodia’s sovereignty is at risk, but not by this border dispute.
Rather our sovereignty is at risk in the long-term trend (i.e., the next hundred years) that accompanies many countries with significant, fast development. Significant, fast development should bring feelings of comfort and confidence, but we must not lose focus, energy or commitment to the unresolved problems of today and challenges of tomorrow.
Cambodia’s sovereignty is threatened far more by imperceptible, incremental, internal trends of pettiness, laziness, apathy and ignorance that comes when people have become far removed from the tragic past.
The challenges of the future will not pause for the Cambodian people, and they are a far more dangerous threat to our sovereignty than any border matter. We are in the midst of tremendous change. We must not ignore border incursions, but we should not be consumed by them in the face of far greater regional, global and generational change that is happening as we speak.
The Cambodian people must work harder, smarter and more efficiently if we are to not only survive but thrive in the region and world. Cambodia must use this incursion by Thailand (and prior incursions) not as spectacle for emotional responses but reasoned motivation for informed, strategic action and investment that will ensure Cambodia’s sovereignty for the future.
Youk Chhang is executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) and the Queen Mother’s Library. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
