The armies of two neighbouring countries of South East Asia have come face to face. The long-standing tension between the two countries has now turned into a military conflict. We are talking about Thailand and Cambodia, about 5,000 kilometers away from India. So far 9 people have died in this conflict. The question is why are the two countries fighting? The answer is to gain control over the Preah Vihear Temple. The issue of border dispute has been going on between the two countries for many years.
In fact, France ruled Cambodia from 1863 to 1953. It was France that had determined the 817-kilometer-long border between the two countries.According to the map, the Preah Vihear temple located in the Dangrek mountain range was included in Cambodian territory, to which Thailand objected. The temple dispute deepened over time. In 1907, France drew the border between the two countries. According to the map, the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was shown in Cambodian territory. Cambodia expressed displeasure over France’s decision.
After this, a dispute started between the two countries over the Preah Vihear temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built on the edge of the plateau dominating the plains of Cambodia. Not only the temple, there are many areas around the border on which both the countries have been staking their claim. According to experts, the temple was built between the 9th and 11th centuries. Initially, Lord Shiva was worshipped here, but later it was converted into a Buddhist religious complex.
The temple dates back to the historic Khmer Empire, which extended across modern-day Cambodia as well as parts of Thailand. Both countries have been claiming the area adjacent to the temple. Thailand claims that it is a part of its Surin province. Cambodia, on the other hand, considers it its part.