Preah Vihear

As expected, Cambodia has won over the dispute with Thailand over the land and property of the Preah Vihar Temple. It's a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site full of glory of the old Khmer Empire, yet the dispute with Thailand been going on for over half a century with frequent clashes resulting in shootouts. The most recent was in 2011 in which there were casualties on both artilleries guarding the borderline.

Since then International Court of Justice bas been reviewing the case and yesterday the Cambodia was grated soverighnty over the area and for Thai forces to withrdaw from the area.

I'm glad the case has been settled peacefully as it has been in the back of the minds of people for many decades. Since the court did not specify on the details on the borders, hopefully both governments can amicably talk things out  Although,  I am a bit worried about the the hot headed Thai Nationalists who were quite unhappy about it and adding heat to the recent protests occuring in Bangkok.

Land disputes go beyond politics and are much more historical and cultural rooted so I do not want to go into too much detail about it - but what is usually overlooked by these international issues is the local people.

The province of Preah Vihear is one of the least infrastructure developed areas in the country. Though it is merely 150km away from Siem Reap, it takes about six hours to get there on a mostly bumpy unpleasant road. The region is vastly agricultural and the population is scattered around the region. Only about half of the population is literate and many speak their tribal languges in addition to Khmer.

Some of our nuns and monks set out early this morning to deliver stationary, supplies, and most importantly goods for the Kathina Festival for their local Wat.

I wish them a safe trip and a big hats off to my monks who constantly tirelessly work to help others in addition to their monk duties, studies, and work!

1962年以来ずっとプレア・ビヒア寺院（UNESCO）において国境紛争が続いていたカンボジアとタイ。昨日やっと国際司法裁判での判決でカンボジアに正式に主権が渡されたと同時にタイ兵の撤去も命じました (*^o^*) この件に関してはカンボジアを応援していたので嬉しい限り。

ただ裁判で判決が渡されたとはいえ、国境問題は政治以上に歴史問題も大いに関わってくるのでかなりややこしいのだけれどこの50年間で両国合わせて多数が犠牲となったので今後は平和に向けて双方で話し合いを進めていけるといいんだけどね~...

ただこういう国際問題で影になってしまうのが地元の人達。プレア・ビヒア地方はカンボジア内で最もインフラ開発が遅れている場所。過疎地区なので人口はまばらで読み書きができない人も多く、貧困に困ってる人も多数。ここのエリアのお寺は雨季の終わりを示す迦絺那法要（僧達に年に一度新着の衣を贈呈する儀式）を開催する費用がないので、うちのお坊さん・尼さん達がお金を出し合い、物資を届けに今そっちに向かっています☆ シェムリアップ市からはわずか150kmなんだけど、何せ道路が整ってないので悪路の中6時間ほどかかるそう 汗。

それにしてもうちのお坊さん達は自分たちの仕事や勉強でも十分忙しいのに忙しい合間を縫って奉仕活動をする姿には頭が上がりませんっっ！