The images flashed around the region this week of Cambodian soldiers patrolling the disputed Preah Vihear temple were stark. With the monsoonal mist casting their red headscarves, soft caps and cradled rifles into silhouette, they could have been mistaken for the former Khmer Rouge soldiers who occupied Preah Vihear during their long years spent fighting for survival after being pushed to the border by Vietnamese invaders.
The Khmer Rouge, of course, knew the strategic value of the site, high on a long cliff edge overlooking Cambodia on its northwestern border with Thailand. Hardened by their ultra-Maoist creed, they left the temple, once part of the vast Khmer empire, a virtual ruin when they finally retreated a decade ago. Treasures dating back to the 11th century were looted or smashed. Some were even used to anchor artillery pieces.
The temple's strategic importance is worth remembering. It is one more reason why Preah Vihear is so important both to Cambodia and Thailand, and one more reason why the current tensions may not ease for some time.
There is a sense that the row over Preah Vihear may be intractable after a week of largely futile diplomacy to ease the military standoff, which has seen hundreds of rival soldiers face off across the cliffs for nearly two weeks.
As this column predicted seven days ago, this week's Asean meeting in Singapore made little headway on solving the issue. There was some impressive rhetoric about the need to ease tensions, but very little action, particularly once Thailand made clear it was not interested in a regional solution. Cambodia also made noises about involving the United Nations Security Council, but backed away.
Now rival government ministers are due to meet on Monday. Few analysts in the region seem to be expecting breakthroughs. The row over Preah Vihear contains a dangerous mix of nationalism, historical and territorial issues, and political posturing.
