Muscle flexing [between Cambodia and Thailand]

''Politicians are stoking nationalist sentiments.''
Fierce fighting has broken out between Thai and Cambodian forces. Although a ceasefire agreement was reached late last week, there have been several breaches, leaving the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border tense. Reports suggest that while the intensity of the fighting has reduced since the ceasefire, it has not stopped.
Both sides are continuing to engage in shelling. Steps must be taken by the two governments to enforce the ceasefire as the roughly two-week long armed clashes have already taken a huge toll. At least 18 people have been killed in the recent fighting and tens of thousands of villagers have been displaced. Ancient temples are said to have suffered significant damage in the fighting.
The Thai-Cambodian border has not been fully demarcated and clashes have erupted periodically over it. At the heart of the latest clashes are centuries-old temples at Preah Vihear, Ta Moan and Ta Krabey. The dispute over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple - the most renowned example of Khmer architecture - dates back to the late 19th century. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia. Although Thailand handed over the temple to Cambodia, it has retained control over surrounding areas, contending that the border here is yet to be demarcated. Preah Vihear became a flashpoint again in 2008 when the UN granted it heritage status. And since then fighting has erupted in the area off and on.
Political parties in Thailand and Cambodia have been using the Preah Vihear temple to stoke nationalist sentiments and reap electoral benefits. The listing of the temple as a world heritage site was exploited by Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen during the 2008 general election. In Thailand, parties have sought to score political points over the issue, with the opposition demanding prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s resignation for ‘failing to defend the country’s sovereignty’ over the temples.
Vejjajiva is due to announce dates for general elections soon, sparking speculation over whether the muscle flexing at the border is aimed at impressing voters. Some have suggested that it is the Thai military rather than the political leadership that is calling the shots on the current clashes along the border as evident from the fact that Asean’s plan for Indonesian mediation in the conflict was shot down by the Thai military.

According to Bangalore, India