สื่อสารการเมือง เรื่อง ปราสาทพระวิหารจำลอง

Abstract

This article,entitled “Political Communication Concerning Preah Vihear Replica”, has two objectives: (1) to study the political contexts from 1962 to 2016 that influenced the Preah Vihear temple replica project at Pha Mor E-Daeng; and (2) to analyze the political communication involved. This is a qualitative research under the framework of Brian McNair’s Political Communication Model. The research techniques employed are documentary research and content analysis of on-line news reports from various media sources both from Thailand and Cambodia. First, it was found that the political contexts in Thailand and Cambodia from 1962 to 2016 did significantly influence the Preah Vihear temple Replica project at Pha Mor E-Daeng. Because the Preah Vihear temple is situated near to the Cambodian-Thai border, the two neighbors were involved in the ownership dispute of Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice decided twice in favor of Cambodia in 1962 and 2013. Following border clashes in 2008, Cambodia has closed the gate to Preah Vihear temple from Thailand. This prompted the peoples of Si Saket to come up with the Preah Vihear temple replica project at Pha Mor E-Daeng. Second, concerning the analytical study of political communication of the political actors involved, it was found that the Thai mass media in English and those in the Thai language did convey different political messages. Whereas the media in English saw it as another attempt by the ultra-nationalists to reclaim ownership of the Cambodian Preah Vihear temple; however, those in the Thai language saw the project as an effort to revive the local economy through tourism promotion. Despite negative responses from both governments, the peoples of Si Saket challenged, resisted to obey their orders to tear down the said replica.