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History of “Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand”
•By: Tabor
I-(Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand)
1. Meaning of the name “Ghost Mountain”
Ghost Mountain is the name that Cambodians and border residents call a mountain area located near the Cambodian-Thai border near Preah Vihear Temple. The name comes from the many horrific deaths of Cambodian civilians fleeing the war and the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
2. Historical context
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, hundreds of thousands of Cambodians fled the country, hoping to find safety in Thailand. Some of the escape routes passed through the mountains and forests near Preah Vihear Temple, which were extremely dangerous areas.
3. Why it is called “The Second Killing Fields”
The term “Killing Fields” is used to compare it to the killing fields in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime.
At the Ghost Mountain, many Cambodians:
• Died from lack of food and water
• Died from disease
• Died from landmines
• Died from shooting and border fighting
• Died from push back when trying to cross into Thailand
Many bodies were not buried properly, leading to the belief that the area is haunted by ghosts and spirits of the dead.
4. The role of Preah Vihear Temple
The area around Preah Vihear Temple is not only a cultural heritage site, but also a strategic area during the war.
Fighting between the army, armed groups, and border guards has left many civilians trapped and dead in this mountain area.
5. The Ghost Mountain in social memory
For refugees and survivors:
• The Ghost Mountain is a symbol of suffering
• A witness to the loss of Cambodian lives
• An unforgettable history
For researchers and documentary makers, this topic is called
“Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand” to make the world understand that the suffering of the Cambodian people did not end within the borders of Cambodia.
6. Historical significance
Ghost Mountain is part of the painful history of the Cambodian people, which shows:
• War and politics can kill civilians inhumanly
• Refugees are victims, not war-mongers
• History must be remembered so that it does not happen again
II-Why Thailand reacted and made a film about “Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand”.
About why Thailand reacted and made a film about Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand:
1. Historical and transnational political context
The film is directly related to the painful past of the Cambodian people during the Khmer Rouge era and the flight of refugees into Thai territory. The commemoration and presentation of violent events, killings and human rights violations on Thai territory raises serious questions about the role of the Thai state and relevant authorities in the past. Therefore, Thailand’s reaction is not a simple cultural issue, but a historical political issue that can affect the sovereignty and legitimacy of the state.
2. The Right to Mediate Power over Historical Memory
According to academic theory, society and the state tend to control “collective memory” in order to maintain political stability and national identity. This film can be seen as presenting a narrative that is different from the official Thai state narrative, which raises questions about “who has the right to tell the past”. Therefore, reacting or controlling the film’s release is a way to protect that official narrative.
3. Concerns about human rights and accountability
The film raises issues of human rights abuses, deaths and disappearances of Cambodian refugees on Thai soil. From an international perspective, these issues may lead to a reexamination of the Thai state’s accountability in the Cold War era and the geopolitical context of the region. Thus, Thailand’s response can be understood as a defense against human rights pressure and international criticism.
4. The role of film as a political and cultural tool
Film is not only an art form but also a tool of “soft power” that can shape or destroy public opinion. The Thai production or response to this film shows that the state is aware of the media’s ability to shape political culture and public discourse about the past.
5. Conclusion
In summary, the reaction and production of the film Ghost Mountain – The Second Killing Fields of Cambodia in Thailand is not just an artistic issue, but an intersection between history, politics, human rights, and the management of social memory. From an academic perspective, it shows how a state attempts to manage a painful past in order to maintain its stability and national identity.
III- Gains/benefits that Thailand gains when the Thai state agrees to lease land or allow UNHCR to open refugee camps on its territory.
1. Analytical Context
A state’s consent to open refugee camps is not a purely humanitarian decision, but a political–economic–international calculus. In the case of Thailand, it can be analyzed in terms of the Political Economy of Refugees, International Relations (IR), and Humanitarian Governance.
2. International Political Gains
2.1 Improving legitimacy and international integrity International Legitimacy
By allowing UNHCR to open refugee camps, Thailand can present itself as a “responsible state” in the international system. Although Thailand is not a full member of the 1951 Refugee Convention, cooperation with UNHCR helps reduce criticism from the international community and human rights organizations.
From a constructivist IR theory perspective, such humanitarian behavior helps create a state identity that can shape international perceptions of Thailand.
2.2 Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital
Being a host state for international humanitarian operations allows Thailand to accumulate soft power and diplomatic capital. It can be used as a political bargaining tool, especially in the context of the Cold War and post-Cold War, when Thailand wanted to maintain good relations with international organizations and donor countries.
3. Economic Gains
3.1 Direct Revenue and Regional Benefits
Leases of land or permits to use state land generate direct revenue or indirect benefits for the state and local authorities. In addition, the presence of UNHCR and development organizations (NGOs) creates a camp economy, such as:
• Employment for local populations
• Access to basic services and goods
• Investment in infrastructure (roads, water, electricity)
According to the development-security nexus theory, humanitarian assistance can become a tool for the development of border areas that have been overlooked.
3.2 Cost Externalization
By having UNHCR and international donors manage the camps, Thailand can transfer the costs of food, health, and human security to the international system. This is a burden-sharing principle that allows the host state to maintain its public capital.
4. Security Gains
4.1 Population Management
From a security studies perspective, refugee camps help the Thai state:
• Manage the movement of refugees
• Identify and mobilize
• Separate civilians from combatants
This helps reduce security risks in border areas and intermingle with local society.
4.2 Political Buffer Zone
The refugee camps can act as a kind of buffer zone between Thailand and political crises in neighboring countries (especially Cambodia). It helps Thailand maintain political distance from the conflict while still being able to control its impact.
5. Benefits of Memory and Narrative Control
By allowing UNHCR to manage the camps, rather than directly integrating refugees into Thai society, the Thai state can maintain the narrative that it is a “humanitarian host” and not a “participant” in the crisis. This is consistent with the theories of memory politics and state responsibility avoidance.
6. Conclusion
In summary, Thailand’s agreement to allow UNHCR to lease or use land to open refugee camps can be understood as a decision with strategic reasons, not pure compassion. Thailand gains:
1. International legitimacy and soft power
2. Economic interests and regional development
3. Security and population management
4. Ability to manage narrative and political past
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The word narrative means a story or a way of speaking/writing to present a sequence of events, with clear characters, time, and context.
Brief definition
• Narrative is a way of telling a story
• Can be true or fictional
• Used to convey a meaning, point of view, or message
For example
• In literature: short stories, novels, and fairy tales all have narrative
• In everyday life: a person tells an experience that he or she has had
• In politics or journalism: “political narrative” means the way a story is told to create a certain point of view
Narrative is not just a “story,” but a way of organizing and presenting that story for the listener or reader to understand.
