Buddhist and other religious leaders from Cambodia and Thailand met in Bangkok yesterday to try to find a way to bring peace to an ongoing border conflict between the two countries. The meeting was organized by the World Conference of Religions for Peace and Mahidol University's Research Center for Peacebuilding and included Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Sikh leaders from both sides of the border as well as local people from the conflict areas. Bo Poa, a Cambodian living in the disputed zone, told the meeting: “This Thai-Cambodian border dispute caused a lot of suffering due to the loss of lives and damage to houses, temples and properties. Moreover, we couldn’t travel as usual. Local people from both sides are good friends and we have done business together for a long time. The loss of lives, either Cambodian or Thai, is very sad.” Father Un Son, of Religion for Peace's Inter-religious Council for Peace – Cambodia, had been a refugee during the Khmer conflict in 1975 and fled to Thailand, staying there for several years. He said it was up to religious leaders and organizations to support governments to solve the problem by peaceful means. “I don’t want people to face suffering as mine (during 1975).” The meeting adopted three recommendations to be forwarded to the prime ministers of both countries. – inter-faith dialogue on Thai-Cambodia peace may be a starting point and may eventually lead to a sustainable peace talks with respect and mutual benefit – leaders and the media must do all they can to encourage peace not war – both governments must engage seriously in dialogue which must go beyond mere bilateral talks.
