The line between homage and “cultural appropriation” is up for debate again after a hotel on Koh Phangan emulating the look of a Khmer world wonder prompted online saber-rattling between some infuriated Cambodians and Thais. Cultural appropriation, or the same ancient butthurt that consumes both sides of the border.
The Le Palais Hotel, located at Haad Rin Beach of Full Moon Party infamy and built in the style of Angkor Wat, apologized yesterday for “causing frustration” while defending the intentions of its Cambodian owner after the 6-year-old venue suddenly ignited old nationalist tensions between the two countries.
“I’m Cambodian people, I don’t want to see my culture copied like this,” Facebook user Yonghoo (translated from Khmer) wrote.
That led some Cambodians to dub Thailand ‘Thievesland” and “unrest country.” Others cursed the kingdom to suffer the consequences of “copying” the “holy site.”
“Very rude attitude and very clear Thievesland,” Borey Hang wrote. “Angkor Wat and The other Angkor temples are religious structures, holy sites, Cambodian people are worshipping the temples everyday. They’re the symbol and Soul of our nation. If they really have the Holy Spirit, would they curse Thailand unrest country with a lot of disasters from the day on.”
The furor erupted after the hotel was called out in a post to an online community. The page, Amazing SEA Culture, urged Cambodian authorities to “take legal action.”
“We anticipate Ministry of Culture and Fine Art and Ministry of Relations of Cambodia ask advice from director of Le Palais Hotel: Do you propose to Cambodia party’s rights for reproducing all the world heritage temple sculptures: Angkor temple, Angkor Thom temple (Bayon temple), Banteay Srei temple are ownership of Cambodia?” the post said.
Predictably, some Thais struck back with the old argument that it was Cambodia which had “misappropriated” land once belonging to Siam.
“The world must know that in fact Cambodia had been the colony of Thai Siam since Ayutthaya period till Rattanakosin period. Nowadays Cambodia is still depending on everything in Thailand,” user Taisiam Siamthai wrote. “We Thais have our rights to build new Angkor Wat actually anywhere in Thailand. And Thai Siamese people also have had our rights in Angkor Wat since the past.”
Thais and Cambodians have squared off over everything from who owns papaya salad to traditional khon dance. Dozens of soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed when fighting erupted at the border in 2011 over a longstanding dispute over which nation can claim an ancient Khmer temple (Cambodia, the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 in a decision it reaffirmed in 2013 as fighting threatened to resume).
In 2003, the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh had to scale the wall to escape his burning embassy compound after it was set on fire by mobs enraged by a false newspaper report that a young Thai soap star had insulted the nation.
The hotel said its design was a celebration of Cambodia’s most-recognized symbol.
“We launched the hotel humbly only for the admiration, appreciation and passion for the magnificent art,” Le Palais wrote in a statement. “The construction, decoration here were handmade & heart-made by Thai and Cambodian teamwork. Nonetheless the greatness will always remain to the great Angkor Wat and will never be compared.”
The letter argued that there was a legitimate cultural connection as “Cambodia is the motherland of our founder and always has a special place in his heart.”
Unsatisfied, the threads erupted into arguments over which nation can lay claim to Khmer temple architecture. Several colleges showed Thai and Cambodian structures with the years they were erected, trying to prove that Thailand or Cambodia were the pioneers.
The Khmer empire built many temples over several centuries when it spanned the region from Laos in the north to Thailand to the southwest.
According to Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia’s minister of culture and fine arts, Long Ponnasirivath, said he had set up a team to look into the matter.
Despite the debate’s focus on the appropriateness of the hotel’s facade, the president of Phangan tourism only told reporters that it had complied with all health and safety codes since opening in 2014.
As to its resemblance to Angkor Wat, Vichai Khongmun said the hotel shows great admiration toward the UNESCO World Heritage site and is more likely to have a positive than negative impact: Drawing tourists and encouraging its guests to go see the real deal.
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