In Cambodia, where border lines of lands are very unclear compared to Japan, it is not a surprise that our neighbors ignore the border of the land. They intrude into our land more than dozens of meters and start to grow their crops without our permission. Of course as soon as we find out, we report it to the local leader, then we pull the crops out and put the stakes, which were moved by the neighbors without notice, back to the original position. Sometimes we have very disquiet in the air with everyone who is on the spot.

No one wants to have any trouble, of course. However, we should avoid the fact that someone trespasses and intrude into your property without any permission for no reasons. Fortunately, there is no huge trouble yet since all of us are just civilians with no weapons. Protecting your property is normal, so I am pretty sure that there are few people who feel sense of discomfort to protect own property from others.

However, if you have your own house and lands across or face to the international border and you can have a trouble with neighbors such as easily. Then, it is a totally different story and it is not as easy as the normal trouble. Well, first of all, we need to understand the border of your neighbor’s land is the actual international border as well. Therefore, if something happens, even it is a tiny happening, the situation could be serious as the soldiers with machineguns get together to ready for a war.

The police of your own country or the local government leaders are useless at this kind of situation. The neighbors are deadly serious and insist, “You are the one who cross the border and intrude into our land without any permission”, and the soldiers are already here and ready to kill you with no hesitation. So again, what the police or the government leaders can do for you under this situation?

Since all the border lines of Japan are located at sea, no one in Japan has the situation, which is that “the border line of your property” is the same as the international border line. However, in this Cambodia (their neighbor, Vietnam as well), there are many farmers who owns their land at the very delicate areas.

Both of the government of Cambodia and Vietnam, who focus on the piece and the economic development most importantly, are working very closely (it is said that the government of Cambodia is the puppet regime of the government of Vietnam). However, at this moment, even between Cambodia and Vietnam, a fragile and a touch-and-go situation occurs daily basis.

Cambodian farmers face to Vietnam solders at a border area (Source Voice of America)
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/clash-vietnam-cambodia-border/2845262.html

Right ; Cambodian. Left ; Vietnamese (Source International Business Times)
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/clashes-between-authorities-civilians-vietnam-cambodian-border-leave-dozens-injured-1508879

I don’t know whose affirmation is correct. Unfortunately, only one of them is correct, not both. If one of the affirmations is correct, that means the other one is completely wrong without any doubts, which automatically means that they just come and steal other’s property intentionally. Like my neighbors, there are many people who lives with a shameless rule, such as the “first-come, first-served” rule, and they think it is lucky if their neighbors don’t complain. The number of people those who live with this way is definitely bigger than we expect, that is very unfortunate.

I am definitely against wars and I definitely don’t want to kill anyone or be killed by someone. I rather think we don’t need any international borders. Furthermore, I also think that possessing own nationals and own lands is the biggest cause which sets up complicated issues. However, if I apply the same logic to a smaller scale, like my family and my friends, I would protect my own property if someone tries to steal it intentionally and illegally. Yes, I would do it even though they threatened me by violence.

Of course in Cambodia, there is a law to protect individual assets. There is also the judicial branch of the government (it is kind of bullshit though) to enforce it. Also, among the nationals, there are organizations, such as the International Court of Justice and United Nation, to declare the rules of what we can do or cannot do. However, on the other hand, it is also true that the number of the people those who ignore the rules and start illegal things with a thought of “it is lucky if no one say anything” or “I don’t care whoever says whatever”, is getting bigger endlessly.

Although it is egregiousness that we start to set the illegal actions, it is just a fantasy to think “if we don’t do anything, they won’t do anything either”. That is why thinking what we should do for the best when someone sets up something nasty to us is an assignment we need to think about all the time.

Well, it is said that the Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote a letter to the President Obama to ask his help to prove the legitimacy of Cambodia by using the map of the border line negotiated in 1963. Well, we will see what will happen.