Cambodia has withdrawn from the ongoing SEA Games due to the escalating border tensions, just a day after the official opening of the Games in Bangkok.
The continued aggression by the Thai military on Cambodian soil, that has seen at least seven Cambodian citizens killed, cannot be ignored, even by the sports fraternity.
The decision by Cambodia, the first time any nation has withdrawn from the Games midway, is fully justified. But, whether it would help put additional international pressure on Thailand to withdraw their troops and release all Cambodian prisoners of war remains to be seen.
The invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has shown that pressure from the sports fraternity has not helped much but still has its own merit.
Take the case of one of the biggest sports powerhouses Russia, together with Belarus, they were suspended from the 2024 Olympics after invading Ukaraine. Both countries are still serving the suspension and will not be able to participate at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo next year.
The military aggression was seen as a violation of the Olympic Truce adopted by the International Olympic Committee, and by association all its member national member associations, since 1990. The Olympic Truce calls for a cessation of all hostilities during the Games.
The SEA Games is hosted under the auspices of IOC regional and national membership and the Thais were also required to adhere by the Olympic Truce.
But, the Truce is being conveniently disregarded not only by the Thai government but also the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF). The SEAGF at its council meeting held just days before the official opening of the Games, chose not to address the issue at all.
The tradition of the “Olympic Truce”, or “Ekecheiria”, was established in Ancient Greece in the ninth century BC through the signing of a treaty between three kings – Iphitos of Elis, Cleisthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta – to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators from these Greek city-states, which were otherwise almost constantly engaged in conflict with each other.
The Olympic Truce, adopted every two years by the IOC, since 1993, is a resolution states “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.
The open military escalation by the Thais was quietly swept under the carpet. But the Thai authorities were, astoundingly, more riled up about the usage of a casino logo (Nagaworld) in the official attire of the Cambodian contingent during the opening ceremony last night.
The attire breach is now under investigation by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT as it breaches Thai law against advertising of gambling. But the death of at least seven Cambodian nationals caused by their own military was of no concern and does not warrant a discussion even by the SEAGF.
Granted that the ongoing SEA Games cannot be stopped because of the invasion of Cambodia territory by Thailand, which started just as the football and polo competitions began on December 3rd. But, that both the SEAGF and the Thai authorities have chosen to close both eyes in this flagrant violation of peace begs proper justification.
The least that the SEAGF should have done was to make an official declaration on an advocacy for peace and call upon the Thai authorities to respect the Olympic Truce.
Instead they allowed the host nation to bask in the glory of hosting the biggest sporting spectacular in the region.
The barefaced disregard by Thailand and the withdrawal of Cambodia is the result of the former choosing for the optics of the SEA Games to hide their unashamed hostility at the border.
The irony that the opening ceremony for the SEA Games in Bangkok centered on the theme “We Are One” highlighting regional unity, victory, and a new beginning is truly laughable.
Not when Thailand army had already broken the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord they had signed during the ASEAN Summit on October 26th. Not when at least seven innocent Cambodians have lost their lives. Not when thousands of Cambodians are being forced to flee their homes. Not when children are having their innocence soiled. Not when Cambodia is forced to protect its own territory and sovereignty. Not when national heritage sites are being destroyed.
We are definitely not One.
Contrast this with the theme chosen by the Cambodians for the 2023 Games – Sports Live in Peace. It was not only a sporting theme but something that the Cambodian government had adopted and insisted even two years after it hosted the biennial Games.
Should Cambodia be penalized for their withdrawal? The answer is a big NO.
Can Cambodia be penalized for their withdrawal from the Games after it has officially started? No, unless the SEAGF finds a loophole in their own Charter to force such an action.
While the withdrawal of the Cambodian contingent is unfortunate, the biggest losers in the sporting perspective are the national athletes. After two years of preparation they now have no chance to prove themselves at the regional competition. Some of them may not even get a chance to be part of the Games in the future due to age, performance or even the non-inclusion of their sports at future Games.
It is not only the 137-strong contingent representing 12 sports that are already in Bangkok and Chonburi but also the hundreds, who were also withdrawn before the start of the Games.
But that is the sacrifice the athletes need to make for what has been a mantra of the Cambodian sporting fraternity for more than three years now: SPORTS LIVE IN PEACE
S.T. Arasu is a former two-time Malaysian Sportswriter of the Year. He was also served as a consultant to the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games
