The end of the Vietnam War did end the armed conflicts in the region only partially. But there was no total peace. Skirmishes among Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand continued off and on, keeping the tension alive. China was very much around, sniffing for trouble. Take for example, the ongoing Commode Crisis between Thailand and Cambodia which resulted in the cancellation of the planned goodwill visit of the Thai princess to Cambodia. After weeks of tension on the border areas the visit was cancelled. Rumours abounded.
The gold-plated silver commode decorated with precious jewels, including rubies and emeralds from Myanmar, was built for the visit of Princess Maha Chakri Siridho to Yeak Lom Lake in North Eastern Cambodia. The Princess was to spend two hours resting at the guest house. According to government sources, the Thai princess left without entering the bathroom, had a look at it from outside and clicked pictures. It had taken more than two weeks to build the toilet at a cost of around $ 40,000. The media pointed out that the Princess’s act in not visiting the toilet and making use of it did not go well in a region where the majority of the rural homes did not have a toilet.
The toilet was later removed. It has been planned that the adjoining bathroom will be turned into a security post for tourists visiting the tree-ringed lake surrounding the special guest house to welcome its first-ever royal guest. Provincial governor Nhem Sam Oeun admitted that the new toilet was not used though it was very modern and hygienic. The royal Thai visitors did not mention any reason for not using the cloakroom facilities.
Local media reports highlighted the fact the guest house and its facilities were built by the Siam Cement Group, a Thai construction giant, partly owned by the Crown Property Bureau which managed the Royal Family’s assets and investments. No news of the Royal Toilet disaster appeared in the local media though detailed write-ups appeared in the regional and foreign media. Any perceived critical write-up on the royals in the local media can invite heavy fines and 15-year jail terms. The royal visit and the failure of the Princess in not using the toilet facility was a unique situation. 61.5 per cent of the rural population in the area, in the absence of toilets, defecate in the open and the visit of the Princess was aimed to create public interest and lead to a better ‘toilet culture’ among local Cambodians. The UNICEF sponsored South East Asia Region Toilet Training Scheme may take a hard hit at the failure of the Princess in not gracing the new toilet complex.
