"Pon Phrachumbin" tradition and cross-border relations on Thai-Cambodia borders

Abstract

This article attempts to explain the transnational relationship of Cambodian's students in Thailand via tradition and religious ritual namely “Bon Pachum Ben Khmer” as the practice of cross nation state interaction of the Cambodian's Student Network in Thailand. The Cambodian's Student Network tried to use the cultural dimension which is “Bon Pachum Ben Khmer" as the tool to build a community of imagination in new area for reproduced the relationship among themselves, for represent the cultural identity and Khmer ethnic and build network relation within the local people in Thailand to avoid the degree of Thailand's authority at the same time. Because as the "alien” they have to face some problems in everyday life, then the creating network relation within the local people was the guarantee of security and safety for their life in the other country also.