Thread: Thailand : PREAH VIHEAR

diversion was yours ,

and I see your still choking on double standards

also interesting to see you play two wrongs make a right

Don't these idiots know that their people, their country, their language and their misapropriated culture didn't even exist when this temple was built?

Just because they owned it for a few years after stealing it from the Khmer and the French doesn't make it theirs.

Originally Posted by Thaihome

2: PAD has a protest during the SOE without consequences whilst a solo red protester is arrested !!!!

Keyword: PAD.

Originally Posted by Thaihome

2. You posted the article on the Rajprasong protest last weekend, so you should know it was not a “sole” protestor that was arrested. Though I do agree the police should have just let him rant away rather then arresting him.

KeyMISSINGword: PAD.

TH's/ASTV's favourite technique (denial and misdirection):

Yes , abisit and his proxy crony military government are so persistent about world heritage because , as their heritage is all about ,

Corruption
Anti democracy
Faschism
Proxy military unelected governments
Murder of the people
Double standards

and thats all they know, they think thats what the rest of the world mean by heritage.
But so blatently brass-necked about it.Hillarious.
You can't argue with that

Errors stall Cambodian temple bid

Phnom Penh urged to review WHC listing
31/07/2010

Unesco's World Heritage Committee has postponed a decision on Cambodia's development plan for the Preah Vihear temple partly because it submitted a graphical illustration instead of a map, says a source in the Thai delegation.

Other reasons for the committee's postponement include evidence that Cambodia had deployed heavy weapons in the temple, that the country had failed to submit relevant documents on time, and that a memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia over the disputed territory in the area had not been settled.

The WHC decided to delay its decision on the management plan until next year's meeting in Bahrain because Thailand and Cambodia were unable to find common ground.

Brazil, the host of the meeting, had mediated between the two countries for an hour before the decision to postpone was made.

" The use of the graphical illustration, instead of a real map, has suggested a possible intent to conceal details about the areas surrounding the temple," the source said.

The Thai delegation capitalised on this by supplying a map that shows the construction of a road by Cambodia in the disputed overlapping 4.6 square kilometre zone.

Under a 2002 memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia, both sides agreed not to carry out any work in the area pending a survey to officially demarcate the common land boundary.

According to the source, the delegation has also submitted photos of a Cambodian installation of heavy artillery and troops in the temple.

"The Thai delegation had three minutes to talk to each of the WHC members. Our evidence made them feel that Cambodia's case was incomplete," said the source.

The source also called on Thai authorities not to get carried away with the delay and be prepared for the next WHC meeting.

"Cambodia has already set up a special body known as the Department of World Heritage, and we should also have a body that is responsible for this matter. It may be a long battle," said the source.

Part of the success of the Thai delegation led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti should be attributed to three military officers who accompanied them on the trip: Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon, chief of the 2nd army corps, Lt Gen Niphat Thonglek, commander of border affairs attached to the Supreme Command, and Maj Gen Noppadol Chotisiri, deputy chief of the Army Survey Department.
Mr Suwit said yesterday the WHC's postponement of its decision on the site was partly because Cambodia had failed to submit its documents six weeks before the meeting as required.

As a result, the Thai delegation pointed out to the committee that it did not have enough time to study the proposal which could affect the country's sovereignty, Mr Suwit said.

He said the WHC acknowledged the problem and wanted both countries to work out a solution before it considered a management plan.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday pledged to direct necessary resources to examine Cambodia's management plan now that the WHC had postponed its decision on the matter.

He said concerned authorities would spend the next 12 months studying the proposal, so that Thailand is able to present an informed opinion to the WHC at its next meeting in Bahrain.

"Within a period of one year, we will look at Cambodia's document and come up with a comprehensive recommendation [to the WHC]. It will be different [next year]. We have a chance and we have to do our best," he said.

Mr Abhisit said the 2000 memorandum of understanding on the survey and land boundary demarcation Thailand signed with Cambodia was instrumental in the postponement.

According to Mr Abhisit, it was the memorandum that forced Cambodia into conceding that border demarcation had not yet been settled.

He said the issue should prompt Cambodia to review its decision to have the temple listed as a world heritage site and acknowledge the limitations that come with that designation.

Mr Abhisit said that before Cambodia's unilateral bid to register Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site, both countries were able to use the site for economic benefit without incident.

As for the alleged encroachment into the disputed zone, he said the Foreign Ministry had already sent a message that Thailand expected Cambodia to respect the memorandum of understanding.

Mr Abhisit said authorities would look into reports about Cambodia's alleged encroachment.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban played down speculation about renewed tensions, saying the delay would allow both countries to work out border disputes.

He said that any disputes with Cambodia would be dealt with at the government level.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said there was no need to dispatch more troops to the Thai-Cambodian border despite a report that two battalions and heavy artillery had been sent there.

bangkokpost.com

PM: Thailand must study Cambodian Preah Vihear plan to protect national rights
วันศุกร์ ที่ 30 ก.ค. 2553



BANGKOK, July 30 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the country's agencies concerned must make use of the coming one year to thoroughly assess Cambodia's Preah Vihear management plan in order to protect Thailand's national rights regarding the disputed area near the ancient temple.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Thursday postponed discussing the plan by one year until its meeting next year in Bahrain.

The issue had been expected to be on the agenda of the 21-member heritage committee meeting Wednesday, but the group dropped the issue Thursday because the UNESCO meeting secretariat had not distributed the document to committee members six weeks ahead of the meeting as required but handed it to members less than 24 hours beforehand.

"During the coming one year period, the relevant agencies must study the Cambodian management plan to give the right recommendation to the WHC, we must study the Cambodian proposals and we must do our best," Mr Abhisit said.

He said Thailand should adhere to the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia on land boundary demarcation under which both sides agree not to carry out any work resulting in changes of environment of the frontier zone, pending the survey and demarcation of the common land boundary.

The premier added that the Thai authorities should strictly observe the MoU by not letting anyone set up communities inside the disputed area.

Mr Abhisit said that he and his Cambodian counterpart, Prime Minister Hun Sen, had agreed that both sides should avoid clashes between their troops and separated bilateral relations from the Preah Vihear conflict.

The prime minister said he may meet Mr Hun Sen next month in Russia but was unsure they could discuss the matter as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing the schedule.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Border Affairs Office of security director Maj-Gen Thiwa Penketgorn said he believed Cambodia might retaliate against Thailand after failing to submit its Preah Vihear management plan to the WHC for approval.

The government must wait to see how retaliation could affect Thailand, he said.

Thai border affairs sources said the Cambodian defence ministry's permanent secretary cancelled plans to meet Thai military officers at the border town of Poi Pet after the heritage committee shifted discussion of the Preah Vihear management plan to next year.

He reportedly said the atmosphere was not appropriate for the meeting.

However, it is believed that fighting would not erupt, in part because it would affect border trade, which is important to both countries.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia.

The site of the historic structure on the disputed Thai-Cambodian border has long been a point of contention between the two neighbours.

On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval.

mcot.net

Temple tension mounts
Cheang Sokha and Sebastian Strangio
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THE BANGKOK POST
Friday, 30 July 2010

CAMBODIAN and Thai officials held abortive talks on the sidelines of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil yesterday in a last-ditch attempt to resolve a dispute over Cambodia’s management plan for Preah Vihear temple.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that during the 45-minute meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti reiterated their governments’ stances on the temple listing.

He said the Thai official demanded joint management of Preah Vihear, and that Sok An repeated Cambodia’s long-standing opposition to such an arrangement.

“There was no significant result from the meeting. The meeting focused on the issue of sovereignty,” Phay Siphan said, but Cambodia “welcomed” UNESCO’s attempt to broker a resolution to the conflict.

The 21-member WHC, which is meeting until Tuesday, was to note the submission of Cambodia’s management plan for Preah Vihear late yesterday, and the lead-up to the session has prompted a fresh flare-up in the long-standing temple dispute.

Thailand has opposed Preah Vihear’s listing as a World Heritage site since before its July 2008 inscription, claiming sovereignty over a 4.6-square-kilometre area adjacent to the temple.

On Wednesday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva threatened that if the WHC approved the Cambodian plan, Bangkok would consider withdrawing from UNESCO.

The Associated Press also quoted Abhisit as saying that the committee should act as a “purveyor of peace and culture, not of tension and conflicts”, and that the Thai army was ready to defend the country’s sovereignty.

Cambodian officials, however, have dismissed the Thai claims, pointing to a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that handed the temple – and surrounding lands – to Cambodia.

Phay Siphan said the Thai threats of noncooperation with UNESCO were an “insult” to the world body.

“Thailand will not gain if they walk out of the WHC because Thailand has many tourism sites[listed as] World Heritage sites,” he said. “The obligation of Cambodia is to implement the decision from the WHC, and we have done that since 2008.” He described the management of Preah Vihear as an “absolutely technical matter”.

UNESCO spokeswoman Sue Williams said yesterday that the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand was “a strictly bilateral” issue, and that the WHC had no mandate to address it.

She also said that Thai talk of the WHC “approving” the Cambodian management plan was misguided.

“The World Heritage Committee does not adopt or approve any plans. All they can do is note that the management plan has been submitted,” she said. Williams added that all member states had the right to withdraw from UNESCO, but that Thailand’s potential withdrawal would not affect the status of any of its World Heritage sites.

phnompenhpost.com

Cambodia says it is winner in battle over UN review of border temple management plan
July 30, 2010

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia declared victory Friday in a diplomatic standoff with Thailand after the U.N. cultural agency agreed to consider its plan for managing a temple that is on land claimed by both countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said that Cambodia had achieved its goal when UNESCO's World Heritage Commission agreed on Thursday to consider its plan for the Preah Vihear temple on the border with Thailand.

However, UNESCO's decision to defer the matter to its meeting next year takes pressure off both countries.

Thailand, which claims the plan jeopardizes its claim to disputed territory, had threatened to quit UNESCO if the plan was endorsed at Thursday's meeting in Brazil. Thai officials said they viewed the postponement of the plan's consideration as progress.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled the 10th-century border temple belongs to Cambodia, rejecting Thai claims. UNESCO — over Thai objections — named Preah Vihear a World Heritage site in 2008, after Cambodia applied for the status. Cambodia's World Heritage bid reignited Thai resentment over the earlier ruling, and there have been small and sometimes deadly armed clashes in the area during the past few years.

Leaders of both countries have used the issue to stir up nationalist sentiment and shore up domestic political support. In Thailand, nationalist pressure groups demonstrated this week for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to take a hard line against Cambodia and UNESCO. The two sides' military leaders spoke about strengthening their respective forces at the border in preparation for any incursions from the other side.

Sok An led the Cambodian delegation at the UNESCO meeting, and spoke by satellite from Brazil live on television.

"UNESCO has officially accepted our management plan documents, so there is no need to have a further discussion or voting," Sok An said. "The result of the meeting is a big victory for Cambodia, a result we have been waiting for."

Thai officials insist that demarcation of the disputed land must come before UNESCO endorses any management plan.

"How we're going to move forward is a matter to be discussed by both sides," said Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova released a statement earlier this week calling for dialogue between the two countries. "It is our common responsibility to make these sites emblems of peace, dialogue and reconciliation," she said.

foxnews.com

PM tells media to study UNESCO resolution as Cambodia claims victory on Preah Vihear issue
วันเสาร์ ที่ 31 ก.ค. 2553



BANGKOK, July 31 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday told media to carefully read the World Heritage Commission (WHC) resolution after Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An claimed a 'victory' as the heritage agency agreed to review its Preah Vihear temple management plan, despite the action coming a year from now.

Asked to comment on the report, Mr Abhisit told journalists succinctly to "Please find out and read the resolution [yourself]...."

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage commission on Thursday postponed discussing the issue until next year when it meets in Bahrain.

The heritage commission dropped the issue because its meeting secretariat had not distributed the Cambodian-prepared document to committee members six weeks beforehand as required but gave it to members less than one day before the WHC meeting.

It postponed discussion on the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could not find common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple.

Mr Abhisit’s remarks followed Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An's live TV speech by satellite from Brazil boasting that Cambodia had achieved its goal when the UNESCO committee agreed to consider its plan for managing Preah Vihear temple -- but not emphasising it would be next year.

The Associated Press reported from Phnom Penh quoted Mr Sok An as saying Friday that “UNESCO has officially accepted our management plan documents, so there is no need to have a further discussion or voting. The result ... is a big victory for Cambodia, [the] result we have been waiting for.”

The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the ruling has rankled in Thailand ever since.

For Thailand the issue worsened on July 7, 2008, when Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval.

mcot.net

Cambodia and Thailand reached an agreement during the 34th Session of the Historical Heritage
carolina.monteiro
30th Jul, 2010

“World Heritage achieved a great victory today. And the largest contribution to it was Brazilian.” The words are from Juca Ferreira, Brazilian Minister of Culture and President of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture), and were spoken after the result of today’s Plenary Session of the Committee’s 34th Session, during which Cambodia and Thailand were in dispute over the transboundary region where the Temple of Preah Vihear is located.

The two nations were not speaking to each other, and several conflicting claims were coming from both sides. According to Chairman Juca Ferreira, the nations will have a year to negotiate and come to an agreement. “We have managed, for the first time, to allow the two States Parties to get together without any other presence, and this was fundamental for a dialogue to finally be established”, Mr. Ferreira explained.

Yesterday, the representatives from both sides shook hands for the first time. “We have dedicated intense efforts to the strengthening of UNESCO and to the fostering of an environment of mutual understanding. The fact that this reunion is taking place in Brazil is very important to us”, he highlighted.

During the announcement of the agreement, at the plenary room of the Session of the Committee, the Thai Delegation thanked Juca Ferreira and the UNESCO Ambassador in Brazil, Carlos Souza Gomes, for understanding how delicate the matter really is. They also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity both countries had to carefully analyze the working document up until the moment at which it was possible for the sides to come to a solution considered agreeable for both.

The Cambodian Delegation also thanked all actors involved, and stated that the negotiations were a testimony to the incredibly relevant role played by the World Heritage Committee.

The Temple of Preah Vihear

The property is a Hindu temple from the 11th century, located in the border between the two countries. In July 7, 2008, it was declared a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO during its Quebec Session. The place has had its Cambodian sovereignty disputed during the last 40 years, and, in October 2008, there was an armed conflict between the two nations over the matter.

SPEECH

“I would like to start congratulating the States Parties Cambodia and Thailand for the willingness displayed by both sides to establish dialog and reach an understanding which resulted in the Draft Decision that will be submitted to the plenary for appreciation.

I am delighted to inform that as Chairman I have received both the Delegations, and that I have always advocated for a solution that could be negotiated by both sides and for which a mutually acceptable solution could be pursued.

The text of the Draft Decision about to be presented is the result of such negotiations, which I had the honor and the privilege to conduct.
I therefore invite all members of this Committee to support the aforementioned text without debate, without appeals and without manifestations after its adoption.

Thank you very much.”

34whc.brasilia2010.org

Thai-Cambodia border 'normal' but Thai military on high alert
วันเสาร์ ที่ 31 ก.ค. 2553



BANGKOK, July 31 -- The Thai-Cambodian border situation remains normal but Thailand's military is on high guard after a United Nations agency agreed to postpone discussions on the disputed management plan around the Preah Vihear temple proposed by the Phnom Penh government to 2011.

Thai troops are now posted some five kilometres from the historic temple on its eastern approach.

They are guarding the disputed area contested by the two neighbouring countries round-the-clock to ensure that Cambodian soldiers do not encroach the Thai territory.

In an attempt to boost morale of Thai soldiers guarding the border, Col Nirut Ketsiri, commander of 16th Infantry Battalion, visited them.

Thailand's foreign minister said Friday that the country is not disadvantaged after UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Thursday postponed its scheduled discussions on the management plan to next year's meeting in Bahrain.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromyat praised the Thai delegation at the meeting, led by Suwit Khunkitti, minister of natural resources and environment, for voicing and explaining the Thai perspective on the impasse to heritage committee members until they decided to postpone discussion of the issue.

He said that Thailand should now find a way to resolve the Thai-Cambodian border demarcation problem and submit it to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The immediate challenge, Mr Kasit said, is that Thailand wants to refer to the temple as Phra Viharn, while Cambodia calls it Phreah Vihear. If it is agreed by Phnom Penh then both countries could move jointly to resolve their territorial disputes.

The Thai government wants to resolve the problem according to the 2000 land boundary demarcation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia agreeing not to change any environment in the frontier zone, pending the survey and demarcation of the common land boundary.

Thailand will not allow its territory to be lost and the disputed, overlapping boundary must be settled by negotiation, he said, adding that the next round of talks should be done in a friendly atmosphere as the two countries are close neighbours.

mcot.net

Originally Posted by Mid

Thailand wants to refer to the temple as Phra Viharn, while Cambodia calls it Phreah Vihear.

Its Phreah Vihear.
How many times does the idiots need to be told this.

FM Kasit says no country wins or loses over delayed decision on temple
วันเสาร์ ที่ 31 ก.ค. 2553



PHUKET, July 31 -- Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said Saturday that the decision by the UN cultural agency to postpone reviewing Cambodia’s development plan for the area adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple by one year to 2011 did not represent either Thailand or Cambodia winning or losing.

Mr Kasit responded to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An’s earlier remarks that Cambodia achieved its goal when UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission (WHC) agreed Thursday at its meeting in Brazil to consider its management plan for the Phra Vihear temple, listed as a World Heritage site.

But the WHC deferred its discussion on the issue to its meeting in Bahrain next year.

“Neither country wins on the issue. What he [Sok An] said Cambodia had won was [not correct]," Mr Kasit said, explaining that he did not understand why Mr Sok An, who led the Cambodian delegation to the Brasilia committee meeting, made such an announcement.

The WHC decided to defer its consideration of the matter for another year to enable the neighbouring countries to settle their differences regarding the disputed territory around Preah Vihear first, he said.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia. For Thailand the issue worsened on July 7, 2008, when Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval.

Vasin Teeravechyan, an adviser to the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and also chairman of the Thai side on the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said there has been no progress since the commission's last meeting because of differences in referring to the historic temple, the Cambodia and the United Nations referring to it in Cambodian, while the Thais wish to refer to it in Thai.

The Thais call the 11th century temple as ‘Phra Viharn’ while the Cambodians call it ‘Preah Vihear.’

The differences between Cambodia and Thailand in describing the temple is still under consideration by Parliament, said Mr Vasin. The JBC meeting could resume once a settlement on the name is reached.

Regarding the WHC decision to consider Cambodia’s management plan for the temple environs for another year, Mr Vasin said the decision would not have any effect -- positive or negative -- on the border demarcation as border talks are difficult by nature, but the pressure is rather from “within Thailand as people have different views on Preah Vihear temple.”

mcot.net

PM thanks rally, blames Noppadon
1/08/2010

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva thanked a group of Thai people for showing their concern for the country after they gathered in front of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)'s local office in Bangkok on July 27 to oppose Cambodia's plan on administering Preah Vihear temple.

The gathering was likely one of the reasons why the Unesco World Heritage Committee (WHC) postponed discussions on the Phnom Penh government's management plan around the Preah Vihear temple to next year, Mr Abhisit said during his weekly broadcast on Sunday morning.

However, he said, confusion within the country might lead to conflicts that could benefit Cambodia in the end.

He said the Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 had helped Thailand as it was the main factor in the WHC's decision.

The government will accept Cambodia's management plan, if the temple is jointly listed between both countries. The government will not cooperate with the WHC if it endorses the plan since it infringes on the disputed border area, he said.

"The problem originated in 2008 when Mr Noppadon Pattama, a foreign minister at the time, supported Cambodia's plan to list Preah Vihear as a world heritage site. This put Thailand in a disadvantage.

"We cannot deny that the most convenient entrance to Preah Vihear is on the Thai side. Therefore, the Thai government has been trying to oppose its listing," the premier said.

He said the government should now work easier as it had seen the documents proposed by Cambodia at the WHC meeting in Brazil last week.

"Actually, there are people who do not agree with me on the legal aspects but we share the same goal, which is protecting the country's sovereignty. I ask all sides to work together and stop arguing since it would give an advantage to another country," he added.

bangkokpost.com

so not only do they get a free pass ,

they get a Prime Ministerial cop khun cup as well .

take about rubbing your nose in it .

DOUBLE STANDARDS !!!!!

PREAH VIHEAR

'Only joint listing can end row'
August 1, 2010

Abhisit vows to defend national interest, assigns officials to closely scrutinise Cambodian plan

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that a joint World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear and its adjacent compound - claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia - was the "best and smoothest path to take" to end conflict over Cambodia's controversial management plan for the ancient Khmer temple.

Abhisit and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya also disputed Phnom Penh's claims of victory following a decision by Unesco's World Heritage Committee to defer a review of Cambodia's management plan until its meeting next year.

The prime minister instructed concerned officials to come up with a detailed analysis of Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear to appraise how the plan adversely affects the country's sovereignty. Abhisit said the country would have enough time to study if the plan would bring about any problems before it was sent back to the World Heritage Committee.

The PM said he believed the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed in 2000 was useful for Thailand, especially provisions that ban Cambodia from entering the disputed zone. He instructed the Foreign and Defence ministries to scrutinise the management plan next week.

Asked to respond to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An's claim that the World Heritage Committee had accepted Cambodia's management plan, Abhisit said he needed to see exactly what the committee said.

He believed the committee was careful about its wording. "It will not use the word acknowledge, but acknowledge the submission of the plan. The plan was submitted to the office but the committee members have not considered it,'' he said.

Abhisit said he believed the best solution was to change from having Cambodia solely register the Hindu temple to a proposal by two countries so the World Heritage Site could be co-managed by both.

"This will depend entirely on the Unesco committee, whether it will accept this proposal and for Cambodia to accept the reality. But this is the best and smoothest way out,'' Abhisit said.

The PM said he wished to see Cambodia change its stance and seek cooperation instead of pressuring Thailand on this issue without heeding the country's opinion.

He said the country lost its way when then foreign minister Noppadon Pattama accepted the joint communique in 2008 but since then Thailand had strongly defended itself against the move, and the country was now in a better position.

Abhisit said he understood the call of the People's Alliance for Democracy to scrap the MoU signed in 2000 with Cambodia, but he believed that stemmed from different interpretations and hoped this would not lead to quarrels.
He said although the border tension had subsided, the government was still vigilant and he had instructed Foreign Minister Kasit to consult with the Defence Ministry about the problem of Cambodia continuing to occupy the disputed zone. "I do not want to discuss repatriation in advance as I would like to refrain from making the atmosphere tense but we also have to protect national interests,'' he said.

Kasit said yesterday that the Unesco panel's decision in regard to Cambodia's development plan was not a victory for either Thailand or Cambodia.

He was responding to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An's earlier remark that Cambodia had achieved its goal when Unesco's panel agreed on Thursday at its meeting in Brazil to consider its management plan for the Preah Vihear Temple. The World Heritage Committee deferred its discussion on the issue to its meeting in Bahrain next year.

"Neither country wins on the issue. What he [Sok An] said, that Cambodia had won, was not correct," Kasit said, explaining that he did not understand why Sok An, who led the Cambodian delegation to the Brasilia meeting, made such an announcement.

The committee decided to defer its consideration of the matter for another year to enable the neighbouring countries to settle their differences regarding the disputed territory around Preah Vihear first, the foreign minister said.

The Associated Press earlier quoted Sok An as saying that, "Unesco has officially accepted our management plan documents, so there is no need to have a further discussion or voting. The result of the meeting is a big victory for Cambodia, a result we have been waiting for."

Abhisit told the media to carefully read the committee resolution about the matter. When asked to comment on Sok An's remark, he said "please find out and read the resolution".

nationmultimedia.com

Originally Posted by Mid

joint World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear

kinda late ain't it ?

Originally Posted by Mid

Abhisit vows to defend national interest

political suicide if he didn't

Decision

32COM 8B.102 - Examination of Nominations - Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear (CAMBODIA)

Decision Text

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B1.Add2,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 8B.24, which recognized 'that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear is of great international significance and has Outstanding Universal Value on the basis of criteria (i), (iii) and (iv), and agreed in principle that it should be inscribed on the World Heritage List',

3. Having noted the progress made by the State Party of Cambodia towards the development of a Management Plan for the property, as requested by the Committee by its Decision 31 COM 8B.24 in Christchurch, New Zealand,

4. Expressing gratitude to the governments of Belgium, the United States of America, France, and India for providing support for the work of experts to assist in this effort, and to the governments of China and Japan, as well as ICCROM, for providing valuable expert input to this process

5. Recognizing that the Joint Communiqué signed on 18 June 2008 by the representatives of the Governments of Cambodia and Thailand, as well as by UNESCO, including its draft which was erroneously referred to as having been signed on 22 and 23 May 2008 in the document WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B1.Add.2, must be disregarded, following the decision of the Government of Thailand to suspend the effect of the Joint Communiqué, pursuant to the Thai Administrative Court's interim injunction on this issue,

6. Noting that the State Party of Cambodia submitted to the World Heritage Centre the revised graphic plan of the property (RGPP) included in WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B1.Add2 (hereinafter called " RGPP") indicating a revised perimeter of the area proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List,

7. Decides, on an exceptional basis, to accept, in view of the multilateral process leading to the elaboration of the supplementary report submitted in May 2008 by the State Party of Cambodia at the request of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the information submitted by the State Party beyond the deadline established in the paragraph 148 of the Operational Guidelines;

8. Recognizes that Thailand has repeatedly expressed a desire to participate in a joint nomination of the Temple of Preah Vihear and its surrounding areas;

9. Notes that the property proposed for inscription is reduced and comprises only the Temple of Preah Vihear and not the wider promontory with its cliffs and caves;

10. Considers further that archaeological research is underway which could result in new significant discoveries that might enable consideration of a possible new transboundary nomination, that would require the consent of both Cambodia and Thailand;

11. Encourages Cambodia to collaborate with Thailand for safeguarding the value of the property, in view of the fact that peoples of the surrounding region have long treasured the Temple of Preah Vihear, and agrees that it would be desirable in the future to reflect its full values and landscape setting through a possible additional inscription to the World Heritage List that could capture criteria (iii) and (iv), which had been recognized by the Committee in its Decision 31 COM 8B.24.

12. Inscribes the Temple of Preah Vihear, Cambodia, on the World Heritage List under criterion (i);

13. Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
The Temple of Preah Vihear, a unique architectural complex of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases on an 800 metre long axis, is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment.

Criterion (i): Preah Vihear is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It is very 'pure' both in plan and in the detail of its decoration.
Authenticity, in terms of the way the buildings and their materials express well the values of the property, has been established. The attributes of the property comprise the temple complex; the integrity of the property has to a degree been compromised by the absence of part of the promontory from the perimeter of the property. The protective measures for the Temple, in terms of legal protection are adequate; the progress made in defining the parameters of the Management Plan needs to be consolidated into an approved, full Management Plan;

14. Requests the State Party of Cambodia, in collaboration with UNESCO, to convene an international coordinating committee for the safeguarding and development of the property no later than February 2009, inviting the participation of the Government of Thailand and not more than seven other appropriate international partners, to examine general policy matters relating to the safeguarding of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property in conformity with international conservation standards;

15. Requests the State Party of Cambodia to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, the following documents:

• a) a provisional map providing additional details of the inscribed property and a map delineating the buffer zone identified in the RGPP;
• b) updated Nomination dossier to reflect the changes made to the perimeter of the property
• c) confirmation that the management zone for the property will include the inscribed property and buffer zone identified in the RGPP;
• d) progress report on the preparation of the Management Plan;

16. Further requests the State Party of Cambodia to submit to the World Heritage Centre by February 2010, for submission to the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010 a full Management Plan for the inscribed property, including a finalized map.
Documents

• Original Decision Document
• WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B1.Add2

Themes

Inscriptions on the World Heritage List
Session:

32COM
States Parties

Cambodia
Properties

Temple of Preah Vihear

unesco.org

Decision

31COM 8B.24 - Nomination of natural, mixed and cultural properties to the world heritage list - the Temple of Preah Vihear

Decision Text

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Documents WHC-07/31.COM/8B and WHC-07/31.COM/INF.8B.1,

2. Having taken note of the following statement by the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee which has been agreed to by the Delegation of Cambodia and the Delegation of Thailand:

"The State Party of Cambodia and the State Party of Thailand are in full agreement that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear has Outstanding Universal Value and must be inscribed on the World Heritage List as soon as possible. Accordingly, Cambodia and Thailand agree that Cambodia will propose the site for formal inscription on the World Heritage List at the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee in 2008 with the active support of Thailand.

They also agree that the site is in need of urgent attention and requires international financial and technical assistance and close cooperation between them.

They further agree that it is essential to strengthen conservation and management at the site including by the development of an appropriate management plan, as required under paragraph 108 of the Operational Guidelines, that will ensure the future protection of this property.
They understand, following consultation with the World Heritage Centre, that financial and technical assistance for the development of a management plan will be available through the World Heritage Centre's International Assistance programme."

3. Recognizes that the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear is of great international significance and has Outstanding Universal Value on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and (iv), agrees in principle that it should be inscribed on the World Heritage List and notes that the process for inscription is in progress;

4. Requests the State Party of Cambodia to strengthen conservation and management at the site by making progress in developing an appropriate management plan, which progress will enable its formal inscription by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

5. Further requests the State Party of Cambodia to submit a progress report to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2008.
Documents

• Original Decision Document
• WHC-07/31.COM/8B

Themes

Inscriptions on the World Heritage List
Session:

31COM
States Parties

Cambodia
Properties

Temple of Preah Vihear

unesco.org

'We'll be ready for WHC temple fight'
2/08/2010

Thailand will be better prepared to take on Cambodia over Preah Vihear at next year's World Heritage Committee meeting, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

The prime minister said yesterday during his weekly radio and TV programme that Thailand had obtained the management plan for the temple submitted by Cambodia to the WHC and would study it.

"We have seen the Cambodian document. We have one year to study it in detail to counter how the plan affects Thai sovereignty," he said.

"We will work harder over the next year. But this time it will be easier."

The WHC on Thursday decided to postpone its decision on the proposed management plan for Preah Vihear and surrounding areas until next year's meeting in Bahrain.

The temple was listed as a world heritage site in 2008. The listing required Cambodia to submit a management plan for the site. Thailand said the plan submitted by Phnom Penh included a disputed 4.6 square kilometre area, which had not yet been demarcated.

Mr Abhisit stressed that Cambodia could use WHC approval of the plan to claim rights over the disputed area in the future.

Thailand insists that the watershed line must be used to divide the boundary between the two countries, a position rejected by Cambodia.
Thailand claims the area is part of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket, while Cambodia says it is in its Preah Vihear province.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

bangkokpost.com

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.