Thread: Thailand : PREAH VIHEAR

Govt Persistent in Joining World Heritage Conference
14 July 2010

The government stands firm on its plan to participate in the UNESCO World Heritage Conference scheduled for the end of this month.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ignored the New Politics Party’s demand to boycott the World Heritage Conference scheduled for later this month to protect Thailand's national border interests.

Abhisit said Thailand would be in a disadvantaged position if it does not join the conference, as the World Heritage Committee will receive information regarding Phrea Vihear Temple solely from Cambodia.

Cambodia is scheduled to submit its administrative and conservative plan for the overlapping area around Phrea Vihear Temple to UNESCO during the conference.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who will attend the upcoming World Heritage Committee meeting, notified the Cabinet that he will ask the committee to postpone its consideration of the Cambodian management plan as there has not been a resolution of the territorial disputes between the two countries regarding the area.

The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs, Suthep Thaugsuban, said of the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border that there is nothing to be worried about.

As for Cambodia’s plan to designate July 15 as 'Anger Day' against the Thai invasion of Cambodia, Suthep refused to say if the matter would develop hatred between the two nations, but said he will follow the situation.

He added that both Thai and Cambodian troops have agreed to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and to avoid using force.

Secretary-General of the New Politics Party Suriyasai Katasila has advised the government to boycott the UNESCO World Heritage Conference, or risk losing part of the country's territory to Cambodia.

thailandoutlook.tv

UNESCO meeting cues dispute with Thailand
Cheang Sokha
Wednesday, 14 July 2010

GOVERNMENT officials yesterday lashed out at reports that Thailand will move to disrupt Cambodia’s plans to preserve the disputed Preah Vihear temple.

On Sunday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was quoted by Thai television station NBT as saying he had instructed Natural Resources and
Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti to reject a Cambodian management plan for the preservation of the 11th-century temple when the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets later this month.

Abhisit also stated that although Thailand accepted a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that handed ownership of the temple to Cambodia, it maintained its right to withhold recognition of the 1904 map upon which the ruling was based.

Tith Sothea, spokesman for the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit, said that during the upcoming WHC meeting, which will be held in Brasilia from July 27 to August 3, Cambodia planned to report on temple-preservation efforts and development of the surrounding area.

“Any intention of the current government of Thailand to attempt to oppose the heritage matter [at] the upcoming WHC meeting will clearly show a shameful image of Thailand to the international community,” he said.

He added that any border-demarcation issues should be handled by the two countries’ Joint Border Commission.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Thailand should follow the ruling of the ICJ on all matters related to Preah Vihear temple, and that it was too late to complain about the issue.

“The comment he raised is wrong because former Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama agreed [to the listing] and signed a letter with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An,” he said.

“We cannot stop Thailand from having an ambition to invade, but Cambodia does everything within its own territory and has the right to do whatever in its territory.”

On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, triggering sustained military buildup along the border.

phnompenhpost.com

PAD urges boycott of World Heritage meet
24/07/2010

Preah Vihear proposal 'could lead to land loss'

The yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy is calling on the government to boycott attending a World Heritage Committee meeting.


Key People’s Alliance for Democracy figures, from left, Piphob Dhongchai, Sondhi Limthongkul, Panthep Puapongpan and Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang urge the government to drop a plan to attend the Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil.
APICHART JINAKUL

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has taken a Thai delegation to attend the 34th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Committee, starting tomorrow in Brazil.

As Thailand is among the WHC's 21 commissioners, its absence from the meeting would result in a postponement of the committee's consideration of a controversial Cambodian item on the Preah Vihear temple, said key PAD figure Sondhi Limthongkul.

Cambodia is expected to propose a management plan for the Preah Vihear temple and its buffer zone.

The proposal also concerns Thailand because it opposes Cambodia's plan on the grounds that sovereignty over the buffer zone, the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area claimed by both countries, has not been settled.

Preah Vihear has been on Unesco's World Heritage list since 2008.

"If the committee acknowledges Cambodia's plan, it is only a matter of time before Thailand loses the disputed land, and this government will be to blame," said Mr Sondhi.

The government should express its stance against the listing of the Preah Vihear temple by ordering Mr Suwit to stay away from the meeting, he said.

Mr Sondhi said the PAD would again ask the Abhisit Vejjajiva government to take further action against the listing of the temple as a World Heritage site.

The Administrative Court has ruled to revoke the Thai-Cambodian communique which former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama signed in support of the temple listing but Mr Abhisit had yet to do anything about the court's ruling, said Mr Sondhi.

The communique is believed to have been a major factor leading to the World Heritage site listing of the ancient Hindu temple.

If the WHC meeting was favourable to Cambodia's proposal, PAD would lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to seek legal action against the people responsible.

The PAD would call a public forum against the government for causing the country to lose territory, he said.

Any Unesco committee endorsement of Cambodia's proposal to develop the disputed land would cost Thailand not only that 4.6 sq km of land, but also a further loss of 1.5 million rai of border land and beaches, said Mr Sondhi.

Piphob Dhongchai, another key PAD figure, said the government should respect the Administrative Court's ruling on the joint communique.

bangkokpost.com

Suwit takes off for temple talks
24/07/2010

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti is in Paris today to meet with Unesco director-general Irina Bokova to express Thailand's concern over the Preah Vihear temple issue.


Suwit: Admits it’s a very tough mission

Unesco's World Heritage Committee (WHC) will open its annual meeting in the Brazilian capital Brasilia tomorrow, and Mr Suwit will also attend to oppose Cambodia's proposed management plan for the Preah Vihear temple and its buffer zone covering the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area claimed by the two countries.

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN talked with him about his mission before he left the country on Thursday.

Regarding the 34th session of the WHC, what do you expect to happen?

I admit that this mission is very tough for me. Thailand, as one of the WHC's 21 commissioners, has never seen Cambodia's plan, and that means the WHC has not received the plan too despite the fact that WHC rules require such a plan to be submitted six months before the meeting for consideration.

Are you confident that Unesco will listen to our voice?

I believe that since the Preah Vihear temple was registered as a World Heritage site, there have been many confrontations between Thailand and Cambodia, including border confrontations or even between the civic sectors of both sides. This is the point and Unesco needs to listen to the country which is now suffering from its decision.

Moreover, the WHC charter says that a qualification for a World Heritage site is that it brings peace. I do hope that it will cooperate with Thailand to find out the best solution to end the problem.

What is Thailand's position in this round of the WHC meeting?

First of all, I would like to assure the public that I will do my best. My team comprising officers from the Foreign, Defence, Culture, and Natural Resources and Environment ministries has worked very hard for over a year on the mission. So I am confident that we will not let the Thai people get upset.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva previously said clearly that Thailand will not support the Cambodian plan until there is clarity over land demarcation.
In the event the WHC agrees to endorse Cambodia's plan, we will raise a strong objection.

As you told me that Cambodia has not yet submitted its plan to the WHC, do you think this could delay the discussion of the issue?

I don't know. I can't say at the moment whether it is good or bad for Thailand and we need more time to study it.

What is Thailand's progress in submitting other areas near the Preah Vihear temple which are on Thai soil as world heritage sites?

We will not discuss that issue until there is clarity over the land demarcation of the Thai-Cambodian border.

bangkokpost.com

They are such bad losers. The temple is not Thai!!! End of.

Originally Posted by Mid

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva previously said clearly that Thailand will not support the Cambodian plan until there is clarity over land demarcation. In the event the WHC agrees to endorse Cambodia's plan, we will raise a strong objection.

The land was going to be ceded to Thailand and the temple to Cambodia as was agreed between the two countries before the PAD influenced Abhisit administration took over.

No point crying over spilt milk now.

I will dance a wee jig if they endorse Cambodia's plan.

Thai PM: Cambodia continues pushing management plan for ancient temple
วันเสาร์ ที่ 24 ก.ค. 2553



BANGKOK, July 24 -- Thailand is still objecting to Cambodia's move to proceed with its unilateral management plan for the environs of the ancient Preah Vihear temple at next week's World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting, scheduled to be held in Brazil beginning Sunday July 25 and extending through August 3, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday.

Mr Abhisit’s remarks were made after Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti, leading the Thai delegation to attend the 34th meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's heritage committee in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.

He said Mr Suwit phoned him from a stopover in Paris where he met the UNESCO director Friday, telling him that the Cambodian government is still determined to attend the WHC session and propose that it should be allowed to conduct its management plan for the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia's plan does not show the border demarcation between the neighbouring countries and the Cambodian government had insisted that it would not involve the northern and the western parts of the temple, Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Suwit told him he would not accept the Cambodian plan. Now Thailand must inform the international community on the issue and also follow the meeting in Brazil closely, said Mr Abhisit.

Mr Abhisit said he informed Mr Suwit that the temple issue would be discussed in Brasilia on Wednesday and that if the Thai delegation needs support the Cabinet canto issue a resolution.

Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in nationalist tensions and a troop standoff at their disputed border since July 2008, when Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The site was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 in a decision that rankles most Thais.

In another development, Mr Abhisit said Thailand has proposed to host a WHC session in the next two years and Cambodia is expected to make a similar request.

mcot.net

Activists petition Unesco over P.Vihear
27/07/2010

A group of activists led by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) core member Chamlong Srimuang handed a petition to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) office in Bangkok on Tuesday against the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

"I have been following the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil and I'm not confident the Thai government will succeed at the meeting," Maj Gen Chamlong said.

He said the activists and the PAD members had not planned to gather outside the Unesco office, but this was an urgent matter.

"We are not pressuring Unesco in any way but I cannot confirm whether we will spend a night here as we'll have to monitor the situation for now," he said.

The PAD co-leader said he would not resist if authorities arrest him for violating the emergency decree.

"After considering the situation, I decide to take a risk because this is about Thailand's territory," he said.

The gathering outside the Unesco office resulted in heavy traffic congestion on Sukhumvit road.

Metropolitan Police officials and Bangkok Municipality personnel were deployed to help people and ensure security at the gathering.

On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site owned and managed by Cambodia. Thailand has objected and wants it jointly managed by the two countries.

Cambodia is due to report on its preservation efforts and development of the surrounding area at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brasilia from July 27 to Aug 3.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said recently that Thailand would reject the Cambodian management plan for the preservation of the 11th century temple during the meeting.

Mr Abhisit was reported have said that although Thailand accepted a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that handed ownership of the temple to Cambodia, it maintained its right to withhold recognition of the 1904 map upon which the ruling was based.

The ancient Khmer temple is in a disputed border area where troops of the two countries have often clashed.

bangkokpost.com

PM firm on temple plan

'No Thai cooperation' on Preah Vihear area
28/07/2010

Thailand will not cooperate with the World Heritage Committee if it agrees to a management plan for the Preah Vihear temple that infringes upon the disputed border area, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

The prime minister is sending a message to the WHC meeting which is expected to discuss Cambodia's management plan for the Hindu temple and its surrounding areas before the gathering, which began on Sunday in Brasilia, Brazil's capital, ends next Tuesday .

The Cambodian-sponsored plan is on the WHC agenda for its 21-member committee to discuss.

Phnom Penh is required to submit the management plan for WHC approval after the temple was placed on the world heritage listing of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 2008.

Thailand's main concern is that the overlapping territory of 4.6 square kilometres, which has not been demarcated, could be included in the plan and jeopardise negotiations to sort out the area, which has been the main source of border conflicts between the two countries.

Thailand last year successfully blocked the plan at the meeting of the WHC in Seville, Spain.

This time, Mr Abhisit is refusing to cooperate with the WHC on the issue as the conflict over sovereignty of the area remains unsettled.

He reiterated yesterday Thailand's stance on opposing the management plan, which he says should not be brought up for discussion until the two countries resolve their dispute over the territory.

If the WHC's resolution on the management plan affects Thai sovereignty, the government will make it clear that it will not accept it, he said after talks with key leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at Ban Phitsanulok.



The prime minister met with the PAD's co-leader Pibhop Dhongchai, the movement's spokesman Panthep Puapongpan, Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn and historian ML Walwipha Charoonroj, who leads the Preah Vihear listing monitoring network.

With the Brasilia meeting scheduled to discuss the issue, the PAD, led by Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, and 1,000 supporters converged on Unesco's Sukhumvit office yesterday in an effort to derail the Cambodian effort and call for a review of the registration of Preah Vihear as a world heritage site.

The rally broke up after officials from the UN agency agreed to forward the demands to the WHC meeting.

The 21 members of the serving WHC committee are Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, China, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Iraq, Jordan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti is leading the Thai delegation to Brasilia to try to stifle Cambodia's management plan.
Mr Kamnoon said the PAD and the government shared a similar view on protecting the country's sovereignty.

He said he felt "relieved" since the government had prepared measures to be taken against the UN agency if it ignores Thailand's stance.

But Maj Gen Chamlong apparently did not feel that way. He said it would be difficult for the Thai delegation to support its objection to the management plan for the temple and its surrounding area, but warned the PAD would not give up its rallies to block it.

"We need to reaffirm our position because we don't believe that the Thai representatives will be able to oppose Cambodia's plan," he said.

"But we still have time to protest until the decision is made. Another series of protests will be definitely arranged to have our voices heard."

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia.

The disputed area near the temple is claimed by Thailand as part of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket.

bangkokpost.com

Cabinet hardens stand on P.Vihear
28/07/2010

The cabinet on Wednesday passed resolutions opposing the endorsement of Cambodia’s management plan for Preah Vihear temple by the World Heritage Committee, reports said, citing an informed source at Government House.

The resolutions were;

1) The Thai government opposes Cambodia’s management plan for the ancient temple, which infringe upon the disputed border area;

2) The Thai government will review its membership at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), if the international agency endorses the management plan;

3) The Foreign Ministry is assigned to send letters outlining the cabinet’s resolutions to Unesco and the current meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia, Brazil.

bangkokpost.com

Cambodia Adamant on Preah Vihear Issue
28 July 2010

Cambodia's foreign minister staunchly declares that Preah Vihear Temple has been a recognized World Heritage Site of his country since 2008 after leading over 20 international delegates on a visit to the controversial area.

A report on ASTV website said Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong responded to Thailand's effort against listing Preah Vihear Temple as Cambodia's World Heritage, saying that it has been recognized as his country's World Heritage site since 2008. He added nothing can be done to refute this fact.

The Cambodian foreign minister made the statement following a visit to Singapore with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen after hearing about a People's Alliance for Democracy assembly in Bangkok protesting the registration of Preah Vihear by UNESCO.

Hor Nam Hong was firm in stating that Thailand cannot reverse the status of the ancient temple, which was granted by UNESCO two years ago.

On Monday, more than 20 ambassadors and delegates to Cambodia from countries such as Australia, Cuba and Vietnam were led on a tour of markets surrounding Preah Vihear.

During the visit, the representatives were informed that many of the vendors had been fired upon by Thai soldiers.

Cambodia maintains that it does not have “disputed” territory with Thailand.

The neighboring nation has called for Thailand to respect the Siam-France Treaty border map that was created between 1904 and 1907 as well as a World Court ruling in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia.

thailandoutlook.tv

Do they really call it Preah Vihear in the Bangkok Post?

Still talking to the PAD I see.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Still talking to the PAD

At 14.40 Abhisit invited top PAD leaders to the Phisanulok Mansion (PM's house). The PAD leaders included Parnthep Puapongpan (PAD spokesman), Kamnoon Sithisaman (appointed senator), Pipop Thongchai and ML Walwipa Charoonroj. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya ... and Sirichok Sopa [MP and Mr Abhisit's close aide: PP] were also present. The meeting lasted for two hours.

Stories: Bangkok Pundit | Asian Correspondent

The fact that Abhisit is still shamelessly pandering to the PAD with this speedy meeting suggests that the PAD still has considerable control over many of the political decisions. I am also sure that this meeting gave Abhisit the opportunity to privately thank the PAD leaders for pointing their supporters to vote for Panich Vikitsreth in Sunday’s bi-election.

However, this meeting shows again that there is a very close relationship between the PAD and the Democrats, and this collaboration ensures the PAD’s immunity from any prosecution for their terrorist activity in closing Thailand’s major airports and other crimes including today’s violation of the State of Emergency.

I am sure if the Red Shirts held protests in front of Unesco’s Bangkok regional office more than half of the Thai army would have been there, arresting them, and charging them for breaching the SOE law.

Originally Posted by Scaramanga

I am sure if the Red Shirts held protests in front of Unesco’s Bangkok regional office more than half of the Thai army would have been there arresting them and charging them for breaching the SOE law.

to quote another ............ you can't argue with that .

Cabinet firm on Thailand's stance on Preah Vihear
28/07/2010

Cabinet has instructed Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti to walk out of the meeting if the World Heritage Committee (WHC) discusses Cambodia's management plan for the Preah Vihear temple without taking Thailand's protest into consideration, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

Mr Suwit is in Brasilia, Brazil's capital, to attend the WHC meeting, which is due to discuss Cambodia's management plan for the 1,000-year-old Hindu temple.

Mr Abhisit said the cabinet on Wednesday agreed that if the WHC went ahead with consideration of Cambodia's proposal, Mr Suwit should walk out and boycott the vote.

Mr Suwit should also review Thailand's WHC membership if it looked likely to endorse the management plan.

The prime minister stressed that even if the WHC endorses Cambodian management of the site, it would not have any effect on the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Cambodia would not be able to use the WHC endorsement to manage the overlapping territory of 4.6 square kilometres which is still in dispute and has not been demarcated, Mr Abhisit said.

He said Thailand would try to solve this problem without the use of force, but the Thai army was ready to protect Thai sovereignty over its territory.

It might take as long as a year to withdraw WHC membership, because the matter would require approval from the House of Representatives.

But if Thailand withdrew from the WHC, the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site would not be able to proceed, Mr Abhisit said.

Therefore, Thailand would persist in its attempt to delay the WHC's consideration of the Cambodian proposal and ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to adhere to its intention of promoting peace, not conflict, the prime minister said.

Deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the cabinet resolution followed a fax from Mr Suwit on Wednesday morning asking that it confirm Thailand's stance.

Thailand has made clear that it will not cooperate with the WHC if it agrees to the management plan for the Preah Vihear temple, because it infringes on the disputed border area.

bangkokpost.com

Flounce!

Originally Posted by Mid

Therefore, Thailand would persist in its attempt to delay the WHC's consideration of the Cambodian proposal and ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to adhere to its intention of promoting peace, not conflict, the prime minister said.

That sounds like a threat. Do what we want or there will be further conflict along the border.

If the PAD and hen the latterly the Thai military had not gotten involved there would have been no violence on the border over this temple issue.

Why can't they behave like adults?

Hor Namhong dismisses Thai rally
Cheang Sokha
Wednesday, 28 July 2010


Yellow Shirt protesters hold Thai flags and placards during a rally outside UNESCO’s office in Bangkok. Thai nationalists oppose the Cambodian plan for the administration of Preah Vihear temple, which was listed as a World Heritage site in July 2008.
Photo by: AFP

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Hor Namhong yesterday dismissed as “out of date” arguments advanced by Thai pro-government demonstrators who rallied in Bangkok to protest UNESCO’s listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site for Cambodia.

Roughly 1,000 Yellow Shirt protesters rallied outside UNESCO’s regional office in Bangkok to present a note demanding that the presentation of Cambodia’s management plan for the site – set to take place during a conference that began this week in Brazil – be delayed until disputes about land surrounding the temple are settled.

“The enlistment of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site is already done,” Hor Namhong said yesterday at a press conference at Phnom Penh International Airport. “Whatever Thailand is doing, this cannot be changed.”

The government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said it will oppose Cambodia’s management plan. Hor Namhong said yesterday that he had heard that a Thai delegation had voiced opposition to the plan at the meeting in Brazil, but he did not provide any details.

Spokesmen for the Thai government and foreign ministry could not be reached for comment yesterday.

A report in the Thai newspaper The Nation quoted Yellow Shirt leader Chamlong Srimuang, said to have been one of the organisers of yesterday’s protest, expressing doubt that the move to oppose the plan would be successful.

“We are not certain that the government will succeed in opposing the temple administrative plan,” Srimuang reportedly said.

Meanwhile, more than 20 diplomats from seven foreign embassies based in Phnom Penh – Britain, Australia, Cuba, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam – visited the temple over the weekend to observe the situation along the border, a military official said yesterday.

Chea Dara, deputy military commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in Preah Vihear, said yesterday that he had informed the diplomats that Thailand could no longer use “monks and laypeople” to invade Cambodia anymore.

“Thai extremists should stop bothering Cambodia, because we will not welcome them,” he said. “We will welcome them with guns.”

phnompenhpost.com

2 Thoughts

1: Cambodia says Thailand is out of date

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

can you say double standards ?

WHC to decide on temple plan tonight
29/07/2010

The World Heritage Committee is expected to decide on whether it will approve Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear temple on Thursday night Thailand time, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said in a television interview from Brazil on Thursday.

The committee, meeting in Brasilia, has decided to postpone the decision on the issue for 24 hours to allow Thailand and Cambodia to iron out their dispute on the sidelines of the meeting.

The issue is set to be on agenda again at 10am Brazil time, or about 10pm Thailand time.

The postponement followed protest in the capital and the Thai government's threat to resign its membership of the committee if it approves Cambodia's management plan.

Mr Suwit said Cambodia insists on pressing ahead with its management plan, while Thailand strongly opposes it.

Speaking after a 45-minute discussion with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who heads the Cambodian delegation, Mr Suwit said he would work to his best ability to protect Thailand’s national interest, but that what actually happens is up to the decision of all 21 WHC members.

He however hoped that the WHC will comprehend the adverse impact that might occur if it endorses Cambodia’s plan.

The 34th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee this year is now being held from July 25 to August 3.

The cabinet on Wednesday resolved to oppose Cambodia's plan for Preah Vihear temple, set to be proposed to the World Heritage Committee meeting, instructing the Thai delegation to boycott the anticipated endorsement by walking out of the meeting and not cooperating with the WHC once it endorses the plan.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours resolve their dispute over the overlapping zone of 4.6 square kilometres.

bangkokpost.com

Originally Posted by Mid

....Roughly 1,000 Yellow Shirt protesters rallied outside UNESCO’s regional office in Bangkok to present a note demanding that the presentation of Cambodia’s management plan for the site – set to take place during a conference that began this week in Brazil – be delayed until disputes about land surrounding the temple are settled.

“The enlistment of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site is already done,” Hor Namhong said yesterday at a press conference at Phnom Penh International Airport. “Whatever Thailand is doing, this cannot be changed.”
...
2 Thoughts

1: Cambodia says Thailand is out of date

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

can you say double standards ?

1. Seems to me that as the two statement above show, the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister is mistaken in what the protestors were asking for. They were not protesting to have the temple site removed from the listing, they are asking that the management plan, which was suppose to be developed jointly by Cambodia and Thailand was done unilaterally and includes part of the area outside the temple heritage site where the border is not agreed on.

Certainly his statement on greeting monks with guns could be considered provocative and playing to his own nationalistic audience.

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.

TH

Originally Posted by Thaihome

No, not a sole protestor. Who are these people?

not the same event .

not a pass ,

double standards ,

go on you know you can say it

and a nice invite to the PM's residence after as well

Like I said, the police over reacted, no problem saying that. They should have let the guy continue to mouth off, until he worked himself into something really stupid or just went home.

Originally Posted by Mid

[...
and a nice invite to the PM's residence after as well

Just like the nice talks after the first week of the UDD protests.

Nice diversion away from my point about the temple anyway.
TH