By Tulsathit Taptim
The Nation
One of the key questions still left hanging after the Preah Vihear temple became a World Heritage site has to do with whether Thailand has been "duped", or whether the whole issue is highly charged and highly politicised nationalism gone awry.
Should we be genuinely concerned, or write it off as a political game and forget about it?
In a long, detailed article on the temple's history and the controversy surrounding it, to be published in The Nation starting on Monday, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula touches upon this question. He says a main point to look at is the acceptance statement of the World Heritage Committee after it decided to list the temple.
A main cause for concern, he says, is resolution number 14 that deals with how to mobilise international efforts to preserve the temple's universal values.
This particular resolution "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".
"The wording looks so harmless," says Pridiyathorn.
But "the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the property in conformity with international conservation standards" may contain far-reaching obligations that could cover the management of surrounding zones affected for decades by both countries' overlapping claims, or even undisputed areas on the Thai side, he says.
This, combined with the "unprecedented" requirement Cambodia enlist seven other appropriate international partners, may bode ill for Thailand, he cautions. Boldly put, it can be a case of eight against one when it comes to key matters where Thai and Cambodian interests clash.
Speculation about a "conspiracy" will live on, thanks to Unesco's connection with the French and France's role in the past Thai-Cambodian dispute over the temple. But it must be noted the World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental panel for which Unesco serves only as a neutral, non-voting secretariat. Unesco Bangkok director Sheldon Shaeffer's insistence that the World Heritage Committee is by no means a Unesco committee underlines the extreme sensitivity of the whole issue.
Follow Pridiyathorn's take on the Preah Vihear temple controversy, on Monday.
Should we be genuinely concerned, or write it off as a political game and forget about it?
In a long, detailed article on the temple's history and the controversy surrounding it, to be published in The Nation starting on Monday, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula touches upon this question. He says a main point to look at is the acceptance statement of the World Heritage Committee after it decided to list the temple.
A main cause for concern, he says, is resolution number 14 that deals with how to mobilise international efforts to preserve the temple's universal values.
This particular resolution "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".
"The wording looks so harmless," says Pridiyathorn.
But "the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the property in conformity with international conservation standards" may contain far-reaching obligations that could cover the management of surrounding zones affected for decades by both countries' overlapping claims, or even undisputed areas on the Thai side, he says.
This, combined with the "unprecedented" requirement Cambodia enlist seven other appropriate international partners, may bode ill for Thailand, he cautions. Boldly put, it can be a case of eight against one when it comes to key matters where Thai and Cambodian interests clash.
Speculation about a "conspiracy" will live on, thanks to Unesco's connection with the French and France's role in the past Thai-Cambodian dispute over the temple. But it must be noted the World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental panel for which Unesco serves only as a neutral, non-voting secretariat. Unesco Bangkok director Sheldon Shaeffer's insistence that the World Heritage Committee is by no means a Unesco committee underlines the extreme sensitivity of the whole issue.
Follow Pridiyathorn's take on the Preah Vihear temple controversy, on Monday.
15 comments:
Why the King of Thailand is so quiet? Is this issue of the army aggression come from him?
The King of Thailand should say something as it involve with the Sovereignty of the Country.
How relationship between Mr. Samak's Government and the King of Thailand?
Please keep calm for all Khmer People in order to win the issue but of cause we all must follow up the news and wait to see the result of the discusion on Monday 21 July 2008.
From Siem Reap Resident.
The old King, King Bhumibol is sick shaky but his mind works like a flash light. The most powerful King on earth who rules and reigns over the army. Not only he is the most powerful man, but the richest man too. He is the one who caused all this troubles, who else?
He shot his own brother in cold blood, f* his wife's young sister, he made a coup against the elected government Thaksin.
He got HIV virus from his toady wife. He uses yama to prolong his lifetime
I thought his crazy son who has HIV dying right now. Are you saying Bhumibol has HIV or his son?
you foolish khmers
stop referring to our king.
if our king is involved in this matter, all thais will get out of their houses and chased you khmers out of the area.
the dispute over the PVH should be solved by both governments.
so leave our king off the issue.
otherwise, it'll only cause you more trouble when your arrogant messages were reported in thai newspapers.
and this time, don't blame anyone but yourseleves for asking for war from thai citizenz.
We all should talk about providing enough support (food, supplies...) to our coutnryman who are at the frontline to take care of our motherland. Does anybody know any organization beside government organization, that we can donate funds that will go 100% to our countryman at the border??? Help them to stay strong. they are there risking their life and they need our support...
2:44PM. Bhumibol broke the law Thai Constitutional. He was behind the coup against the official elected government.
Bhumibol is a man he is no God.
After him Thailand shall have no monarchy.
Yeah get out of Khmer land ah Siam 2:44PM. Who are you shitting with?
What your King is God? Shit who cares who he is?
2:44 PM
This fucking king a also a fucking faggot, who fuck women during the day and men after midnight.
What a fucking faggot Thai king is.
Fuck all the Thai people.
All of you people need to belong in hell.
Tell you king that I told you to tell him to fuck off.
kings and royal all over the world are just parasite. All modern countries that succeed already forget about monarchy since a long time.
Long live the Republic of Cambodia, 2nd constitution!!!
Vote for the leaders who will take care of you, otherwise, you will die under their studpidity.
But if you are stupid to choose the stupid ones, this is your fate and destiny...
2:44PM: you love your king so much, go to lick his ass full of shit.
Ehh... 2:44PM Please report to the newspaper in Bangkok that I said your King is behind the Aggression of Cambodian Land at PVH.
Your King is also behind the coup on Thashin's Government.
Your King is also suppose the PAD group. He paid PAD to arrange the political demonstration.
Your king is jealous with the popularity of Mr. Thashin and Mr. Samak that why he scare he loss hope from the Thai People.
Bhumibol Adulyadej. Come on BE a MAN. Stop using Innocence Thai people to do your dirty work. Your absolute power and crimes behind close door needs to be revealed.
Bhumibol broke Thai Constitutional LAW of the land. He is above all Laws, he created a coup d'etat against the Elected official Government Thaksin. This barbaric act needs to be judged by LAW.
Why these Thai people are too afraid of their lives? Because of Bhumibol's absolute power behind, and all the Thai armies are under his Command.
Cheater, Bhumibol you are cheater.
Be a MAN and face the reality, or face the heat like Sihanouk. Stop hiding behind the mask.
VIVA REPUBLIC OF THAILAND
VIVA THAKSIN
From a Commonner Family named CHAKRI, Bhumibol is no real Royal, but from a family thief. He shot his old brother Ananda Mahidol in cold blood and took the throne.
His family started from Chakri who took the throne from King Thaksin in 1782. Bhumibol from a commonner family then became Royal family of Siam were absolute Monarchy.
Chakri Kings married only their own half sisters and each King had many wives many children. Bhumibol has many chilren too from his other women besides his wife but keep hiding from Thai people.
Hope this is the last Thai monarchy.
REPUBLIC OF THAILAND Shall be born.
2:44 PM...Here is two ways streets...If you guys on the other side keep insulting our Kings, then it is fair that we do the same. This is a negotiation.
again, typical of the bias report coming out of thailand as usually. they forget to mention the real issue. that is the real issue has nothing to do with anyone involved. it has to do with thailand's choice, that is, they choose to ignore the 1907 treaty and the icj verdict. there is no overlapping borderline in accordance to the 1907 treaty and the icj has verified it by using the law that govern treaties. and now thailand still question the icj! this is where they over step their rights in all of this. thailand must have forgotten that the reason cambodia took the case to court in 1962 and won was also based on the interest of cambodia, not just thailand. so, they lost already. must respect that and stop making it like the icj never happened. this is what thailand need to know, not going from disagreeing with the watershed of the dangrak mountain to overlapping area or whatever they want to say. it is in black and white the official and lawful treaty of the 1904 map. even cambodia can understand that. and they claim thailand is 90% literate. i guess this proves otherwise. and they also say cambodia was 35% literate. what a bias people they really are!! oh my god. get a life! see you in icj again soon, thailand! this is what they need again because they have contempt of court. nobody in their right mind think thailand can win. give it up already, when it comes to the law!!!!!!! god bless cambodia.
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