Tuesday, July 1, 2008
By SAI SILP
The Irrawady
The Thai cabinet on Tuesday withdrew its support, at least temporarily, for the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site, following an injunction granted by the Thai Administrative Court.
The injunction, granted last week, blocked a Cabinet resolution in support of the Cambodian government’s application for a World Heritage Site, after months of negotiations over the exact boundary of the land around the temple complex, located on the lower southeast border.
The injunction said the government should have sought the approval of the parliament before acting unilaterally.
Nationalist sentiments over the temple’s ownership and the boundaries of the complex have run high in both countries in recent months.
On Tuesday, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the government will take action after studying the court’s injunction. “The government will do the right thing, as this is a big and complex issue,” Somchai said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Pattama supported Cambodia’s application as a World Heritage Site and recommended the cabinet resolution.
Noppadon’s move backfired when the resolution evoked widespread nationalist sentiment among anti-government groups, which have been attacking the competency and effectiveness of the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Cambodia has vowed to push ahead on its UNESCO World Heritage Site application.
"It's their internal problem," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper on Tuesday.
"[Preah Vihear] is our temple, and we want it to receive world heritage listing," Siphan said.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Tuesday said that he informed the Cambodian prime minister about the Thai court order and urged Cambodian authorities to secure the Thai embassy and ensure the safety of Thai people in Cambodia, following reports of tension over the issue, according to a report by the Thai News Agency.
The Thai embassy and scores of Thai-owned businesses in Cambodia were badly damaged by angry mobs a few years ago after a Thai actress made remarks considered offensive by many Cambodians.
The injunction, granted last week, blocked a Cabinet resolution in support of the Cambodian government’s application for a World Heritage Site, after months of negotiations over the exact boundary of the land around the temple complex, located on the lower southeast border.
The injunction said the government should have sought the approval of the parliament before acting unilaterally.
Nationalist sentiments over the temple’s ownership and the boundaries of the complex have run high in both countries in recent months.
On Tuesday, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the government will take action after studying the court’s injunction. “The government will do the right thing, as this is a big and complex issue,” Somchai said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Pattama supported Cambodia’s application as a World Heritage Site and recommended the cabinet resolution.
Noppadon’s move backfired when the resolution evoked widespread nationalist sentiment among anti-government groups, which have been attacking the competency and effectiveness of the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Cambodia has vowed to push ahead on its UNESCO World Heritage Site application.
"It's their internal problem," said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper on Tuesday.
"[Preah Vihear] is our temple, and we want it to receive world heritage listing," Siphan said.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Tuesday said that he informed the Cambodian prime minister about the Thai court order and urged Cambodian authorities to secure the Thai embassy and ensure the safety of Thai people in Cambodia, following reports of tension over the issue, according to a report by the Thai News Agency.
The Thai embassy and scores of Thai-owned businesses in Cambodia were badly damaged by angry mobs a few years ago after a Thai actress made remarks considered offensive by many Cambodians.
13 comments:
What thai is doing is the act of looking down on Cambodian People who is the owner of the temple and surrounding area historically and legally.
Any Ah Khmer-Yuon found within 3 km from the Thai Embassy must be shot unconditionally. That should do the trick.
I think the Thai start to scare again. Khmer will eat their livers if things going wrong.
THis dude, 10:29PM is the enemy of Khmer people.
I think we need to execute this fool.
Chheat Khmer, USA
be patient, 10:39. 10:29 PM said "Khmer-Yuon". So it is ok
The Thaicong court decision only applies to the Thaicong and not to Cambodian!
The Thaicong court decision is no way of blocking Cambodian right from go ahead to apply Khmer Phrea Vihear temple for UNESCO World Heritage Site application.
Wrong, it is illegal to register stolen lands and temple that belonged to Khmer people in Thailand.
The UN must not be an accomplice to this criminal activity.
If the temple belong to khmer then why the stair leading to the temple was build from the otherside.Temple must belong to khmer in Thailand.
oh my god, i have a feeling thailand knows what to expect, thus, as a last-ditch attempt, they try to show the world that they are disagreeing with the icj and unesco inevitable decision to list preah vihear as world heritage. i think thailand sees and knows that unesco will not yield to their criminal behavior to want to steal cambodia's preah vihear, so, they have to react in advance, hoping that commotion will deter the obvious and the inevitable. sorry, thailand. god bless cambodia.
2:10AM,
How hard can you comprehend this stair steps thing?
The stair or causeway was built like the way it is not because way back your stupid side Thailand or SIAM's land belong to Khmer.
So when we tell you that most temples in Thailand even the models of Angkor wat and Bayon, and Preah vihear was build later in Thailand belong to Khmer, how do you feel???
Like your wife is coming to my house take a bath or shower and I claim that she is my wife how do you feel???? Fool you need to think like an adult!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, but it belongs to khmer in Issan province, not Khmer to the South of that. And you can't take away the Khmer-Issan's temple because they refuse to be ruled by Cambodia. They want independence, and they want to stay rich instead of poor slob. Get the idea?
6:11,
Can she come to my house too after she goes to yours?
7:45 AM
Khmer-Issan is rich? huh?Rich ACH ANH. Are you comparing them to us during Pol Pot Regime?Khmer-Issan's living condition is just like people in country side in Cambodia.I will try to find data to show you,idiot!! I strongly believe that their income is below the average of Siams, clearly say chinese siams.they are pity ,discrimated by you f***ing idiot ,chinese siams. They are just brain-washed.
Khmer-Issan, wake up men!!
Anti-Thai Riot may happen again in Phnom Penh if Thai government don't do any appropriate action to stop their GREEDY thai protectors near Preah Vihear,.
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