Temple management committee could result in Thailand losing sovereignty over heritage site
Monday July 21, 2008
MR Pridiyathorn
Bangkok Post
The government should mobilise state agencies to deal with the Preah Vihear issue, and appoint a national committee to steer the effort, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula suggests in an open letter to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
The national committee, chaired by a deputy prime minister, needs to coordinate efforts from state agencies in explaining to the world community loopholes in the process leading to the decision by the World Heritage Committee to list Preah Vihear temple, he says in the letter.
The listing was based on debatable information on the temple's history.
The Cambodian government had distorted the fact that significant parts of the Preah Vihear temple site were in Thai territory, said MR Pridiyathorn, a former Bank of Thailand governor, and ex-finance minister.
A diplomatic campaign should be launched to tell the world community that Thailand was willing to cooperate with the Preah Vihear listing, but the listing must be properly carried out and meet all the criteria for World Heritage sites.
To carry out such a diplomatic campaign, agencies should work in the same direction and with the same strategy.
A national committee must be set up to direct agencies' efforts. Internationally recognised experts including historians, archaeologists and civil servants well-versed in the issue should be invited to work with the committee, he said.
The deputy prime minister appointed to chair the committee should be independent from political groups as the public could ask questions if the chairman has any conflict of interest on the issue.
"Mr Prime Minister, I write this letter to point out information that some might have overlooked.
"Many have tried to point a finger at those causing Thailand to make mistakes on this issue. But I'm afraid we might forget our real opponents abroad. They are also threatening opponents, who are not easy to deal with.
"So I've tried to find a way to deal with them and propose it for your consideration. I hope you won't overlook this important national issue."
The fact that the WHC had now listed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site should not be a problem for Thailand as Cambodia's latest map of the temple proposed to the WHC did not include area in the disputed territory.
The listing, which Thailand opposed, had not affected this country's territory.
The government should, however, be wary of Item 14 in the WHC's Preah Vihear listing ruling. It says the WHC "requests the State Party of Cambodia, in collaboration with Unesco [the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation], 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 statement seemed harmless. However, the phrase "the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the property in conformity with international conservation standards" had wide ramifications.
It gave an international committee, comprising representatives from Cambodia, Thailand and seven other nations authority to manage the surrounding area of the ancient Preah Vihear temple, including adjacent architecture on Thai soil.
The international conservation standard required all parts of a World Heritage site and its surroundings to be conserved and restored to fit its heritage status.
The letter quotes former chairman of the National Committee for Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Adul Wichiencharoen, as saying Item 14 of the WHC's ruling created an opportunity for the international committee to supervise conservation areas at the ancient temple.
The statement in Item 14 was unprecedented as the WHC had not before opted to use an international panel in the protection or the creation of a conserved or development area of a World Heritage site, Mr Adul was quoted as saying.
The fact that the WHC allowed Cambodia to invite representatives from seven other nations to join the committee was a way to silence representatives from Thailand when any disagreement arose.
Whenever the Thai government disagreed with any idea proposed to the committee, Cambodia's partners from the seven countries could simply unite to oppose its stance.
Thailand would then have no chance to do anything on its own territory due to pressure from the majority on the international committee. It would be equivalent to losing the country's sovereignty over the disputed area, said Mr Adul.
He suggested the conserved and development area should be managed by a joint panel between Thailand and Cambodia only.
Archaeologist and anthropologist Srisakra Vallibhotama had suggested the government not cooperate with the WHC's plan to appoint the international committee to supervise Preah Vihear temple's protection, according to the letter.
Mr Srisakra said the government's participation on the committee would be tantamount to the country's acknowledgement of the temple's listing and eventually the country could lose 4.6 square kilometres of overlapping territory.
However, the government could not do what Mr Srisakra suggested, MR Pridiyathorn wrote, because Thailand has ratified the Unesco Convention concerning the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. The government was obliged to cooperate in the process to manage and protect heritage sites listed by the WHC.
If Thailand did not cooperate, Thailand might have to end its membership in Unesco's World Cultural and Natural Heritage programme.
If Thailand decided not to join the international committee for the management of Preah Vihear temple and failed to properly explain its decision to other countries, those who did not know the issue might think Thailand irrationally refused to cooperate because it could not co-host the listing of Preah Vihear temple.
Such a misunderstanding could damage the country's image in the world community.
The national committee was needed to make sure the world community understands Thailand's stance on Preah Vihear and the history of Preah Vihear temple correctly, he said.
Monday July 21, 2008
MR Pridiyathorn
Bangkok Post
The government should mobilise state agencies to deal with the Preah Vihear issue, and appoint a national committee to steer the effort, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula suggests in an open letter to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
The national committee, chaired by a deputy prime minister, needs to coordinate efforts from state agencies in explaining to the world community loopholes in the process leading to the decision by the World Heritage Committee to list Preah Vihear temple, he says in the letter.
The listing was based on debatable information on the temple's history.
The Cambodian government had distorted the fact that significant parts of the Preah Vihear temple site were in Thai territory, said MR Pridiyathorn, a former Bank of Thailand governor, and ex-finance minister.
A diplomatic campaign should be launched to tell the world community that Thailand was willing to cooperate with the Preah Vihear listing, but the listing must be properly carried out and meet all the criteria for World Heritage sites.
To carry out such a diplomatic campaign, agencies should work in the same direction and with the same strategy.
A national committee must be set up to direct agencies' efforts. Internationally recognised experts including historians, archaeologists and civil servants well-versed in the issue should be invited to work with the committee, he said.
The deputy prime minister appointed to chair the committee should be independent from political groups as the public could ask questions if the chairman has any conflict of interest on the issue.
"Mr Prime Minister, I write this letter to point out information that some might have overlooked.
"Many have tried to point a finger at those causing Thailand to make mistakes on this issue. But I'm afraid we might forget our real opponents abroad. They are also threatening opponents, who are not easy to deal with.
"So I've tried to find a way to deal with them and propose it for your consideration. I hope you won't overlook this important national issue."
The fact that the WHC had now listed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site should not be a problem for Thailand as Cambodia's latest map of the temple proposed to the WHC did not include area in the disputed territory.
The listing, which Thailand opposed, had not affected this country's territory.
The government should, however, be wary of Item 14 in the WHC's Preah Vihear listing ruling. It says the WHC "requests the State Party of Cambodia, in collaboration with Unesco [the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation], 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 statement seemed harmless. However, the phrase "the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the property in conformity with international conservation standards" had wide ramifications.
It gave an international committee, comprising representatives from Cambodia, Thailand and seven other nations authority to manage the surrounding area of the ancient Preah Vihear temple, including adjacent architecture on Thai soil.
The international conservation standard required all parts of a World Heritage site and its surroundings to be conserved and restored to fit its heritage status.
The letter quotes former chairman of the National Committee for Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Adul Wichiencharoen, as saying Item 14 of the WHC's ruling created an opportunity for the international committee to supervise conservation areas at the ancient temple.
The statement in Item 14 was unprecedented as the WHC had not before opted to use an international panel in the protection or the creation of a conserved or development area of a World Heritage site, Mr Adul was quoted as saying.
The fact that the WHC allowed Cambodia to invite representatives from seven other nations to join the committee was a way to silence representatives from Thailand when any disagreement arose.
Whenever the Thai government disagreed with any idea proposed to the committee, Cambodia's partners from the seven countries could simply unite to oppose its stance.
Thailand would then have no chance to do anything on its own territory due to pressure from the majority on the international committee. It would be equivalent to losing the country's sovereignty over the disputed area, said Mr Adul.
He suggested the conserved and development area should be managed by a joint panel between Thailand and Cambodia only.
Archaeologist and anthropologist Srisakra Vallibhotama had suggested the government not cooperate with the WHC's plan to appoint the international committee to supervise Preah Vihear temple's protection, according to the letter.
Mr Srisakra said the government's participation on the committee would be tantamount to the country's acknowledgement of the temple's listing and eventually the country could lose 4.6 square kilometres of overlapping territory.
However, the government could not do what Mr Srisakra suggested, MR Pridiyathorn wrote, because Thailand has ratified the Unesco Convention concerning the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. The government was obliged to cooperate in the process to manage and protect heritage sites listed by the WHC.
If Thailand did not cooperate, Thailand might have to end its membership in Unesco's World Cultural and Natural Heritage programme.
If Thailand decided not to join the international committee for the management of Preah Vihear temple and failed to properly explain its decision to other countries, those who did not know the issue might think Thailand irrationally refused to cooperate because it could not co-host the listing of Preah Vihear temple.
Such a misunderstanding could damage the country's image in the world community.
The national committee was needed to make sure the world community understands Thailand's stance on Preah Vihear and the history of Preah Vihear temple correctly, he said.
17 comments:
Like one of the blogger said, Ah Siem is buying time to legitimize their invasion.
The Hun Sen government should not delay, he should call the UN to intervene so they cannot succeed.
The is no overlaping area as claimed by Thailand for years according to ICJ ruled in 1962.
There is no Franco crap treaty without any French soldiers for decades. Get the fuck out of Issan Province you Hallucinogenics monkeys!
Now we see the true side of Thais, nothing but a theif. Once a thief will alway be a thief. You faggot thai!
How can the Thai be a Thief? They are not the one who climb the mountain to invade Issan Province. They have lived there for centuries. They have everything there: electricity, schools, markets, clinics. On the other hand Cambodia doesn't got shit but the dumb Franco treaty with out the single French. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?
Ee kway 11:07am,11:36am
go sing some more morlam and get your dumb and toi dum out off this KI.you stinky POS SOB thai ass kisser.
The Siam government is trying to invalidate the 1907 Treaty.
Sorry but they cannot.
All British and French former colonies border are establish by them.
Ex. Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand...
And 1907 Treaty has even more weight it has the Siam king signature and seal on it. Don't even dream about invalidating this.
Hi stupid 11:07am & 11:36am,
Are you living in dreams & lying yourself?
The history of Thailand begins with the migration of the Thais from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms ruled the region. The Thais established their own states starting with Sukhothai and then Ayutthaya kingdom.Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th - 14th century, various Buddhist Tai Kingdoms of Sukhothai, Lanna and Lan chang were on the ascendancy. However, a century later, Sukhothai's power was overshadowed by the new kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century.
Can you say anything related to this? I know your thief people will say Khmer & Thai are the same people sharing the same land & culture...ect even taking parts in building temples, right?
How to settle Preah Vihear Dispute ?
No Problem with Preah Vihear issue-- we will win-win
Because-
1. We have much more Army Generals than Thailand has( we have a lot of Generals from 1 stars to 4 Top Gold stars
2. We have more Excellencies than Thailand has
3. We have more Samdachs, Oknha, Bandits (Phd.), Prime ministers (in 1995), Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, provincial Governors.... that Thailand has/ or than other counties world wide...
4. We have a lot of Military equipment such as Military trucks which are used to Transport illegal Loggings and Military Vehicles used countrywide to anywhere such as to restaurants and Bars...... We have a lot of Guns/pistols which are used every day in the cities and county sides to fire on people in ladies affairs disputes.
5. We have much more Luxury Cars-Lexus Landcruisers with Army & Police Plate Numbers that represent Our Top Generals and Excellency countrywide.....
6. The best way to settle such a problem is to send some hundreds of Cambodian Generals to the Disputed Borders.....Thais will be afraid of our numerous Multi-Generals which increase from day to day.
7. Send the so-called Development Army (the main Army troop playing Roles in Land dispute in Kampong Speu to Preah Vihear... they have experiences in illegally Occupying people's Land ... now let them to occupy our Preah Vihear.
8. But is the National Embarrassment that our Army (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) have used a lot of forces to fight with Local unarmed-Cambodians in Land grabbling... so our Armed forces (Army, Police Economy Police, and military Police-PM) may be too weakened now...
9. It is a National Embarrassment that most of our Generals just attack in the Cities and with Local Cambodians in Land disputes, small Disputes in Night Clubs, Traffic Accidents, Karaoke and any unnecessary Fire shots.
Note: when I saw the Cambodians army in Dispute with Thai Army ..It reminds me about the Royal Cambodian Army disputing with Unarmed People in Land Disputes in Cambodia; They can protect their land But for Preah Vihear how will it be going on....?
"Thai uses the same Trick as Cambodia uses in Land dispute with Local Khmer People-- as of when the empowered men deploy army to illegally occupy people's land... ".
From Excellency Phd. Bandit, General 7 Diamond Stars, Oknha Achar Knoy
Just want to ask Bangkok Post...Who is this "Pridiyathorn"? Can he/she prove his statement that "significant parts of the Preah Vihear temple site were in Thai territory". Prove it here, little tricky siam!!! or else, close your smelly mouth...
So far I have not seen any these Siames reponses when we ask. Where are they now?
Bravo Khmer combaters! South Muslim, Myanma & Laos, let's united to smack down this arrogant nation and get back our land.
Love live Khmer, South Muslim, Myanma & Laos!
My brother and sister around the world:
I would like to suggest to all KHMER around the world to BOYCOTT Made in Thailand products, materials especially everyday's commodities that are made or produced in Thailand. If we can be together on this matter, we will partly win this war... The Siam will turn to fight each other once they start to lose their individual benefits... Let's use this strategy to help fight this war with our soldiers along Khmer Thai border.
A friendly reminder to all thai readers:
if you don't know that issan people has in their body, khmer blood, you better wait to see khmer issan take back the khmer empire. it won't be long... Thailand will be just like salt in the water... it is only the curse from buddha... it is predicted that thailand will be disappear from the world map... you wait and see... it won't be long... it will be within your lifetime.
Bravo...all khmer comes together as one!
If you are real Khmer blood, you must stand for Khmer mother land. not A-siam Greedy nation. Animal king, your people are snake, don't enven dream about take over the tempple.
If you are real Khmer blood, you must stand for Khmer mother land. not A-siam Greedy nation. Animal king, your people are snake, don't enven dream about take over the tempple.
thailand need to taste bad medicine from the UN because they are violating the 1907 treaty , the icj verdict, cambodia's sovereignty, and the international law, etc... they are in deep kimchee already when cambodia uses the law to deal with them. thailand cannot win with cambodia! so far, no UN official have said anything yet. wait until they started to say something to thailand about their violation of the international treaty of 1907, their contempt of court of icj, their violation of cambodia's sovereignty, their violation of the international law, etc... thailand is in for real trouble with the world's governing body, the UN, unesco, icj, etc... they are in deep ka ka or deep kimchee!!!!
thailand violated the treaty of 1907 and they lost the icj verdict; what else is new? nothing, if you ask me. cambodia should go straight to the UN and icj for them to deal with thailand directly. this is really is thailand's problem, not cambodia, they just violated cambodia's rights and sovereignty by disputing the icj verdict by continue to violate the treaty of 1907 and the international law. thailand really is a sore loser in all of this!
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