Thai cabinet acknowledges court order on temple

BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) -The Thai cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged an injunction granted by the country's Administrative Court suspending its endorsement of the Cambodian government's bid to propose the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site, according to Deputy Prime Minister/Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Mr. Somchai said the cabinet would strictly follow the court's order, and would ask the state's legal arm, the Council of State, to review the government's options.

It is expected that the Council could come up with a solution next week, he said.

The cabinet decision came three days after the Administrative Court handed down a temporary injunction against the June 17 cabinet resolution to endorse a Cambodian map of Preah Vihear temple, as well as the Thai-Cambodian Joint Cmmunique signed by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 18.

The joint communique provided Thailand's support for Cambodia's planned application to register Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site during a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s World Heritage Committee annual meeting in Quebec, Canada starting Wednesday.

The International Court of Justice awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962. Both countries have historically laid claim to the site, which sits on Cambodian soil but which can only be easily accessed from Thailand.

Mr. Somchai said the Thai foreign ministry will inform the Cambodian government, UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee of the Thai Administrative Court's order.

The Thai cabinet did not discuss whether it would appeal the court's order as it prefers to wait for the findings of the Council of State first, he said.

The Thai ambassador to Canada has been asked to attend the World Heritage Committee's meeting.