DPA
Bangkok - Thailand on Tuesday withdrew its support for a Cambodian proposal to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Cabinet decided to backtrack on support for the controversial temple's listing to obey an Administrative Court order made over the weekend, Deputy Prime Somchai Wongsavat said.
It is unclear whether the government change in stance on the listing will derail Cambodia's proposal to list the centuries-old Hindu temple at UNESCO's upcoming meeting in Geneva on July 2-10.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is currently visiting China, called his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to personally inform him of the cabinet decision and to urge him to guarantee the personal safety of Thai nationals living in Cambodia, said the Thai News Agency (TNA).
Preah Vihear, a stunning cliff-top temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, has long been a source of diplomatic spats between the two neighbouring countries.
The temple is perched on a mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border.
Cambodia was awarded Preah Vihear by a World Court ruling in 1962, but when Phnom Penh attempted to list the temple as a UNESCO heritage site last year, Thailand objected on the grounds that the inscription map included land that was still subject to a border dispute.
Cambodia in May rewrote the inscription map to exclude a 4.6 square kilometres of disputed land, winning Thai government approval for the proposal on June 10.
The approval was poorly timed, coinciding with street protests and a censure debate against the Thai government. Participants in the street protests and the censure debate used the Preah Vihear issue to accuse the cabinet of 'selling off' the nation, and furthering the business interests of certain Thai politicians seeking deals in Cambodia.
The Administrative Court issued an injunction on Saturday demanding the the government end its support of the Cambodian proposal. On Tuesday, the Cabinet obeyed the order.
The Cabinet decided to backtrack on support for the controversial temple's listing to obey an Administrative Court order made over the weekend, Deputy Prime Somchai Wongsavat said.
It is unclear whether the government change in stance on the listing will derail Cambodia's proposal to list the centuries-old Hindu temple at UNESCO's upcoming meeting in Geneva on July 2-10.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is currently visiting China, called his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to personally inform him of the cabinet decision and to urge him to guarantee the personal safety of Thai nationals living in Cambodia, said the Thai News Agency (TNA).
Preah Vihear, a stunning cliff-top temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, has long been a source of diplomatic spats between the two neighbouring countries.
The temple is perched on a mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border.
Cambodia was awarded Preah Vihear by a World Court ruling in 1962, but when Phnom Penh attempted to list the temple as a UNESCO heritage site last year, Thailand objected on the grounds that the inscription map included land that was still subject to a border dispute.
Cambodia in May rewrote the inscription map to exclude a 4.6 square kilometres of disputed land, winning Thai government approval for the proposal on June 10.
The approval was poorly timed, coinciding with street protests and a censure debate against the Thai government. Participants in the street protests and the censure debate used the Preah Vihear issue to accuse the cabinet of 'selling off' the nation, and furthering the business interests of certain Thai politicians seeking deals in Cambodia.
The Administrative Court issued an injunction on Saturday demanding the the government end its support of the Cambodian proposal. On Tuesday, the Cabinet obeyed the order.
7 comments:
Yes, and if Ah Khmer-Yuon found in the area, just throw them off the 600 meter cliff.
The Thaicong court decision only applies to the Thaicong and not to Cambodian!
The Thaicong court decision is in no way of blocking Cambodian right from go ahead to apply Khmer Phrea Vihear temple for UNESCO World Heritage Site application.
good! cambodia do not need their approval for our preah vihear affairs. they all can go to hell, all we care! god bless cambodia.
that's one out of 21 members of unesco; that's nothing. god bless cambodia.
Look motherfuckers, Issan province belong to Thailand, and its border doesn't end just a few meters before the end of the cliff, but to the end of the cliff. You got that?
Yeah! You better than to go against the ICJ.
The temple belongs to Cambodian so we can rule the temple.
We may close the border at Preah Vihear forever if thai protectors are still there so tourists only can get there from Cambodia. Look who can get most benefit from our temple!!!
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