A CMAC deminer rests at Preah Vihear temple on November 7. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)Thursday, 20 November 2008
Written by Brendan Brady and Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post
Following a flag-raising ceremony on November 7, Thailand seems likely to backtrack on previous support for Cambodia's claim to Preah Vihear
CAMBODIA'S flag-raising ceremony at Preah Vihear temple last week may have sparked a new series of diplomatic hostilities with its neighbour, as there is movement in the Thai government to backtrack on its previous support for Cambodia's right to lay claim to the ancient temple, according to Thai media.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry announced Tuesday that it would ask the Cabinet to retract the original three resolutions from May and June giving Cambodia permission to unilaterally seek the listing of Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage site, according to reports in the English-language daily The Nation.
But Koy Kuong, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post that Unesco's approval of the listing could not be amended.
He attributed the Thai Foreign Ministry's reported plans to "political infighting", and said they would not substantially damage negotiations over border demarcation.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that "Unesco is not involved in this kind of politicking".
"Cambodia's inscription is under international protection" and cannot be reversed, he added.
He said Cambodia's internationally-recognised ownership of the temple was reaffirmed by the November 7 ceremony at which its officials raised the national and Unesco flags on its grounds - a move that prompted Thailand to lodge an official complaint with Cambodia, claiming parts of the ceremony took place on Thai soil.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, said the prolonged civil unrest in Bangkok has significantly hindered the Thai government's ability to advance consistent policies - a problem, he said, that will hurt its image as a reliable negotiator.
"The new constitution has been a major roadblock to the Thai government when trying to move forward in negotiations since it has created many new terms and conditions."
Most relevant to the border dispute, it requires that any treaty with a foreign government be approved by parliament, he said, adding that its struggles in adjusting to new rules of conduct would not excuse the Thai government from reneging on previously held agreements.
"When a country walks out of a treaty, its image is going to be hurt," he said.
Khem Sophoan, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said Thai claims that Cambodia had established new land mine fields along the shared border were unfounded.
Cambodia will address the claims during meetings beginning Monday in Geneva with the UN and international organisations involved in de-mining, according to Heng Ratana, deputy director general of CMAC, who will attend the talks.
CAMBODIA'S flag-raising ceremony at Preah Vihear temple last week may have sparked a new series of diplomatic hostilities with its neighbour, as there is movement in the Thai government to backtrack on its previous support for Cambodia's right to lay claim to the ancient temple, according to Thai media.
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry announced Tuesday that it would ask the Cabinet to retract the original three resolutions from May and June giving Cambodia permission to unilaterally seek the listing of Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage site, according to reports in the English-language daily The Nation.
But Koy Kuong, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post that Unesco's approval of the listing could not be amended.
He attributed the Thai Foreign Ministry's reported plans to "political infighting", and said they would not substantially damage negotiations over border demarcation.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that "Unesco is not involved in this kind of politicking".
"Cambodia's inscription is under international protection" and cannot be reversed, he added.
He said Cambodia's internationally-recognised ownership of the temple was reaffirmed by the November 7 ceremony at which its officials raised the national and Unesco flags on its grounds - a move that prompted Thailand to lodge an official complaint with Cambodia, claiming parts of the ceremony took place on Thai soil.
UNESCO is not involved in this kind of politicking.The Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry said it was preparing a response to be released "as soon as possible".
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, said the prolonged civil unrest in Bangkok has significantly hindered the Thai government's ability to advance consistent policies - a problem, he said, that will hurt its image as a reliable negotiator.
"The new constitution has been a major roadblock to the Thai government when trying to move forward in negotiations since it has created many new terms and conditions."
Most relevant to the border dispute, it requires that any treaty with a foreign government be approved by parliament, he said, adding that its struggles in adjusting to new rules of conduct would not excuse the Thai government from reneging on previously held agreements.
"When a country walks out of a treaty, its image is going to be hurt," he said.
Khem Sophoan, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said Thai claims that Cambodia had established new land mine fields along the shared border were unfounded.
Cambodia will address the claims during meetings beginning Monday in Geneva with the UN and international organisations involved in de-mining, according to Heng Ratana, deputy director general of CMAC, who will attend the talks.
5 comments:
I think that khmer needs 50 billion Euroes to restore the Country.
Sihanouk has nothing,what to do?
..................................
By N. Sihanouk
(Beijing, PRC, 12 October 2008)
After crazily pretending that our truly Khmer temples of Preah Vihear, Ta Moan, Ta Krabey, which are located well within the border of the Kingdom of Cambodia, “belonged to Thailand” –sic!–
and after they were being chased out from our sacred Prasats [temples] by the heroic officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of Samdech Akka Decho Hun Sen’s RCAF, a band of Thai oddballs has nothing better to do than returning to Bangkok – the pretty and prestigious capital of their country – where they (this band of Thai oddballs) had the pretention of “teaching about true Democracy” –sic!–.
Now, this so-called “true Democracy” consisted of turning peace and concord into a “a small civil war” where a few people died and several hundreds of people were injured (seriously and less seriously), of trying to cause the fall of the legal Prime Minister and chasing away the MPs (elected by the People) out of the Parliament, and granting themselves dictatorial “power”!!!
All TV channels in the world (TV5 Monde, CNN, etc…) provided “live” coverage [of these actions]! Bravo to the legal Thai order forces which, currently, succeeded in re-establishing order in Bangkok!
(Signed) N. Sihanouk
11:34PM His Majesty time is passed. He did many wonderful things for our Country. He will rest in peace when his time comes.
For The Siem's King he'll died in pain and sorrow because all billion of his money will be burried with him. His people will suffer for the rest of Siem generations. 8.5 millions is already burried with his sister. PAD will make Bangkock into a men made holes(siem kateuy) then PAD will protract it from their butts.
Later Thai's King Thaksin will be rules and many of PAD will burried their face in their men made holes.
Prey Nokor rolum (fell), Phnom Penh roley (destroyed), Bangkock kchat kchay (is falling apart), sabye Angkor Wat.
cambodia and unesco is doing the right thing. please don't let bad thai warring politician influent or interfere with unesco's task and cambodia's rights as a nation to safeguard our land territories in accordance with the international law that government international boundaries all over the world. god bless cambodia.
glad unesco stands firm on its own policy and not let the emotional thailand interfere with its tasks. may god help to protect and bless cambodia forever.
FUCK THAT ALL TEMPLES SCATTERD AROUND TAHI.LAOS.BURMA.CAMBODIA.VIETNAM...
BELONG TO THE KHMER EMPIRE.......AND IF YOU DONT KNOW...YO ASSS BETTER ASK SOME BODY....LONG LIVE THE KINGDOM OF SROK KHMER
Post a Comment