UNESCO flag (L), World Heritage Site flag (C) and Cambodian flag (R) flying over Preah Vihear temple on 07 Nov 2008 (Photo: AFP)Original report from Phnom Penh
07 November 2008
A team of Unesco and government officials inaugurated Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site Friday, as Thai and Cambodian troops who have been entrenched in the area were withdrawn.
It was unclear whether the withdrawal from the positions near the 11th-Century temple would be permanent.
The official ceremony included the raising of a Unesco World Heritage sign above the temple entrance and the hoisting of three flags, for Cambodia, Unesco and the World Heritage committee, over its spires.
“Today is a historic day for the Khmer people, and the raising of the flags shows that the boundaries of Preah Vihear temple belong to the world heritage,” said Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers. “The other side cannot damage Preah Vihear temple, and we the Khmer people should protect and guard [it].”
The July 7 inclusion of the temple on the World Heritage protection list at Cambodia’s behest sparked outrage among a number of Thais and led to the deployment of thousands of troops on both sides in an expanding border dispute.
At least three Cambodian and one Thai soldier were killed in violent clashes near the temple last month.
Another round of negotiations between both sides is expected in Siem Reap Monday.
It was unclear whether the withdrawal from the positions near the 11th-Century temple would be permanent.
The official ceremony included the raising of a Unesco World Heritage sign above the temple entrance and the hoisting of three flags, for Cambodia, Unesco and the World Heritage committee, over its spires.
“Today is a historic day for the Khmer people, and the raising of the flags shows that the boundaries of Preah Vihear temple belong to the world heritage,” said Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers. “The other side cannot damage Preah Vihear temple, and we the Khmer people should protect and guard [it].”
The July 7 inclusion of the temple on the World Heritage protection list at Cambodia’s behest sparked outrage among a number of Thais and led to the deployment of thousands of troops on both sides in an expanding border dispute.
At least three Cambodian and one Thai soldier were killed in violent clashes near the temple last month.
Another round of negotiations between both sides is expected in Siem Reap Monday.
9 comments:
THANK YOU KHMER EMPIRE.
They built all TREASURES for new Generation. So we (KHMER) need to protect them.
Khemara.
It's a bit late for UNESCO to act but good.
UNESCO should have hoisted the UN flag the day they endorsed Preah Vihear as World Heritage on July 7, 2008.
UNESCO should have condemned the Thai aggression.
UNESCO must returns the temple back to Khmer People on the mountain in Thailand and send all monkeys from Cambodia to where they came from.
To 9:29 AM, accept the fact and move on. Preah Vihear temple will alway belong to Cambodia. Just be happy that Cambodia does not ask for our provinces back from you thief Thailand.
Who care about Cambodia? We only care about the Khmer People on the mountain, and everything on the mountain belongs to them. Get it?
1:37
You're out of luck. Get it??
Nope, thieves and its corrupted cronies will face justice soon enough.
congratulations, what took so long to do this, already? don't let the siem criminal push us around! unesco should step up its duty. god bless.
UNESCO must not help the thief from Cambodia to commit a crime against Khmer people on the mountain.
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