04 April 2009By Maxime Revol
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
The national UNESCO commission in Cambodia wrote a letter to its international headquarters to draw its attention on the major damage risks on Preah Vihear temple resulting from the recent clash that took place in this zone.
While the UNESCO indicated that several of its experts are on the spot in Preah Vihear these last few days, it also said that the situation is strongly degrading in the region. Following the clash on 02 April, and the ensuing escalation, UNESCO said that it is extremely concerned by the security of the temple. According to its communiqué, Thai soldiers have burnt a section of the market located at the bottom of the staircase leading to the temple. Shootings have damaged this portion of the site, as well as buildings belonging to Preah Vihear National Authority, located a dozen of meters away from the temple.
The Cambodian branch of UNESCO launched an urgent appeal to its headquarters, trying to push it to intervene officially. Such an intervention is deemed decisive and necessary for the safekeeping of this exceptional site.
While the UNESCO indicated that several of its experts are on the spot in Preah Vihear these last few days, it also said that the situation is strongly degrading in the region. Following the clash on 02 April, and the ensuing escalation, UNESCO said that it is extremely concerned by the security of the temple. According to its communiqué, Thai soldiers have burnt a section of the market located at the bottom of the staircase leading to the temple. Shootings have damaged this portion of the site, as well as buildings belonging to Preah Vihear National Authority, located a dozen of meters away from the temple.
The Cambodian branch of UNESCO launched an urgent appeal to its headquarters, trying to push it to intervene officially. Such an intervention is deemed decisive and necessary for the safekeeping of this exceptional site.
3 comments:
Thank God the UNESCO officials were there... or everybody believed Thailand.
UNESCO must make Thailand for the vandal of Prasat Preah Vihear broken Lion (Singha) statue.
There were broken pieces of stones from Prasat Preah Vihear.
Make them pay for their crime!!!!
if the world just stand still ans watch what going now at preah vihear, it's a mistake as preah vihear is the new site of the world heritage. it is wrong for the world to not do anything to stop the siem thieves to continue to violate the international treaty of 1907 that was in place already. it is not right for siem to claim something that was officially and internationally recognized since 1907 because without respect for this very important 1907 international treaty, it is like the present boundary lines of cambodia don't exist at all. the problem is thailand and their army continue to use their own unilateral maps to claim this area and more while ignoring the international treaty of 1907 that spelled out the agreement. and watershed was use as demarcation, especially at the dangrak mountain range, however there were some exception to the rule like the are of cambodia's sacred preah vihear temple which evidently was built by our khmer ancestors of from the empire of angkor in siem reap. to ignore this important clue is tantamount to a failed world community who may choose not to do anything about it. that is not right, to say the least! god bless cambodia.
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