Wednesday, October 28, 2009

All in the "Hor" family: A Baby Hor will sit at the UN World Heritage Committee

Second Thai candidate makes it to UN Heritage panel

October 28, 2009
The Nation

Somsuda Leeyavanich, deputy permanent secretary for Culture Ministry, has been chosen to represent Thailand at the 12member World Heritage Committee. She will be joining other new members from Switzerland, Cambodia, South Africa, France, Ethiopia, Mexico, Estonia, Iraq and Mali.

Twentynine countries had put forward names for the new panel, which will be replacing the current one later this year, and will be in office until 2013.

According to Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch, the UN World Heritage agency reportedly had problems deciding on the new panel because both Thailand and Cambodia - currently in a dispute over the Preah Vihear temple - had put forward candidates.

Eventually, though, the UN agency decided to select candidates from both countries as a way to help solve the conflicts. The son of Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong will represent Cambodia.

Somsuda is the second Thai candidate selected to the UN panel, following Adul Wichiencharoen who had served in the panel for two terms.

"From now on, Thailand will play a bigger role in the world stage. More importantly, Somsuda's selection will help push Thai sites to be included in the UN World Heritage listing," Teera said yesterday.

Somsuda will be proposing historical sites to the UN, including the Sriwichai Chaiya - Nakhon Si Thammarat - Sating Phra - Yarang cultural route, Kedah of Malaysia, as well as the Lanna culture.

Initial reports mentioned that the new panel will check out Thai heritage sites in March. It might also visit Preah Vihear.

Thailand is hoping to host the 2011 UN World Heritage Committee meeting, once the summit next year has been hosted by Brazil.

Somsuda, meanwhile, said that she was glad she had been selected and thanked everyone for supporting her. "I will be neutral and work for the benefit of all countries. Sites in many countries have not yet been included in the UN list and I will push for them to be made part of the list," she said.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do ma ah Ho shoud go to jail!

Anonymous said...

While others are unemployed, how many positions should this one guy hold?

Anonymous said...

KI MEDIA TEAM IS NOT PROFESSIONAL. YOU SHOULD DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE PUBLISHING THIS INFORMATION. CAMBODIA IS REPRESENTED BY A WELL-KNOWN ARCHITECT, ROS BORAT. HE WAS TRAINED AT L'ECOLE CHAILLOT IN PARIS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT L'ECOLE CHAILLOT IS, PLS GO TO GOOGLE.

Anonymous said...

shut up, already! wake up and see the world! what planet are you from, really!

Anonymous said...

This kind of position can't be filled by non-specialized person regardless who they are because you need to talk smart and intelligently with other international professors. Hor Nam Hong would have done so if his son is knwledgeable; maybe not. Positions that usually threat Khmers are filled by their sons or relatives. Thanks to international communities.

Anonymous said...

That so sad ay when there are many talented young cambodian out there don't have the oppotunity to rise.

Anonymous said...

In Korea, we see Kim Il Sung handed his power to his son Kim Jong Ill.

In Cambodia, Priminister Hun Sen will hand his power to his son Hun Manet.

I guess it's a tradition to keep it all in the family!!!