Saturday, July 31, 2010

[Thai] FM Kasit says no country wins or loses over delayed decision on temple

PHUKET, July 31 (MCOT online news) -- Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said Saturday that the decision by the UN cultural agency to postpone reviewing Cambodia’s development plan for the area adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple by one year to 2011 did not represent either Thailand or Cambodia winning or losing.

Mr Kasit responded to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An’s earlier remarks that Cambodia achieved its goal when UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission (WHC) agreed Thursday at its meeting in Brazil to consider its management plan for the Phra Vihear temple, listed as a World Heritage site.

But the WHC deferred its discussion on the issue to its meeting in Bahrain next year.

“Neither country wins on the issue. What he [Sok An] said Cambodia had won was [not correct]," Mr Kasit said, explaining that he did not understand why Mr Sok An, who led the Cambodian delegation to the Brasilia committee meeting, made such an announcement.

The WHC decided to defer its consideration of the matter for another year to enable the neighbouring countries to settle their differences regarding the disputed territory around Preah Vihear first, he said.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia. For Thailand the issue worsened on July 7, 2008, when Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval.

Vasin Teeravechyan, an adviser to the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and also chairman of the Thai side on the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said there has been no progress since the commission's last meeting because of differences in referring to the historic temple, the Cambodia and the United Nations referring to it in Cambodian, while the Thais wish to refer to it in Thai.

The Thais call the 11th century temple as ‘Phra Viharn’ while the Cambodians call it ‘Preah Vihear.’

The differences between Cambodia and Thailand in describing the temple is still under consideration by Parliament, said Mr Vasin. The JBC meeting could resume once a settlement on the name is reached.

Regarding the WHC decision to consider Cambodia’s management plan for the temple environs for another year, Mr Vasin said the decision would not have any effect -- positive or negative -- on the border demarcation as border talks are difficult by nature, but the pressure is rather from “within Thailand as people have different views on Preah Vihear temple.”

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

this tone of voice by siem's FM kasit hinted that siem really want to co-manage cambodia's preah vihear temple world heritage site. i think it is up to cambodia to choose who we want to co-manage our temple's world heritage site without siem force it in our mouths, really! i suggest siem stop harrassing and bullying cambodia and instead they should work harder to win friends, mend fences, respect the international law and internation border treaty of 1907, etc, etc, so cambodia can reconsider any future siem involvement in the care of our temple's world heritage site. if siem continue to be stupid like they are doing right now, forget it, cambodia don't need siem's involvement, really! siem should focus on giving economic assistance to cambodia, instead of severe diplomatic ties, cut economic aid, etc to my country cambodia. siem can use this opportunity to establish good neighborly partners with cambodia instead of fostering antagonist trait with my country, then we can accept the past was the past and move on into the future in the name of cooperation, peace, friendship, etc. but siem need to show that and work harder to win cambodia's trust and friendship, etc... you better believe it! god bless my country cambodia.

Anonymous said...

If preah vihear temple plans turn out to be jointly management and jointly development, it's usless, worthless to win preah vihear temple? why UNESCO bother to give temple back to cambodia? why don't joint from the first place instead?

Anonymous said...

PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE awarded to cambodia and cambodia should do whatever they wanted: management plans, development plans etc...why Thailand want to be co-owner???? Thailand also want Preah vihear temple jointly listed???? UNESCO people should not allow Thailand mocking at them with their childish games..?

Keo Rith said...

I found this on UNESCO website: http://www.34whc.brasilia2010.org.br/?p=2237&lang=en

I call on the Khmer to voice their complaints against this author as it was written that, i quoted, "The property is a Hindu temple from the 11th century, located in the border between the two countries". Preah Vihear is in fact located within Cambodian territory and sovereignty according to The Hague Judgment. Why they ignore this fact? Please read it:

Cambodia and Thailand reached an agreement during the 34th Session of the Historical Heritage
“World Heritage achieved a great victory today. And the largest contribution to it was Brazilian.” The words are from Juca Ferreira, Brazilian Minister of Culture and President of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture), and were spoken after the result of today’s Plenary Session of the Committee’s 34th Session, during which Cambodia and Thailand were in dispute over the transboundary region where the Temple of Preah Vihear is located.

The two nations were not speaking to each other, and several conflicting claims were coming from both sides. According to Chairman Juca Ferreira, the nations will have a year to negotiate and come to an agreement. “We have managed, for the first time, to allow the two States Parties to get together without any other presence, and this was fundamental for a dialogue to finally be established”, Mr. Ferreira explained. Yesterday, the representatives from both sides shook hands for the first time. “We have dedicated intense efforts to the strengthening of UNESCO and to the fostering of an environment of mutual understanding. The fact that this reunion is taking place in Brazil is very important to us”, he highlighted.

During the announcement of the agreement, at the plenary room of the Session of the Committee, the Thai Delegation thanked Juca Ferreira and the UNESCO Ambassador in Brazil, Carlos Souza Gomes, for understanding how delicate the matter really is. They also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity both countries had to carefully analyze the working document up until the moment at which it was possible for the sides to come to a solution considered agreeable for both. The Cambodian Delegation also thanked all actors involved, and stated that the negotiations were a testimony to the incredibly relevant role played by the World Heritage Committee.

The Temple of Preah Vihear

The property is a Hindu temple from the 11th century, located in the border between the two countries. In July 7, 2008, it was declared a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO during its Quebec Session. The place has had its Cambodian sovereignty disputed during the last 40 years, and, in October 2008, there was an armed conflict between the two nations over the matter.

SPEECH

“I would like to start congratulating the States Parties Cambodia and Thailand for the willingness displayed by both sides to establish dialog and reach an understanding which resulted in the Draft Decision that will be submitted to the plenary for appreciation.

I am delighted to inform that as Chairman I have received both the Delegations, and that I have always advocated for a solution that could be negotiated by both sides and for which a mutually acceptable solution could be pursued.

The text of the Draft Decision about to be presented is the result of such negotiations, which I had the honor and the privilege to conduct.

I therefore invite all members of this Committee to support the aforementioned text without debate, without appeals and without manifestations after its adoption.

Thank you very much.”

Anonymous said...

by analyzing siem's head, i think they think they can run cambodia better. of course, it is a "looking down" on cambodia syndrome of siem, perhaps has a link to the way their schools are teaching their history and brainwashed them from childhood onward. you know, the truth, siem's has what scientist in the social sciences department called "superior syndrome". they seemed to think cambodia is inferior, and they are superior, better, etc... no wonder we called them thieves, bully, ignorant, enemies, etc... of course, if it's up to siem, they would control and take over cambodia completely. but again, there are international law, the UN body, the world's diplomatic community, etc, that they have to watch out for because of course, this is not the dark ages era. siem does take advantage of cambodia big time while cambodia was going through civil war, turmoil, etc... bad karma will catch up with siem country soon because somebody said "nothing can last forever", etc... maybe siem should go back to be khmer slaves before they became independent for the khmer after the decline of angkor civilization empire. we all know from study study that slave people are usually work harder to protect their rights, etc... maybe that trait cause siem to fight khmer all the time so they won't become slaves again like during angkor era. but how can they distort history. we say let the historians or the experts make this judgment.

Anonymous said...

of course, it was hindu influence that khmer angkor built their temple from, however, the question should be who built them? well my great khmer ancestors built them as angkor civilization was founded by khmer king jayavarman II in 802. so, make sure your give proper credit to khmer ancestors who built these great temple, not to confuse readers or students from the hindu temple in india. so, that why we request all the media in the world to stop calling it just "hindu temple" but to call it khmer built hindu temple. but again, we already knew it's hindu temple, but why keep repeating it. silly! why not just call it by their name e.g. preah vihear temple, angkor wat temple, bayon temple, banteay chhmar temple, etc, instead of just silly "hindu temple" to confuse people who knows nothing about cambodia to think hindu temples are located in india, not cambodia. see my point!

Anonymous said...

how about this: cambodia reserves the rights to hire any country for co-management of our world heritage site, and it's won't necessarily be siem we would choose, etc..., you know! yes, we are the host country and we reserve the rights to hire whoever we see as fit to co-manage our temple world heritage site anywhere in our country, really!

Anonymous said...

cambodia should divorce siem permanently! no marriage with siem, ok!

Anonymous said...

Sok An said from Bresilia that UNESCO accepted our management plan in principle and there is no need to vote on it again. That Cambodia and Thailand will go over the details in the next year meeting. Abbhisit and especially the hysterical Thai PAD wanted Thai army to evict Khmer troop and people from Preah Vihear. Sic.

Anonymous said...

siem gov't right now is so ineffective, if you ask me! the way they bend over and backward to their siem pad thugs is ruining their international creditial in leadership, human rights, democracy, etc... to cambodia, they are evil and nothing good for cambodia, really! they are always biased with cambodia from the start, no wonder cambodia hated them and don't need or want them with anything to do our temple's world heritage site, etc...!

Anonymous said...

Thai baboon alip alop flip flop as usual.

Anonymous said...

Thai want to change preah vihear to phra viharn, can we change bangkok to bang-cock?

Anonymous said...

Abhishit Vejjajiva try to gain his supports, so he could stay longer in the office! Thailand will die like rats if they send troops inside the 4.6km of lands...i think Abhishit just bullshit around that's all, i don't think Abhishit Vejjajiva want more Thais people to die...?? Thais people die almost everyday in Yala(The Southern) Thais people were very upset with Abhishit Govts today!! they want new election...but Abhishit very stubborn guy, he used military power to stay in the power..!

Anonymous said...

That's how Thailand lost its thief face at the ICJ because of its twisting story.

Anonymous said...

The reported said, Mr. Sok An submited the plans to the wrong committee? what's ta hell wrong with Sok An? i don't believed that reporter....

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...Why did Thais say,{Prah Viharn instead of Preah Vihear}.The letter R become letter N such as words( Khmer says Ahar means food,Thai says Aharn;Khmer say pror har means kill, Thai say prah harn and so on.These two words are the same meaning,but different saying.We Knew pretty well that Preah Vihear was belong to Khmer since 1962 international court.We won the international court.The countries around us are greedy.The one thing we can do are standing up against them. United we stand like Israel .We can survive as Khmer forever.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia don't know what Thailand talking about? where 4.6km? Thailand drew a fake map"thief-map" by themselves in-order to steal khmer lands...

Anonymous said...

It is the duty of the Khmer government to call on the international press to stop being mislead by Thai media namely the 'Bangcock Post' and The 'Nation' to call Preah Vihear temple as a Hindu temple. Yes it was built by Khmer Kings and people to worship the Hindu god, but by no mean it was built by Indian people. The Thai think they will get the upper hand by Calling it a Hindu temple instead of Khmer built temple.

It should however be known as:

Khmer Temple or Preah Vihear Temple.

Anonymous said...

It is very ridiculous for the Thais government to demand Khmer to change our temple name Preah Vihear to “Pra Viharn” in order for them to agree normalize border demarcation with us. Some idiot groups in Bangcock stated that Preah Vihear is belong to Thailand and Khmer steal the temple from them. This is very serious thing as we are looking at Thais society. They brainwashed their people to make them confuse of their own history. They teach their students that khmer steal their lands instead of the other way around. Most thais people don’t know that most of their territories used to belong to Khmer. I was shocked to know that most of Thais educators inside and outside Thailand don’t know their own history or history of Southeast Asia region. Every history books around the world mentioned about khmer empire and stated that majority Thais territory used to belong to Khmer. I would like any Thais educator to check Southeast Asia history books from the Library of Congress and Every University Libraries around the world to find out the actual truth about thais history and history of the Southeast Asia Countries.
I can’t believed that most current Thais leaders are so stupid and ignorant about almost everything. They killed their own people in Bangcock just to keep the powers for their own few monkeys. Oh well, this current government was legitimately elected by thais people. All these clowns/monkeys that ran thais government right now are just a bunch of powers hungers and crazy monkeys running around and try to steal people lands and bully their nieghbors.

Anonymous said...

Welldone !! Our government. This is the unignorable lesson to Cambodia.

Khmere should learn that being ill-behaviored to claim our land, they will never be possesed it forever and they shouldn't act like this again.

khom heritage shouldn't belong to only one selfish nation.

Best wishes,

Anonymous said...

Hello sir
As always, the politicians campaign is confuse to their peoples to get more power even they stealing the property, culture, costum of the neighbour country .By law and justice .They cannot do that. But because they have more money, edudated people, Big land, more population, more businesses from the outside world (Turn to blind eyes due to their protection for their business specially with the super power country) There are a lot more of Khmer temples deep in Thailand (http://www.gorupa.com/).if we are week as in the past, we lost up to kg Chhnang in the past (Killing field period), We knew that where they originated came from. If we let steal Preah vihear again (Against Geneva court), they will find another place by their rob and stealing tactic... We lost koh tral, Khmer krom, Khmer surin, sisaket bureirum,chantabun .......already. In our angkoran period, our Cambodian was very smart to protect and build our country. As we are Khmer nation, we must stand up altogether it does not matter where you are. Otherwise our Country, children, is going to be indigenous poele(Slave forever).

Long live Cambodia my homeland.
Thank to all Cambodian who have been secrified for the nation

Anonymous said...

10:58 PM,

Come on! We don't need Thailand's foreign aid!

We may be poor, but not that poor!

I would rather die than accept Thailand's foreign aid!

Cambodians can work hard in their country to improve their poverty!

Anonymous said...

i guess siem scholars don't read history books in the libraryof congress, etc..., they can't even read or talk in english like khmer because siem's language is tonal and would sound strange when they make tonal sound with the english words. khmer people, on the othe hand not a tonal language, thus we can read and speak english better than siem, in general, you know! god bless cambodia.