By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Cambodia said yesterday that Thailand failed all of its efforts to derail the Preah Vihear's management plan since the World Heritage Committee's decision to delay consideration of the plan's documents would never impede the implementation of temple conservation.
There is no requirement that the Committee approves the plan because the role of the World Heritage Committee is not to approve or disapprove any progress report or Management Plan submitted by a state party, but to review those documents in order to take note, said a statement from Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers.
"The conservation work is too important to be delayed," it said.
Cambodia also released yesterday a summary of the result of the 34th World Heritage Committee meeting to show that the committee has recognised its reports on the management plan and its progress.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television program that the delay was Thailand's success to block Cambodia's move to claim its right over the disputed border areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear.
Thailand and Cambodia were in the loggerhead over the controversial temple again over the past week during the World Heritage meeting in Brazil.
Thai delegation was worried Cambodia might take areas which are the subject of border dispute to be the buffer zone of the listed temple and complained it did not have enough time to study Cambodia's report.
As both sides failed to reach any common ground at the session last week, the committee decided to allow additional time for the distribution and consideration of the documents, which will be discussed at the next session next year.
"This decision in no way impedes our implementation of the management plan," Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan said in a phone interview from Phnom Penh.
"We should not say it is a victory or failure of anybody but it is our obligation to conserve the heritage of human being," he said.
The Thai argument is irrational as the management plan and report on the conservation of the Phrea Vihear were delivered to the World Heritage Centre in January 2010 and after having the reports for 3 days, the Thai delegation had no substantive comment on the report, he said.
Cambodia would continue the implementation of the plan such as the convening of a preliminary meeting for the setting up of an international coordinating committee (ICC), the spokesman said.
"There is no single word in the (world heritage committee) decision to refrain Cambodia from doing the jobs," he said.
In fact, Cambodia obligated to invite Thailand and not more than seven other parties to sit in the ICC but Thailand declined the invitation while China, India, US, Japan, France and Australia have already agreed to join.
Thailand should have nothing to worry about its right over the border dispute since world heritage inscription would never affect the boundary claim, Phay Siphan said. The boundary demarcation would continue. Cambodia appreciated and would respect the work of joint boundary committee, he said.
Asked if Cambodian people disappointed with Thailand's move on the Preah Vihear, Phay Siphan said the people in Cambodia understood the situation that majority of Thai people disagreed with the government. "Prime Minister Abhisit's wish might be against the Thai people's will," he said.
"Among people of two nations, we are neighbours and hope to live in peace together," he said.
Defend Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Thailand and Cambodia have no military tension as both sides have no plan to boost number of forces in the border areas near the Preah Vihear and they remained good relations.
There is no requirement that the Committee approves the plan because the role of the World Heritage Committee is not to approve or disapprove any progress report or Management Plan submitted by a state party, but to review those documents in order to take note, said a statement from Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers.
"The conservation work is too important to be delayed," it said.
Cambodia also released yesterday a summary of the result of the 34th World Heritage Committee meeting to show that the committee has recognised its reports on the management plan and its progress.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television program that the delay was Thailand's success to block Cambodia's move to claim its right over the disputed border areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear.
Thailand and Cambodia were in the loggerhead over the controversial temple again over the past week during the World Heritage meeting in Brazil.
Thai delegation was worried Cambodia might take areas which are the subject of border dispute to be the buffer zone of the listed temple and complained it did not have enough time to study Cambodia's report.
As both sides failed to reach any common ground at the session last week, the committee decided to allow additional time for the distribution and consideration of the documents, which will be discussed at the next session next year.
"This decision in no way impedes our implementation of the management plan," Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan said in a phone interview from Phnom Penh.
"We should not say it is a victory or failure of anybody but it is our obligation to conserve the heritage of human being," he said.
The Thai argument is irrational as the management plan and report on the conservation of the Phrea Vihear were delivered to the World Heritage Centre in January 2010 and after having the reports for 3 days, the Thai delegation had no substantive comment on the report, he said.
Cambodia would continue the implementation of the plan such as the convening of a preliminary meeting for the setting up of an international coordinating committee (ICC), the spokesman said.
"There is no single word in the (world heritage committee) decision to refrain Cambodia from doing the jobs," he said.
In fact, Cambodia obligated to invite Thailand and not more than seven other parties to sit in the ICC but Thailand declined the invitation while China, India, US, Japan, France and Australia have already agreed to join.
Thailand should have nothing to worry about its right over the border dispute since world heritage inscription would never affect the boundary claim, Phay Siphan said. The boundary demarcation would continue. Cambodia appreciated and would respect the work of joint boundary committee, he said.
Asked if Cambodian people disappointed with Thailand's move on the Preah Vihear, Phay Siphan said the people in Cambodia understood the situation that majority of Thai people disagreed with the government. "Prime Minister Abhisit's wish might be against the Thai people's will," he said.
"Among people of two nations, we are neighbours and hope to live in peace together," he said.
Defend Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Thailand and Cambodia have no military tension as both sides have no plan to boost number of forces in the border areas near the Preah Vihear and they remained good relations.
7 comments:
US Embassy
Chaktomok Hall, Phnom Penh
July 22, 2010
Closing Remarks by Ambassador Carol Rodley at Academic Symposium
I’d like to thank all of the participants for making this such a fascinating and productive two days of discussions. It was unprecedented to gather such a group of experts on the U.S.-Cambodia relationship, and the discussions indeed lived up to the billing.
A lot has happened over the past 60 years, of course, and many of the key events we discussed resonated beyond Cambodia’s borders. But what struck me more than any single event was the resilience that we saw in those 60 years.
First, there was the resilience of the Cambodian people. They have shown great optimism and determination to endure decades of turmoil and come out on the other side, ready to build a prosperous and democratic nation.
The U.S.-Cambodian relationship has shown its share of resilience, too. As one would expect with any relationship between two nations, there were high points and missteps, periods of strength and periods of misunderstanding.
But the relationship has endured, and it is stronger now than it has ever been before. We are partnering in many areas that promote our common interests, including military and law enforcement cooperation, counterterrorism and POW/MIA matters, and economic development, among many others.
The United States is providing over $105 million in assistance this year, which includes programs in health, education, economic development and accountability in government. U.S. assistance is supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia’s humanitarian and development priorities, just as it did nearly 60 years ago when the original aid program was launched in 1955.
As we look forward to the next 60 years, I believe we have much to be optimistic about. We look forward to increasing and deepening our ties and working toward our mutual goals. While there is still much work to be done, I am confident that our common interests will see us through to an even stronger future together. Thank you.
Since Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander, now a Khmer Rouge leader and had many of his political opponents and journalists assassinated, I wonder if he have any plan to assassinate the Thai Prime Minister (Ahbullshit Vejjajiva)?
Submission of a management plan from Cambodia is just to see wether any impact on the world site heritage.
As long as Cambodia does not operate it over Thai territory adhering to 1962 international court judgement,Thailand can spit their dummy about it.We know that Thai PM game is the intention of holding on Preah Vihear by misleading its name to Hindu temple or Preah Viharn,NOT about the area of its surrounding. Suggestion of share management plan indicates Thailand wrong intention quite obvious.
As we declare,any intruding act from Thailand we then will retaliate.
Improving facilities for increase population would be ideal.
We DO not need approval from Thailand nor from WHO, for not damaging the world hertage treasure.
Peasant
Abisit onced creat a website called i love Thailand. He tried to creat nationalism to cover his corrupted politics. What about now? Is he paying the people to protest Preah Vihear issue on Bangkok street?
mreas prov
Google is totally irresponsible for publishing incorrect boundary lines of Cambodia, not conforming to the UN map. If left uncheck, this could cause irreparable harm to the territorial integrity of Cambodia.
The Royal Government of Cambodia recently made a request to Google concerning this issue over the Preah Vihear, Poipet and other areas. Revisions have been made by Google, but still inaccurate per UN recognized map.
1. Google’s Preah Vihear area is still incorrect per the 1904-07 Franco-Siamese treaty map of Annex I which was deposited at UN. Google chose to follow the American army map instead showing the 4.6 km2 as part of Thailand. The line further cut into the entry way of Preah Vihear temple with a broken dash line. Totally wrong, totally impartial! Dash line would yield to Thai for future claims. It should be a solid line further north by at 300 m.
2. Previously, the line was completely wrong, showing Angkor Wat entry gate and several Cambodian casinos on the Thai side. After Google’s recent revision, the error still persists. that the actual boundary line is in the middle of O’Chrov river bridge, not 200 m over the bridge into Khmer land.
3. The boundary lines of Kampuchea-Vietnam is still incorrect because there were no attempt by the RGC to demand correction. The Prek Krabao canal is the actual boundary between Cambodia and Vietnam. However, Google’s map shows it at least 500 m to 1000 m west of the canal. Now this is insane and reckless!
4. The RGC must send an official letter to the Vietnamese government why on earth were their motives building highways 1-3 km way inside the Cambodian side of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces. Do the Vietnamese think that the Cambodia-Vietnam boundary lines are transparent and not official?
5. All the boundary lines around Cambodia must be analyzed and scrutinized to ensure correctness per Cambodia UN deposited map.
Khmer people lost so much already. It is our duty in each generation to verify and safeguard the land that we have left. If the International Court of Justice decision over Preah Vihear Temple in 1962, some 48 years ago has no meaning to the Thais, who else can protect our homeland but ourselves…
Khmer Battambang
08.01.10
why do we (Cambodians) care about Siamese extremely nationalists attitude to block Preah Vihear Temple managment plan of Cambodia? As we control the areas as the only legal owner of the temple and the areas, we do not need to care about the mad attitude of the current Thai government. They gain power because they robbed the power from Thaksin so they are afraid they will be condemn by Thais so they just want to shift the Thai public attention. Just prepare to fight back with all means if they invade our territory.
The first thing to do is remove Sok An from there, he will never be able to resolve the border question, he is too incompetent for the case because he has no idea about laws, noone sould hire a monkey to catch fishes..
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