Bangkok Post
EDITORIAL
"...it is clear that different groups of people in Thailand still hold extreme and divergent views even on some basic issues pertaining to the temple's ownership - what has been settled and what still remains under dispute"The bottom line is that Thailand has only one year to figure out what stance would be in the country's best interests insofar as the dispute over the inscription of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site is concerned. If we fritter away our time bickering among ourselves - which is exactly what we are doing now - we will not have to wait until the World Heritage Committee reconvenes in Bahrain next year, to taste the bile of bitter loss.
If, that is, the Thai people cannot set aside vested political and personal agendas, and put our collective heads together so that we can come up with a sensible, coherent and internationally acceptable stance that would help all sides to settle the issue peacefully.
There may be times when protests and passionate use of nationalism can be useful, such as when one has to show the world the strong emotions people in our country have on the issue. Sentiments, however, have no place at a negotiating table. Only facts, well-substantiated by documents, treaties, memoranda and agreements, can be accepted. No matter how the Thai people feel about the issues surrounding the temple of Khao Phra Viharn and the International Court of Justice's verdict in 1962 awarding its ownership to Cambodia, they have to set their feelings aside and, from now on, focus on the facts of the matter and work from there.
Instead of organising protests and issuing ultimatums against the government, further distracting it from the enormous task at hand of defending the national interest amid an intricate web of international politics and complicated frameworks, local interest groups would do much better to try to work with a new body to be set up by the government to deal exclusively with this issue. It would be immensely beneficial for the country if they would submit their opinions, admonitions and advice so that this national committee - to be headed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti who also led the Thai delegates at the recent World Heritage Committee meeting in Brasilia - can have a well-rounded, comprehensive view on the matter.
From what has been reported, it is clear that different groups of people in Thailand still hold extreme and divergent views even on some basic issues pertaining to the temple's ownership - what has been settled and what still remains under dispute. This is not to mention the far-ranging arguments regarding details of the process such as the usefulness of different memoranda of understanding (MoU) and many documents that have been signed by both sides. The government, probably through Mr Suwit's committee, must first see to this and start bringing back the verbose arguments full of personal opinions into a framework of rationality based on fact. Thai people of whatever political affiliation or opinion must be made to understand that the Preah Vihear dispute will only be solved through the peaceful means of diplomacy at a negotiating table. As such, they must come to terms with the protocol and rules of the game these negotiations require.
As much as the government needs to get working quickly and systematically on restoring sense to the increasingly senseless debate, citizen groups especially the one led by Veera Somkwamkid, which threatened to hold a large protest on Saturday, and the other led by the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), must also stop whipping up a false sense of pride and irrational nationalism which will help the nation achieve nothing at the WHC forum next year - except perhaps embarrassment that this country cannot get its act together and is only capable of acting as "the villain" on the international scene. The clock is ticking.
10 comments:
Just curious!!!
I wonder if there is a way around to develop the temple site without waiting for WHC approval.
The temple clearly did and always belongs to Cambodia. Why don't we have the right to develop our property?
Close direct access from Thailand completely, Thai could say nothing and get nothing. We have plenty of land down below the mountain to build hotel. Since tourists claim the mountain or ride cable cart to the temple, I thought we are not violate WHC regulation.
I say this doesn’t mean that we ignore the 4.6Km2. It also is our land. But, instead of waiting, we can do something or at least have plan B
Who said we can't? Nobody...don't be a fool to listen to the trouble maker PAD THAIs. This group of trouble makers are causing trouble everywhere even in their own country. They are known for trouble making at best.
Go ahead develop PV. Cambodia has full ownership right to do what she wants... We have no time to wait... we need to rebuild our country, restoring our temples... The whole world knows they are the trouble makers because of Abhishit backing them for his political gain.
Cambodia just closed the door and shoot when thief dare to break the door.
Cambodia will not wait for UNESCO approval on management plan. Preah Vihea Temple is belong to Cambodia. No need to talk to crazy siem. Your stupid don't expect to have right for join management.
Getting PV certified by the WHC would not only gain a valuable status but also resources that the government don't have to restore it, taking care of it.
i think unesco is doing it by the book of law, just o appease the thai's threat to withdraw membership. but that doesn't mean they will defer it forever, it's just for one more year to see if thai and khmer can solve this issue together. but the way thai gov't back the pad's unruly behavior now, i doubt if they can get cambodia to cooperate with them. plus, don't forget cambodia stands firm on international law and international treaty only, not emotional like siem pad thai.
i think cambodia can use unesco's help and unesco want cambodia. cambodia will prevail in the end, regardless!
Here is press release from Brazil concerning Preah Vihear Temple.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1008/S00069/world-heritage-decision-about-preah-vihear.htm
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)?
You can do whatever you want to Preah Vihear without waiting for anyone to decide on anything if you are using your own money to develop it. If you want WHC money or money from somewhere else, then you have to work with the WHC.
The problem is Cambodia will never have enough money to do a proper conservation much less develop the area because of corruption and the unsatiable thirst for public money of the Cambodian leaders who regularly use public money or wealth as if it were their own!
The Khmer leaders need a new way of thinking and acting if Cambodia is to move forward at the same speed as the rest of the world!
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