BANGKOK, Aug 5 (MCOT online news) - Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Wednesday denied he had signed any legally binding document on Preah Vihear, asserting that the document he signed at the World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Brazil was a non-binding draft and Thailand consequently is not at a disadvantage against Cambodia.
Mr Suwit, who led the Thai delegation to the just ended the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commission (WHC) meeting in Brazil, was interviewed by telephone on a Modernine TV news programme saying that the five-point document he signed was a general document including the result of the WHC meeting, the documentation report and the meeting resolution to postpone the discussion in Cambodian Preah Vihear development plan to next year's meeting.
As for the issue on the approval on the joint committee establishment, Mr Suwit said it was the progress report and Thailand had asserted that it did not agree with the plan.
He added that the document was only a draft and not a Memorandum of Understanding or similar document that could bind Thailand legally or put Thailand at a disadvantage.
The minister also said he was still wondering about the statement by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An who led the Cambodian delegation at WHC meeting announcing victory over the matter.
The WHC last week postponed discussing Cambodia's development-management plan for the ancient temple until next year when it meets in Bahrain.
The heritage committee had decided to postpone discussion on the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could not find common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An however said later that Cambodia had achieved its goal when the UNESCO committee agreed to consider its plan for managing Preah Vihear temple -- but not emphasising it would be next year.
Political activist Veera Somkwamkid on Monday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify Mr Sok An's claim that the two countries had reached an understanding on managing areas near the temple.
He also questioned the document Mr Suwit had signed during the meeting over Cambodian Preah Vihear management plan.
Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the dispute over the 4.6 sq km contested zone between the two countries remains unsolved.
Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval, but Thailand insisted that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours first resolve their dispute over the zone adjacent to the temple.
Mr Suwit, who led the Thai delegation to the just ended the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commission (WHC) meeting in Brazil, was interviewed by telephone on a Modernine TV news programme saying that the five-point document he signed was a general document including the result of the WHC meeting, the documentation report and the meeting resolution to postpone the discussion in Cambodian Preah Vihear development plan to next year's meeting.
As for the issue on the approval on the joint committee establishment, Mr Suwit said it was the progress report and Thailand had asserted that it did not agree with the plan.
He added that the document was only a draft and not a Memorandum of Understanding or similar document that could bind Thailand legally or put Thailand at a disadvantage.
The minister also said he was still wondering about the statement by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An who led the Cambodian delegation at WHC meeting announcing victory over the matter.
The WHC last week postponed discussing Cambodia's development-management plan for the ancient temple until next year when it meets in Bahrain.
The heritage committee had decided to postpone discussion on the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could not find common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An however said later that Cambodia had achieved its goal when the UNESCO committee agreed to consider its plan for managing Preah Vihear temple -- but not emphasising it would be next year.
Political activist Veera Somkwamkid on Monday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify Mr Sok An's claim that the two countries had reached an understanding on managing areas near the temple.
He also questioned the document Mr Suwit had signed during the meeting over Cambodian Preah Vihear management plan.
Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the dispute over the 4.6 sq km contested zone between the two countries remains unsolved.
Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval, but Thailand insisted that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours first resolve their dispute over the zone adjacent to the temple.
7 comments:
It's very confusing.As of now, who is lying and who is telling the truth?.
this article claimed that the 4.6 sq miles areas was unresolved when icj ruled 1962. what are they based that on? siem pad thugs illegal claim and violation of the international treaty of 104/1907? of course!
Did Thai troop still stay at wat keo kiri sekha swarak?.Anybody know?.And if they still do ,why our forces did not expel them back to the other side of the border ?.
for the animal siem, unless the document is produced by them then it is good. so fuck them. Preah Vihear and the surrounding areas rightly belong to Cambodia. Cambodia has to draw a line and hard stand. no matter what.
Thai think like Monkey and talk like Monkey just like the Thai King Monkey because Thai are Monkey.
siem kept on talking about bilateral exchange with cambodia, etc, but all we read and see now is it all about siem's interest, etc... nothing about how would cambodia and khmer people feel or see about all of this going on! so, why are they still want to talk to cambodia about bilateral talk, etc? it is so hypocritical of siem, really!
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)?
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