Zoe Daniel
ABC (Australia)
ELIZABETH JACKSON: A renewed stoush has broken out over the management of the disputed Preah Vihear temple on the border of Thailand and Cambodia.
Two years ago the temple was given World Heritage Status and now Cambodia has submitted a management plan for the site.
But this week protestors took to the streets of Bangkok opposing the plan.
The Thai government threatened to pull out of UNESCO altogether, arguing the plan threatens Thai sovereignty and regional peace.
South East Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel reports from Bangkok.
ZOE DANIEL: There are few more divisive issues in South East Asia than the ownership of the majestic Preah Vihear temple that perches on the mountainous border between Thailand and Cambodia.
The temple was declared to belong to Cambodia in 1962 and in 2008 it was given World Heritage Status.
But Thailand has always disputed Cambodia's ownership of the site and opposed the World Heritage application.
Now Cambodia's management plan for the area has re-opened debate. Thailand argued against it even being considered by UNESCO.
Thailand is now celebrating after discussion on the plan was delayed.
Natural Resources and environment minister Suwit Khunkitti.
SUWIT KHUNKITTI (translated): The important outcome was the postponement of the decision until next year.
ZOE DANIEL: UNESCO says the Cambodian plan was submitted to the wrong committee. It involves the management of the temple and its surrounds.
But Thailand argues that it breaches its sovereignty because 4.6 square kilometres of the surrounding area belongs to Thailand.
Cambodian Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan disagrees.
PHAY SIPHAN: We do our best to keep that area to be peace and respect the people interests and respect what decision of the World Heritage. So we as a civilised nation, we treat everybody like a- respectably like a civilised nation – abide with our international obligation.
ZOE DANIEL: In fact Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva threatened that Thailand would resign from UNESCO if the plan was adopted.
About one thousand people rallied outside UNESCO's offices in Bangkok in support of his stance.
There have been intermittent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops in the vicinity of the temple in the past two years and the prime minister warned the Thai army stands ready to defend the country's sovereignty.
Cambodian Council Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan accuses him of playing politics.
PHAY SIPHAN: I’m just back from the border and the military – Thai military – they understand that. I told them and they told me that ‘We’re not going to fight (inaudible) because of politics’.
They know that a current government – Thai government – lead by Abhisit is looking for political support by using Preah Vihear as the extreme nationalist for them to earn support, earn popularity from the Thais. He’s not honest (with) the Thai people.
ZOE DANIEL: The plan for the management of the temple will now be considered next year.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Zoe Daniel with that report from Bangkok.
Two years ago the temple was given World Heritage Status and now Cambodia has submitted a management plan for the site.
But this week protestors took to the streets of Bangkok opposing the plan.
The Thai government threatened to pull out of UNESCO altogether, arguing the plan threatens Thai sovereignty and regional peace.
South East Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel reports from Bangkok.
ZOE DANIEL: There are few more divisive issues in South East Asia than the ownership of the majestic Preah Vihear temple that perches on the mountainous border between Thailand and Cambodia.
The temple was declared to belong to Cambodia in 1962 and in 2008 it was given World Heritage Status.
But Thailand has always disputed Cambodia's ownership of the site and opposed the World Heritage application.
Now Cambodia's management plan for the area has re-opened debate. Thailand argued against it even being considered by UNESCO.
Thailand is now celebrating after discussion on the plan was delayed.
Natural Resources and environment minister Suwit Khunkitti.
SUWIT KHUNKITTI (translated): The important outcome was the postponement of the decision until next year.
ZOE DANIEL: UNESCO says the Cambodian plan was submitted to the wrong committee. It involves the management of the temple and its surrounds.
But Thailand argues that it breaches its sovereignty because 4.6 square kilometres of the surrounding area belongs to Thailand.
Cambodian Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan disagrees.
PHAY SIPHAN: We do our best to keep that area to be peace and respect the people interests and respect what decision of the World Heritage. So we as a civilised nation, we treat everybody like a- respectably like a civilised nation – abide with our international obligation.
ZOE DANIEL: In fact Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva threatened that Thailand would resign from UNESCO if the plan was adopted.
About one thousand people rallied outside UNESCO's offices in Bangkok in support of his stance.
There have been intermittent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops in the vicinity of the temple in the past two years and the prime minister warned the Thai army stands ready to defend the country's sovereignty.
Cambodian Council Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan accuses him of playing politics.
PHAY SIPHAN: I’m just back from the border and the military – Thai military – they understand that. I told them and they told me that ‘We’re not going to fight (inaudible) because of politics’.
They know that a current government – Thai government – lead by Abhisit is looking for political support by using Preah Vihear as the extreme nationalist for them to earn support, earn popularity from the Thais. He’s not honest (with) the Thai people.
ZOE DANIEL: The plan for the management of the temple will now be considered next year.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Zoe Daniel with that report from Bangkok.
13 comments:
Abhishit vejjajiva try to gain more supports from publics inorder to stay in office little longer! but Thais people don't budge...new election must be done!! abhishit vejjajiva killed so many Thais citizen since he came to the office..
People in YALA will not rest...untill Thai Gov't grant our freedom and stop abuse my people in Yala!!!!, we will continue to fight to the END!!
ishamdulah,
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.
Thanks to UNESCO, Thai soil must be thai soil. :D
people shouldn't question the sole ownership of preah vihear by cambodia. instead, siem should focus more on using the international recognized map to solve the so called disputed boundary line in order to settle mistrust and misunderstanding. also, siem should stop interfering with cambodia's proposed management plan for our temple's world heritage site. it's like siem wanted so bad to co-manage it and for my country cambodia to recognize siem's contempt of court and siem's violation of international law, etc... cambodia will not do that like siem! cambodia and the world should make a huge banner or sign at unesco's next meeting to remind siem or thailand that preah vihear is a cambodian ancient temple and belongs solely to cambodia, not co-own or whatever by siem. the sign should read: preah vihear temple, cambodia, a world heritage site. thailand and siem stop calling the fake name "prah viharn" or something to that matter because preah vihear in khmer sounds better and official, ok! siem for once, should be original, not copycat the names and words from cambodia's syllable, etc..., ok!
and call us khmer, not khmen or whatever, ok! the same with our preah vihear temple, not prah viharn temple or whatever, ok! no wonder khmer people hated them for steal everything from khmer e.g. our khmer language, khmer culture, khmer temples, khmer people in surin and the rest of isan, etc... stop stealing from us, ok! can you people say "khmer"? not khmen, ok! khmer is not hard to say, just ask any cambodian people and we all can help you to say it correctly, ok! practice makes perfect! keep saying khmer, khmer, khmer, khmer... until you et it right. you can do it, ok, siem!
just because you have fake name of khmer preah vihear temple like prah viharn or whatever; same with your word for khmer as khmen, doesn't mean preah vihear temple or khmer people belong to you, ok! get educated already. keep repeating our word khmer, khmer and preah vihear, preah vihear... until you get it right. we'll be listening to your correct pronunciation, so better get it right, ok!
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 incestors was very smart and powerfull 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
also, siem should explain to cambodia why they want us to let them co-manage our temple's world heritage site? why we cambodia let siem co-manage our world heritage site? what benefit will cambodia and khmer people gain from letting siem co-manage our temple like they proposed? for cambodia, siem has to write a book to explain to us so we can understand their real motive before be let them co-manage our preah vihear temple's world heritage site, etc...
why should cambodia let siem pad thugs co-manage our temple? that's siem's homework! nothing less than a book will only be acceptable by khmer people, and make sure we can understand siem's real motive or intention, too, ok!
Dear 6:26 AM
...วัฒนธรรมแขมร์สูงมาตั้งแต่สมัยนครพนมจนถึงปัจจุบัน...สูงเหรือเกินจนถึงพวกมึงอิจฉาขโมยภาษา วัฒนธรรม และมรดกแขมร์ทั้งสิ้นมาเป็นของตน...นี่แหละไอ้พวกสัตว์เดรัจฉานเนรคุณ!..
Please confirm whether you're Civilized Khmer or not? Is this a typical way of Khmer expression? Why you're so rude like a low-educated person?
Luckily, the other countries in South East Asia that have adopted Khmer Culture and Tradition (not Khmer Country, be not confused) can adapt and draw the good things to make their countries more positive changes, progress and development than your country did.
Is it true?
Can we co-manage Bangkok city?
If Thailand is smart.
They should help cambodia recover
from the long period of wars. Sooner or later, Vietnam gonna get to Thailand also.
Look what vietnam done to Laos, Khmer Krom, And now Cambodia.
Soon Thailand. Wake up Thais!
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