10/02/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has come out against a plan by Unesco to send a mission to inspect the Preah Vihear temple following claims by Cambodia that it suffered severe damage in fighting between the two countries.
Thani Thongpakdi, the ministry's spokesman, said the government saw the visit as inappropriate as the situation along the border remained unstable.
"They can go there when the tension eases," Mr Thani said.
"If they go there now, it might make the [border dispute] more complicated."
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation issued a statement on Tuesday to say it intended to send a mission to Preah Vihear temple as soon as possible to assess its state.
Mr Thani said the international body should seek the permission of Thailand if it wanted to inspect the site.
Thailand claims Cambodian forces stationed at the temple triggered a firefight at the weekend when they opened fire on Thai soldiers.
Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a statement issued yesterday that it "strongly rejects such a slanderous assertion".
"There has never been and there will never be Cambodian soldiers at the temple of Preah Vihear. This has always been a place for worship and tourism," the statement said, adding that the only security presence at the temple was a small number of police officers with light weapons to ensure safety.
The Associated Press reported yesterday that its journalists who had reached the temple saw hundreds of Cambodian soldiers in and around the sprawling temple compound, which was fortified by sandbagged bunkers.
Dressed in military camouflage, some played cards inside the temple's shaded walls. Some rested on cots or hammocks while others poured new sandbags and stacked them up, AP said.
"We're here to defend it," said a soldier at the temple, who was inside a bunker that was covered with a military tarp. "When the fighting stops, we will go."
The secretary to the foreign minister, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, said the head of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission, Asda Jayanama, would fly to Paris tomorrow to explain the border situation to Unesco director-general Irina Bokova.
"Pushing for the Preah Vihear temple to be inscribed on the world heritage list without listening to the Thai side's protest over the overlapping areas will create more conflict and tension along the border," Mr Chavanond said.
Thailand sent a letter to Unesco on Saturday explaining that any activity in relation to the listing of the Hindu temple as a world heritage site should be avoided pending the final demarcation of the land boundary, as this would add tension and lead to repeated confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia,
Unesco's World Heritage Committee will meet in the middle of this year in Bahrain to discuss Cambodia's management plan for the 4.6-square-kilometres of disputed land near the Hindu temple.
Thailand insists Unesco should not consider the plan until a solution to the border dispute is found.
The Foreign Ministry will also appoint special representatives to clarify the case before all 21 Unesco members.
"We have no intention of obstructing Unesco or the World Heritage Committee from listing the temple," Mr Chavanond.
"We would only like to see them do everything correctly and fairly for the affected countries."
14 comments:
This Thai thug Thani Thongpakdi thinks that Unesc and the world are not as smart as him. He is trying to block and slap the UN in the face.. If Thailand successfully claimed 4.6 km land as theirs, then they will keep coming for more and the world is full of unjust in this case over Cambodia.
many pictures have shown Cambodian troops are stationed there.
please clean up before Thailand revealed the pictures to the world.
classic signs! of course, siem is going to oppose everything that is lawful and right. you know how thief works; it doesn't take a rocket scientists to figure it out, really! it's simple, just study siem thugs' pattern or track records, they are evilly clever and even able to fool some of their supporters about it, too, really!
of course, they're going to deny it, just do it, don't ask them for permission, they have no right because they are thieves, you know!
To be stable unesco can come through Cambodia side to pvh temple
Beloved Cambodians in SISAKET, SURIN and all Khmers along the border,
All of you are doimg right as
Villagers from Ban Phum Srol staged a rally yesterday to denounce the visit of PAD. We are Khmers ovesears salute all of you.
All of you said to Yellow Shirts, PAD:
"You have created the war. You troubled us. We don't welcome you,"
AS you know, this war is caused by Yellow shirt and Abhisit. Abhisit was installed by Yellow shirt. Two Yellow shirts are in Cambodian Jail. Abhisit will do everything including war to obey Yellow shirt. Khmers overseas strongly condemn Abhisit administration and Yellow shirt.
We are sorry if our brothers and sisters in Sisaket, Surin and all Khmers along the border were affected by this war of aggression committed by Yellow shirt and Abhisit team.
We ask all of our brothers and sisters in Sisaket, Buriram, Surin and other cities in Thailand to stand up to demand for immediate stop this dirty war and ask for compensation from Thai authority.
Khmer Empire
Cambodia was at least 4 times as large as Cambodia is today
Not only PAD, Hun Sen and Khmer government also done war zone along the border.
Many of medias agency should visit Preah Vihear quickly and then show all real things in that time show to public.
Thailand us bullying Unesco
thailand do not respect to UNESCO
Hey Thongpakdi , the visit of UNESCO got nothing to do with the situation between Khmer and Thai along the border. If you are against this idea it means , you have something to hide and the more you speak out against it the more you show that you are afraid of it and trying to hide something . If you keep doing that , the world will know exactly why Cambodian complain this to the UNESCO .
9:42 AM
Those are the pictures of the police guard the Temple and they are not heavy armed like the fighting force. They cary rifle for security only. Please be permeaded .
Hey Khmer News 9:48 AM
Stop posting those dirty websites here because they are full of virus. KI , please remove those links .
Realy!!! not have heavy weapons in Prasat Preah Vihear. All tourist who visit that temple used to take photograph with the permanent canon setting with Preah Vihear Wall.
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