Repair, restoration? Thailand withdraws from World Heritage Convention

Jun 26, 2011
By Luc Citrinot, eTN

(Bangkok)- The issue around territories surrounding Preah Vihear temple, a magnificent ancient structure from the 11th-12th century, locate just at the demarcation line between Thailand and Cambodia, finally found an abrupt end on Saturday evening in Paris. Both Cambodia and Thailand have been opposed over the temple’s management since the monument has been inscribed into UNESCO world heritage list in 2008. The temple is on Cambodian territory but some of its access and a 4.6 km² parcel of land surrounding the temple’s compound are effectively located in Thailand. Since October 2008, regular clashes occurred between Cambodian and Thai military troops, with the most serious fighting taking place in February 2011. Some 28 people died during the conflict earlier this year.

Although a common Cambodian-Thai management would have been the most reasonable solution for the temple, attracting many tourists to the area, national agendas on both sides stirred up nationalist feelings. The approval by the World Heritage Convention secretariat of Cambodia’s management plan prompted Thailand’s reaction. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti announced to Thai media in Paris to withdraw from UNESCO World Heritage Convention. "They did not care about our sovereignty and territory," reported Thai newspapers citing Suwit Khunkitti’s reaction.

Most ridiculous is however the official reason to withdrawing: according to the Bangkok Post, the WHC's draft was in line with Thailand's own draft on Cambodia's Preah Vihear management plan, but it contains two sensitive words "restoration" and "repair". According to the newspaper , Thailand fears that both words would threaten “Thai sovereignty” as such works would require to be conducted temporarily on the Thai territory. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared earlier that the world “adjustment” would have been more appropriate to describe any works on the temple. The Phnom Penh Post reported on Friday that the plan included a variety of conservation works, such as repairing and protecting stairs on the eastern side of the 11th-century temple. The temple was damaged by artillery shells and bullets during four days of fight last February. Both sides accuse each other to have shot first on the temple compound. If Cambodia seems to have so far win on the diplomatic front, the loser is definitely the beautiful Preah Vihear temple site and of course the people living around. There is however some hope to a more dignified solution: the resignation will not be effective immediately as the process takes time due to its international involvement. And until that date, power might also have shifted in Bangkok, following July 3 general elections.