Thai Villagers Sue Cambodia [-It's time for Cambodia to bring this case the International Court of Justice!]

Damages at Cambodia's Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda

March 12, 2011
Pattaya Daily News (Thailand)

Following the Thailand-Cambodia dispute, villagers from Thailand border, petitioned to sue Cambodian government for the damages caused by the cannon and Missile-BM21 fires from Cambodia, requesting over 2 Billion Baht in compensation.

Srisaket, 10th March 2011 [PDN]: Mr. Weerayut Duangkaew, Sub-district Chief of Saothongchai, Kantaralak, Srisaket stated that villagers from 7 sub-districts, including Poomsaron village, have united together to sign a petition for the damages caused by the Thailand-Cambodia dispute. The village people planned to sue Cambodia reaching various levels of authority – first to the World Court or ICJ, proceeding through to the District Chief Officer of Kantaralak, forwarding to the Governor of Srisaket, then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Prime Minister respectively.

About 50,000 villagers joined together and calculated the requested compensation amount. The costs were the multiple of the people by their daily income (100 Baht/day) by 30 days. The estimated reimbursement was a grand total of 150 million Baht. Furthermore, farming total damage costs for 600 Rai were around 9,000,000 Baht at 15,000 Baht per Rai.

Cambodia Takes Military Attaches of 12 Countries to See Damages of Preah Vihear Temple

2011-03-03
Xinhua

A group of military attaches of 12 countries on Thursday paid a two-hour visit to Preah Vihear temple and surrounding areas to see the damages caused by mortar and artillery shelling during the deadly clashes early last month between the Cambodian and Thai troops.

The team of military attaches from 12 embassies in Phnom Penh included the United States, France, Russia, China, Japan, Canada, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, New Zealand, Malaysia and Australia.

Cambodian four-star general Neang Phat, secretary of state of the Ministry of Defense, led the group during the visit.

The group was welcomed at the temple by four-star general Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces for Preah Vihear Direction, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen' s eldest son Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Headquarters of Infantry.

[Thai] Military interference hinders a settlement of border issues

March 2, 2011
By Pavin Chachavalpongpun
The Nation

some Thai soldiers deployed along the border complained of Abhisit's seemingly hopeless approach toward Cambodia, and that they decided to fire artillery into the Preah Vihear Temple to demonstrate their frustration as much as their bravery

For now, there will be no more armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Asean, led by its current chair, Indonesia, can be proud of its achievement in bringing the grouping's two stubborn members to the negotiating table. Asean's mediation efforts are commendable. But they may be inadequate in the search for a long-lasting solution to this persistent thorn in Thai-Cambodian relations.

Already, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has confirmed that the Thai Army will not withdraw any troops from the border, even though Indonesia is in the process of sending a team of observers to the disputed area. Abhisit's firm position is likely to see a similar firm response from his Cambodian counterpart, Prime Minister Hun Sen.

That suggests the situation will remain fragile. It will also remain highly dangerous if Thailand continues to produce an incoherent policy vis-a-vis Cambodia.

Analysts have been unable to figure out why armed clashes broke out on February 6, just a few hours after the two countries' armies agreed on a temporary ceasefire. There are so many possibilities, which have led to so much speculation.

But one thing is quite certain: There is likely to be a collision involving the policies endorsed by the Thai Foreign Ministry and the Army. The two agencies have apparently adopted two different approaches.

Military Attaches to Inspect Sites of Border Clashes

The stone remains of Preah Vihear, built nearly 1,000 years ago, are supposed to be a protected U.N. World Heritage site. Instead they are at the heart of a dangerous tug-of-war between Cambodia and Thailand.

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Phnom Penh Wednesday, 02 March 2011

“I think a visit to Preah Vihear temple at this time will be very productive.”

A delegation of foreign military attaches is scheduled to visit Preah Vihear temple Thursday, military officials said.

Cambodia says the 11th-Century temple was damaged by Thai artillery in border clashes in February and has asked Unesco to assess the damage. Thai officials maintain Cambodia has troops close to the temple, putting it at risk to future damage.

The military delegation will include 19 representatives of foreign countries including the US, China and Japan and will last for two days, said Chhum Socheath, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

Mission on Preah Vihear temple concludes successfully: UNESCO special envoy

March 02, 2011
Xinhua

Koichiro Matsuura, the special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Tuesday afternoon his visit to Thailand and Cambodia on the issue of Preah Vihear temple come to a successful end.

"It's a very fruitful mission. I am very happy about that," Matsuura told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving for Japan.

During a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday, Matsuura told the premier that UNESCO would send its experts to evaluate and restore Preah Vihear temple in the future.

Asking at the airport on Tuesday, Matsuura did not say when UNESCO will send its experts to evaluate the temple's damages caused by more than 400 mortar and artillery shells fired by Thai troops in the clashes on Feb. 4-7.

Unesco special envoy 'supports Thai stance' [-Thai propaganda?]

Unesco special envoy Koichiro Matsuura meets Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House yesterday to discuss the border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. CHANAT KATANYA

Cambodia's temple plan may have to be put off

26/02/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol and Piyaporn Wongruang
Bangkok Post

Unesco says it will be difficult to consider Cambodia's proposed world heritage management plan for the Preah Vihear temple given the current tense situation, the Thai Foreign Ministry says.

The Unesco special envoy on the Preah Vihear issue, Koichiro Matsuura, who is also a former Unesco director-general, yesterday met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya at Government House to hear about the problems between Thailand and Cambodia.

Thailand was his first leg before he heads to Cambodia tomorrow.

Thani Thongphakdee, Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Mr Matsuura understood that the problems over the Preah Vihear temple stemmed from its listing as a world heritage site given that the border's demarcation was still pending. Mr Matsuura was quoted as saying that he also admitted that in the current situation, it was difficult to move forward with the Preah Vihear management plan proposed by Cambodia.

‘No Mission’ Yet to Preah Vihear Temple: Unesco [-UNESCO falls into Thailand's threat?]

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 17 February 2011

“And obviously no mission could take place to the site until hostility has ceased between the two parties.”

Unesco has no plans to visit the site of Preah Vihear temple until military tension along the border abates, a representative for the organization said.

Cambodia requested a Unesco team investigate alleged damage to the temple from Thai artillery fire in clashes earlier this month. And while Unesco has agreed to send a team in principle, it is waiting for more calm.

“There is no mission foreseen to the temple site at this point,” said Sue Williams, a spokeswoman for Unesco. “And obviously no mission could take place to the site until hostility has ceased between the two parties.”

Thailand has said it objects to the Unesco mission while military tensions remain.

Damages to the Preah Vihear temple from Thai shelling

Thank you Lok Samrong for pointing out this video!

UNESCO designates special envoy for Hindu Khmer temple damaged in border clashes

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday designated a Special Envoy to address the Preah Vihear Temple which was damaged during recent border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand.

Koichiro Matsuura, former Director-General of UNESCO, was named Special Envoy and will visit Bangkok and Phnom Penh to discuss the safety of the Hindu temple inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Matsuura will examine with both Cambodia and Thailand how to lessen tension between the two sides as well as promote dialogue for the preservation of the 11th century temple.

On Tuesday, UNESCO announced that it would send a mission to assess the damage caused by the recent armed clashes between the two South-East Asian neighbors to the temple. The Preah Vihear Temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2008.

UNESCO names former director-general Koichiro Matsuura as special envoy on Preah Vihear

PARIS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has named its former director- general Koichiro Matsuura as special envoy to address the issue of Preah Vihear, the Paris-based UN cultural branch announced on Friday.

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO has informed Cambodia and Thailand about the mission of Matsuura.

Matsuura will "visit Bangkok and Phnom Penh to discuss how the World Heritage site can be safeguarded" and "examine with both sides how to lessen tension and promote dialogue around the preservation of the Temple," according to a statement issued by UNESCO.

Bokova expressed concerns over the protection of the Preah Vihear Temple, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008 but sparked clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, both claiming sovereignty over the antique temple.

Unesco to send envoy to Bangkok, Phnom Penh

February 12, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee,
Nuntida Phuangthong
The Nation

Meanwhile, Thailand's Joint Boundary Committee chief Asda Jayanama is in Paris to meet with Bokova to push for revocation of the temple's World Heritage status. Thailand wants Unesco to suspend the designation until the boundary conflict is settled. This dispute with Unesco is one of Thailand's many international battles against its smaller neighbour.

With its mission to inspect damage done to Preah Vihear Temple during the border skirmish blocked, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) said yesterday that it would send a special envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh soon to pave the way for a visit to the temple.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia spilled over to Unesco, with the Abhisit government blaming the UN body for igniting the conflict by giving the temple a World Heritage Site designation in 2008.

Unesco announced earlier that it would dispatch an urgent mission to inspect the temple after Cambodia claimed the structure was partly damaged by Thai artillery shells during the skirmish from February 4 to 7.

The Thai government, however, is against the mission, saying any visit to the temple had to be permitted by Thai authorities, especially as officials will have to access the site via an area that comes under Thailand's sovereignty.

Damages to Causeway of Gopura II and Gopura III at Preah Vihear temple from Thai army shelling

Damages to Gopura III at Preah Vihear temple from Thai army shelling

Damages to Northwest of Gopura III at Preah Vihear temple from Thai army shelling

Damages to Gradin of Gopura III at Preah Vihear temple from Thai army shelling

Damages to Western Gopura I at Preah Vihear temple from Thai army shelling

Thailand Supports UNESCO's Inspection Of Preah Vihear Temple

BANGKOK, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Wednesday that he supports the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to inspect the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

In response to the UNESCO's proposal to inspect the Preah Vihear Temple in the wake of a series of crossfire between Thai-and Cambodian border troops--which erupted last Friday, Suthep, who oversees national security, acknowledged that it is good for the UN organisation to find out the truth.

Asked if Thailand should be careful of Cambodia's movements in any forum after the United Nations has rejected Phnom Penh's request for it to be a mediator to settle border rows between Thailand and Cambodia, the Thai deputy premier said Thailand, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has already made it clear that Thai-Cambodian border clashes have not justified any intervention by a third party, namely the UN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as both concerned countries should seek a way out by themselves and he considers the Thai-Cambodian border issues remain negotiable.

Preah Vihear temple: Map of damages inflicted by the Thai army

Click on the map to zoom in

Map Legend

Damages on 04-05 February 2011 
Yellow: Building burnt by shells
Cicled Pink: Area set ablaze by shells
Red: Zones where shells fell on
Pink: Zones damaged by automatic rifles and shrapnels
Blue: World Heritage signs

Damages on 06 February 2011
Purple: Zones where shells fell on
Green: Zones damages by shrapnels

Cambodia: Heritage site damaged in border fighting

February 08 2011

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The Cambodian government said part of a historic 11th-century stone temple collapsed Sunday due to heavy shelling by the Thai army as the two sides battled across their disputed border for a third day.

Both countries accused each other of instigating the clashes, which continued across the darkened mountainous border for more than three hours Sunday. The extent of the damage to the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was not immediately clear.

A Thai army spokesman said about 10 soldiers were wounded in Sunday night's fighting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the clashes Sunday resulted in “more human casualties and damages” but did not elaborate.

On Sunday, Hun Sen sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council calling for an emergency meeting to help end the fighting.

Thai army admits firing on Preah Vihear ... but still accuses Cambodia

Army admits firing on ancient temple

8/02/2011
Bangkok Post

The 11th-century Preah Vihear temple has been damaged in fighting between Thailand and Cambodia after Cambodian troops used the temple as a military base to fire on Thai soldiers, says army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent a letter to the United Nations Security Commission on Sunday accusing Thai troops of firing at the Hindu temple, which is listed as a world heritage site.

Col Sansern said yesterday Cambodian soldiers used the Preah Vihear temple as a heavy arms base to fire at Thai soldiers stationed in areas in Thai territory that were at lower elevation.

Col Sansern on Sunday dismissed Cambodian reports of damage to the Preah Vihear temple as "propaganda".