[Thai] Govt reviews Heritage pullout

Foreign Ministry 'likely to oppose' withdrawal

17/08/2011
Bangkok Post

The cabinet yesterday assigned Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul to review the Thai World Heritage Committee's recommendation for Thailand to withdraw its membership from the World Heritage Convention.

Ampol Kitti-ampol, secretary-general to the cabinet, said the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration had made no decision on the recommendation, deciding instead to leave it to the next government.

Mr Ampol said the cabinet suggested Mr Surapong consult relevant government agencies and present his recommendation at the next cabinet meeting.

A government source said if the Thai government still wanted to withdraw from the WHC, it must send a letter of intent to Unesco director-general Irina Bokova.

Statement of Cambodia's National Committee for the World Heritage

WHC urged to delay temple plan debate [-Another Thai excuse?]

21/05/2011
Apinya Wipatayotin
Bangkok Post

Thailand will ask the World Heritage Committee to postpone consideration of a management plan for the Preah Vihear temple until there is a ruling from the International Court of Justice on the border conflict.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti yesterday said he would also ask Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to wait for the court's ruling before moving forward with the management plan.

Mr Suwit is scheduled to meet Sok An on Wednesday in France in preparation for a World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting on June 19-29.

Thailand will stand firm on its position that the management plan must not be on the WHC's agenda as long as the border dispute between the two nations has not been resolved, Mr Suwit said.

The WHC has already put the Preah Vihear management plan on the agenda, but Mr Suwit said he believed it would be dropped. "I would like Cambodia to wait for the court's clarification on its 1962 verdict and for the Joint Border Commission to complete border demarcation work. Otherwise, problems will escalate, which is not good for both countries," Mr Suwit said.

[PAD Thai] Yellow-shirts set to end rally

7/05/2011
Bangkok Post

The People’s Alliance for Democracy will put to an end to its anti-Cambodia protest at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge near Government House after the end of the meeting of the World Heritage Committee, PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang said on Saturday.

“The meeting of World Heritage Committee is likely to take place in late May or early June. Whatever the meeting results will be, the yellow-shirt protesters will definitely disperse after the meeting ends,” Maj Gen Chamlong insisted.

From now on until the meeting outcome is made known, the retired general said, the yellow-shirts will continue to put pressure demanding the Democrat-led government to refrain from accepting Cambodia’s plan to list the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

The PAD has started holding a peaceful rally in late Jan to press for the government to respond to its demands.

All in the "Hor" family: A Baby Hor will sit at the UN World Heritage Committee

Second Thai candidate makes it to UN Heritage panel

October 28, 2009
The Nation

Somsuda Leeyavanich, deputy permanent secretary for Culture Ministry, has been chosen to represent Thailand at the 12member World Heritage Committee. She will be joining other new members from Switzerland, Cambodia, South Africa, France, Ethiopia, Mexico, Estonia, Iraq and Mali.

Twentynine countries had put forward names for the new panel, which will be replacing the current one later this year, and will be in office until 2013.

According to Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch, the UN World Heritage agency reportedly had problems deciding on the new panel because both Thailand and Cambodia - currently in a dispute over the Preah Vihear temple - had put forward candidates.

Eventually, though, the UN agency decided to select candidates from both countries as a way to help solve the conflicts. The son of Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong will represent Cambodia.

Somsuda is the second Thai candidate selected to the UN panel, following Adul Wichiencharoen who had served in the panel for two terms.

"From now on, Thailand will play a bigger role in the world stage. More importantly, Somsuda's selection will help push Thai sites to be included in the UN World Heritage listing," Teera said yesterday.

Somsuda will be proposing historical sites to the UN, including the Sriwichai Chaiya - Nakhon Si Thammarat - Sating Phra - Yarang cultural route, Kedah of Malaysia, as well as the Lanna culture.

Initial reports mentioned that the new panel will check out Thai heritage sites in March. It might also visit Preah Vihear.

Thailand is hoping to host the 2011 UN World Heritage Committee meeting, once the summit next year has been hosted by Brazil.

Somsuda, meanwhile, said that she was glad she had been selected and thanked everyone for supporting her. "I will be neutral and work for the benefit of all countries. Sites in many countries have not yet been included in the UN list and I will push for them to be made part of the list," she said.

Hun Sen applauds Cambodia's membership of UN's heritage committee

Oct 27, 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday welcomed his country's appointment as a member of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), the decision-making body of the UN's cultural body UNESCO.

The committee decides what sites will be awarded World Heritage status, and asks member states to take action when listed properties are not properly managed.

'Cambodia was elected as a member of the WHC thanks to her richness in cultural properties and history including intangible cultural properties, several of which were inscribed on the World Heritage List, namely the Royal Ballet, the Shadow Theatre, Angkor [Wat] area and the temple of Preah Vihear,' Hun Sen said.

Chuch Phoeung, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, told the German Press Agency dpa that the election marked an important step.

'Now that we are on the committee, we will have a voice at the table,' he said. 'We want other sites in Cambodia to be listed because many of our temples and national heritage properties have international value.'

Chuch Phoeung said the annual meeting would provide Cambodia with a good opportunity to raise issues it felt were of importance.

'We are just a small country, but our name is known to the world because of the diversity of our culture,' he said. 'And we want to share our experience in protecting World Heritage Sites to the world, and to learn from other countries to strengthen our knowledge.'

Committee membership is for six years, but most members typically choose a four-year term, UNESCO notes on its website. Cambodia has been a member of UNESCO since 1951, but this is the first time it has been elected to the decision-making board.

Cambodia and Thailand have a long-running disagreement over Preah Vihear, the ancient temple which sits on Cambodia's northern border and was awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962. Some Thai nationalists were angered in 2008 when UNESCO added the site to the World Heritage List.

Thailand wins seat on World Heritage Committee

BANGKOK, Oct 27 (TNA) – A Thai government cultural official has been named to the United Nations committee which determines what heritage sites in all countries make it to the world register of historic sites overseen by the world body.

A Cambodian representative was elected to the committee as well, with one more point than received by Thailand.

Somsuda Leeyavanich, Thailand’s deputy permanent secretary for culture, was selected as a member of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which this month replaced 12 retiring country members, according to Minister of Culture Teera Slukpetch.

Mr Teera said the selection was held at the 35th session of the UNESCO's General Conference in Paris.

Twenty-nine countries nominated representatives to be considered in selecting the 21-member World Heritage Committee, with a quota of two positions for Asia. Four member countries, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran and Afghanistan, were competitors of Thailand.

As for the Asian representatives, Cambodia and Thailand won seats with 83 and 82 points respectively, he said.

Other countries selected were Switzerland with 104 points, South Africa (78), France (73), Ethiopia (69), Mexico (56), Estonia (55), Iraq (52), Mali (46), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia.The UAE was selected without rivals and Russia was selected in the second round as no countries in East European group received more than half of the total votes.

Ms Somsuda, 57, will be a member of the World Heritage Committee for four years, from now until 2013. She is the second Thai national who won a seat, the first being Dr Adul Wichiencharoen who held a seat for two terms, 1989-1995 and 1997-2003. He chaired the committee in 1991.

The World Heritage Committee establishes sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from UNESCO members.

Mr Teera said it was expected that during her four-year term as a member of the World Heritage Committee, Ms Somsuda could promote the kingdom's role in the world arena and push Thai historic sites and natural attractions as the world heritage sites.

As Thailand and Cambodia also win seats in the World Heritage Committee, the two countries could coordinate and promote improved bilateral relations and understanding of the dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple.

The border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia flared up after UNESCO granted the historic temple World Heritage Site status in July 2008, as the question of sovereignty over the land having was never clearly resolved.

The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, in a decision that Thailand was reluctant to accept. The surrounding land remains in dispute.

Cambodia becomes permanent member of World Heritage Committee

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister on Tuesday expressed his warmly welcome as Cambodia becomes the permanent member of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO in 17th general assembly in France.

"It is a new pride for our country that became fully permanent member of the world heritage committee," Hun Sen told over 2,000 students in graduation ceremony of a university in Phnom Penh. "Itwill promote the image and prestige of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the world arena," he added.

On behalf of new permanent member of the WHC, Cambodia will implement its mission with high responsibility and will strengthen the cooperation with other countries, he said.

"We will enhance capacity building and study multi experiences with the world heritage committee, UNESCO, and other international forums," he stressed.

Moreover, Hun Sen said that Cambodia will do more to follow the common purposes in the WHC that has been working on conservation, culture and heritage development. "We have to enhance more international cooperation to move forward of conservation and heritage development."

The Kingdom of Cambodia was elected as a member of the WHC thanks to her richness in cultural properties and history including intangible cultural properties, several of which were inscribed on the World Heritage List, namely the Royal Ballet, the Shadow Theater, Angkor area, and the Temple of Preah Vihear, the premier said.

Cambodia becomes one of 21 permanent members which represent 186 countries in the world in the 17th general assembly of world heritage committee that is held from Oct. 23 to 28, 2009 in Paris, France at UNESCO Headquarters.

Cambodia became a member of UNESCO in 1951.

Cambodia Hopes To Join World Heritage Committee

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 October 2009

Council Minister Sok An said Wednesday he was optimistic Cambodia would be added as a permanent member of Unesco’s World Heritage committee in voting next week.

Cambodia expects 143 of 186 members to approve the accession, following lobbying efforts in Africa, Central America, Europe and Oceania, Sok An said. Cambodia has received many messages of support from these countries, he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen sent 11 delegates around the world to garner support for the move, Sok An said, arriving Wednesday at Phnom Penh international airport from a Unesco general assembly meeting in Paris.

“For the 143 countries, we are able to have stronger hope and optimism, but the election will be 100 percent clear when the voting and ballot-counting are completed on 26 October,” he said.

As a permanent committee member, Cambodia would benefit from cost protections, experience exchanges and research, Sok An said.

In his bid for membership, Hun Sen wrote a letter to voting nations extolling “700 historic temples, more than 800 ancient mounds, some 80 ancient bridges made of stone and brick, as well as many fine arts and dances.”

Cambodia’s cultural heritage has not come without cost. After its Preah Vihear temple, on the Thai border, was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, protests erupted in Bangkok, leading to a military build-up over disputed territory near the temple. Seven soldiers have died so far, and bilateral talks have failed to resolve the problem, which began in July 2008.

More than 40 Thai parliamentarians vowed on Tuesday to demand Preah Vihear be “returned” to Thailand and to prevent Cambodia from joining Unesco’s World Heritage committee as a permanent member.

Cambodian lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the National Assembly “a small number of Thai parliamentarians” were looking to “swallow Cambodian territory.” He urged a rapid halt to their “bad ambition.”

Cambodia threatened to raise the border issue at an Asean meeting later this month, but retracted the threat after an official explanation from Bangkok dismissed media reports Thailand would seek a neutral arbitrator to the standoff.

Thailand's frame of mind on the Preah Vihear temple issue: "...we tried to negotiate so we would have BENEFITED..."

What really happened at the WHC meeting in Quebec

Tuesday July 15, 2008
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
Bangkok Post

Pongpol Adireksarn, the chairman of the National World Heritage Committee, talked to the Post after returning from Quebec where the Preah Vihear issue was discussed.

How did Thailand prepare for the meeting in Quebec? We had two teams. One was mine concentrating on matters regarding World Heritage. The other was led by the Foreign Ministry and focussed on matters regarding political issues, especially the boundary issue.

We agreed to merge our stance into two main points, which were the deferral and the joint nomination of the site. We insisted on the joint nomination because we felt that the site's integrity should be preserved. Since some parts of the temple's cultural landscape fall in Thai territory, it should be jointly nominated.

What did you do to get the World Heritage Committee (WHC) to consider Thailand's stance? We had an informal talk with Cambodia through a mediator on July 6. We were in separate rooms, and the WHC's representative came to us first. We told them we wanted to postpone the proposal. They said this could not be done since it was postponed once. And for the joint nomination, they said it was too late because Cambodia already put in a proposal [unilaterally]. So we told them then that only the temple could be listed. They went back and forth between us and the Cambodians for about three to four hours. It was quite rushed as they went back and forth.

Did we not expect that Cambodia's temple would be listed anyway? We realised that. But we tried to negotiate so we would have benefited, or at the most not been at a disadvantage. People said we surrendered. Surrendered what? Our statement says we objected.

Was there any voting in the meeting? No. The chairperson shared the draft decision in the meeting, and nobody objected. So, the chairperson hit the hammer. In some other cases, some members exchanged words, but not on this. They said it was the last matter and time was limited. There were 47 sites nominated. Previously, the Preah Vihear case was the fourth in order, but it was moved to 47th. They said they wanted us to settle a deal.

Do you think policies or mechanisms regarding a World Heritage site are adequate to help facilitate the issues concerning disputed boundaries?

The WHC does not get involved with boundaries. They are interested in only World Heritage matters. So parties have to discuss with one another. So far, there is the International Coordinating Committee to help in related policies. This will be a platform where we can fight further. I still see that as useful.