PAD supporters demand explanation on Preah Vihear

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - Hundreds of supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gathered in front of the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday morning to demand the government to clarify the Preah Vihear temple's borders.

The move came after the cabinet approved the new map of the ancient temple, clearing the way for Cambodia to propose the temple to Unesco as a World Heritage site.

The temple has been a magnet for conflicts in decades as Thailand and Cambodia have fought over its ownership.

About 200 police officers were at the ministry to step up security.

Traffic in front of the Sri Ayutthaya was heavily congested as the protesters blocked the four-lane street.

Cabinet assent for map of Preah Vihear - Way now clear for World Heritage listing

Wednesday June 18, 2008
Bangkok POST REPORTERS

The cabinet yesterday approved the new map of Prasart Preah Vihear, clearing the way for Cambodia to propose the temple to Unesco as a World Heritage site.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the main point of concern to the cabinet was whether the map would affect the disputed area of 4.6 square kilometres on the border near the site.

The minister said that land, which has not been demarcated, was excluded from the new map and Thailand did not lose any sovereignty.

''The Foreign Ministry should get flowers instead of bricks for handling the issue,'' he said.

Mr Noppadon, who has come under severe criticism for his handling of the issue, said the map will be made public within days.

Earlier, the minister said the map would be made public only after Unesco approved the temple as a World Heritage site.

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday rallied at the ministry and announced they would return today to demand Mr Noppadon clarify the Preah Vihear temple's borders, saying the public still held suspicions of conflicts of interests.

Mr Noppadon denied any hidden agenda in dealing with the issue.

Phnom Penh will propose Preah Vihear, called Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, to the meeting of Unesco's World Heritage Committee which begins in Quebec on July 2.

It needs backing from Thailand, which will be reflected in their joint statement.

The disputed border area will be left for the two countries to settle, Mr Noppadon said.

Navy chief Adm Sathirapan Keyanont said the new map, drawn by Cambodia, was acceptable as it reached only 20-30 metres from the Preah Vihear temple and did not encroach on the disputed area.

Cabinet approval came after the National Security Council endorsed the revised map on Monday.

The army has called for the ministry to hold talks with Cambodia about clearing away shops and houses of Cambodians that have been in the disputed area for eight years, an army source said.

''The Foreign Ministry should tell Cambodia to remove all those structures before the World Heritage listing,'' said the source.

The Senate committee on foreign affairs is about to officially ask the ministry and Unesco to delay World Heritage consideration of the ancient temple.

Senator M.R. Preeyanantana Rangsit said that under Article 190 of the constitution the government must seek approval from parliament before supporting any agreement that could affect Thai territory.

Thailand gives green light for Cambodia to register disputed temple

BANGKOK, June 17, (TNA) - Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a yet-to-be disclosed new map of Preah Vihear temple that would pave the way for neighbouring Cambodia to apply for the disputed Preah Vihear temple to be listed as a World Heritage Site.

Cambodia will present the new map as key document to experts of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the meeting in Quebec next month.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Tuesday the disputed and undemarcated 4.6-square kilometre area surrounding and adjacent to the temple complex itself is not included on the map.

The minister also emphasised that all details in the new map would be released after the World Heritage Committee meets in July to consider the matter.

The 21-nation committee is scheduled to meet in Quebec beginning July 2 to decide whether or not to grant the world heritage site status to the temple.

Historically, both Thailand and Cambodia have claimed the ancient Khmer-built Hindu temple complex astride the mutual border in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province in the northeast, but practical access is only possible from the Thai side.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

In a related development, the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy on Tuesday issued its third statement supporting its civil disobedience measure, calling for the Foreign Ministry's officials to come
out to argue regarding the disputed Preah Vihear temple.

Pipob Thongchai, a core leader of PAD, said in the latest civil disobedience announcement that the group wanted to urge Thai ambassadors, charge d'affaires, consuls, and officials of the Foreign Ministry to carry out a mission to maintain the country's sovereignty.

In particular, they should come out to make an argument over the controversial issue on the historic Preah Vihear temple.

He said the PAD supporters would march to the ministry on Wednesday to monitor the issue because the group believed it involved vested interests gained by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The opposition Democrat Party had earlier cast doubts regarding the new map of the historic temple, suggesting that Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama might have compromised Thailand's national interests over the issue.

[Thai] Govt approves secret Cambodia temple deal

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Bangkok Post

The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a still secret new map of Preah Vihear temple and surrounding area that it says protects Thai interests while neighbouring Cambodia applies for the UN to declare it as a World Heritage Site.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said he is prepared to clarify the government's position in a coming non-confidence debate, when the opposition Democrat Party may challenge the Preah Vihear stance.

The Opposition earlier cast doubts regarding the new map of the historic temple, suggesting that the foreign minister might have compromised Thailand's national interests over the issue.

The minister also emphasised that all details in the new map would be released after the World Heritage Committee meets in July to consider the matter.

Mr Noppadon explained that he could not reveal what he described as "official secret information" now under joint consideration among the Royal Thai Survey Department, the Foreign Ministry and state agencies concerned.

But he said the disputed and undemarcated 4.6-square kilometre area surrounding and adjacent to the temple complex itself is not included on the map.

The 21-nation committee is scheduled to meet in Quebec beginning July 2 to decide whether or not to grant the world heritage site status to the temple.

Historically, both Thailand and Cambodia have claimed the ancient Khmer-built Hindu temple complex astride the mutual border in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province in the northeast, but practical access is only possible from the Thai side.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy on Tuesday issued a statement calling on Foreign Ministry officials to argue against Mr Noppadon on the temple issue.

Pipob Thongchai, a core leader of PAD, said in the latest civil disobedience announcement that the group wanted to urge Thai ambassadors, charge d' affaires, consuls, and officials of the Foreign Ministry to carry out a mission to maintain the country's sovereignty.

In particular, they should come out to make an argument over the controversial issue on the historic Preah Vihear temple.

Thailand to back Cambodia's world heritage campaign

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

The Thai government has agreed to back Cambodia's application for the historic border temple of Preah Vihear to be listed as a World Heritage Site.

Thailand's foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, says that the Thai military, his ministry and Cambodian officials have jointly mapped the area around the temple to resolve any territorial disputes.

Last year's attempt by Cambodia to have the ancient Hindu site listed by the UN's cultural body, UNESCO, failed amid speculation that Thailand had blocked the deal.

The map will be submitted to a meeting of UNESCO in Canada next month.

Both countries have historically laid claim to the Preah Vihear site, which sits on Cambodian soil but can only be easily visited from Thailand.