[Thai] Minister Suwit denies signing legally binding document on Preah Vihear

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (MCOT online news) - Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Wednesday denied he had signed any legally binding document on Preah Vihear, asserting that the document he signed at the World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Brazil was a non-binding draft and Thailand consequently is not at a disadvantage against Cambodia.

Mr Suwit, who led the Thai delegation to the just ended the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commission (WHC) meeting in Brazil, was interviewed by telephone on a Modernine TV news programme saying that the five-point document he signed was a general document including the result of the WHC meeting, the documentation report and the meeting resolution to postpone the discussion in Cambodian Preah Vihear development plan to next year's meeting.

As for the issue on the approval on the joint committee establishment, Mr Suwit said it was the progress report and Thailand had asserted that it did not agree with the plan.

He added that the document was only a draft and not a Memorandum of Understanding or similar document that could bind Thailand legally or put Thailand at a disadvantage.

The minister also said he was still wondering about the statement by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An who led the Cambodian delegation at WHC meeting announcing victory over the matter.

The WHC last week postponed discussing Cambodia's development-management plan for the ancient temple until next year when it meets in Bahrain.

The heritage committee had decided to postpone discussion on the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could not find common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An however said later that Cambodia had achieved its goal when the UNESCO committee agreed to consider its plan for managing Preah Vihear temple -- but not emphasising it would be next year.

Political activist Veera Somkwamkid on Monday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify Mr Sok An's claim that the two countries had reached an understanding on managing areas near the temple.

He also questioned the document Mr Suwit had signed during the meeting over Cambodian Preah Vihear management plan.

Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the dispute over the 4.6 sq km contested zone between the two countries remains unsolved.

Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval, but Thailand insisted that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours first resolve their dispute over the zone adjacent to the temple.

Kamrob did not request Thaksin's flight plan: [Thai] MFA

December 15, 2009
The Nation

The flight plan of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was not a topic of telephone conversation between Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai and Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong, secretary to the foreign minister Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said on Tuesday.

Chavanond was speaking in rigorous defence of Kamrob's role which led to Sivarak's conviction for spying in Phnom Penh.

"Statements by Kamrob and Sivarak have confirmed Kamrob did not ask for the flight plan," Chavanond said.

Thailand's response to You Ay: A figurefinger pointing game [-Siem min choal kbuon!!!]

Pertinent points for Cambodia

16/10/2009
Post Bag
Bangkok Post

With reference to Cambodian Ambassador You Ay's letter ("From Cambodia with clarity," Post bag, Oct 13), the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state for the record a couple of pertinent points as follows:

1. The issue of the temple of Phra Viharn is a complicated one with a history going back a long time. The situation, however, worsened following its inscription on the World Heritage List in 2008, despite unresolved negotiations on the encroachment of the land boundary in the area adjacent to the temple.

Thailand did not initiate the problem, nor did it try to exploit extreme nationalist sentiment in order to make political gains. (sic!)

2. As for the allegation that Thai troops caused the destruction of the Cambodian market and the Cambodian side demanded compensation for the affected people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already officially informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia by a diplomatic note dated Aug 10, 2009, clarifying that the said incidents were triggered by Cambodian soldiers' assault on Thai troops, forcing the latter to take defensive action and leading to the exchange of fire between the soldiers of both sides. The Ministry wishes to reiterate that the whole incident took place at the market and Cambodian community in the area adjacent to the temple of Phra Viharn, which are situated within the territory of Thailand.

I hope this letter will help promote a better understanding of this delicate issue.

THANI THONGPHAKDI
Deputy Director-General, Department of Information,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Father of burn victim rejects Thai denials

Bullet still lodged inside of Mao Kleung will shed light on the role of Thai troops in last week’s incident

Friday, 18 September 2009
Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

Bullet lodged in bystander could shed light on case

AS Cambodia continued to wait for an official Thai diplomatic response in the case of a young man allegedly shot and then burned alive by Thai troops on the border between the two countries, the victim’s father demanded that Thai officials admit responsibility for his son’s death.

“I was angered to hear the Thai officials’ comment that their soldiers merely shot in the air. My son’s life is not something I will let them lie about or make a mockery of,” Saing Yon, father of murdered 16-year-old Yon Rith, told the Post on Thursday.

“I am still demanding that Thailand make a public admission. I do not need compensation – I want those responsible to be punished.”

Yon Rith was allegedly shot and burned alive last Friday. Fellow villager Mao Kleung was also shot but survived and is recovering in an Oddar Meanchey province hospital. Ten other Cambodians escaped unharmed from the confrontation with the Thai soldiers.

Srey Naren, Oddar Meanchey provincial coordinator for local rights group Adhoc, said that the bullet still lodged inside of Mao Kleung will shed light on the role of Thai troops in last week’s incident. When doctors remove the bullet and submit it for analysis, she said, “we will have evidence to put before the Thai foreign affairs officials”.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday that his ministry was still waiting for an official written response from the Thai side to Tuesday’s diplomatic note.

“They have to answer because this is a very serious issue. If they do not respond, it means they accept responsibility [for the incident],” Koy Kuong said.

The Bangkok Post reported on Wednesday that Vimon Kidchob, spokeswoman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied the allegations against the Thai soldiers.

On Thursday, however, an official from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Post in an email that his government was not ready to make an official statement.

Thailand's propaganda machine is in full steam

World can see through Khmer's hidden agenda : Thai FM

Mon, October 27, 2008
The Nation

Thai FM spokesman says the international community has no problem seeing through their hidden agenda

The Thai Foreign Ministry has strongly denied Cambodia's allegation that Thai troops had damaged the ancient Preah Vihear Temple during the border shootout middle of this month.

"The Thai army reiterated to us that in accordance with strict orders, Thai troops have not used heavy firearms or rocket launchers near the temple of Pra Viharn (Preah Vihear) and never fired at the temple," the ministry said in the statement.

On the contrary, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry statement, the rocketpropelled grenades, or RPG, were launched by the Cambodian side near the Twin Stupas and landed in the Pra Viharn National Park on the Thai side of the border.

The Thai side has kept for evidence two unexploded Cambodian rocket rounds that two unexploded Cambodian rocket rounds had been kept for evidence.

The Thai Foreign Ministry's statement came one day after Phnom Penh lodged a complaint with the Unesco, accusing Thai troops of damaging the ancient Preah Vihear Temple during the border shootout, which killed one Thai soldier and two Cambodian troops.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers, said on Sunday that a staircase and a sculpture of the mythical Naga creature were damaged by rocket fire at the 11thcentury Khmer ruins.

Phy Siphan said, "The temple was intentionally damaged by Thai troops, because we found remnants of grenades... near the temple and there were no Cambodian soldiers stationed nearby."

Cambodia made the accusation just days after Prime Minister Hun Sen met his Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on the side of the Beijing's AsiaEurope Meeting, or Asem. The outcome of the bilateral meeting in Beijing was billed as a positive forward.

Thai FM's spokesman Tharit Jarungwat described the latest accusations, which came just days after the two leaders met, as Cambodia's political ploy. He said the international community has no problem seeing through their hidden agenda.

Every time when Cambodia responded positively, they usually said differently a day later, Tharit said.

However, he said the Thai side has clear evidence about the incident and is ready to clarify all issues relating to the ThaiCambodian border dispute on any stage.

Meanwhile, Thailand's UN Ambassador Don Pramudwinai, meanwhile, said he was not informed about Cambodia's plan to accuse its neighbouring country of damaging Preah Vihear to the United Nations (UN).

Boonsang denies soldier died at Preah Vihear

(BangkokPost.com) - Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit denied a rumour that a Thai soldier recently died on Preah Vihear temple.

Gen Boonsang said he has not received any reports on this issue, but will ask his subordinates for a thorough investigation.

He said this could be just a rumour, because he would have been reported about it if it was true.

According to local media, an English newspaper in Cambodia reported that a 44-year-old Thai soldier, identified as Bun Nak, died on Sunday at Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak temple near the ancient temple. Cause of death was unknown.