Experts Warn of Border Loss in Temple Win

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
10 July 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

While many Cambodians celebrated the inclusion of the Preah Vihear temple on a list of protected World Heritage sites this week, critics warn Cambodia gained a little in recognition but could lose land in future border negotiations.

"It gained a little bit because Cambodians who do not know it well will know that the temple belongs to the Khmers," said Sean Peng Se, president of the Cambodian Border Committee in France. "Thailand can claim it, but [an International Court] verdict clearly said it's Khmer, in Khmer land."

Sean Peng Se said he was concerned over future border demarcation because Cambodia had not submitted all the land surrounding the cliff-top temple in its World Heritage application to Unesco. The temple was inscribed as a World Heritage site by a Unesco committee on Monday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said border demarcation will not be affected.

Former king Norodom Sihanouk, meanwhile, issued a statement saying the "main gate" of the temple opened to Cambodia, not Thailand.

Cambodia Watchdog Council International has said the redrawing of a map for the Unesco application constituted a loss of territory.

"The borderline is clearly referred to in 1904-07 and the verdict of the International Court in 1962," said Ir Channa, secretary-general of the Council, which is based in Norway and plans to hold a conference in France on Cambodian territory at the end of July.

According to 1904 and 1907 treaties, he said, Cambodia territory reaches to about 2 kilometers from the northern steps of the temple stairs facing Thailand, farther than the 30 meters now demarked around the temple for World Heritage purposes.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the World Heritage inscription was not about borders, but about culture. The government understands the treaties, he said, but border demarcation is a separate issue.

Anniversary of Preah Vihear ruling to be held at Wat Phnom [-Hun Sen's regime admits that Thailand moves its border into Cambodia]

Views inside the ICJ in 1962 (Photos: NorodomSihanouk.info)

Thursday, 12 June 2008
Eath Daravuth
The Mekong Times

“Currently Preah Vihear temple fences are too near the gate of the temple, which indicates that Thailand has moved its border markers into Cambodian territory” - Pai Siphan, spokesman for Hun Sen's Council of Ministers

The Khmer Civilization Support Association (KCSA) has announced its celebration of the International Court of Justice(ICJ)’s 1962 ruling that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia – rather than Thailand – will be held Sunday at Wat Phnom.

“The ceremony is being held in gratitude to our Cambodian ancestors who built Preah Vihear,” said the KCSA statement, adding that it was also dedicated to former King Sihanouk – Cambodian head of state when the ICJ ruling was made.

“The ceremony is also being held to thank the Cambodian government for maintaining sovereignty and integrity until the temple is registered as a [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] World Heritage Site list,” said the KSCA.

The UN body will discuss the temple’s listing at talks to be held early next month in Quebec. The KSCA announcement comes as the Thai government studies in detail a new drawing of the temple grounds that Cambodia submitted last week.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungwat told The Bangkok Post yesterday that further talks between Thai and Cambodian officials are needed because the Cambodian map of the area slightly differs from the border map used by Thailand

The same newspaper reported last week that the Thai Democratic Party was appealing to Thais to oppose the 1962 ruling, which its deputy leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot claimed was “unfair.”

“If Thailand allows the UNESCO listing it could automatically lose its right to reclaim sovereignty over Preah Vihear in the future,” said Alongkorn.

Pai Siphan, spokesman for the Cambodian Council of Ministers, said yesterday that the term “map” as opposed to “drawing” was causing confusion. “We use the word drawing, as it was a drawing submitted to UNESCO and Thailand. We have sent the drawing to the Thai side and they approved it,” he said.

He added that, according to Cambodian law, the legal premises of each temple are adjudged to be 30 meters starting from the base of its outer buildings. “Currently Preah Vihear temple fences are too near the gate of the temple, which indicates that Thailand has moved its border markers into Cambodian territory,” said the spokesman.