Joint management of Preah Vihear as a peace compromise with Thailand ... fat chance?

Peace will only prevail if both sides compromise

March 16, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Unless Thailand and Cambodia come to a compromise on the management of the much-contested Preah Vihear, the border area near the temple will never be peaceful.

The international community, including the United Nations and Asean, is working hard to try and settle this boundary conflict.

Last week, Indonesia, in its capacity as the chair of Asean, called a meeting between both sides' Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC) to discuss boundary demarcation and security arrangements at the border.

Jakarta is also preparing to send observers to assess the border situation and monitor a "permanent cease-fire" in the disputed area. However, it would take Asean a long while to bring this complicated conflict to an end.

After so many girations and deaths, Thai academics suggest joint management of Preah Vihear area ... AGAIN

Govt deal on temple land 'can end row'

15/06/2009
By THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

Surin: The Thai and Cambodian governments should jointly manage disputed areas around the Preah Vihear temple while they work on border demarcation, academics say.

Boonruang Kajmary, an academic on Cambodian studies at Surindra Rajabhat University, said unless the governments of the two countries agree to manage the area together, the border conflict would probably never be settled.

The two countries should agree to manage it together for the sake of their people.The temple problem was created by politicians and had been blown up into a social problem, he said.

While an atmosphere of mistrust remains, attempts to demarcate the overlapping area would probably fail as they would be criticised by the parliament from the other side.

Thailand and Cambodia both claim land amounting to 4.6 sq km or 3,000 rai around the temple in Si Sa Ket province as their own.

They have troops patrolling the area who have clashed with each other many times over the years.

However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week assured Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that fighting over the area would end.

Damkeung Tothong, director of the democratic study centre at Surindra Rajabhat University, said Thais and Cambodians could talk about their similar ethnicity. But when it comes to history, they cannot agree.

"I tell my students to forget the political borderlines as ethnology can promote peace. Our northeastern region and Cambodia used to be on the same piece of land," he said, adding that the people of Surin province can speak the Khmer language and some Cambodians cross the border to see their Thai relatives.

Soey Wongsi, a Cambodian graduate student, agreed that both countries should focus on the long relationship between their peoples.

Thailand Wants A Piece Of The Preah Vihear Cake

Opinion by Khmerization
28th August 2008

“When Mr. Samak was talking about “promoting tourism at Preah Vihear temple”, he was talking about sharing the Preah Vihear tourist dollars between Cambodia and Thailand. This is an insult to injury and a double robbery because while the issue of “Thai occupation” of the Preah Vihear areas had not been resolved, Thailand now turned its attention to acquiring benefits from the Preah Vihear temple.”

The recent agreement between Defence Minister Tea Banh and Thai PM, Samak, to develop tourist areas at Preah Vihear is a cause for concern. It is a cause for concern because, after numerous negotiations, the issue of Thai occupation of areas around Preah Vihear has still not been resolved and the control of the areas has not been transferred to Cambodia.

The Thai tactics now is to divert the attention from the real issue of territorial integrity and territorial disputes into the issue of mutual tourism promotion. Cambodia must not fall into this trap. Cambodia must stick to the issue of total Thai troop withdrawal from the “occupied zone” first before agreeing to any tourism co-operation in the areas.

While the ownership of the so-called “disputed zone” has not been established, the proposed “tourist site” would see Cambodia’s territorial integrity eroded as the proposed site, which will be the so-called “disputed zone”, is a Cambodian territory.

Cambodia should only agree to develop a tourist site or a garden of peace, as some have suggested, only when the “occupied territories” at Preah Vihear have been transferred to Cambodian control. To agree to build a garden of peace or tourist site there before the transfer of the ownership of the areas to Cambodia would be tantamount to conceding Cambodia’s territorial integrity to Thailand.

Cambodia must not be so naïve about the Thai proposal, but must be wary about Thailand’s real intention, and that is it wants a piece of the Preah Vihear cake. Mr. Samak’s statement of “territorial problems which cannot be resolved by now will be left for negotiations later” must be viewed with suspicion. That kind of statement has its connotation. It means that the territorial issues at the so-called “disputed zone” at Preah Vihear and the Ta Moan temples “will be left for negotiations later”. What Thailand wants to concentrate now is to “promote tourism at Preah Vihear temple”. Cambodia must be wary about this Thai proposal. Cambodia must be mindful that Preah Vihear temple is a Cambodian temple and that promoting tourism should be the exclusive rights of Cambodia and that all tourist revenue should be the sole benefits of Cambodia. It must not be shared with Thailand.

When Mr. Samak was talking about “promoting tourism at Preah Vihear temple”, he was talking about sharing the Preah Vihear tourist dollars between Cambodia and Thailand. This is an insult to injury and a double robbery because while the issue of “Thai occupation” of the Preah Vihear areas had not been resolved, Thailand now turned its attention to acquiring benefits from the Preah Vihear temple. As I said earlier, any tourism co-operation with Thailand should only happen when the “occupied zone” has been transferred to Cambodian control. To agree to develop the areas before the ownership of the “occupied areas” was established would be tantamount to conceding Cambodia’s territorial integrity to Thailand.

On a footnote to this editorial, I wish to congratulate PM Hun Sen’s initiative of giving lands to the families of landless soldiers who are stationed on the borders to protect our borders. The PM’s initiative should be supported wholeheartedly. But, like Mr. Cheam Channy said, I am concerned that the military leaders might take advantage of this policy by distributing the lands or good lands to themselves and their families. The Cambodian government, if it wants this policy to be implemented properly and equitably, must devise a mechanism to ensure that the lands should only be given to the landless soldiers and that rich military leaders are not eligible to receive any land concessions at all.

Noppadon rejects claims of concession on temple [-Thaksin may benefit from the Preah Vihear negotiation]

May 16, 2008
The Nation (Thailand)

The opposition yesterday grilled Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama over whether the government had made a deal with Phnom Penh on overlapping territories in order to resolve the Preah Vihear temple dispute.

Democrat Sukhumbhand Paribatra quoted Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh as saying in the Cambodia Daily that Thailand had linked negotiations on territorial waters with the disputed temple.

"What the Cambodian minister said contradicts Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who said there is no linkage between the two issues, so why does the ministry not protest to the Cambodians over the allegation?" he said.

Sukhumbhand did not indicate how the two issues were linked.

News commentators have accused the government of trading off land below the temple for an oil and gas concession for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"There is a huge interest in the overlapping area. The Foreign Ministry should handle the case with care, and not allow any private investors to get involved," said Sukhumbhand, a former deputy foreign minister. Noppadon said nobody in his government could exchange the Preah Vihear land for an oil and gas concession in the overlapping maritime area.

Preah Vihear came before the International Court of Justice in 1962. It ruled the temple belonged to Cambodia. The dispute was rekindled last year when Phnom Penh sought listing for the Hindu temple as a world heritage. Thailand opposed the proposal as Cambodia had annexed the surrounding land over which Thailand claims sovereignty.

"Negotiations are still going on and the two sides should be able to reach common ground within two weeks," Noppadon said.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who is in charge of the matter, will dispatch experts to wrap up the issue with Thai officials next week. Preah Vihear and the maritime boundary are completely separate issues and could not be linked, Noppadon said.

Thaksin 'wants to open Koh Kong casino'

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama cuts a large ribbon to mark the opening of Road 48 in Koh Kong while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, right, look on. The road project was financed by the Thai government. (Photo: JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG)

Cambodia confident of end to Preah Vihear row

Thursday May 15, 2008
JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG & THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

Thaksin Shinawatra is interested in developing another casino and entertainment complex in the Cambodian province of Koh Kong, Cambodian Defence Minister Teah Banh said yesterday.

Gen Teah Banh, who also is a deputy prime minister with close links to Thai generals, also expressed confidence about a peaceful solution to the dispute over the push by Phnom Penh to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site.

The Cambodian minister said in Koh Kong, opposite Trat, that talks about Mr Thaksin's plan were still unofficial. ''Prime Minister Hun Sen trusted and wanted Mr Thaksin to advise on developing Koh Kong as a special economic zone,'' the general said.

Koh Kong now has a casino complex operated by Koh Kong International, a firm owned by Pat Supapa, a senator representing the province and former governor.

The general maintained that the deadlock with Thailand over the Preah Vihear issue could be resolved and would not explode and compromise bilateral ties.

Gen Teah Banh was speaking as he joined Hun Sen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in opening Road 48 and four new bridges. The road was built with one billion baht in financial assistance from Thailand. The Thai side was led by Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.

The road facilitates the transport of goods from Cambodia to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri through Trat.

Mr Noppadon held talks with Mr Sok An at the temple ruins on the border of Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear province.

Mr Noppadon hoped that the Cambodian government would agree to develop a joint management plan with Thailand on Preah Vihear with a solution reached within two weeks.

The obstacle to Cambodia's attempt to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site is the overlapping area around the temple, which has not been demarcated.

Mr Noppadon said that the talks on Preah Vihear are separate from negotiations to resolve the overlapping maritime boundary covering 26,000 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand, and there would be no trade-off.

The two countries have submitted different proposals on how to share the benefits from the overlapping maritime area believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2001 to start negotiations over the overlapping area. But talks were stalled after the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by rioters in 2003.

Thailand still insists on joint management of Preah Vihear Temple: More Thai flipflopping in the horizon

Thailand-Cambodia ready to agree on preah vihear temple

May 12, 2008
The Nation (Thailand)

Thailand will soon end its dispute with Cambodia over the proposed listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site without making any trade-offs for oil rights, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.

"We are negotiating to have a joint administration run the temple and its grounds," Noppadon said. "We'll have a joint statement on the issue soon."

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

Thailand had no objection to listing the site until Phnom Penh, in preparing its application, annexed 4.6 square kilometres of land with overlapping ownership claims.

Thailand has suggested the contested area be managed by a bilateral body.

Both sides need to reach an agreement before the UN Educational, Science and Culture Organisation makes its final listing decision in July.

The issue was politicised by some newspaper columnists who alleged the government would concede to Cambodia's proposal if Phnom Penh granted oil and gas concessions to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Cambodia has discovered potential oil and natural gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand in its own territory and in overlapping areas. The two countries are working on a joint development scheme, Noppadon said.

The talks were on a government-to-government basis and the private sector was not involved.

He said, adding he had no idea whether Thaksin had struck a deal with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"I don't want to speak on behalf of former premier Thaksin, but I believe he would never barter away Thai territory for business interests," he said.

[Thai] PM to sue two daily newspapers [regarding Preah Vihear report]

Sunday, May 11, 2008

“After holding talks with Cambodian leader Hun Sen, the Thai government agreed that if the United Nations requires that the area of Phra Vihear temple which concerns Thailand also be included in the registration process for it to be regarded as a World Heritage site, then Thailand will make the proposal for Phrea Vihear to be registered as a UN World Heritage site jointly with Cambodia" - Samak Sundaravej, Thai PM

(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej launched an attack on two daily newspapers on Sunday, charging they had inaccurate reporting and stating he will sue them both. The premier did not name the newspapers but it's believed the anti-government Thai Post may be one of them.

During his weekly television programme, "Speaking in Samak's Style," the premier said the newspapers featured articles saying the Thai government had attempted to negotiate with Cambodia, trading rights to land around the Phra Vihear temple for access to Cambodian oil fields.

He denied the story but did not explain what grounds he will use in the lawsuit.

“After holding talks with Cambodian leader Hun Sen, the Thai government agreed that if the United Nations requires that the area of Phra Vihear temple which concerns Thailand also be included in the registration process for it to be regarded as a World Heritage site, then Thailand will make the proposal for Phrea Vihear to be registered as a UN World Heritage site jointly with Cambodia," he said.

Preah Vihear: It's a Khmer Temple, located on Khmer territories, yet Thailand wants a share of its management, why???

A way out of the impasse

Wednesday April 30, 2008
Bangkok Post

Anyone who has been to Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, can attest to the breath-taking beauty of the ancient Khmer ruins atop the Dongrek Range on the Thai-Cambodian border. They might also feel the tension that seems to envelop the surroundings - a result of the bitter wrangle over ownership of the 11th century temple. Thailand and Cambodia should realise that visitors to this sanctuary appreciate the first aspect, not the latter. And if they want ever more travellers from all over the world to appreciate this architectural wonder of Southeast Asia, the authorities have no choice but to strike a deal. This means they must stop quibbling and start searching seriously for a way to manage the sanctuary together.

This option of joint management should have been clear from the start, considering the location of the sanctuary atop a hill that sits right on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, with the more convenient access located on the Thai side. Still, what should have been an issue for amicable discussion became a problem to solve, when Cambodia unilaterally requested the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to register the temple as a World Heritage Site last year. Thailand is opposed to the proposal, as such a listing would include not just management of the temple site but the outer areas that serve as a buffer zone, which lie in disputed territory and which have still to be cleared of mines laid by the Khmer Rouge.

Cambodia has been pursuing the World Heritage status by itself and it is expected that its application will be accepted this year. Without a resolution on the territorial conflict, however, it looks like the new status will bring more problems and feelings of animosity to the ancient stone ruins. This would be a pity and defeat the whole purpose of having it recognised as a heritage of the world.

The only thing that is clear in this otherwise very complicated tussle over Preah Vihear is the ruling by the International Court of Justice that the sanctuary itself is under Cambodian sovereignty. This judgement has left some room for argument about the surrounding area, where demarcation between the two countries has not been settled. In fact, the entire 195km border in the Preah Vihear area remains in dispute. The optimistic estimate is that it will take slightly more than 10 years to settle the border issue. The pessimistic forecast predicts it will take forever, as the Thai and Cambodian authorities hold two different maps when they come to the negotiating table.

Considering the circumstances, it seems likely the pessimistic view will prevail. For that reason, both countries might as well leave the territorial dispute aside and take the time to work on a solution regarding the temple itself. In this light, it would be in their best interests - and for Preah Vihear to receive the smooth, sustainable conservation and management it deserves _ to get the World Heritage status, while agreeing on some form of joint management of the overlapping areas. Neither country need concede any land area or agree on the demarcation line at this point. They only need to agree that since they cannot yet find a solution, they will therefore manage it together, with clear guidelines over which country would be responsible for which aspect of the management. Though the long-standing territorial dispute might not be solved, at the very least the long-overdue preservation and management of the much-admired ruins will be able to proceed.

Noppadon Pattama: Thailand and Cambodia must jointly manage the area surrounding Preah Vihear

Samak relents on temple

Tuesday, March 04, 2008
BangkokPost.com, Agencies

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Tuesday he and the government have agreed that Cambodia should go ahead and apply to have Preah Vihear temple made a UN World Heritage site - but not the surrounding land.

"Cambodia and Thailand are preparing to issue a joint communique, but first I have to inform the Thai people," Mr Samak said, immediately after he returned from a two-day official visit to Phnom Penh.

"Cambodia confirmed that they will propose only the temple site for World Heritage status, not the surrounding area," he told the media.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the communique would also stipulate that Thailand and Cambodia must jointly manage the area surrounding Preah Vihear.

Last year, the UN cultural unit Unesco decided to turn down the Cambodian application for the temple to get Heritage status, mostly because Thai officials were ambivalent.

The temple has been a sore spot in Cambodian-Thai relations for decades. In 1962, the two countries took their disputed ownership of Preah Vihear to the World Court, which decided the temple was owned by Cambodia.

Complicating the nationalist card is the problem that there is no easy access to the temple from Cambodia, because it sits atop a sheer cliff, and can be reached only through Thailand.

Hun Sen big words but little action: If Thailand closes the border gate one more time, it will be closed forever

Hun Sen: If Thailand closes the border gate one more time, it will be closed forever

Monday, July 30, 2007
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The plan to end the dependence on Thailand at the Preah Vihear Temple area was decided by a recommendation made by prime minister Hun Sen during a council of minister meeting held at the end of last week. Hun Sen ordered the ministry of public works and transportation to immediately study a plan to build two important roads: National Road 10 from Battambang province to Pailin city, and the road from Kompong Thom province to the area of the Preah Vihear temple.

This revelation of this information caused Cambodian people who live in the Preah Vihear Temple to rejoice, it is also good news for all Cambodian people regarding the possibility of a good road in the future so they can easily visit the temple on top on Dangrek Mountain, and it will also facilitate the transport of goods to this region.

Currently, this region always faces hardship each time the border gate is repeatedly ordered closed by a unilateral decision, because food and even water must be bought from Thailand. Hun Sen discussed about the Thai side which closed the border gate at the Preah Vihear Temple, by warning that if the gate is closed one more time, it will closed forever.

Regarding Preah Vihear Temple, on 24 July, a high-ranking delegation of government officials traveled by helicopter to the temple to visit and perform of a review the temple. The delegation included Ti Yav of the OBSES commission, Var Kim Hong, a high-ranking official in charge of Cambodian border affairs, as well as high-ranking officials from various ministries concerned.

What is noticeable was the presence of a number of embassy officials based in Cambodia, such as the US embassy, Canada, Japan, as well as 30 persons who were officials from various embassies and archeologists. The delegation was protected by border guards under the direction of Long Sovann, the deputy provincial governor.

At the fourth temple, the Cambodian delegation as well as the embassy officials and other visitors, organized a ceremony to pray the spirit of Ta Dy (Grandpa Dy) and Yeay Mao (Grandma Mao) to ask for protection and peace. During the visit, embassy officials and archeologists paid great attention to all temples and stone inscriptions. Next, the delegation traveled down from the temple to visit the border gate to Thailand, located next to the first temple. They held discussions at the border gate office for about half an hour before concluding the visit.

UNESCO will officially announce the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site next year. Earlier, the Thai side demanded also that the portion of the temple located in Thailand be included as well, and they also demanded that border disputes be resolved. Nevertheless, Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs, told UNESCO members that the request to list Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site is not involved with the border problems, and that this request was made only under the sovereignty of Cambodia on the temples which constitute Cambodian heritage. The request to include Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site was supported by the US ambassador in Cambodia.

Mutual ties not affected by Phreah Vihear dispute : Thai ambassador [-Thai army finally admits it closed the border entrance in Preah Vihear]

Fri, July 6, 2007
By Nantida Puangthong/Marisa Chimprabha
The Nation (Thailand)

Thailand's concerns about unsettled border issues, which resulted in Unesco's decision to delay Cambodia's request to list the Phreah Vihear shrine as World Heritage site, will not affect Thailand-Cambodia relations, said Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Viraphand Vacharathit.

Cambodia understood the Thai position that there were still certain unsettled issues including border demarcation, he said.

Unesco's World Heritage committee delayed until next year a decision to put the shrine on the World Heritage list. The decision came after Thailand argued that the Thai-Cambodian border has yet to be demarcated and a joint management plan for the area is still being discussed.

The Thai envoy said Cambodia is well aware that its request was not rejected but only delayed until next year's meeting, While some local Cambodian media wanted to instigate publicity, the majority of the Khmer people including the government understood the matter.

The ambassador reiterated that the Unesco panel based its decision on the basis that it needed more information and related documents concerning Cambodia's request about Preah Vihear.

The panel asked Cambodia to resubmit its request in February next year.

Meanwhile a senior Thai army officer said the Thai army has closed the entrance to Phreah Vihear, close to Si Sa Ket province, after refusing to abide by a Cambodian order not to wear uniforms when they visit the venue.

The Cambodian side claimed that seeing the Thai military in uniform will not be good for tourism in Preah Vihear.

The order came a few days after Unesco's decision regarding the World Heritage site listing.

Preah Vihear is technically located in the northernmost tip of Cambodia but is only easily accessible from northeast Thailand

Ownership of Preah Vihear temple was disputed by Thailand and Cambodia and the International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.

A senior army source said that the Thai army refused to abide by the Cambodian order, leading to conflict and the closing of the entrance to Preah Vihear.

He said this was not the first time that the Cambodian side came up with this kind of order and not the first time that unsettled issues led to the suspension of services to the shrine.

"Every time that there is an unsettled issue between Thailand and Cambodia, it has resulted in a change of orders concerning Preah Viehar," he said.

Thailand is not opposed to Preah Vihear listing, it only wants a cut out of it and a review of the border there

Preah Vihear temple to wait a year for World Heritage Site decision

2/7/2007
Shanghai Daily (PRC)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee announced after its annual meeting in New Zealand last week that it has delayed the registration of Preah Vihear temple onto the UNESCO world heritage list to next year, as Cambodia needs to resolve some issues, local media reported today.

The World Heritage Committee needs to consider the Thai demand for clear border markings at the site, and asked the two nations to settle their common problems first, suggesting that Cambodia can again make the request next year, said Cambodian daily newspaper the Rasmei Kampuchea.

Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith confirmed last Friday the postponement of the Cambodia's request for the temple to be listed as a world heritage site, agreeing that a few technical issues remain to be solved.

However, the minister stressed that the delay was not related to Thailand.

"Thailand didn't oppose the Cambodia's request to register Preah Vihear temple, but we have a few technical problems such as new buildings, radio towers, stalls and drainage (system)," said Kanharith.

Preah Vihear temple, situated along the Cambodian-Thai border, has long been a cause of dispute between the two Kingdoms, with the International Justice Court in 1962 ruling against Thailand's sovereignty claim.

A part of the site is now on Thai soil. Cambodia and Thailand are discussing a joint plan to manage the area.

Thailand threatens to oppose Preah Vihear listing again next year if border and management issues not resolved

Thailand supports World Heritage status for Cambodian Hindu temple

Bangkok, June 29 (DPA) - Thailand has welcomed 'in principle' a decision by the World Heritage Committee this week to consider Preah Vihear, a famed Hindu temple perched on the Thai-Cambodian border, as a World Heritage Site next year.

'In principle, Thailand totally agrees that Preah Vihear should be listed on as a World Heritage Site next year, but there are some issues that should be settled first between Thailand and Cambodia,' said Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat Friday.

The World Heritage Committee at its 31st session in Christchurch, New Zealand, recognized Phrea Vihear as a temple of great international significance that deserves to be inscribed as a heritage site but postponed its decision on the temple until next year.

Thailand reportedly blocked a Cambodian request that the site be inscribed this year, citing unresolved issues over the joint management of the temple and an ongoing border dispute in the area.

Former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk took Thailand to the World Court in 1962 over the two countries' claim to Phrea Vihear and won.

The Hindu temple sits on a cliff marking the Thai-Cambodian border, making access from the Cambodian side difficult.

'Thailand and her people stand ready seriously and promptly to extend cooperation and support to Cambodia and the international community in order to develop Preah Vihear Temple to become an archaeological site with world heritage value as well as a symbol of lasting friendship and relations between Thailand and Cambodia and their people,' said a statement issued Friday by the Thai foreign ministry.

But Tharit said he could not predict if Thailand would actually support Cambodia's bid to make Phrea Vihear a World Heritage Site next year if the differences over the site's management and related demarcation issues were not resolved.

Thailand supports Preah Vihear to be World Heritage site, but .... border has not been demarcated yet and Thailand now wants joint management

Thailand supports Preah Vihear shrine to be World Heritage : FM

Fri, June 29, 2007
by Marisa Chimprabha
The Nation

Thai authorities support in principle the ancient Hindu shrine of Preah Vihear being listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, but there are some unsettled issues regarding the shrine.

Cambodia wants the temple, which lies on its north-west border with Thailand, to be recognised as a World Heritage monument to help assure its continued preservation.

Unesco's World Heritage Committee met recently and suspended a decision on Cambodia's request.

The decision came after Thailand argued that the Thai-Cambodian border has yet to be demarcated and a joint management plan for the area is still being discussed.

The Unesco panel asked both countries to resolve the unsettled issues first and suggested that Cambodia re-submit its request next year.

"We have no objection to Preah Vihear shrine being a World Heritage Site. We support in principle Phnom Penh's request. We hope that the unsettled issues can be solved and the request be put forward for approval again next year," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said yesterday.

The Unesco decision to delay the Cambodian request has put Thai authorities on alert. They fear the issue may be exploited to stir anti-Thai sentiment among Cambodians and that recent history might repeat itself.

In 2003 anti-Thai riots erupted, mainly in Phnom Penh, after Cambodian media repeatedly published rumours that a Thai actress had made derogatory remarks against the Cambodian people. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen fuelled the situation by directly confirming the rumours. Hundreds of Cambodians went on a rampage, looting and attacking Thai-owned businesses and the Thai Embassy.

A senior intelligence source said the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh held an urgent meeting of Thai nationals in Cambodia last week to go over an evacuation plan after it was informed of the government's position on the Unesco matter.

However Tharit dismissed this, saying it was just a routine meeting between the embassy and Thai nationals living in Cambodia.

The Cambodian government has, over recent years, renewed its effort to have Unesco classify the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site.