Sunday, 6 July 2008

Concern in Quebec over temple row

The Bangkok Post

All 21 World Heritage Committee members are concerned over the Preah Vihear temple situation after learning that Thailand's Administrative Court issued an injunction against the cabinet resolution a week ago, calling into question the government's endorsement of a joint communique signed by the Thailand and Cambodian governments, according to Pongpol Adireksarn, chairman of Thailand's World Heritage Committee, on Saturday.

The Cambodian government is proposing the ancient Hindu temple to be accorded World Heritage site status during the current UNESCO meeting, held in Quebec City, Canada.

Mr. Pongpol said the 21 committee members had received documents from the Thai foreign ministry signed by Minister Noppadon Pattama, informing them of the injunction granted by the Administrative Court, an action which forbids the use of the joint communiqué signed by the minister and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 18.

Several committee members had expressed concern and tried to find a solution which would not affect the otherwise warm relations between Thailand and Cambodia, said Mr. Pongpol.

"An informal meeting between senior officials of Asia and the Pacific countries will be held and they're expected to discuss about Preah Vihear temple too," said Mr. Pongpol, adding that the World Heritage Committee may consider the temple issue as the last agenda on the proposed sites on the list.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting will also consider, according to Mr. Pongpol, over 30 historical and ecological sites around the world that are currently at risk.

None of the at risk sites are in Thailand, he said, specifically naming the kingdom's best-known site, a historical park in Bangkok's neighboring province of Ayutthaya, a exemplary model of how a historical site can benefits surrounding areas. (TNA)

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