CPP to discuss Preah Vihear plan

Photo by: Heng Chivoan
A Cambodian soldier looks out over land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple complex. The Cambodian People’s Party will today discuss a conservation plan for the site.

via Khmer NZ

Wednesday, 21 July 2010 15:02 Vong Sokheng and Cheang Sokha

SENIOR members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party will today discuss Thailand’s intention to block Cambodia’s management plan for Preah Vihear temple during the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Meeting in Brazil, officials said.

On Sunday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said again that Thai officials would try to block the Cambodian plan during the UNESCO meeting.

Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said yesterday that Abhisit’s comments about the temple would be addressed during the 35th annual Congress of the CPP Central Committee, which is scheduled to start today.

“We have had great success in protecting Preah Vihear temple and avoiding serious clashes along the border in Thailand,” he said.

Preah Vihear was first listed as a World Heritage site in July 2008, triggering a military buildup along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An is scheduled to lead a delegation to Brazil today for the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee, where officials will outline their efforts to preserve Preah Vihear temple and lay out a plan for future management of the site.

Hang Soth, director of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said UNESCO had outlined 13 steps to be taken by the authority in preserving the site.

“Some we have done, and some we cannot do because they take two or three years to complete and we need more time,” he said.

Delegates at the WHC meeting, which runs from Saturday until August 3, will determine which properties will be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. They will also “monitor the state of conservation of properties” already inscribed on the list and discuss possible candidates for removal.