Preah Vihear to be raised at heritage meet

via Khmer NZ

Thailand will oppose Cambodia control plan

Published: 22/07/2010

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti is to meet with Unesco director-general Irina Bokova to express Thailand's concern over the Preah Vihear temple issue.

The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Paris, two days before the World Heritage Committee (WHC) opens its annual meeting in the Brazilian capital Brasilia.

Cambodia will propose a management plan for the Preah Vihear temple and its buffer zone to the meeting. Thailand opposes the plan on the grounds that sovereignty over the buffer zone, the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area claimed by the two countries, has not been settled.

Preah Vihear has been on Unesco's world heritage list since 2008.

Mr Suwit said the meeting with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation chief was to "create a better understanding" of Thailand's position.

"We would like to affirm our position that the buffer zone management plan should not be carried out until there is clarity over land demarcation," said Mr Suwit, who leads the Thai delegation to Brazil.

Mr Suwit expressed concern about the delay in distribution of the Cambodian plan to the WHC members because Thailand has been unable to see it before the issue is tabled for talks.

"I admit I am worried about the negotiations since the Cambodian side has not let us know anything," he said.

Under normal practice, documents relating to a meeting, including a proposal to manage a world heritage site, must be submitted to the WHC members six months in advance.

The committee is made up of representatives from 21 countries, including Thailand and Cambodia.

Cambodia has said it has submitted the plan to the secretariat of the meeting.

Yesterday, activists opposing the Cambodian management plan led by Tul Sitthisomwong expressed support for the Thai position.

"It is the right direction for the government not to accept the Cambodian-made plan until the process of the land demarcation is complete," Mr Tul said.

"The plan to develop the world heritage site must be done by both countries because the temple is located on Thai soil."

The group threatened to protest against Unesco if the WHC meeting approves Cambodia's plan.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple was in Cambodia.

The WHC meeting ends on Aug 3.