Academics want pragmatic approach over border row

via Khmer NZ

Published: 9/08/2010

Critiques suggested Thailand seeks other pragmatic and less patriotically blinded approach by proposing to the World Heritage Committee the connected cultural heritage of the Preah Vihear era that situated in the Thai territory instead of trying to renounce the MoU signed in the year 2000 with Cambodia.

Morakot Jewachinda Meyer, Srinakharinwirot University’s history lecturer, said politicization with blinded nationalism of the Preah Vihear Temple issue would do no good for Thailand.

“In light of the spirit of regionalism that is being forged under the banner of Asean, should we follow the European Union lesson of turning national heritage into common European heritage to mutually reap cross-border economic and cultural prosperity like what Germany and Poland, for example, have been doing,” said Ms Morakot at a Thammasat University seminar this afternoon.

On July 2, 2004, the UNESCO inscribed the Muskau park on the World Heritage List, as an exemplary example of cross-border cultural collaboration between Poland and Germany. The English-garden-styled Park covers 3.5 square kilometres of land in Poland and 2.1 in Germany.

“Could we see this happen in Asean? Asean has so far no clear position to upgrade national heritage into a regional project of cross-cultural collaboration,” said Ms Morakot.

Thailand itself, she added, should also make a smart and far-sighted move. “To do that we need a new meaningful interpretation of sovereignty that will help transform the old-typed nationalism into mutual prosperity among neighbours,” she said.

Panat Tasneyanond, a retired law expert, said he was concerned that while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might look forward to delaying tactics on Preah Vihear Temple as a medium-term strategy to pressure for joint-listing of the Hindu temple but others nationalist critiques such as senior legal expert Sompong Sucharitkul still wanted the property back.

“The Thai Patriotic Group push for the renunciation of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 is not a smart legal-wise strategy. International norms say there must be material breach by the parties concerned. But even if Thailand renounce the MoU, Cambodia argument about their sovereignty over the Temple might drag Thailand into a confrontational border dispute with the neighbour,” said Mr Panat, former Thammasat University’s dean of law faculty.

“If we want the Temple that was ruled by the world court in 1962 as Cambodian property back, we could do it through the International Court of Justice again. Should we do it,” he noted.

“We should think it through, What if the case is forwarded to the UN Security Council as was the case two years ago? What about implications to others MoU Thailand has signed with bordering neighbours---what happens if Laos renounce MoU signed with Thailand,” said Mr Panat, former Tak senator.

Morakot said Democrat’s portraying itself as guardian of the Temple hoping to ride a patriotic tide has put the premier to daringly claim to the cheering crowd that Thailand was ready to wage war if necessary.

“But in economic and political reality as well as the military readiness, Thailand will never be ready to do so. The fall of Burapha Task Force clout since the April damage during the clash with the Red-Shirted protesters is still haunting the mindset of the people and the soldiers alike,” said Morakot.

Puangthong Rungswasdisab Pawakapan, Chulalongkorn University’s political scientist said Thai people should confront the Preah Vihear issue with a sane and fair mindset that Cambodia would never allow a joint listing of Preah Vihear Temple.

“The possible win-win exit to the dispute is to annex the Thai property such as Sa Trao as Preah Vihear Heritage buffer zone in a separate request for a listing,” said Ms Puangthong.

Akrapong Khamkoon, Thammasat University lecturer on Southeast Asian Studies, said instead of making noises about the 4.6 Sq Km overlapping claims, Thailand should make progresses on the potential world heritage such as Khao Yai and Phanom Rung.