via Khmer NZ
Published: 2/08/2010
Members of the Thailand Patriot Network led by Veera Somkwamkid plan to gather in front of Government House this Saturday, demanding the government explain Cambodia's claim that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti had signed a document related to Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear temple during the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil last week.
Mr Veera said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An claimed in a press interview that Thailand had agreed to sign a management document.
“We don’t know what kind of document we [Thailand] have signed with Cambodia. The government must clarify the facts to the public. We expect over ten thousand people to gather to hear the answer,” said Mr Veera.
He also submitted a petition to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, asking him to clarify the issue.
Cambodian Prime Minister Sok An last week announced victory to his people, saying that the World Heritage Committee agreed to accept Cambodia's plan to manage area surrounding the temple, and that Thailand decided to sign the agreement to allow Cambodia to manage the disputed land. He claimed Mr Suwit signed a paper relating to this agreement.
Thailand claims consideration of the issue was postponed for another year.
Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit has said he holds former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama accountable for the ongoing conflict over Preah Vihear.
Mr Abhisit posted messages on Facebook saying that Thailand has been at a disadvantage ever since Mr Noppadon, who is close aide of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, signed the joint declaration in June 2008 backing Cambodia's bid to register the temple as a World Heritage site.
The joint declaration, signed by Mr Noppadon and the late prime minister Samak Sundaravej, was widely criticised as it was signed without receiving endorsement from parliament as requited by Section 190 of the constitution.
Mr Abhisit said the signing of the joint declaration opened the door for Cambodia to request for the listing of the ancient temple as a World Heritage site.
The old Khmer temple was subsequently listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
The prime minister said since then, he has tried to campaign against the temple's listing.
The Constitution Court later ruled the communique unconstitutional as it had bypassed parliamentary approval. Mr Noppadon later resigned.
Mr Noppadon, who signed the document on Thailand's behalf, defended his government's move, saying that the joint communique did not put Thailand at a disadvantage over the temple conflict.
He slammed Mr Abhisit for holding him responsible for the ongoing temple row, saying that the prime minister's statement has political agenda.
Mr Noppadon said the joint communique was signed to protect Thailand's sovereignty.
He called on the prime minister to stop slandering him, and suggested that he bring in all sides to discuss the matter to find solutions to the problem.
He slammed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for holding him responsible for the ongoing temple row, saying that the prime minister's statement has political agenda.
Mr Noppadon said the joint communique, which backed Cambodia's bid to register the temple as a World Heritage Site, was signed to protect Thailand's sovereignty.
He called on the prime minister to stop slandering him, and suggested that he bring in all sides to discuss the matter to find solutions to the problem.
He then asked the prime minister, who says a joint World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear and its adjacent compound is the best path to take, if he has ordered any agencies to prepare the documents for this.
On Sunday, Mr Abhisit said the best solution is to change the arrangement, from having Cambodia solely register the temple to the two countries jointly proposing that the World Heritage site be co-managed.
Last week, the World Heritage Committee agreed to delay considering Phnom Penh's proposed management plan for the Preah Vihear temple until next year after Cambodia failed to submit relevant documents on time and that a memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia over the disputed territory in the area has not been settled.
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