PM reaffirms temple dispute must be solved in line with international norms

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via Khmer NZ

BANGKOK, Aug 15 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed Sunday that Thailand’s border dispute with Cambodia over the ancient Preah Vihear temple must be resolved in line with international norms and that Thailand is prepared to explain the problem on an international platform.

In his weekly address on television and radio, Mr Abhisit said the Cambodian government last week wrote to “important officials of the United Nations” saying that he had shown an attitude toward using violence in resolving the problem.

Mr Abhisit said he had also immediately sent a letter to the UN saying that his government has been using international practices or the world body’s principles in resolving the border dispute.

The prime minister explained in his letter that tensions on the Thai-Cambodian border arose because Cambodians have intruded into Thai territory and the Cambodian government had unilaterally applied for the World Heritage status for Preah Vihear temple, an action which led to difficulty regarding the management plan of the temple.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia, and UNESCO accorded it status as a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the privilege.

The two countries have both claimed a 4.6 sq km area of land near the cliff-top temple and clashes have occurred in the area periodically after the temple was given World Heritage site status.

Mr Abhisit said Cambodia had violated the 2000 memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries as its people had “intruded into Thai territory”, and that last week he called for Cambodian citizens to leave the contested territory.

He said the 2000 agreement would be submitted to the Thai Parliament for discussion and that a special committee would be established so that all concerned parties could debate the issue.

The Thai government could implement resolution the crisis after Parliament given its approval, he added.

Cambodian media earlier reported UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to officially visit Cambodia on October 27-28 and the temple row is expected to be high on the agenda in his discussions with government leaders during the visit. (MCOT online news)