Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Govt suspends joint communique on Preah Vihear

(BangkokPost.com) - The cabinet on Tuesday decided to suspend joint communique on the Preah Vihear temple, which was signed by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, according to Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat

The decision followed the Administrative Court's order, which handed down a temporary injunction against the cabinet resolution to endorse the joint communique last month.

The case was filed by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Earlier, Mr Noppadon signed the joint declaration with Cambodia backing Phnom Penh's bid to have the Preah Vihear ruins listed as a World Heritage site, but opponents were concerned that the communique could cause Thailand to loose its territory if Cambodia is given world heritage status for the temple.

Mr Somchai said the Foreign Ministry will inform the Cambodian government and the Unesco of the court's injunction and the government's resolution.

Unesco has begun its annual meeting in Canada and Cambodia's proposal of the temple will be considered on July 7 as listed on the agenda.

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