"The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a still secret new map of Preah Vihear temple and surrounding area that it says protects Thai interests while neighbouring Cambodia applies for the UN to declare it as a World Heritage Site. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said he is prepared to clarify the government's position in a coming non-confidence debate, when the opposition Democrat Party may challenge the Preah Vihear stance.
The Opposition earlier cast doubts regarding the new map of the historic temple, suggesting that the foreign minister might have compromised Thailand's national interests over the issue. The minister also emphasised that all details in the new map would be released after the World Heritage Committee meets in July to consider the matter.
Mr. Noppadon explained that he could not reveal what he described as "official secret information" now under joint consideration among the Royal Thai Survey Department, the Foreign Ministry and state agencies concerned. But he said the disputed and undemarcated 4.6-square kilometre area surrounding and adjacent to the temple complex itself is not included on the map.
The 21-nation committee is scheduled to meet in Quebec beginning July 2 to decide whether or not to grant the world heritage site status to the temple. Historically, both Thailand and Cambodia have claimed the ancient Khmer-built Hindu temple complex astride the mutual border in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province in the northeast, but practical access is only possible from the Thai side.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128285
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Cabinet approves secret deal on Cambodian Temple
Started by Sexpat, Jun 18 2008 10:58 AM
1 reply to this topic
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Posted 19 June 2008 - 11:31 AM
"Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama yesterday released the new map of the Preah Vihear temple compound, claiming success as Thailand had avoided losing any land to Cambodia.
However, scholars and critics still have doubts over whether the map would put Thailand at a disadvantage if the countries need to negotiate on an overlapping area along the border in the future.
The map was redrawn by Phnom Penh as part of a bid to nominate the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.
In a bid to alleviate concerns, Mr Noppadon said the new map was not the same as the earlier version, drawn up in 2006 and 2007, which caused a conflict over an overlapping area of 4.6 square kilometres at the border between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.
The Foreign Ministry had opposed the old map and protested against Phnom Penh's solo bid to have Preah Vihear listed as a World Heritage site with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The agency agreed to delay its consideration until this year. Mr Noppadon said he decided to hold talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Cambodia's Koh Kong province and Paris to convince Phnom Penh to redraw the map. Cambodia eventually agreed in May not to touch the overlapping land."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/190608_News/19Jun2008_news04.php
However, scholars and critics still have doubts over whether the map would put Thailand at a disadvantage if the countries need to negotiate on an overlapping area along the border in the future.
The map was redrawn by Phnom Penh as part of a bid to nominate the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.
In a bid to alleviate concerns, Mr Noppadon said the new map was not the same as the earlier version, drawn up in 2006 and 2007, which caused a conflict over an overlapping area of 4.6 square kilometres at the border between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.
The Foreign Ministry had opposed the old map and protested against Phnom Penh's solo bid to have Preah Vihear listed as a World Heritage site with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The agency agreed to delay its consideration until this year. Mr Noppadon said he decided to hold talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Cambodia's Koh Kong province and Paris to convince Phnom Penh to redraw the map. Cambodia eventually agreed in May not to touch the overlapping land."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/190608_News/19Jun2008_news04.php
