"Thailand will seek review of World Heritage status giving to Hindu Temple of Preah Vihear, even though this status was decided last year, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday. It would maintain its objection to the Unesco's World Heritage listing of the temple, he said.
His cabinet endorsed the stance and assigned Suwit Khunkitti, Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, to ask the World Heritage Committee to review its decision when it met in its its 33rd meeting in Spain's Seville next week, he said.The listing of Preah Vihear, announced last July, was contrary to Unesco's regulations and spirit since it had created a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, he said.
Thailand withdrew its support for the listing last year when the Democrat Party, then in opposition, feared a loss of Thai sovereignty over areas near the temple.The party and protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy forced the Samak Sundaravej government to withdraw support for Cambodia's proposal for World Heritage listing of the historic cliff-top temple.
Noppadon Pattama was forced to step down as foreign minister after the World Heritage committee backed Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand claims some areas adjacent to the temple. The two countries have yet to complete border demarcation near the site."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/18...cs_30105442.php
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Opposite does it again; opposes heritage status for Preah Vihear
Started by Sexpat, Jun 18 2009 10:26 AM
6 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 18 June 2009 - 03:50 PM
Every once in a while, just when you think Opposite might become something more than the Bangkok elite's ornamental trophy premier, he does something really petty and "oh so Thai," like resurrecting this Cambodian temple fiasco, less than a week after Opposite went to Cambodia to discuss the issue with PM Hun Sen. It really makes Opposite look like anything but a statesman.
One of these decades, the Thais are going to fess up to the fact that they submitted the Preah Vihear dispute to the world court 40 years ago - and lost. It's time to start acting like adults and face that reality. Instead, PM Opposite has made himself and Thailand look small and petty by this latest move.
One of these decades, the Thais are going to fess up to the fact that they submitted the Preah Vihear dispute to the world court 40 years ago - and lost. It's time to start acting like adults and face that reality. Instead, PM Opposite has made himself and Thailand look small and petty by this latest move.
#3
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Posted 18 June 2009 - 06:39 PM
"Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday expressed "deep regret" over suggestions by his Thai counterpart that an 11th-century Hindu temple ruin in a disputed border region be jointly administered by the neighboring countries. "I want to see the temple be a peaceful area so that the people of the two countries can jointly benefit from this site of high historical importance," the Bangkok Post quoted Abhisit as saying.
But Hun Sen said Abhisit's plan threatened to violate Cambodia's sovereignty and was not raised in a meeting between the two leaders on Friday in Phnom Penh. "I deeply regret that he has raised this issue now because this was not part of our discussions last week," he told reporters at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry. "I doubt his plan will be successful."
Hun Sen and Abhisit on Friday pledged to prevent further armed conflict at the site, where two fatal skirmishes between the South-East Asian neighbors have erupted in the past year."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/18...al_30105495.php
But Hun Sen said Abhisit's plan threatened to violate Cambodia's sovereignty and was not raised in a meeting between the two leaders on Friday in Phnom Penh. "I deeply regret that he has raised this issue now because this was not part of our discussions last week," he told reporters at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry. "I doubt his plan will be successful."
Hun Sen and Abhisit on Friday pledged to prevent further armed conflict at the site, where two fatal skirmishes between the South-East Asian neighbors have erupted in the past year."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/18...al_30105495.php
#4
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Posted 19 June 2009 - 10:37 AM
It really is unbelievable that Abhisit would take this step after not discussing the issue with Cambodia's prime minister during a "good will" visit in Phnom Phen last week. I would imagine that whatever little trust there was between the two men is now gone completely. It really does make Abhisit look like a small and devious man.
#5
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Posted 20 June 2009 - 09:59 AM
"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday dismissed suggestions he was trying to sabotage Cambodia's desire to live up to its obligations as agreed with Unesco following the granting of World Heritage status to historic Preah Vihear Temple.
Abhisit on Wednesday told reporters he would ask Unesco, which administers the temple under Cambodian supervision, to launch a review into the administration of the ancient site, because he wanted peace to prevail in the area first. The disputed area has seen a military stand-off and gunfights between the two sides over the past year.
"My intention is not to upset the people of Cambodia, but rather to see peace in the area," Abhisit said.
He said he had no objection to working with the Cambodians to develop the historic site under Unesco guidance but suggested military tensions must first be alleviated and that a comfort level between the two sides must first be achieved before Thailand could contribute to the effort.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday expressed "deep regret" over Abhisit's suggestions. "I deeply regret that he has raised this issue now, because this was not part of our discussions last week," he told reporters at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry. "I doubt his plan will be successful."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/20...cs_30105631.php
Abhisit on Wednesday told reporters he would ask Unesco, which administers the temple under Cambodian supervision, to launch a review into the administration of the ancient site, because he wanted peace to prevail in the area first. The disputed area has seen a military stand-off and gunfights between the two sides over the past year.
"My intention is not to upset the people of Cambodia, but rather to see peace in the area," Abhisit said.
He said he had no objection to working with the Cambodians to develop the historic site under Unesco guidance but suggested military tensions must first be alleviated and that a comfort level between the two sides must first be achieved before Thailand could contribute to the effort.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday expressed "deep regret" over Abhisit's suggestions. "I deeply regret that he has raised this issue now, because this was not part of our discussions last week," he told reporters at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry. "I doubt his plan will be successful."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/20...cs_30105631.php
#6
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Posted 23 June 2009 - 11:57 AM
This is what's called cleaning up after Junior Abhisit's mess:
"Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday he will on Saturday visit Cambodia to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and explain the case Thailand is making to Unesco about the registration of the Preah Vihear ancient temple as a World Heritage site by Cambodia. Mr Suthep said the petition case is a matter between the Thai government and Unesco, and had nothing to do with Cambodia, which owns the temple.
If all conflict ws cleared up, the situation between the two neighboring countries would improve, he said.He believed beither Thailand nor Cambodia wanted any problem with each other."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...en-this-weekend
"Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday he will on Saturday visit Cambodia to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and explain the case Thailand is making to Unesco about the registration of the Preah Vihear ancient temple as a World Heritage site by Cambodia. Mr Suthep said the petition case is a matter between the Thai government and Unesco, and had nothing to do with Cambodia, which owns the temple.
If all conflict ws cleared up, the situation between the two neighboring countries would improve, he said.He believed beither Thailand nor Cambodia wanted any problem with each other."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...en-this-weekend
#7
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Posted 25 June 2009 - 07:17 PM
Clearly, PM Hun Sen is not amused by Opposite's tactics:
"Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday he would refuse to discuss a Thai plan for the neighboring countries to jointly administer an 11th-century Hindu ruined temple in a disputed border region during the Thai deputy prime minister's visit Saturday.
"It is not necessary for us to discuss this plan because this is a Thai suggestion and has nothing to do with Cambodia," he said in his speech at a university graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh."But if he wishes to discuss Thailand withdrawing its troops from our soil, then we will talk about that."
...Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Tuesday he would visit Phnom Penh to explain the plan to Hun Sen amid reports both countries were amassing troops in the border region where two fatal clashes have erupted in the past year.. .Hun Sen said Thursday that Cambodia would hold a national celebration on July 7 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Unesco ruling. "I will call on monks throughout the country to beat drums to celebrate this occasion," he said. "There will be a concert in Phnom Penh and similar celebrations in the provinces."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/25...al_30106037.php
"Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday he would refuse to discuss a Thai plan for the neighboring countries to jointly administer an 11th-century Hindu ruined temple in a disputed border region during the Thai deputy prime minister's visit Saturday.
"It is not necessary for us to discuss this plan because this is a Thai suggestion and has nothing to do with Cambodia," he said in his speech at a university graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh."But if he wishes to discuss Thailand withdrawing its troops from our soil, then we will talk about that."
...Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Tuesday he would visit Phnom Penh to explain the plan to Hun Sen amid reports both countries were amassing troops in the border region where two fatal clashes have erupted in the past year.. .Hun Sen said Thursday that Cambodia would hold a national celebration on July 7 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Unesco ruling. "I will call on monks throughout the country to beat drums to celebrate this occasion," he said. "There will be a concert in Phnom Penh and similar celebrations in the provinces."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06/25...al_30106037.php
