Source: MCOT, July 18 2010
BANGKOK, July 18 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday reiterated that Thailand would object the World Heritage Committee (WHC) when it meets later this month to discuss a management plan around Preah Vihear ancient temple, earlier granted the World Heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that his government would continue to object a management plan around the 11th century temple during the WHC meeting in Brazil between July 25 to August 3, for Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia still have to resolve their border demarcation problem.
Thailand continues to insist on using watershed mark as the border between the two countries, said Mr Abhisit, adding that Thai people should not worry that the country would lose some of its territory to Phnom Penh.
The Thai government’s stance on the Thai-Cambodian border remains unchanged, except that of the Preah Vihear temple as the International Court of Justice has already ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia and the Thai government has to obey the order, he said.
The UNESCO has about two years ago listed the temple as the World Heritage site while the site was awarded to Phnom Penh by the International Court of Justice in 1962 in a decision rankling with most Thais.
Armed clashes of the two countries have occurred frequently after the listing of the temple as World Heritage site, while Cambodia maintains the demarcation of the disputed area, which it says has to be based on a map drawn in 1908.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have historically laid claim to the temple site, which sits on Cambodian soil but can only be easily accessed from Thailand.
Mr Abhisit said although clashes occurred from time to time but generally speaking both sides try to refrain from fighting.
Thailand has informed several countries that as long as border dispute continues to exist, it is inappropriate for Cambodia to handle the management plan around the Preah Vihear temple, he said.
The WHC will meet for its 34th annual session and Suwit Khunkitti, minister of Natural Resources and Environment, is expected to head the Thai delegation at the meeting.
Cambodia is scheduled to submit its management plan expected to involve the 4.6-square kilometre overlapping area near Preah Vihear Temple to UNESCO during the meeting.
Mr Suwit earlier notified the cabinet that he will ask the committee to postpone its consideration of the Cambodian management plan as there has not been a resolution of the territorial dispute between the two countries regarding the area. (MCOT online news)
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