Thailand- Leaving World Heritage Convention

By Chea Sophal

27 June 2011

World Heritage Sites for Cambodia and Thailand

The World Heritage List reveals that Cambodia has two properties inscribed as the world heritage sites namely Angkor and Temple of Preah Vihear while Thailand has five cultural and natural ones.  In total, the World Heritage List includes 919 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.  The properties include 709 cultural, 183 natural, and 27 mix properties in 152 State Parties (UNESCO, 2011).  List of sites inscribed as the World Heritage Sites of the two countries include as follows:

Cambodia

• Angkor
• Temple of Preah Vihear

Thailand

• Historic City of Ayutthaya
• Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns
• Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries  
• Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
• Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex  

If Thailand decided to leave the World Heritage Committee for withdraws itself as a member of the World Heritage Convention, Thailand would definitely think twice how to deal with their existing inscribed sites.  Cambodia became as the State Party to the Convention on November 28, 1991 while Thailand accepted the Convention four years earlier on September 17, 1987.  Both countries have submitted sites for their inscriptions as mentioned above and still more sites are on tentative list for both countries.

Properties submitted on the Tentative List-Cambodia

• Groupe de Sambor Prei Kuk (1992)
• Le site de Koh Ker (1992)
• Site des Kulen (1992)
• Site d'Angkor Borei et Phnom Da (1992)
• Site d'Oudong (1992)
• Ensemble de Beng Mealea (1992)
• Ensemble du Prah Khan de Kompong Svay (1992)
• Ensemble de Banteay Chmar (1992)
• Ensemble de Banteay Prei Nokor (1992)

Properties submitted on the Tentative List-Thailand

• Phimai, its Cultural Route and the Associated Temples of Phanomroong and Muangtam (2004)
• Phuphrabat Historical Park (2004)
• Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC) (2011)

When Thailand decided to leave this world body, will Thailand still want to process all these properties listed as tentative?  Even, Thailand said so, it will take twelve months to be in effect of the State Party’s denunciation of the Convention.  Maybe, the next Thai Government after the election change their mind.

Duties of State Parties to the Convention

The World Heritage Convention links together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties.   The duties outlined in the Convention include the duties of State Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them.  Due to the outrage of recent border conflict, one would know for sure that Cambodia is a small country and dares not invade any bigger neighbor since it has small number of armed forces and ammunitions in comparing to Thailand.  Cambodia is determined to exercise its self-defense and protect its sovereignty. The issue of overlapping did not take place until the pre, during and post inscription of Preah Vihear temple.  This is because of the use of map that has not been internationally recognized.  The ICJ judgment stated states clearly on the ownership of the temple and listed obligations to be fulfilled by Thailand to remove its troops from the vicinity of the temple based on the Annex 1 map. 

The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent problems (UNESCO, 2011)

The Benefits of Joint the Convention:

• Integrating to the international community  of appreciation and concern for universally significant properties

• Joining hands to protect and cherish the world’s natural and cultural heritage;

• Expressing shared commitment to preserving our legacy for future generations;

• Having access to the World Heritage Fund with US$4 million available to assist State Parties in identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage Sites;

• Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List benefit from the elaboration and implementation of a comprehensive management plan that sets out adequate preservation measures and monitoring mechanisms;

• Bringing an increase in public awareness of the site and of its outstanding values; and

• Increasing the tourist activities at the site;

Denunciation of the Convention

Article 35 of the Convention states that the state party may denounce the Convention in writing and notify the Director-General of UNESCO.  The denunciation shall take effect twelve months after the receipt of the instrument of denunciation and it shall not affect the financial obligations of the denouncing State until the date on which the withdrawal takes effect.

If it is officially accepted the withdrawal of Thailand from the WHC as of 26 June 2011, the denunciation will take effect 26 June 2012 as stipulated in Article 36 of the Convention.  Will Thailand change their mind?  This will be based on the next elected Government.  Thailand has been with the WHC for 24 years and Thailand benefited a lot from the historical and world heritage sites in terms of number of tourists visited.