Tourism survey to analyze impacts of COVID-19

UNESCO

Monday, 27 September 2021

According to World Heritage in the face of COVID-19 (2021), World Heritage sites experienced a 66% drop in visitation and a 52% decline in ticket sales in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. In collaboration with the Advisory Bodies to the 1972 World Heritage Committee in the framework of the UNESCO Task Force on Culture, Tourism and COVID-19, UNESCO is now working on gathering more in-depth data to analyse the mid and long-term impacts of the crisis on sustainable tourism management at World Heritage properties.

The World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Recovery Survey is open until 5 October and is aimed at World Heritage site managers and staff responsible for tourism management. The results will help shape UNESCO’s World Heritage and sustainable tourism policies and recovery strategies going forward.

The survey aims to:

• assess recovery preparedness
• identify priority needs for capacity building and training
• measure the contribution of tourism to World Heritage revenues
• assess visitation trends
• collect information on innovations and advances in visitor management in response to the crisis.

 

The survey is available here in English and French For more information, please contact wh-tourism@unesco.org

Go to full article: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2342 

 

កសាងវិស័យទេសចរណ៍ឡើងវិញប្រកបដោយសុវត្ថិភាពដើម្បីជួយការងារចំនួន ៣០០ លានកន្លែងនៅទូទាំងពិភពលោក (Video)

អង្គការអន្តរជាតិខាងការងារ, Sept 20. 2020

វិស័យទេសចរណ៍គឺជាវិស័យមួយដែលរងការប៉ះពាល់ខ្លាំងបំផុតលើគ្រប់វិស័យក្នុងកំឡុងពេលមានជំងឺរាតត្បាតគម្រប ១៩ ។ឧស្សាហកម្មនេះផ្តល់ការងារដល់កម្មករប្រមាណ ៣០០ លាននាក់នៅទូទាំងពិភពលោកដោយ មានស្ត្រី យុវជន និងកម្មករ    នៅក្នុងសេដ្ឋកិច្ចក្រៅប្រព័ន្ធ ភាគច្រើនប្រឈម​នឹងហានិភ័យពី​ការបាត់បង់​ការងារនិងការបិទអាជីវកម្ម។ ទិវាទេសចរណ៍ពិភពលោកគឺជាឱកាសមួយដើម្បី​គិតឡើងវិញអំពីអនាគតនៃវិស័យទេសចរណ៍រួមទាំងរបៀបដើម្បីសន្សំការងារជាច្រើនដែលពឹងផ្អែក។

 

 

 

 

International heebie-jeebies over the jeeb

The Phnom Penh Post
Friday, 07 October 2011 12:01
Eléonore Sok-Halkovich

An ancient ceremonial dance move has the Thai and Cambodian governments twisted all out of shape

Who owns the jeeb? That’s the question which further agitated Thailand and Cambodia right in the middle of political tensions over the disputed Preah Vihear temple two months ago. It’s a debate that may seem trivial next to the situation at the border, but which revealed just how fiery the nationalist sentiments on both sides are running. 

The jeeb is the graceful hand position where the thumb touches the index finger and the other three fingers are fanned out – a cornerstone of traditional ballet and shadow theatre in both Thailand and Cambodia. But in 2008, the jeeb was included under the umbrella of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and Khmer shadow theatre, when they were registered on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. There they remained for three years, until August, when the new Thai Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome declared that gaining official ownership of the jeeb, and the accompanying shadow plays, was a national priority.

“They are part of the Thai cultural heritage, so if another country has registered them, we have to find a solution,” she declared in the media, adding that the jeeb is used to promote Thai culture and it would be controversial if it was branded ‘Cambodian’.

While archeologists debate the true origin of the jeeb, and politicians squabble about who owns it, dancers on both sides of the border are quick to declare that the hand gesture wars are based on a false premise: there are actually two different types of jeeb; one for each nation.

To the untrained eye, the “Khmer” jeeb and the “Thai” jeeb both appear, well, pretty much the same – a fact which no doubt heightens the stakes of the battle. Because if Thailand succeeds in reclaiming the Cambodian jeeb that was registered with UNESCO, they will have effectively hoarded all the heritage.

Sam Sathya, a prominent 44-year-old Khmer dancer who teaches traditional ballet at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, is adamant that the hand gesture registered with UNESCO is a Cambodian one.

“The jeeb movement belongs to the Khmer people,” she told 7Days. “The difference between the Thai gesture and ours is that we have more tension in our hands and fingers, because we dance with the spirits. We keep our power in our body and our fingers.”

Her former teacher, Minh Kosny, concurs. In the 1960s, Minh Kosny danced in the Royal Ballet, and after a successful career, the 63-year-old rose up to become a Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

“These ballet dances were created at Angkor Wat at a time when there were no borders between Thailand and Cambodia. Thai people used to live in Cambodia at that time and the borders were extended to China,” she said.

“The Thai culture has its own identity, and the Khmer culture does too. We can’t use another identity. Although we have the same kinds of dance, we have different ways to express ourselves.”
Minh Kosny explained the numerous nuances within the pose.

“There are eight basic hand gestures in Cambodian dance,” she said. “The jeeb is one of them. And it can be used in different ways to express different things. For example, when the hand is placed before the mouth it means the girl is shy. It can also mean to laugh, to introduce ourselves, to pick a flower, to write, to make up eyebrows, to swim, and so on.”

On the other side of the border, prominent Thai dancer Pichet Klunchun is attempting to moderate the disagreement between the neighbours. The dancer said he believes the dispute to be a simple mix-up, inflamed by stubborn inter-governmental sabre-rattling.

“I think that the Thai jeeb belongs to Thailand, and the Cambodian jeeb belongs to Cambodia. Each one is different,” he said. “The government and related organisations are creating more conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, adding to present problems about the disputed territory, because the parties do not explain that the jeeb in Thai dance is different from Cambodia’s,” he said.

“The ambiguity creates misunderstanding and conflict. Thailand can register for the tangible heritage for the Thai jeeb but should not claim that the Cambodian jeeb, which was registered by Cambodia, belongs to Thailand. I still want to insist on the fact that the Thai jeeb and Cambodian jeeb are different.”

Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO representative for Cambodia, said that arguments like the fight for the jeeb are commonplace in countries which share a common history.

“We want to put it into perspective; the cultures of both countries are the results of centuries of dynamic changes. So it’s normal to find similar things in both cultures,” she said.

“The jeeb is only one hand gesture among about 4,500. In my opinion, the Thai Minister of Culture just wants to put the topic on top of the agenda, but if they want to register their own jeeb, they can do it.
They just have to ratify the convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity first.”

For most dancers, the fight is a frustrating side issue. Khmer and Thai dancers influenced each other centuries ago, and they continue to work together today.

Belle, a Khmer ballerina, said “We don’t need to say which of the two countries owns the jeeb. I have collaborated with Thai dancers before and we think as artists, not as countries. We don’t want to fight, just make art together.”

Cambodia to register 12th century temple as World Heritage Site

www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-09 17:29:34

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will submit the application form to list 12th century Banteay Chmar temple as World Heritage Site with the heritage committee of UNESCO soon, the local media reported on Sunday.

"Listing of the temple is aiming at conservation of the heritage site and its value is humanitarian heritage," according to khmer language newspaper Kampuchea Thmey Daily.

It added that Cambodia delegation led some experts from UNESCO,and delegation from Foundation for World Heritage to visit the temple on Saturday.

The temple located in Banteay Mean Chey province, about 60 km distance in northern area of provincial town.

Cambodia has already registered Angkor Wat temple, Royal Ballet, Khmer shadow theater and Khmer temple Preah Vihear as World Heritage Sites.

Bayon TV raises $300,000 for PVihear

The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 09 July 2009 14:03 Vong Sokheng

CAMBODIANS pledged about US$300,000 to the conservation of Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site, said Tith Thavarith, executive director of the Bayon television station.

"We have only collected about 10 percent of the total so far, and the donors kept calling into our station on July 7, so we cannot say exactly how much we raised," he said.

Tith Thavarith said all the money would go directly into the conservation of Preah Vihear temple but that details of the project needed to be discussed with Hun Mana, president of Bayon TV.

The amount estimated to have been raised in a day is tenfold UNESCO's monetary contribution for preservation of the temple's architecture, said Chuch Phoeurn, chairman of the National Preah Vihear Authority (NPVA) and secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

He said UNESCO has given $30,000 for daily preservation efforts and another $50,000 to restore a market that was damaged by Thai rocket fire during fighting earlier this year. In total, the Cambodian government has budgeted 3.5 billion riels (about $833,000) for the temple, Chuch Phoeurn said.

"We have to preserve and develop the temple ... in accordance with the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee," he added.

Cambodian officials rebut Thai claims of tardy P Vihear filing

The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 02 July 2009 22:04

Thai authorities say Kingdom has failed to offer a plan to guard and preserve disputed temple, but PVNA says plan was submitted months ago.

CAMBODIAN authorities say recent comments from high-ranking Thai officials regarding Preah Vihear temple are just plain wrong.

According to Thailand's natural resources and environment minister, Cambodia was unable to submit a detailed plan for safeguarding Preah Vihear temple to the World Heritage Committee, a charge that the Preah Vihear National Authority (PVNA) denies.

Suwit Khunkitti, the Thai environment minister, claimed that Cambodia now has until February 2010 to send in its conservation plan, according to a report in the Thai daily The Nation.

The acting Thai government spokesman, Panitan Watanayagorn, called the delay a victory for Thailand that would give the country a chance to continue its campaign for joint control of the 11th-century temple, The Nation report stated.

But Hang Soth, the general director of the PVNA, says Cambodia submitted conservation plans to UNESCO on April 4.

"We don't understand why Thai leaders have said Cambodia has until February next year to submit the plan," he said, adding: "We have already submitted our projects.... Cambodians made the temple. Why can't we conserve it?"

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign of Foreign Affairs, said the Thai statements are meant to cover up their failure at the UNESCO meeting in Spain, where they were unable to get their challenge to the Preah Vihear listing on the agenda.
"The Thai leaders' comments are just to hide their failure to review the listing," he said.

The director of UNESCO was unavailable to comment.

Thai shameful defeat for its request to review the listing of Preah Vihear temple

Thai shameful defeat for its request to review the listing of Preah Vihear temple
29 June 2009
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata



The UNESCO World Heritage meeting in Seville, Spain, ended at 7PM on Sunday 28 June (01AM local time in Phnom Penh on Monday 29 June 2009). Thailand was shamefully defeated in its request for a review of the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site. Preah Vihear temple is a priceless Cambodian heritage that cannot be haggled for. As a result of the UNESCO meeting, the review request by Thailand was not included the agenda of the meeting and Thailand’s representatives were not allowed to give any declaration during the meeting.

Opposition and civil society appeal to the govt not to negotiate with Thailand on Preah Vihear issue

Opposition and civil society appeal to the govt not to negotiate with Thailand on Preah Vihear issue
24 June 2009
By Phan Sophat
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Officials from the opposition party and from civil society in Cambodia appealed to Cambodian government leaders not to accept negotiations to Thailand’s plan to review for a joint listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

The appeal was made immediately after Thai PM declared that his government will ask the UNESCO World Heritage committee to review the decision to list Preah Vihear temple.

Thailand’s TNA news agency quoted Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand PM, claiming that Suthep Thaugsuban, Thailand’s deputy PM, will travel to Cambodia to explain about Thailand’s stance. Abhisit said also that he is confident that border issues between the two countries will be resolved peacefully.

Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Union (CCU), said: “Bilateral negotiations should end because we have seen for umpteenth times that we couldn’t win, and the results are naught. Thailand’s actions never respect any of their promises, they kept on moving their troops [to the border] continuously.”

Lawyer Sok Sam Oeun, Executive Director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, also said: “The government should tell its Thai counterpart that for other issues, we can talk to each others, but for this kind of issues, there is no need to negotiate.”

About the idea of negotiation with Thailand, SRP MP Yim Sovann said: “We should review the [1991] Paris Peace Agreements in which a number of signatory countries raised about the defense of our national integrity.”

Up until the evening of Wednesday 24 June, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs, told RFA that there was no official letter from Thailand to negotiate the Preah Vihear issue, unlike what was reported in the news which indicates that [negotiations] will take place on Saturday.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of ministers, said that he does not know if Hun Sen will accept to meet to negotiate with the Thai officials or not, however, he spoke about Thailand’s goals: “There’s nothing important to explain to Samdach Dek Cho [Hun Sen], they should apply the agreement made by the joint Cambodian-Thai border committee instead.”

According to Cambodian military source, the military situation at the Preah Vihear temple is still confrontational between the two countries, and this situation started when Thailand sent in several hundreds of Thai black-clad troops to the Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda on 15 July 2008, right after UNESCO listed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

Cambodian PM refuses to talk with Thai DPM on Preah Vihear temple

PHNOM PENH, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday that he has no plans to talk about the issue of the listing of Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site with visiting Thailand's deputy prime minister.

"I will not listen to him on the case of clarification of jointly development and jointly registering of Preah Vihear temple, but if he talks about withdrawal of Thai troops from our soil, we can talk and welcome him," Hun Sen said at a graduation ceremony of a University in Phnom Penh.

The premier announced that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva "is sending Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Taugsuban to meet me on Saturday in unofficial visit to clarify about the stance of Thailand on 11 century Preah Vihear temple."

"This is my message for him before he decides to visit Cambodia," Hun Sen said, adding that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia according to verdict of Hague Court (international court) in 1962. Thailand is not co-ownership of that property.

He also stressed that Preah Vihear temple is humanitarian heritage now. "We need the situation at areas near Preah Vihear temple return to prior to July 15, 2008."

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told Thai media on Tuesday that he will visit Cambodia Saturday on a mission to clarify Thailand's objection to the listing of Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site.

Thai deputy premier will be accompanied by Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and other members of the Thai government.

The temple was listed in July 2008 as the World Heritage site, promoting an escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and a troop buildup along the border. Thailand has long sought the joint listing of the site.

According to Thai media report, Prime Minister Abhisit would request that UNESCO's World Heritage Committee review last year's decision to register Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site when the body convenes its annual meeting at the meeting in Spain, and he would request that the temple be registered jointly as a World Heritage Site by Thailand and Cambodia.

Local newspaper on Thursday quoted Cambodian officials as saying that UNESCO has refused to hear a complaint by Thailand over Preah Vihear temple's listing as a World Heritage Site at the annual meeting of its World Heritage Committee in Seville, Spain.

Preah Vihear move is about border rights, PM says

Preah Vihear move is about border rights, PM says

June 25, 2009
The Nation


"Prime Minister Abhisit might be confused over the boundary. The Unesco won't deal with the boundary issue but will help to protect the site in Cambodia" - Somchai Phetprasert, Thailand chairman of House committee on military affairs

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he wanted to keep the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and international involvement away from Preah Vihear temple.

Cabinet's move to maintain its objection to World Heritage listing for the site, which it achieved last year, was just reserving Thailand's right to handle boundary demarcation with Cambodia, he said.

Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia in 2000 not to make any change in regard to "overlapping" areas claimed by both countries before the completion of demarcation, he said.

"As the temple is listed as World Heritage, there will be more hands involved, which is contrary to the MoU," Abhisit told reporters before leaving for China.

The historic cliff-top temple has been a point of conflict between Thailand and Cambodia for years.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia but Thailand argues that the court ruling did not cover adjacent land. Both countries claimed an area of 4.6 square kilometres near the temple.

Thailand's objection to the World Heritage listing stirred anger from Phnom Penh as the move delays its plan to develop the site.

Cambodia has yet to convene an international coordination committee to develop Preah Vihear, as Thailand has not decided whether to join the panel to run the site with seven other parties.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will visit Phnom Penh on Saturday to explain its stance to Hun Sen, the Cambodian premier.

Abhisit hoped Suthep would be able to calm Hun Sen down and reduce tension at the site.

Disputes over Preah Vihear led to fighting near the border temple in October last year and in April, which saw several soldiers killed on both sides.

Cambodia had boosted its forces in the conflict area since the latest moves, Second Army Region Commander Wiboonsak Neeparn said. "We have to adjust our troops to get ready but as I talk to my Cambodian counterpart, we don't use force to solve the problem," he said yesterday.

Chulalongkorn University academic Chaiwat Khamchoo said the government's objection to Cambodia's plan would not benefit Thailand but only created conflict with its neighbour.

Somchai Phetprasert, chairman of House committee on military affairs, accused the government of pushing the country nearer to war. Prime Minister Abhisit should talk with Cambodia about a joint nomination for the temple, Somchai said.

"Prime Minister Abhisit might be confused over the boundary. The Unesco won't deal with the boundary issue but will help to protect the site in Cambodia," he said.

FM: Thai objection to Preah Vihear listing against World Heritage, UNESCO, not Cambodia

FM: Thai objection to Preah Vihear listing against World Heritage, UNESCO, not Cambodia
MCOT.NET


BANGKOK, June 20 (TNA) -- Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya reasserted Saturday that Thailand’s plan object to Cambodia’s listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site is directed at the World Heritage Committee and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), not the Cambodian government.

He said Suwit Khunkitti, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, who will attend a World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain, next week as an observer, will meet the chairman of the Committee beforehand regarding Thailand’s objection to Cambodia’s unilateral listing of the temple which sits on the border between the two countries.

UNESCO granted Cambodia’s application for Preah Vihear to be designated a World Heritage site in July last year.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia but armed clashes between soldiers of the two countries have occurred periodically near the temple, especially at a 4.6 square kilometre disputed area, since then.

“This issue is between Thailand and the World Heritage Committee and the UNESCO and not between Thailand and Cambodia,” Mr. Kasit, adding that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had said that Cambodia is not involved in this matter.

Mr. Kasit declined to say whether the Thai action would change the prior decision because it is up to the committee, and Thailand is attending not as a member but as observer.

He said the meeting also has other matters of its agenda, to discuss and may also act on Thailand’s proposal on naming other historical sites to become World Heritage sites. (TNA)

Repeated objections over Preah Vihear a waste of time

Repeated objections over Preah Vihear a waste of time
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on June 25, 2009



Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will be wasting his time trying to mend bilateral rifts during his planned visit to Phnom Penh on Saturday, especially as the government continues objecting to Preah Vihear being given World Heritage status.

Suthep said he planned to tell Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Thailand was not opposed to Cambodia itself, but had problems with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and World Heritage Committee.


It's difficult to understand what exactly the government plans to do, because the 11th-century Khmer site was given World Heritage status last July.


Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand had to raise objections because Unesco and the World Heritage panel violated their own regulations and the listing ignited conflicts.


However, Abhisit never clarified which regulations were violated and whether Thailand's objections would force the panel to change its decision. Actually, nobody expects any changes because the objections are nothing new - they were filed during the World Heritage Committee's 32nd session in Quebec last July.


Thailand's concerns were addressed a year ago, and even the joint communiqu้ between then-foreign minister Noppadon Pattama and Cambodian Deputy PM Sok An discarded them during the 32nd session. Thailand's desire to participate in the nomination of Preah Vihear temple and its surrounding area was recognised, recorded and publicised by the committee.


Despite these concerns, the World Heritage Committee went ahead and named the temple as a World Heritage site because it met one of the six criteria - it is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture.


"It is very pure both in plan and in its decoration details," the committee said in its decision.


Thailand's arguments about its imperfections - such as the twin stupas being located in Thai territory - were not considered valid.


Natural Resource and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who attended the 33rd session in Spain this week, was unable to do much other than repeat the statement made by the Thai delegation a year ago.


The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, and Thailand has nothing to do with it.


Abhisit said he opposed World Heritage status for the site because it might affect Thailand's right to claim land in an "overlapping" 4.6 square kilometres adjacent to the temple and any chance to "re-claim" the temple.


However, his concerns make little sense because the Unesco World Heritage Convention's Article 11 clearly says that "the inclusion of a property [in the World Heritage list] situated in a territory, sovereignty or jurisdiction, which is claimed by more than one state, shall in no way prejudice the rights of the parties to the dispute".


Thailand will not lose the right to demarcate its border with Cambodia and, in fact, the joint boundary demarcation committee is already working on the matter. Now, it is up to Thailand whether or not to send a representative to sit on the International Coordination Committee (ICC) as mentioned in Article 14 of the World Heritage listing. The committee was originally due to convene in February, but it has been delayed because Thailand has yet to make a decision.


Sadly, Thailand's move to maintain its objection is nothing more than a plan to delay Cambodia's work, which has only resulted in added tension.


Abhisit should really explain what he wants from sticking to his stance, how it would benefit the country and what would happen if his deputy does manage to cool Hun Sen down.

Protecting Preah Vihear: soldiers, weapons and a World Heritage site

Protecting Preah Vihear: soldiers, weapons and a World Heritage site

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Mark Roy and Thet Sambath
Wednesday, 24 June 2009

SINCE decades-old tensions over Preah Vihear erupted into violence last July, images of heavily armed Cambodian soldiers standing guard over the 11th-century ruins have been beamed across the globe.

The photographs of battle-hardened Cambodian soldiers, often ex-Khmer Rouge, in dark green uniforms with well-used AK-47 rifles, sitting on the lichen-covered stones of the ancient Khmer sanctuary, have come to epitomise the conflict. Such images have prompted a frenzy of media attention from overseas, and a huge domestic fundraising drive to support the nation's troops on the Kingdom's new front line.

But allowing armed troops into the temple at Preah Vihear is a direct violation of the Kingdom's Constitution, and the soldiers should leave immediately, according to one of the country's most respected heritage conservationists.

Photo by: TRACEY SHELTON Armed Cambodian soldiers on the steps of Preah Vihear last month.

Temple Timeline

• 1904, 1907: Franco-Siamese treaties create an ambiguous frontier, leaving sovereignty of Preah Vihear in doubt


• 1954: Thai troops occupy Preah Vihear


• October 1959: Cambodia applies unilaterally to the International Court of Justice for a decision on the sovereignty of Preah Vihear and surroundings


• June 1962: The ICJ awards temple to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains undesignated. Thai troops leave the temple site


• 1970s-1990s: Khmer Rouge occupy the site


• September 1993: The Constitution of Cambodia declares national and World Heritage sites neutral zones with no military activity


• 2001-2002: Thai military blocks access to Preah Vihear over water dispute


• July 2008: Preah Vihear temple receives World Heritage listing


• July 2008: Both sides move troops to the temple area


• October 2008: Troops exchange fire, leaving two Cambodian soldiers dead


• April 2009: Further military exchanges damage the temple


• June 2009: Thailand announces it will protest the World Heritage listing

"Preah Vihear should also be free of military presence," said former president director general of the Apsara Authority, Vann Molyvann, in an interview with the Post earlier this month.

Too many archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat, have been destroyed or damaged in the past by military conflict, he said.

Legally, Vann Molyvann is in the right. Article 71 of Chapter VI of the Constitution of Cambodia, inscribed in 1993 under the auspices of the United Nations, states: "The perimeter of the national heritage sites, as well as heritage that has been classified as world heritage, shall be considered neutral zones where there shall be no military activity."

Preah Vihear was formally listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in July 2008.

But Thai officials will ask UNESCO to reconsider its decision to inscribe Preah Vihear temple, as ownership of land surrounding the ruins is still in dispute, at a meeting of the world heritage body in Spain also attended by a Cambodian delegation.

For its part, the Cambodian military claims there is no troop presence within the actual perimeter of the World Heritage site.

"Our soldiers got out of the temple a long time ago," Sao Socheat, deputy commander of Military Region 4, said Sunday. He explained that soldiers were not stationed within the World Heritage site, but based around its perimeter.

Colonel Om Phirom, chief of Heritage Police for Preah Vihear, agreed, telling the Post Monday there were no soldiers in the actual temple compound.

"Soldiers do not violate the World Heritage site," Om Phirom said. "They left the temple site many months ago and they have stood 30 metres away from protection site."

Om Phirom said the boundary for the World Heritage site was 30 metres from the edge of the temple's stonework.

"They can't dig a trench at the temple site because it is full of stone, and it is prohibited to do this," Om Phirom said.


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They can't dig trench at the temple site because it is full of stone, and it is prohibited to do this.

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However, it is a moot point whether the military is obeying the spirit, or even the letter of the law by digging in their trenches so close to a protected site.

Only last month, Cambodian soldiers were photographed on the temple steps armed with machine guns. A section of the temple was also being used at that time as a bunker to store munitions, including B-42 rockets.

Protecting heritage
Referring to Article 71, Vann Molyvann said its inclusion in the Kingdom's Constitution had been "a specific decision made by Cambodia because of its experience" of war impacting national heritage.

He said Preah Vihear area should be demilitarised and placed under the control of the Ministry of Culture.

In a written response to the Post to questions on heritage law, Vann Molyvann pointed to how the Angkor site had been damaged after it was drawn into the Vietnam war in 1970 and taken over by guerrillas fighting in resistance to the Lon Nol regime.

"Angkor became a point of dispute between all military factions," he wrote. "A shell hit the extremely fine bas-reliefs of the temple's first-floor southern gallery. Several shells fell in a temple courtyard, provoking the collapse of the southern porch of the second-floor gallery."

Between 1975 and 1979, Angkorian temples, spiritual havens since the dawn of Khmer history, were abandoned as such, Vann Molyvann wrote.

"Objects of religious worship were considered without value. Buddha statues from Angkor Wat's ‘Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas' were broken off their pedestals, decapitated and reduced to dust."

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over the land around Preah Vihear temple for decades, but tensions spilled over into violence last July following the UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Thailand has long argued that only a joint Thai-Cambodian World Heritage site is suitable for Preah Vihear. In Spain currently, the Thais are asking that the temple grounds be placed under joint Thai-Cambodian maintenance, arguing that most visitors approach the temple from the Thai side.

Everyone is responsible
"Ensuring the protection of a World Heritage site is the collective responsibility of the international community," said UNESCO's head-of-office in Phnom Penh, Teruo Jinnai, via email Sunday. However, overseeing a demilitarised Preah Vihear was "not our mandate", he added.

Officials from the Ministry of Culture could not be contacted this week as they were in Spain for the UNESCO meeting.

However, Cambodia's Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Sunday that Cambodian soldiers were in Preah Vihear to protect the site from the Thai military.

"Now it is one year since Thai soldiers have invaded Cambodian territory, and they do not withdraw from it," Phay Siphan said.

"It is because of the Thai soldiers' invasion into Cambodian territory that our soldiers have been there, to protect our heritage."

However, it is questionable whether the presence of a military force will protect the heritage site or cause it more damage.

Following a brief military encounter in April, an exchange of gunfire left bullet pits in the temple, prompting UNESCO to study the damage and NGOs to call for compensation from the Thai government.

Officials open to talks ahead of Thai visit

Officials open to talks ahead of Thai visit

The Phnom Penh Post
Written by VONG SOKHENG AND THET SAMBATH
Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Cambodian officials said Tuesday they had yet to receive official notification of a visit this weekend by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, reportedly to hold talks with Hun Sen on the growing dispute over Preah Vihear temple's World Heritage listing, according to Thai media.

"We haven't received an official letter from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing us about the visit," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said, adding that Cambodia welcomed any negotiations on the issue.

The Bangkok Post reported Tuesday that Suthep would arrive Saturday to clarify Thailand's position on the temple, following Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's announcement last week that Bangkok would challenge the temple's World Heritage status at this week's UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain.

Abhisit's announcement prompted Hun Sen to accuse Thailand of "infringing" on Cambodia's sovereignty.

Union leader Rong Chhun, a vocal critic of Thailand's moves on the frontier, said Tuesday that he has no plan to protest against Suthep's proposed visit, but said the machinations of the Thai government showed it has no real intention of resolving the border standoff with Cambodia.

"I think that Thailand's activity has clearly infringed on Cambodia's sovereignty, and the visit of the Thai government is just to lobby and prolong the conflict, in order to bide their time and take our land," he said.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said Tuesday that the 33rd Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which opened Monday, was yet to address Thai complaints about the inscription of Preah Vihear.

The temple was listed in July 2008, prompting an escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and a troop buildup along the border. Thailand has long sought the joint listing of the site.

Cambodian border troops remain on alert, reporting that Thailand brought up tanks, artillery and infantry to Phnom Trop, a few kilometres from Preah Vihear.

An RCAF officer stationed at the temple, who declined to be named, said the Thai action had forced Cambodia to bolster its own forces at the front.

"We held a tank exercise [Monday] at the hillside near the temple," he said. "It is just an exercise. We want to show Thailand that we have everything ready for battle. If they dare to come into Cambodian territory, we will resist them."

According to Thai media reports, Thai army chief General Anupong Paojinda made a visit to the Thai-Cambodia border near Preah Vihear temple Tuesday morning, following reports Cambodia had sent re-inforcements of troops, 130mm artillery pieces and T-54 tanks to the border.

Yim Phim, commander of Brigade 8, said he did not meet Anupong, but added that the Cambodians, in pulling up additional armed forces, were only reacting to Thai moves.

Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary of the Thai Embassy, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

PM's envoy to Hun Sen

PM's envoy to Hun Sen
Tea Banh on the attack, Hun Sen 'regrets move'

Published: 20/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Saturday that he will send Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban to Cambodia this week to clarify his objection to the Preah Vihear listing. Mr Suthep will speak with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Khmer prime minister expressed "deep regret" after Thailand announced intentions to ask the World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain, this week to review its decision to register Cambodia’s unilateral listing of the Hindu temple.

Mr. Hun Sen said that the issue was not raised when Mr. Abhisit met him in Phnom Penh last week.

The Thai premier however believed that after Mr. Suthep meets Hun Sen in Cambodia, his Cambodian counterpart will understand Thailand's stance.

"I haven't talked to him (Premier Hun Sen) yet, nor the Cambodian ambassador in Thailand, but I believe that this will not worsen the situation and we will discuss to clarify the matter," Mr Abhisit said. (TNA)

-------------------------
EARLIER REPORT:

By Bangkok Post Reporters

The government has defended its renewed campaign against Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear temple, saying it could talk Phnom Penh into understanding Thailand's stance.

Thailand's decision to maintain its objection to the unilateral listing of the Khmer ruins as a World Heritage site has upset Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said he deeply regretted Thailand's position.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh yesterday took the Thai government to task for raising the matter which he said was likely to mar bilateral attempts to resolve border disputes.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the government has "ways" to communicate with Cambodia to avert border tension and he believed that Hun Sen would understand.

"The cabinet has widely discussed the matter because we do not want any conflict. Still, we have to defend what we believe to be our legitimate rights," Mr Abhisit said.

"If he knows our intention, there is nothing for him to regret," he said of Hun Sen's comment.

Mr Abhisit said Thailand felt the need to renew the objection because the proceedings undertaken by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to manage the site were deemed to threaten Thailand's approach to mitigate border disputes.

"We understand that the World Heritage Committee mission is to preserve heritage sites so people have a chance to appreciate them, and that involves peace. Its objectives will not be met if its proceedings will lead to conflicts," the prime minister said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the matter was now between Thailand and Unesco, not between Thailand and Cambodia. "Unesco isn't doing it right. It is not about Cambodia," he said.

Mr Suthep said he would try to hold talks with Hun Sen. There would be no fresh disputes, he added.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry sent a letter to Unesco to inform the organisation that it should seek permission from the Thai government if it wished to conduct any activities in the area surrounding the ancient Hindu temple.

After that, reports emerged that Unesco officials had inspected parts of the 4.6 sq km disputed area near the World Heritage site.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian defence minister said Thailand's renewed bid to oppose Phnom Penh's unilateral listing of Preah Vihear temple has left him at a loss.

"I cannot get myself to understand why the Thai government has to do this," he told the Bangkok Post.

Gen Tea Banh said Phnom Penh had not got wind of the Thai government's move, and that Mr Abhisit did not raise the issue during his visit to Cambodia last Friday.

He said the Thai government's move would only compound the border disputes both sides have long tried to resolve.

He declined to comment if the issue was related to Hun Sen's alleged close ties with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Gen Tea Banh also refuted the Thai government's claim that Cambodia had brought artillery and soldiers to the World Heritage site.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said the Thai-Cambodian border situation remained calm and both sides had agreed to adjust troop deployments to avoid violent confrontation.

He refused to comment on Hun Sen's dissatisfaction with the Thai government's stance, saying it was not his business to judge the Cambodian leader's remarks.

Second Army commander Lt Gen Wibulsak Neepal told troops in positions along the Thai-Cambodian border to stay alert.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said he would lead the Thai delegation to a World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain, next week, to reiterate Thailand's objection to Cambodia's unilateral listing of the temple.

UNESCO rejects Thai PM’s demand for “joint listing of Preah Vihear temple”

UNESCO rejects Thai PM’s demand for “joint listing of Preah Vihear temple”

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy


A high-ranking Cambodian government official source told “Deum Ampil” on 23 June 2009 that the UNESCO World Heritage committee has decided to reject the request made by Thailand’s prime minister who attempted to obtain a joint listing of Preah Vihear temple between Cambodia and Thailand.

This rejection by UNESCO brings a loss of face to the Thai government, and especially Thailand’s PM who came to power through a constitutional coup with the help of Thailand’s royal palace and a group of Thai generals. This loss of face clearly points to the serious defeat of Thailand’s ministry of Natural Resources and Environment which was tasked by Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s PM, to take this issue to the 33rd meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage committee in Seville, Spain. Thailand wanted to obtain a review of the listing of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

The current defeat brings up Thailand’s shameless ambition to the world’s attention, and it also shows Thailand’s attempt to violate Cambodian’s sovereignty and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple.

According to report from Bangkok on Tuesday, Thai deputy-PM Suthep Thaugsuban indicated that he will perform an official visit to Cambodia on Saturday to confirm to Hun Sen about Bangkok’s opposition stance to the listing of Preah Vihear temple.

Suthep said that “he and Thailand’s defense minister, General Pravit Wongsuwan, will visit Cambodia to meet with Hun Sen to explain to the latter and to clear up a number of misunderstandings about Preah Vihear temple between the two countries.”

Even though Suthep confirmed his trip to Cambodia this Saturday, Kuy Kuong, the spokesman of Cambodia’s ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicated that up to now, his ministry did not receive any diplomatic communiqué from Thailand about this trip yet. He added: “Up to now, we received information indicating the official visit of Thailand’s deputy-PM and its minister of defense to Cambodia, but as of Tuesday, the Cambodian embassy has not received an official communiqué about this trip yet, and neither does the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok.”

Suthep added: “Thailand and Cambodia shared the goal of avoiding continued border dispute in Preah Vihear area, and the current dispute is not between Thailand and Cambodia, but rather between Thailand the UNESCO World Heritage committee.”

Suthep added that he hopes to be able to get Bangkok’s point across to Hun Sen.

Information about Suthep’s visit to Cambodia under the order of Abhisit was reported following Hun Sen’s sharp reaction to the issue raised by the unlawful leaders of Thailand, including Abhisit, Thailand’s bitter (“Phler Lvea”) PM, and Kasit Piromya, the rude Thai Foreign Affairs minister with a big liver (“Thloeum Thom”), who dare ask UNESCO to review the listing of Preah Vihear temple and a joint listing of this temple.

This issue is raised by dumb-like persons, as if they were ghosts who lead a country with a population of 7 million. This is why Samdach Akok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho Hun Sen, the intelligent prime minister who is full of wisdom, expressed his strong regret about the issue raised by these retarded people.

Hun Sen told reporters at the ministry of Foreign Affairs: “I believe that these are his words as the PM of a country that disturbs the sovereignty of another country, and I regret his comments and his desire (Thai PM). During his visit to Cambodia, he did not raise this issue with me, but I believe that his goal will not be successful.”

UNESCO OFFICIALS ARE WONDERING AT THE THAI PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITUDE.

Cambodian delegates to maintain cool at World Heritage meet

The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Thet Sambath
Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Thailand is threatening to challenge the listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site, but officials say they will not be drawn into a fight

DESPITE threats of a challenge from Thailand, officials say they will avoid discussing the tense border situation during a meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that began in Seville, Spain, on Monday.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told the Post that Deputy Prime Minister Sok An would seek to avoid conflict, instead telling attendees about the Kingdom's plans for conserving and developing the 11th-century temple and the surrounding areas.

But he added that Cambodia "reserves the right to respond to questions from country members and defend itself against provocations from the Thai delegation on issues relating to Preah Vihear".

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Wednesday that Bangkok would use the committee's 33rd session to challenge the validity of its July 2008 decision to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.


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UNESCO OFFICIALS ARE WONDERING AT THE THAI PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITUDE.

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The committee's decision to inscribe the temple scuttled Thai hopes for a joint Thai-Cambodian submission to UNESCO and triggered a troop buildup and an escalation of tensions at the border.

Thai threats
Phay Siphan also quoted Sok An as saying that Abhisit had threatened UNESCO staff over the issue of Preah Vihear.
"Minister Sok An told me that [Abhisit] ... said the [World Heritage] status is the source of the border dispute," he said.

"UNESCO officials are wondering about the Thai prime minister's attitude. He has no right to threaten them because they work for the UN."

Bun Uy, a secretary of state at the Council of Ministers, said on Monday that the decision to award the status was made by UNESCO, and that as Cambodia had done nothing wrong, there was no reason to de-list the temple.

"Why does Thailand demand that UNESCO withdraw it?" Bun Uy asked. "What the Thai prime minister wants is just to show his party and supporters that he has tried to regain the temple."

Cambodia was awarded Preah Vihear temple by the World Court in 1962, but possession of the border area around the temple was never settled. At least seven soldiers on both sides have died in clashes in the area in the past year.

The government has sent reinforcements to the contested area on the northern border with Thailand. Sem Sophally, a resident of Sa Em village near the temple, said Monday that he had seen numerous RCAF trucks carrying soldiers heading to Preah Vihear the previous day.

"I was told they were sent there to reinforce the front line in the event of armed clashes with Thai soldiers," he said.

The army has constructed a number of military bases in villages near the temple, a source of national pride, over the past year. Srey Doek, the commander of RCAF Division 3, said Monday that the current situation is normal, but that his soldiers are on alert.

FM: I do not understand whether these speeches were made with a lack of thought or out of ignorance or because they want to cause trouble.

Tensions mount on border
Written by CHEANG SOKHA AND THET SAMBATH
Monday, 22 June 2009

Thai PM refuses to back down over Preah Vihear comments.

THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday defended his request that UNESCO reconsider its listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site after being harshly criticised by Cambodian officials and accused of bolstering Thai military forces along the border.

"We are concerned that the moves by UNESCO may speed up conflicts, tensions or a border clash," Abhisit said during his weekend television programme.

But Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that if UNESCO's World Heritage Committee decides to de-list the Preah Vihear temple complex, it would heighten border tensions, where gunbattles between Thai and Cambodian soldiers have left at least seven people dead over the last year.

"We don't understand these comments, whether they want to threaten Cambodia or want to send a message to the UNESCO committee, which will meet on June 23 in Spain," Hor Namhong told reporters at a press conference on Saturday. "I do not understand whether these speeches were made with a lack of thought or out of ignorance or because they want to cause trouble."

Cambodia and Thailand have never fully demarcated their 805-kilometre-long shared border, in part because the area is littered with land mines.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told Thai media Saturday that Thailand's objection to the unilateral World Heritage listing of the 11th-century temple is an issue between Thailand and UNESCO, and does not involve Cambodia.

Abhisit also said on Friday he would send his deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to explain their objections.

Hor Namhong said that the Thai comments have been backed up by a Thai military buildup, and that if the border dispute requires a military solution, Cambodia is ready.

"I heard that the Thai commander of Region 2 added more troops along the border, and they are on alert. I would like to stress that Cambodia is also prepared. If they want to seek a political resolution peacefully, if they want to use international laws, or if they want to seek a military resolution, we are already prepared in all ways." he said.

"Border fights have occurred twice, and if they want to send their troops to Cambodia for a third time, we welcome it," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An departed for Seville, Spain, on Saturday to attend the UNESCO meeting.

Colonel Om Phirom, chief of Heritage Police for Preah Vihear temple, said Sunday that tensions were growing along the border as Thai soldiers prepared heavy weapons and tanks.

"We can't conclude what will be happen at the front line because both sides are full of heavy weapons and ammunition. We are concerned that the explosions will be bigger this time, if a clash does occur," Om Phirom said.

"We are worried about the temple's safety because it was damaged by Thai soldiers' bullets in many places in the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia over the last year," he added.

Sao Socheat, deputy commander of military Region 4, said the activity started about two weeks before Abhisit's request to delist the temple.

"The Thai military right now at the front line and behind their front line is busy in their territory. Their activities for the last two weeks have been strange in this area, but we know what they want to do here," Sao Socheat said.

The World Court in 1962 ruled that Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia, but 4.6 square kilometres of land surrounding the ruins remains in dispute.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP

PM and Abhisit in temple smackdown

PM and Abhisit in temple smackdown

The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Vong Sokheng
Friday, 19 June 2009

PRIME Minister Hun Sen claims Thailand has "infringed" on Cambodia's sovereignty by announcing it will challenge the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear temple when the body meets later this month.

On Wednesday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thailand aims to request a review of the July 2008 inscription of Preah Vihear temple, saying the listing has fostered conflict.

"I think that as a prime minister of one country, his words infringed on the sovereignty of [Cambodia]," Hun Sen said, adding that during his visit last week to Phnom Penh, Abhisit failed to raise the issue in talks with the government.

"I hope that his aim will not be successful, and I hope that UNESCO will not be stupid enough to go along with his gambit."

Thai state media reported Abhisit as saying that he has ordered Thai World Heritage Committee representative Suwit Khunkkitti to lodge
objections to the listing of the disputed temple when the committee meets for its 33rd Session in Seville, Spain, next week.

Hun Sen added that the Thai ploy was unlikely to succeed because of the International Court of Justice's 1962 ruling that handed Preah Vihear temple and some of the surrounding area to Cambodia, and the fact that UNESCO had already listed the temple as a World Heritage site.

Minister of Information and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that the Thai leader clearly has no knowledge of history.

The latest crisis over the temple and its surrounding land began last July, when the government says Thai troops entered Cambodian territory,
sparking a massive military standoff.

We still oppose heritage listing : Thai PM

We still oppose heritage listing : Thai PM
By Piyanart Srivalo
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation
Published on June 18, 2009

Suwit to fly to Spain next week to ask world body to review decision

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.


Cambodia delayed its plan to protect and develop the temple as required by the World Heritage Committee due to military clashes with Thailand at the site, which flared at the time of the Cambodian election and erupted again during domestic crises in Thailand last October and in April.


The World Heritage body suggested last year that Phnom Penh should invite Thailand to join a seven member International Coordinating Committee (ICC) to manage the site, but Thailand is reluctant to join as it does not want to recognise Cambodia's rights to the temple.


Thailand's objection would not jeopardise relations with Cambodia as the government could explain its stance, Abhisit said. He did not discuss the matter with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen when visiting Phnom Penh last week but hoped Cambodia would understand Thailand.


"We didn't mention Cambodia but we did disagree with the World Heritage Committee/Unesco and their decision," Abhisit said.


Adul Wichiancharoen, adviser to Thailand's National World Heritage Committee, said the government's objection could not lead to a change in the listing of Preah Vihear.


However he agreed with the government maintaining its objection and keeping a close eye on Cambodian moves to prevent it annexing of areas claimed by Thailand.


Adul said Thailand's plan to offer Pha Mo I Daeng and twin stupas downhill from the Preah Vihear to be jointly listed as World Heritage sites, would be strongly opposed by Cambodia.