Preah Vihear conflict heads to Paris

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Preah Vihear conflict heads to Paris
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation 2011-06-18

Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An yesterday flew to Paris for a battle at the World Heritage Committee over the disputed Preah Vihear Temple.

Thailand aims to delay Cambodia's management plan for the ancient Hindu temple, which was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

"We have clear information that the temple was wrongly listed as a World Heritage Site and some parts of the management plan trespass into Thai territory," Suwit said.

The dispute over the area adjacent to Preah Vihear has long been at the core of conflict between the two countries. The dispute heated up when Thailand accused Cambodia of taking parts of the contested area as a buffer zone for the temple in 2008.

Preah Vihear, as ruled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, is situated in territory under sovereignty of Cambodia, but Thailand argued that the surrounding area belonged to Thailand and barred Cambodia from carrying out activities in the area. Cambodia asked the ICJ clarify the 1962 ruling to make the area of the temple and its vicinity clear. The case is ongoing.

Thailand tried to set a boundary for the temple in 1962 but Cambodia says it has never recognised the line.

As long as the area is still under dispute, Cambodia and Thailand have agreed on the inscription of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage list without a buffer zone, the Cambodian National Committee for World Heritage said.

"Consequently, Cambodia's nomination file submitted for the World Heritage Committee's decision in its 32nd session in Quebec includes the revised graphic plan of the property (RGPP), which illustrates only the perimeter of the temple but contains no boundary line whatsoever," it said in a statement yesterday.

The World Heritage inscription "shall be without prejudice to the rights of Cambodia and Thailand on the demarcation works of the Joint Commission for Land Boundary (JBC) of the two countries", it said.

However, Suwit said he would lead a Thai delegation to the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris next week to protect Thai territory and would not lose a single square centimetre.

During the meeting, Thailand will persuade the 21 members of the committee to delay Cambodia's plan, he said.

"After the border skirmishes, members of the committee seem to have a better understanding of our position, and we hope they will agree with Thailand to delay the Preah Vihear management plan until the two countries settle the boundary conflict," Suwit said.

The World Heritage Committee might consider the Preah Vihear case on June 23 or 24 next Thursday or Friday, said Somsuda Leeyawanit director of the Ministry of Culture's Fine Arts Department.