The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 514
Apologies for the late postings, due to a light travel accident and sickness in our team.
THAILAND FEARS DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THAILAND AGAIN
SPOKESPERSON OF CAMBODIA SAYS THERE CANNOT BE A RIOT AS IT WAS IN 2003
PRESS RELEASE OF CAMBODIAN DELEGATION
“Phnom Penh: Cambodian and Thai officials said the UNESCO delays listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site until next year so that Cambodia can settle some remaining issues. As for a Thai newspaper, it reported on 29 June that the decision at this time makes the Thai embassy in Cambodia prepare to evacuate the Thai nationals in Cambodia for fear of a riot against Thais, as it had happened in 2003.
“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and government spokesperson, told Rasmei Kampuchea by phone on 29 June that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee had really suspends the request for listing the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site, but the delay is not due to a demand by Thailand, it is because of a few technical issues.
“He stated, ‘Thailand does not oppose the request for listing the Preah Vihear Temple, but we have not yet fulfilled a few technical requirements, such as some new constructions, a radio station, market stalls, and sewers.’
“He continued that the Preah Vihear Temple is located at the Cambodian-Thai border, therefore there are some remaining issues such as the border demarcation between the two countries which has not yet been defined, arrangements for market stalls, sewers, and the distribution of benefits from the temple, because so far Thailand has got some benefits from the temple, and Thailand used to ask Cambodia not to release [sewage] water into a stream near the temple, a natural border between the two countries.
“The Nation of Thailand, published on 29 June, said that the Thai authorities support the registration of Preah Vihear Temple as an UNESCO World Heritage Site; however, there are some issues relating to the temple hat have not been solved. Cambodia wants the Preah Vihear Temple to be registered as a World Heritage Site in order to help guarantee its conservation.
“However, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held a meeting recently and suspended any decision on the Cambodian request.
“The suspension was decided after the Thai side said that the Cambodian-Thai border has not yet been demarcated, and the plan for joint arrangements is still being discussed.
“The UNESCO committee asked the two countries to settle the remaining issues and suggested that Cambodia can apply again next year.
“The Thai Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Mr. Tharit Charungvat said on Thursday, ‘We do not appose the registration of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. We support the request of Phnom Penh in principle. We hope the remaining issues can be settled and the request can be submitted again next year.’
“A Thai newspaper said that the decision by UNESCO to postpone the Cambodian request made Thai authorities to prepare contingency plans.. They fear this issue will be used to provoke anger among Cambodian nationals against Thais.
“In 2003, anti-Thai riots occurred in Phnom Penh, after the Cambodian media published a rumor, saying that the pretty Thai actress Phkay Proek [Suvanant Kongying] said that the Angkor Wat Temple belongs to Thailand. The Thai newspaper quoted a senior news source, that the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh held an urgent meeting with Thai nationals in Cambodia last week, in order to set up plans of an evacuation, after the embassy had been informed about the [Cambodian] government’s stance on the UNESCO issue.
“However, Mr. Tharit rejected such a statement by saying that it was just a normal meeting between the Thai embassy and Thai nationals in Cambodia.
“Mr. Tharit stated that the UNESCO committee wants Thailand and Cambodia to apply together next year for the registration of the temple into the World Heritage list, rather than Cambodia to apply alone.
“According to the Bangkok Post, the Thai National Committee on the Convention for the Protection of World Culture and Natural Heritage expressed concern over Cambodia’s lobbying of UNESCO without Thailand’s participation.
“The committee said that the consideration should cover the entire site, not only the part on Cambodian land. The entrance to the temple is in Sisaket Province of Thailand.
“Concerning the reports of Thailand preparing to evacuate Thai nationals for fear of riots, Mr. Khieu Kanharith said that the delay by UNESCO will not create a riot against the Thais by Cambodian people as it was in 2003. He added, ‘The 2003 event cannot take place again, because Cambodian youth no longer believe false information, and the Cambodian police now have more experience. Furthermore, Thailand does not oppose the UNESCO listing of Preah Vihear Temple.’
“The World Heritage Committee holds a meeting in New Zealand from 23 June to 2 July in order to decide the registration of a number cultural properties into the Word Heritage list. 45 cultural and tourist areas including Preah Vihear Temple are to be reviewed during the 31st Conference of the World Heritage Committee in New Zealand, before deciding what will be listed as World Heritage Sites.
PRESS RELEASE OF THE CAMBODIAN DELEGATION
“On the early evening of 29 June, the Cambodian delegation which attends the 31st Conference of the World Heritage Committee, issued a press release on the case of listing the Preah Vihear Temple.
“The press release described the 31st Conference of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 29 June 2007, discussing the request of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site.
“The press release added that the Cambodian delegation led by Mr. Sok An, a Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of the Council of Ministers, and the President of Cambodian UNESCO Committee, discussed with the President of the World Heritage Committee and explained the issues relating to Cambodian sovereignty, the value of world cultures, and especially of Preah Vihear Temple as well as the process that Cambodia has taken in response to the procedures and conditions of the World Heritage Committee.
“The World Heritage Committee decided that the Preah Vihear Temple, which is internationally meaningful and with has value as an expression of world culture, will, in principle, be listed as a World Heritage Site. Cambodia has to move forwards to organize the management plan and to report the development of this work toward an official announcement for the registration of the Preah Vihear Temple in the 32nd Conference in 2008.
“Thailand agreed with Cambodia and announced to the World Heritage Committee that it will actively support this in order to register the Preah Vihear Temple officially.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4324, 30.6.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Chakraval, Vol.15, #2693, 30.6.2007
- Ministry of Interior Allows Human Rights Party to Hold Congress at Olympic Stadium
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1379, 30.6.2007
- Dengue Fever Invades; State Needs $5 Million to Save Children
- Battambang Court Drops Charges against 7 Robbers and 3 Generals
- 255 Red Pigs [imported from Thailand, which are said to be fed with chemical food] Seized [Angk Snuol, Kandal]
- 68-Year-Old Man Rapes 12-Year-Old Girl on Straw Pile [he is arrested – S’ang, Kandal]
- Floods Kill 50 People in Afghanistan
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6069, 30.6-1.7.2007
- Council of Ministers Meeting Presided Over by Samdech Hun Sen Agrees on Creation of Two Departments at Ministry of Information [Department of Administration and Finance, and Department of Information and Audio-Visuals]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3198, 30.6-1.7.2007
- Primary Assessment Says Plane Crash Is [Sihanoukville] Airport’s Fault [with uncertain command and inadequate technical equipment]
- Svay Rieng Authorities Use King’s Name to Take More Than 200 Hectares of People’s Land by Saying that It Is to Prepare for Tree Planting Day
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4324, 30.6.2007
- UNESCO Delays Listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site
- Sihanoukville Military Chief Accused of Taking Nearly Six Hectares of a Widow’s Land
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3075, 30.6.2007
- Dutch Government Defeats Ty Sokun [Director General of Department of Forestry and Wildlife] by Continuing to Aid Global Witness
- Illegal Logging of Luxury Wood Trees Persists in Seim Pang District Which Leads to Ruin of Trees
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