Cambodia Ready to Respond to Thailand’s Challenge Over Preah Vihear Temple

By Soy Sophea

Royal Government of Cambodia officials said the government is ready to respond to Thailand’s challenge to Cambodia when the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) meet for the 33^rd session in Seville, Spain, from 22 to 30 June 2009.

Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister with the Council of Ministers and Chairman of APSARA authority, told reporters at the National Assembly on June 19 that Thailand will use the meeting to suggest a reconsideration of the decision giving the ancient temple to Cam

bodia. Previous Thai objections revolved around Cambodian attempts to have the site included on the World Heritage List

The Deputy Prime Minister referred directly to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who told his Council of Ministers that Thailand would send delegates to push UNESCO to reconsider its previous decision.

Abhisit’s 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 Seville. This is according to the Bangkok Post published on June 17. 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.

However, the Cambodian deputy Prime Minister said that the Cambodian government isn’t worried. “This is a new trick and the Thais have had the courtesy to announce it before the opening of the 33^rd UNESCO session. It is a variation on a theme previously heard at the 31^st UNESCO meeting at Christchurch, New Zealand, and the 32^nd meeting in Quebec of Canada.”

However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that he was disappointed with the Thai Prime Minister’s initiative.

Hun Sen said, “I believe they were the words of a Prime Minister of a country that disturbs the sovereignty of another country. I regret his comments and his goals. During his visit to Cambodia, he did not raise this issue with me and I think that his goal will not be successful.”
“The main issue involves the decision handed down by The Hague [International] Court of Justice which gave Preah Vihear temple and the surrounding land to Cambodia,” he said. “This is the first point: the second point involves objections to the fact that UNESCO has listed Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site.”

He added, “Whatever, it is his decision for a review and I hope UNESCO is not so misguided as to follow his ambitions.”

According to a UNESCO press statement dated May 26, 2009, the World Heritage Committee will consider requests for the inclusion of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List when it meets for its 33rd session in Seville, Spain, from 22 to 30 June.

To date, the World Heritage List recognizes 878 examples of "outstanding universal value," including 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145 national entities. The Convention encourages international cooperation to safeguard the common heritage of humanity. With 186 signatories, it is one of the most widely ratified international legal instruments. When signing the Convention, States commit to identifying sites for potential inscription and to preserve sites already on the World Heritage List. This is achieved within an appropriate legal and regulatory framework, said the statement.

The statement added that The World Heritage Committee, responsible for the implementation of the 1972 Convention, comprises representatives from 21 countries, elected by the signatory nations. Committee members serve for up to six years. Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the List. Applications are then reviewed by two advisory bodies: cultural sites are examined by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and natural sites by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Theses bodies report their recommendations to the Committee. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM) provides expert advice on conservation and training in restoration techniques.

The World Heritage Committee also examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and asks State Parties to take appropriate conservation and preservation measures when necessary. The Committee supervises the disbursement of over $4 million annually from the World Heritage Fund to cover emergency action, training and technical cooperation.