Foreign Ministry opposes Unesco temple visit

Published: 10/02/2011
Newspaper section: News
Source: Bangkok Post

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has come out against a plan by Unesco to send a mission to inspect the Preah Vihear temple following claims by Cambodia that it suffered severe damage in fighting between the two countries.

Thani Thongpakdi, the ministry's spokesman, said the government saw the visit as inappropriate as the situation along the border remained unstable.

"They can go there when the tension eases," Mr Thani said.

"If they go there now, it might make the [border dispute] more complicated."

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation issued a statement on Tuesday to say it intended to send a mission to Preah Vihear temple as soon as possible to assess its state.

Mr Thani said the international body should seek the permission of Thailand if it wanted to inspect the site.

Thailand claims Cambodian forces stationed at the temple triggered a firefight at the weekend when they opened fire on Thai soldiers.

Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a statement issued yesterday that it "strongly rejects such a slanderous assertion".

"There has never been and there will never be Cambodian soldiers at the temple of Preah Vihear. This has always been a place for worship and tourism," the statement said, adding that the only security presence at the temple was a small number of police officers with light weapons to ensure safety.

The Associated Press reported yesterday that its journalists who had reached the temple saw hundreds of Cambodian soldiers in and around the sprawling temple compound, which was fortified by sandbagged bunkers.

Dressed in military camouflage, some played cards inside the temple's shaded walls. Some rested on cots or hammocks while others poured new sandbags and stacked them up, AP said.

"We're here to defend it," said a soldier at the temple, who was inside a bunker that was covered with a military tarp. "When the fighting stops, we will go."

The secretary to the foreign minister, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, said the head of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission, Asda Jayanama, would fly to Paris tomorrow to explain the border situation to Unesco director-general Irina Bokova.

"Pushing for the Preah Vihear temple to be inscribed on the world heritage list without listening to the Thai side's protest over the overlapping areas will create more conflict and tension along the border," Mr Chavanond said.

Thailand sent a letter to Unesco on Saturday explaining that any activity in relation to the listing of the Hindu temple as a world heritage site should be avoided pending the final demarcation of the land boundary, as this would add tension and lead to repeated confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia,

Unesco's World Heritage Committee will meet in the middle of this year in Bahrain to discuss Cambodia's management plan for the 4.6-square-kilometres of disputed land near the Hindu temple.

Thailand insists Unesco should not consider the plan until a solution to the border dispute is found.

The Foreign Ministry will also appoint special representatives to clarify the case before all 21 Unesco members.

"We have no intention of obstructing Unesco or the World Heritage Committee from listing the temple," Mr Chavanond.

"We would only like to see them do everything correctly and fairly for the affected countries."