Press Release of The Cambodian National Committee for World Heritage

June 7, 2011

The Cambodian National Committee for World Heritage takes note of the recent statement made by Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Caretaker Prime Minister, in the MCOT Online News dated 5 June 2011 with respect to the inscription process of the temple of Preah Vihear on the World
Heritage list, saying:
“... talks can start on under the conditions that: discussions must be held under the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) framework; a joint management plan for the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple must be made; and Cambodia must also withdraw the temple from the world heritage listing.”
In order to avoid misunderstanding of the facts, the National Committee for World Heritage wishes to make the following clarification:

1) The International Court of Justice at the Hague on 15 June 1962, has given the following
verdict:
- The temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia;
- Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw any military or polices forces, or other guards or
keepers stationed by her at the Temple or in its vicinity on Cambodia territory;
- Thailand is under an obligation to restore to Cambodia any objects of the kind specified in
Cambodia’s fifth submission which may, since the date of the occupation of the Temple by
Thailand in 1954, have been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by the Thai
Authorities.
The verdict was based on the Annex I Map which did not show any area of 4.6 km2 as
claimed repeatedly by Caretaker Prime Minister, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, on the basis of a
unilateral and unrecognised secret map. Therefore, his statement on the need for a joint
management plan of the vicinity of the Temple of Preah Vihear is inappropriate.

2) The World Heritage Committee decided unanimously to inscribe the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List at its 32nd Session in Quebec, Canada in 2008, following the application by Cambodia as a State Party owner.

3) In compliance with decisions 32 COM 8B.102 in Quebec, Canada in 2008 and 33 COM 7B.65
in Seville, Spain in 2009 respectively, Cambodia submitted the management plan for the
Temple of Preah Vihear to the World Heritage Centre before February 2010. Subsequently, at
its 34th Session in 2010, Brasilia, the World Heritage Committee, having confirmed the receipt
of the documents from Cambodia, decided to consider the documents submitted by the State
Party, Cambodia at its 35th Session in 2011.

4) On the basis of the above facts, it is clear that the inscription of The Temple Preah Vihear on the World Heritage is complete and irreversible.

The Thai Defense Minister’s comment at the Shangrila-dialogue in Singapore on 4 June
unfortunately illustrates negative stance of the Thai Caretaker government toward solving the issue. Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon was quoted on the sideline of the Inter-governmental security forum that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has no authority to order Thai troops to retreat and Thailand would not comply should one be issued. The Cambodian National Committee for World Heritage urges the Thai Caretaker government to end repeated disrespect of efforts made by the international bodies including WHC, UNESCO, ASEAN and now ICJ, and Prime Minister, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, to recognise the authenticity of the nomination process of a World Heritage site. If Thailand would cooperate with Cambodia and the international community for the protection, preservation and restoration of the Temple, it would lead us to mutual understanding of the value of the World Heritage site. The Temple of Preah Vihear needs immediate protection and preventive measures from further disintegration of the stones as well as other unpredictable and irreversible damage.