Cambodian official hails inscription of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage Site

Cambodian official hails inscription of Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage Site

www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-08 16:52:01

Print

By Xia Lin, Long Heng

PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Senior government officials issued statements and citizens took to the streets here Tuesday to celebrate the decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to list the Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage Site.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that "it is a new pride for the Cambodian people as well as peoples in the world that the Preah Vihear Temple is recognized as top Khmer architecture and it has a universal values for the humanities."

The 11th century Preah Vihear temple is seen near the Thai border in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, in this June 21, 2008 file photo. The World Heritage committee meeting in Canada has on June 7, 2008 approved Cambodia's application to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

"I would like to express my profound and honest thanks to all the people at all levels that always supported the government's work and expressed their understanding and patience to protect the national interests and make peace with the Thais as good friend and neighboring country," he said.

The Preah Vihear Temple is the third Khmer heritage listed as world heritage, after the Angkor Wat Temple in 1992 and the royal ballet style in 2003, he added.

Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Council of Ministers, said that the Cambodian-Thai ties won't be affected by the listing.

"Though Cambodia and Thailand may have had some differences of views regarding the listing of the temple, this issue has not in any way affected the long-standing ties of friendship and co-operation between our two kingdoms and peoples," he said.

The Cambodian government has a long-standing position that "the inscription of the temple will not affect nor prejudice the rights of Cambodia and Thailand on the demarcation work of the Joint Commission for Land Boundary of the two countries," he added.

Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that "the listing of the Preah Vihear Temple is the success of civilization and culture for the Khmer people."

The success didn't break the relationship and cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand, even as Thailand canceled the joint communique on the Preah Vihear Temple issues, he said.

Thailand didn't lose a centimeter of land to Cambodia and Cambodia didn't lose either for listing the Preah Vihear Temple, he said, adding that both sides have plan to plant demarcation posts in accordance with the border and geographic lines specified in bilateral treaty.

Meoung Son, president of the Khmer Civilization Fund, said that he will build a museum at 20,000 U.S. dollars for the Preah VihearTemple.

He appealed Thailand to hand over artifacts of the Preah Vihear Temple to the museum.

"The temple will become a potential tourist destination," he added.

Meanwhile on Tuesday afternoon, thousands of people went to the streets of Phnom Penh, danced, sang and waved Cambodian flags, chanting "Long live Preah Vihear Temple!"

Earlier Tuesday morning in Quebec, Canada, all the 21 members of the World Heritage Committee during its 32nd session unanimously approved the Cambodian application to list the temple as World Heritage Site.

The site of the building, which lies along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border, has long been a point of contention between the two Asian neighbors, Cambodia and Thailand.

Cambodia started seeking the status of World Heritage Site for the temple in 2001, hoping for influx of tourists and international funding that normally accompanies the designation.

But Thailand has vetoed its neighbor's submissions amid fears the status would include disputed land along the border.

In May, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government bypassed the Parliament and endorsed Cambodia's application. Thai critics have accused him of violating the country's sovereignty, and the government withdrew its support late last month.

Fortunately for Cambodia, last minute efforts by the Thai delegation to delay the vote and to have joint management of the temple failed at Tuesday's session of the World Heritage Committee.

Last week, Cambodia shut up the gate at the temple after Thais conducted demonstration around. It also deployed police at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh fearing that possible anti-Thai parade there.

Back to 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia, a decision that therefore rankles Thais.

The 11th century Preah Vihear temple is seen near the Thai border in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh, in this June 21, 2008 file photo. The World Heritage committee meeting in Canada has on June 7, 2008 approved Cambodia's application to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Preah Vihear Temple listed in world heritage

Editorial Desk The Nation (Thailand) Publication Date : 09-07-2008

The World Heritage Committee yesterday accepted the Temple of Preah Vihear, straddling Thai-Cambodian border, as a World Heritage site. The 21-member inter-governmental independent body accepted and agreed to Cambodia's unilateral application. Cambodia won the inscription from the World Heritage Committee by claiming that it owns the temple under a 1962 verdict by the World Court. Thailand failed in a last-ditch effort to block the inscription claiming it would need to be part of a joint application. Thailand's long-standing position on the Khmer temple is that it respects the World Court's decision but reserves the right to appeal or to find a way to reclaim the ancient monument. Unfortunately, the political reality at this point has made it impossible for the two countries to undertake a joint approach. The World Heritage Committee would like both countries to work together to safeguard the temple complex. It has requested that Cambodia convene an international coordinating committee and invite Thailand and other appropriate partners as members. Now, it is high time to mend fences. Thailand, with adjacent areas beyond Cambodia's claims, must immediately find ways to assist in preserving this beautiful Hindu temple. Despite the high political temperature both in Thailand and Cambodia, this episode should now be put to rest. It is clear that the temple's listing will not affect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand, as many have suggested. This was the bone of contention for protesters against the Samak government and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama. The Constitution Court ruled yesterday that the joint communique signed by Noppadon on June 18 was unconstitutional because it violated Article 190 of the new charter, which mandates that all international commitments and treaties must be first debated and approved by the House of Representatives. The World Heritage Committee has considered the communique of June 18, signed by both governments with attached documents, as invalid. Cambodia has submitted a new graphic plan which differs from the previous map, with a reduced perimeter proposed for inscription. Phnom Penh has acknowledged that, in future, new archaeological findings might allow a joint nomination. It is hoped that Cambodia would comply with such a request as soon as possible. Noppadon has already said he will take responsibility for the failure to postpone the committee's decision. He has repeatedly said that, but any respectable politician would have resigned long ago without further humiliation. Earlier, he portrayed himself as a hero who protected the country's sovereignty. That was rather childish because it allowed the opposition to capitalise on his exaggeration. He has completely failed to explain his fast-track action without going through the House of Representatives. Although the joint communique was not part of the application submitted by Cambodia, it did damage the government and Noppadon. Indeed, Nopphadon is the wrong choice as foreign minister. He was rewarded because of his loyalty to, and legal work for, deposed leader Thaksin. And he still behaves as if he is Thaksin's lawyer. His biggest problem is lack of common sense or credibility to speak on behalf of Thailand. His judgements and comments cause great confusion to the public. Sometimes, one has a strong feeling that he does all this quite deliberately. His mediocrity does not augur well for Thailand becoming the chair of Asean from July 25 until the end of 2009. As chair, Thailand will host at least two dozen summits in the next 18 months, involving leaders from 27 countries. As such, this promises to be a great period for Thai diplomacy, offering a chance for us to show leadership and regional vision. Thailand needs a new foreign minister who can speak on behalf of Asean as a whole. He must also represent Thailand and the Thai people. So far, Noppadon has not shown any interest in the affairs of Asean. He has not yet given any substantive interview concerning Thailand's role in Asean and the grouping's future.

purpose for this blog

I really don't know what blog is until I was told by my friends. I like writing since I was a child especially poem. I sometimes want to write all of my experience in life in this blog. Many things are hard to say, so I choose to write.