August 2, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Cambodia said yesterday that Thailand failed all of its efforts to derail the Preah Vihear's management plan since the World Heritage Committee's decision to delay consideration of the plan's documents would never impede the implementation of temple conservation.
There is no requirement that the Committee approves the plan because the role of the World Heritage Committee is not to approve or disapprove any progress report or Management Plan submitted by a state party, but to review those documents in order to take note, said a statement from Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers.
"The conservation work is too important to be delayed," it said.
Cambodia also released yesterday a summary of the result of the 34th World Heritage Committee meeting to show that the committee has recognised its reports on the management plan and its progress.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television program that the delay was Thailand's success to block Cambodia's move to claim its right over the disputed border areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear.
Thailand and Cambodia were in the loggerhead over the controversial temple again over the past week during the World Heritage meeting in Brazil.
Thai delegation was worried Cambodia might take areas which are the subject of border dispute to be the buffer zone of the listed temple and complained it did not have enough time to study Cambodia's report.
As both sides failed to reach any common ground at the session last week, the committee decided to allow additional time for the distribution and consideration of the documents, which will be discussed at the next session next year.
"This decision in no way impedes our implementation of the management plan," Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan said in a phone interview from Phnom Penh.
"We should not say it is a victory or failure of anybody but it is our obligation to conserve the heritage of human being," he said.
The Thai argument is irrational as the management plan and report on the conservation of the Phrea Vihear were delivered to the World Heritage Centre in January 2010 and after having the reports for 3 days, the Thai delegation had no substantive comment on the report, he said.
Cambodia would continue the implementation of the plan such as the convening of a preliminary meeting for the setting up of an international coordinating committee (ICC), the spokesman said.
"There is no single word in the (world heritage committee) decision to refrain Cambodia from doing the jobs," he said.
In fact, Cambodia obligated to invite Thailand and not more than seven other parties to sit in the ICC but Thailand declined the invitation while China, India, US, Japan, France and Australia have already agreed to join.
Thailand should have nothing to worry about its right over the border dispute since world heritage inscription would never affect the boundary claim, Phay Siphan said. The boundary demarcation would continue. Cambodia appreciated and would respect the work of joint boundary committee, he said.
Asked if Cambodian people disappointed with Thailand's move on the Preah Vihear, Phay Siphan said the people in Cambodia understood the situation that majority of Thai people disagreed with the government. "Prime Minister Abhisit's wish might be against the Thai people's will," he said.
"Among people of two nations, we are neighbours and hope to live in peace together," he said.
Defend Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Thailand and Cambodia have no military tension as both sides have no plan to boost number of forces in the border areas near the Preah Vihear and they remained good relations.
There is no requirement that the Committee approves the plan because the role of the World Heritage Committee is not to approve or disapprove any progress report or Management Plan submitted by a state party, but to review those documents in order to take note, said a statement from Cambodia's Office of the Council of Ministers.
"The conservation work is too important to be delayed," it said.
Cambodia also released yesterday a summary of the result of the 34th World Heritage Committee meeting to show that the committee has recognised its reports on the management plan and its progress.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television program that the delay was Thailand's success to block Cambodia's move to claim its right over the disputed border areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear.
Thailand and Cambodia were in the loggerhead over the controversial temple again over the past week during the World Heritage meeting in Brazil.
Thai delegation was worried Cambodia might take areas which are the subject of border dispute to be the buffer zone of the listed temple and complained it did not have enough time to study Cambodia's report.
As both sides failed to reach any common ground at the session last week, the committee decided to allow additional time for the distribution and consideration of the documents, which will be discussed at the next session next year.
"This decision in no way impedes our implementation of the management plan," Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan said in a phone interview from Phnom Penh.
"We should not say it is a victory or failure of anybody but it is our obligation to conserve the heritage of human being," he said.
The Thai argument is irrational as the management plan and report on the conservation of the Phrea Vihear were delivered to the World Heritage Centre in January 2010 and after having the reports for 3 days, the Thai delegation had no substantive comment on the report, he said.
Cambodia would continue the implementation of the plan such as the convening of a preliminary meeting for the setting up of an international coordinating committee (ICC), the spokesman said.
"There is no single word in the (world heritage committee) decision to refrain Cambodia from doing the jobs," he said.
In fact, Cambodia obligated to invite Thailand and not more than seven other parties to sit in the ICC but Thailand declined the invitation while China, India, US, Japan, France and Australia have already agreed to join.
Thailand should have nothing to worry about its right over the border dispute since world heritage inscription would never affect the boundary claim, Phay Siphan said. The boundary demarcation would continue. Cambodia appreciated and would respect the work of joint boundary committee, he said.
Asked if Cambodian people disappointed with Thailand's move on the Preah Vihear, Phay Siphan said the people in Cambodia understood the situation that majority of Thai people disagreed with the government. "Prime Minister Abhisit's wish might be against the Thai people's will," he said.
"Among people of two nations, we are neighbours and hope to live in peace together," he said.
Defend Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Thailand and Cambodia have no military tension as both sides have no plan to boost number of forces in the border areas near the Preah Vihear and they remained good relations.
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