Noppadon calls for more help

Minister: Preah Vihear issue is complicated

THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

The Foreign Ministry has called on other state agencies to help tackle the dispute with Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple (pictured), saying it was a complicated issue. The call was made by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama yesterday during a meeting of security agencies at Government House.
Mr Noppadon said he raised the issue at the meeting as he did not want the Foreign Ministry to handle the issue alone.
''The issue should be handled jointly by different agencies,'' he said, adding that the army could, for example, help clear landmines while the Culture Ministry could look at improving the physical surroundings of the area in dispute. The Prime Minister's Office will help promote understanding among local people.
Last Thursday the government submitted an aide-memoire to Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean to protest against Cambodian troop deployment at the ancient temple, which is on the border near Si Sa Ket province.
The government said the deployment of troops by Cambodia violates Thailand's territorial sovereignty in the overlapping areas along the border and was also against the spirit of a Memorandum of Understanding made in 2000 between the two countries concerning the area around the Preah Vihear temple.
Phnom Penh summoned Thai ambassador Viraphand Vacharathit to deny all the allegations the day after Thailand summoned the Cambodian ambassador. It was the fourth time Thailand has protested to Cambodia over the issue. Previous protests were in 2004, 2005 and 2007, and involved the construction of a road, a community and permanent buildings in the north and western part of the temple.
Cambodia has also conducted de-mining activities in the western part of the temple.
''I will wait to negotiate this issue with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An,'' said Mr Noppadon, adding however that Mr Sok An's official visit has yet to be scheduled.
Cambodia's deputy prime minister postponed his last trip to Bangkok, scheduled at the end of February.
Mr Noppadon said he had asked China to help negotiate with a Chinese construction firm hired to build a road near the disputed area, asking that its work be stopped. The company has complied with the request, which was made during Mr Noppadon's visit to Beijing during Songkran, he said.
There was a dispute between the two countries in 2001 when Cambodia asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to put the ancient Khmer temple ruins, called Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, on the World Heritage List.
Thailand, however, wanted to have a role in the proposal as the border between the two countries has yet to be clearly marked.
The World Heritage Committee agreed to postpone its decision. Cambodia decided to re-submit its proposal without Thailand this year