Effect on joint Unesco bid still uncertain
By Thinida Tansubhapol
The embattled Foreign Affairs Ministry may seek to appeal against an injunction granted by the Administrative Court against its support for Cambodia's proposal to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site. The court decision came after the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) asked it last week to rule on the matter, alleging that the support for Cambodia's bid is in return for business concessions in the neighbouring country for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Mr Thaksin and both the Thai and Cambodian governments deny the claims.
The court order could affect a joint declaration Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama signed with Cambodia. In the joint communique, Thailand expressed ''active support'' for Cambodia's plan to unilaterally list the the 900-year-old Khmer ruins at a Unesco meeting in Quebec which begins on Wednesday. Yet it remains unclear how the order will affect the heritage push by Vientiane.
Mr Noppadon, who is to head a Thai delegation to the Quebec meeting, called an urgent meeting with officials at the Foreign Ministry yesterday to discuss the ministry's response after the court issued the injunction.
However, the minister cancelled a press conference and refused to answer reporters' questions in a show of respect for the court decision.
Permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs Virasakdi Futrakul said Mr Noppadon would ask for a cabinet decision on Tuesday to see if it would appeal against the court order.
Mr Virasakdi said a change could be made to the delegation's composition, apparently a reference to Mr Noppadon as delegation head.
The opposition and other government critics yesterday hailed the Administrative Court's injunction.
Opposition and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would lodge a petition tomorrow with 21 country members of the World Heritage Site Committee.
He said the petition is aimed at stopping Cambodia's bid to unilaterally list the Preah Vihear temple and averting any possible damage to Thailand.
He said removal of the foreign minister from office is not now a priority.
Mr Abhisit yesterday lodged a petition objecting to the minister's signing of the joint declaration, which had bypassed parliament.
The petition was submitted to the Constitution Court via the parliament president. The petition was also signed by Democrat MPs and some senators.
Pikulkaew Krairiksh, chairwoman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, said the injunction must be presented to Unesco.
She said the court order was a blessing for the government as it was likely to deter people who had considered joining the PAD-led anti-government campaign.
Chart Thai's Somsak Prisanananthakul agreed that the court order would ease political tension, saying the Foreign Ministry should use this opportunity to clarify the matter with the public.
Academic Preecha Suwannathat called on the government to resign as a show of responsibility.
Mr Preecha, former dean of Thammasat University's law faculty, said the government must review or cancel the joint declaration which it signed with Phnom Penh, or it would be violating the constitution and breaching the Criminal Code.
Historian Nidhi Eowseewong urged the government to forward the court injunction to Unesco.
He also called on Mr Noppadon to step down and warned that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will face pressure if he allows Mr Noppadon to stay on.
He said he believed Cambodia's unilateral bid to list Preah Vihear temple would be rejected.
''It is not easy. Normally, surrounding areas should also be listed.
''I think they will not approve it,'' he said.
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