Ambassador Julio A. Jeldres
Official Biographer of H.M. the King Father
Samdech Preah Upayuvareach Norodom Sihanouk
of Cambodia
9 February 2009
Dear Sir:
Thank you for drawing to my attention the exchange of views on Preah Vihear between yourself and Mr. Norbert Klein.
May I point out that for all intents and purposes the Joint Communiqué between Cambodia and Thailand of 18 June 2008 seems to have been conceived purely to comply with the requirements of World Heritage Listing. I am inclined to believe so for the following reasons:
- In all subsequent diplomatic notes between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as on their separate communications to other countries and the United Nations regarding Preah Vihear (and I think I have an almost complete set of these written communications), neither kingdom has mentioned the 18 June 2008 Joint Communiqué.
- The Thai Parliament never approved the Joint Communiqué of 18 June 2008 and the Thai Foreign Minister at the time –Mr Noppadon PATTANA, was forced to resign as Foreign Minister for having signed the Joint Communiqué. At the time, the Thai Democrat Party, then in opposition, was strongly opposed to the Thai Foreign Minister having signed the said document.
- Concerning the use of maps, both countries have used the maps their respective delegations used in presenting their countries’ cases to the International Court of Justice in 1962. Again, no mention has been made of the map annexed to the Joint Communiqué of 18 June 2008.
Lastly, as a matter of further interest and in view of recent Thai requests that the name of Preah Vihear be also described as Khao Phra Viharn in official documents of the two countries, may I point out that in previous written communications by Thai officials and diplomats, up to 17 October 2008, they had used the wording “Temple of Preah Vihear”, for instance in the notes to the President of the UN Security Council by Thai Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Don Pramudwinai. I fail to understand why Thailand is now insisting on the use of “Khao Phra Viharn” in official documents when Preah Vihear is well known and has been accepted as the proper name for the temple by the international community for many years.
Yours sincerely,
3 comments:
Yes, Mr. Jeldres' rationale is very sensible. I think Mr. Klein's giving too much importance on the 2008 Joint Communique is not very convincing. The joint communique is not a border treaty. Yes, it has been reneged by the Thai govt. and also the Thai constitutional court has annulled it as well.
Mr. Jeldres, your observation is well taken. You have accentuated Mr. Klein's lack of common sense.
Mr. Jeldres, your analyses are very sensible. The 2008 Joint Communique has never been mentioned by the Thai to argue their case. Also, it has been reneged by the Thai govt. and annulled by the Thai constitutional court. So, it is null and void.
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