- Published: 28/10/2009
- Bangkok Post
Representatives from Thailand and Cambodia have been selected to sit on the new Unesco World Heritage Committee in light of the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple.
Somsuda: Vows to work without bias
The election of the World Heritage Committee took place at Unesco's 17th general assembly of states party to the World Heritage Convention being held this week in Paris.
The new committee sits until 2013.
Thailand has appointed Somsuda Leyavanija, deputy permanent secretary for culture, to sit on the 21-member committee, Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch said. Twelve new members were appointed this year.
Mrs Somsuda is the second Thai to sit on the World Heritage Committee. Adul Wichiancharoen was twice a member - from 1989 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2003.
Mr Teera said 29 countries had fielded candidates for the 12 seats.
The minister said the Cambodian representative elected to the committee was a son of Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.
Unesco member countries were concerned about the Preah Vihear temple dispute, Mr Teera said.
Many national representatives voted for Thailand and Cambodia to be represented on the committee in the hope they could help resolve their differences through the committee's mechanisms.
The dispute escalated after the World Heritage Committee decided in July 2008 to register the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site following a unilateral proposal from Cambodia.
The ownership of a 4.6 square kilometre area surrounding the ancient Hindu temple remains a point of dispute between the two countries.
Thailand has filed a petition against the Unesco decision.
Mrs Somsuda has vowed to serve the committee free of bias. She will take into account the interests of all Unesco member countries.
Born on Sept 26, 1952, she is a trained archaeologist with a doctorate from the Australian National University. She has worked on archeological and cultural issues for more than 19 years.
Thailand has appointed Somsuda Leyavanija, deputy permanent secretary for culture, to sit on the 21-member committee, Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch said. Twelve new members were appointed this year.
Mrs Somsuda is the second Thai to sit on the World Heritage Committee. Adul Wichiancharoen was twice a member - from 1989 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2003.
Mr Teera said 29 countries had fielded candidates for the 12 seats.
The minister said the Cambodian representative elected to the committee was a son of Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.
Unesco member countries were concerned about the Preah Vihear temple dispute, Mr Teera said.
Many national representatives voted for Thailand and Cambodia to be represented on the committee in the hope they could help resolve their differences through the committee's mechanisms.
The dispute escalated after the World Heritage Committee decided in July 2008 to register the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site following a unilateral proposal from Cambodia.
The ownership of a 4.6 square kilometre area surrounding the ancient Hindu temple remains a point of dispute between the two countries.
Thailand has filed a petition against the Unesco decision.
Mrs Somsuda has vowed to serve the committee free of bias. She will take into account the interests of all Unesco member countries.
Born on Sept 26, 1952, she is a trained archaeologist with a doctorate from the Australian National University. She has worked on archeological and cultural issues for more than 19 years.
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