July 22, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
Source: The Nation
Preah Vihear Temple
An olive branch offered by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to mend sour relations with Thailand early this month when he deported a couple of suspected terrorists to Bangkok did not yield any good result, as the Thai government continues to maintain its obstacles against the Preah Vihear plan.
Without being asked to do so, Cambodia deported Kobchai Boonplod and his wife Warisriya Boonsom, who were charged with terrorism for allegedly planting a bomb near coalition member Bhum Jai Thai Party's headquarters.
The Thai government expressed its gratitude and interpreted the decision as a good sign of restoration of the downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia. Bangkok expected Phnom Penh to do more by handing over many red-shirt leaders who were believed to be hiding in Cambodia.
The two countries downgraded their diplomatic relations last year when Phnom Penh appointed fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government. The sour relations added to the tension that had existed since 2008 between the two countries over the world heritage status of Preah Vihear. That dispute led to border skirmishes that killed seven soldiers and injured a dozen on both sides in 2008 and 2009.
Thailand was supposed to have nothing to do with Preah Vihear's status since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Hindu sanctuary was situated in territory under Cambodia's sovereignty.
Abhisit Vejjajiva's government together with a nationalist movement raised the question that Cambodia might take over some disputed areas adjacent to the temple as a buffer zone. However, the moves to block Cambodia's proposal to list Preah Vihear as a world heritage site failed. The World Heritage Committee agreed to list the site in July 2008 and requested that Cambodia submit its final management plan by February this year.
Cambodia says the Preah Vihear buffer zone it has proposed does not include the areas to the north and the west of the temple that are the subject of a territorial dispute with Thailand. But the Thai government remains suspicious, as it has not yet seen the full report and the graphic plan of the property. The World Heritage Committee was supposed to circulate the management plan for members' consideration by the middle of June but failed to do so because of technical problems.
A Thai delegation led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti will ask the World Heritage Committee during its meeting from next Sunday to August 3 in Brasilia to delay consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan. Abhisit says the plan should not be approved before the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is settled.
There is no quick fix for the border dispute. Perhaps it will not be settled before the end of Abhisit's government. The results of a Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission meeting have been waiting for Parliament's consideration since last year.
In fact, Article 11 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage Convention stipulates that the world heritage designation will never affect a disputed boundary. However, the Thai government does not trust the Unesco convention, either. An official familiar with the issue said the convention might not guarantee Thailand's right to claim sovereignty over areas near Preah Vihear.
Therefore, Thailand wants it on the record that it has never accepted and will never recognise Cambodia's right over the border areas adjacent to Preah Vihear, and it is concerned that activities at Preah Vihear might violate Thai sovereignty, he said.
With such an attitude of mistrust, Thailand will never have good relations with Cambodia.
Without being asked to do so, Cambodia deported Kobchai Boonplod and his wife Warisriya Boonsom, who were charged with terrorism for allegedly planting a bomb near coalition member Bhum Jai Thai Party's headquarters.
The Thai government expressed its gratitude and interpreted the decision as a good sign of restoration of the downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia. Bangkok expected Phnom Penh to do more by handing over many red-shirt leaders who were believed to be hiding in Cambodia.
The two countries downgraded their diplomatic relations last year when Phnom Penh appointed fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government. The sour relations added to the tension that had existed since 2008 between the two countries over the world heritage status of Preah Vihear. That dispute led to border skirmishes that killed seven soldiers and injured a dozen on both sides in 2008 and 2009.
Thailand was supposed to have nothing to do with Preah Vihear's status since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the Hindu sanctuary was situated in territory under Cambodia's sovereignty.
Abhisit Vejjajiva's government together with a nationalist movement raised the question that Cambodia might take over some disputed areas adjacent to the temple as a buffer zone. However, the moves to block Cambodia's proposal to list Preah Vihear as a world heritage site failed. The World Heritage Committee agreed to list the site in July 2008 and requested that Cambodia submit its final management plan by February this year.
Cambodia says the Preah Vihear buffer zone it has proposed does not include the areas to the north and the west of the temple that are the subject of a territorial dispute with Thailand. But the Thai government remains suspicious, as it has not yet seen the full report and the graphic plan of the property. The World Heritage Committee was supposed to circulate the management plan for members' consideration by the middle of June but failed to do so because of technical problems.
A Thai delegation led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti will ask the World Heritage Committee during its meeting from next Sunday to August 3 in Brasilia to delay consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan. Abhisit says the plan should not be approved before the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is settled.
There is no quick fix for the border dispute. Perhaps it will not be settled before the end of Abhisit's government. The results of a Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission meeting have been waiting for Parliament's consideration since last year.
In fact, Article 11 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage Convention stipulates that the world heritage designation will never affect a disputed boundary. However, the Thai government does not trust the Unesco convention, either. An official familiar with the issue said the convention might not guarantee Thailand's right to claim sovereignty over areas near Preah Vihear.
Therefore, Thailand wants it on the record that it has never accepted and will never recognise Cambodia's right over the border areas adjacent to Preah Vihear, and it is concerned that activities at Preah Vihear might violate Thai sovereignty, he said.
With such an attitude of mistrust, Thailand will never have good relations with Cambodia.
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