A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 2 March 2011

Cambodia shown proof of damages to Preah Vihear temple to Unesco envoy


By Khmerization
Source: RFA

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An (pictured) told reporters after his talks with Unesco special envoy Koichiro Matsuura that Cambodia had shown proof of damages to Preah Vihear temple caused by Thai artillery shells to the Unesco envoy and accused Thailand of committing cultural crimes and violating the 1954 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict by shelling the temple, causing substantial damages to the world heritage-listed temple. "It is a war crime or crime against religion because of the destruction of the pagoda and a cultural crime because of the destruction of (Preah Vihear) temple. So, this is a real crime committed by the Thai side. The pagoda is a place of worship for the Buddhist followers which was substantially damaged. And we have shown (to the envoy) about the use of cluster bombs by the Thai side which is banned around the world", he said.

Mr. Chuch Phoeun, chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said the Unesco envoy's visit to Cambodia was to assess the damages to the temple and has nothing to do with border conflict with Thailand. He, however, said that after the Indonesian observers had arrived, Unesco will send its experts to assess the damages on the ground. "When the Asean observers, who were assigned by the Asean, arrived on the ground, after that Unesco will send its assessors to assess the damages. The third point is the urgent repairs of the damages to the temple after the Unesco assessors had finished their assessment and it will then send repair experts to carry out the repair works", he said.

Mr. Chuch Phoeun said that during the armed clashes from 4-7 February, Thai troops had fired 414 artillery shells into Preah Vihear temple compound, causing damages to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Gopura.

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