Unesco urges mediation in management plan row

Published: 23/06/2011
Bangkok Post

Unesco wants mediators to resolve the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the management plan for the disputed border area around the Preah Vihear temple before seeking consensus from the World Heritage Committee, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti says.

Mr Suwit was speaking as the Thai delegation took part in the annual Unesco meeting in Paris which began on Sunday and lasts until June 29.

The delegation met for talks yesterday with a representative of Unesco director-general Irina Bokova. Unesco has already forwarded Thailand's draft memorandum of understanding to Cambodia whereas Cambodia was drawing up its own to send to Thailand through Unesco.

Mr Suwit, who leads the Thai delegation, said the Unesco director-general wanted the two countries to seek help from mediators to end their dispute and avoid confrontation during the WHC meeting.

Cambodia's proposed plan to manage the 11th-century Hindu ruins and nearby disputed area of 4.6 sqkm is opposed by Thailand. Bangkok wants the WHC to delay consideration of the plan until the border demarcation work has been finalised.

The management plan is among the items to be discussed at the WHC meeting today.

Mr Suwit said Unesco believed the mediation process would convince the two countries to sign a memorandum of understanding that is acceptable to both sides and if they can reach an agreement, the WHC meeting will make a decision based on their agreement.

But, if Thailand and Cambodia cannot agree on the issue in a few days, the WHC meeting may have to postpone consideration of the management plan until the weekend, Mr Suwit said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Cambodia's unilateral bid to table the plan was unacceptable and that all sides must enter talks to avoid conflict.

"Withdrawing membership from the WHC will be the last resort. The authority to do so rests with the government. But that depends on whether the WHC will listen to Thailand," Mr Abhisit said.

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday gathered outside the Unesco office on Sukhumvit-Ekamai Road to demand that the agency refuse to consider the management plan and to delist the Preah Vihear temple.

PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang handed a letter to a Unesco representative to express dissatisfaction that it had failed to heed their demands.

The PAD said in the letter that if the WHC approved the management plan, Unesco and the committee would be considered "enemies" of the Thai people.