Published: 1/07/2011
Bangkok Post
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti (pictured) may have been praised by the People's Alliance for Democracy for withdrawing Thailand from the World Heritage Convention last week.
But despite the warm welcome he received from the PAD, which had been pushing for the move, on his return to Thailand earlier this week, members said Mr Suwit would not get more votes from them because of the decision.
That is because PAD has a firm policy of urging people to vote "no" in the election and this will stand.
The opposition has accused the government of pulling out to please PAD supporters and attract votes from the group. And new revelations about what transpired at the meeting last week would seem to back up those accusations.
The PAD sent Thepmontri Limpapayom, a representative of Thailand's protection committee, to observe the negotiations in Paris. The talks took place on the sidelines of the 35th Unesco meeting and were aimed at hammering out a solution for the Preah Vihear temple management plan.
Mr Suwit helped Mr Thepmontri get into the negotiating room by swapping his press card with one of his own staff members, according to a source.
Some officials at the meeting were displeased with the presence of Mr Thepmontri, who took photos and made an audio recording of the negotiations.
Mr Thepmontri's strategy in going to Paris was to lobby Mr Suwit, head of the Thai delegation, to withdraw from the Unesco convention. But the source said it was obvious early on that the World Heritage Committee would not consider Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear as Unesco and Phnom Penh wanted to discuss conservation strategies for the temple instead.
The source said Mr Suwit appeared paranoid despite explanations by Foreign Ministry staff about the nature of the talks between Unesco and Cambodia.
Mr Suwit and his staff did not think the management plan would be discussed and expressed concern that Cambodia might put the plan in the Unesco resolution draft later.
Unesco had planned to bring up for a vote its own draft, the result of a May meeting it held with Thailand and Cambodia. The organisation had proposed in the draft that consideration of the management plan be postponed, Unesco be allowed to undertake preservation work of the temple, and that inscriptions of the temple be jointly made by Thailand and Cambodia.
The Thai Foreign Ministry had agreed with Unesco's draft.
"Cambodia agreed in the May meeting to postpone tabling its management plan because it would involve boundary problems," the source said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who supported Thailand's withdrawal, said the situation had changed because the World Heritage Committee chairman refused to use the Unesco draft and insisted on bringing Cambodia's management plan up for consideration.
"Mr Suwit asked the WHC to delay consideration but failed, so he announced Thailand's withdrawal," said Mr Kasit. The source said Mr Suwit had intended to withdraw from the 1972 World Heritage Convention since last year and had Foreign Ministry officials draft a withdrawal letter to share with WHC member nations in advance.
But despite the warm welcome he received from the PAD, which had been pushing for the move, on his return to Thailand earlier this week, members said Mr Suwit would not get more votes from them because of the decision.
That is because PAD has a firm policy of urging people to vote "no" in the election and this will stand.
The opposition has accused the government of pulling out to please PAD supporters and attract votes from the group. And new revelations about what transpired at the meeting last week would seem to back up those accusations.
The PAD sent Thepmontri Limpapayom, a representative of Thailand's protection committee, to observe the negotiations in Paris. The talks took place on the sidelines of the 35th Unesco meeting and were aimed at hammering out a solution for the Preah Vihear temple management plan.
Mr Suwit helped Mr Thepmontri get into the negotiating room by swapping his press card with one of his own staff members, according to a source.
Some officials at the meeting were displeased with the presence of Mr Thepmontri, who took photos and made an audio recording of the negotiations.
Mr Thepmontri's strategy in going to Paris was to lobby Mr Suwit, head of the Thai delegation, to withdraw from the Unesco convention. But the source said it was obvious early on that the World Heritage Committee would not consider Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear as Unesco and Phnom Penh wanted to discuss conservation strategies for the temple instead.
The source said Mr Suwit appeared paranoid despite explanations by Foreign Ministry staff about the nature of the talks between Unesco and Cambodia.
Mr Suwit and his staff did not think the management plan would be discussed and expressed concern that Cambodia might put the plan in the Unesco resolution draft later.
Unesco had planned to bring up for a vote its own draft, the result of a May meeting it held with Thailand and Cambodia. The organisation had proposed in the draft that consideration of the management plan be postponed, Unesco be allowed to undertake preservation work of the temple, and that inscriptions of the temple be jointly made by Thailand and Cambodia.
The Thai Foreign Ministry had agreed with Unesco's draft.
"Cambodia agreed in the May meeting to postpone tabling its management plan because it would involve boundary problems," the source said.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who supported Thailand's withdrawal, said the situation had changed because the World Heritage Committee chairman refused to use the Unesco draft and insisted on bringing Cambodia's management plan up for consideration.
"Mr Suwit asked the WHC to delay consideration but failed, so he announced Thailand's withdrawal," said Mr Kasit. The source said Mr Suwit had intended to withdraw from the 1972 World Heritage Convention since last year and had Foreign Ministry officials draft a withdrawal letter to share with WHC member nations in advance.
2 comments:
Thailand Doing World Heritage Tango! Hahaha!
Thailand just playing childish game..You will see Thailand change their mind after election!
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