By Bridget Di Certo
Monday, 07 May 2012
Phnom Penh Post
A Cambodian soldier rests at the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple last year. Photograph: Phnom Penh Post/Heng Chivoan
The temple at Preah Vihear, one of Cambodia’s most-prized national
treasures, is at such risk of severe and irreparable damage that it
could vanish completely, preservation watchdog the Global Heritage Fund said over the weekend.
Due
to the impact of war and conflict, unsustainable tourism and natural
disasters, the “picturesque masterpiece of Khmer architecture”, as it
has been described by UNESCO,
could be totally destroyed, the fund said in a report released this
month to coincide with a global heritage forum over the weekend.
“The
temple’s location atop a steep cliff leaves it vulnerable to the rigors
of a mountain climate, further exacerbated by monsoon conditions,” the
report states.
Further, the failure of Cambodia and Thailand to
resolve their dispute over the land surrounding Preah Vihear is a
man-made threat accelerating damage to the 11th-century temple, GHF said
in their study.
During military skirmishes in 2011, the temple
itself was in the direct line of fire and sustained damage from
shellfire during exchanges with Thai troops.
“As of March, […]
neither Thai nor Cambodian troops have withdrawn, leaving the atmosphere
around the temple no less volatile,” the report states.
Minister for Tourism Thong Khon said he could not respond to questions because he was in Kampong Thom province.
Tan Theay, secretary-general of the National Committee for UNESCO, could not be reached for comment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bridget Di Certo at bridget.dicerto@phnompenhpost.com
With assistance from Mom Kunthear
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