[Thai] PM drops talks plan for temple

Published: 5/08/20
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will not send Suthep Thaugsuban to Cambodia for talks on the Preah Vihear temple while Phnom Penh refuses to show more interest in discussing the dispute.

Mr Abhisit said Wednesday a more appropriate time and consultations with all relevant agencies were needed before the deputy prime minister would be sent to Phnom Penh.

He said there had been no signals from Phnom Penh that it was interested in discussing the matter.

Mr Suthep, who oversees national security, offered on Tuesday to go to Phnom Penh to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and try to reach a compromise on Preah Vihear and the overlapping area near the ancient Hindu temple.

The deputy prime minister said the dispute must be resolved as quickly as possible to prevent further distrust among the people of the two countries.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia soured again when Thailand protested to the World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Brasilia last week about Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear and its surrounding areas. Thailand complained the plan included land which has not been demarcated.

Thailand's position is to first put an end to the question of sovereignty over the 4.6 square kilometres of land around the temple before the WHC decides on a management plan. The temple was listed as a world heritage site in 2008.

The heritage committee, which comes under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, deferred a decision on the site for another year after it failed to find common ground between the two countries. The next meeting will be hosted by Bahrain.

The impasse has prompted Prince Sisowath Thomico, an adviser to Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, to write a letter to Mr Abhisit, according to the website of the Phnom Penh Post.

The letter urged the two countries to put aside their territorial dispute for the sake of regional harmony.

"Raising territorial claims is a futile attempt that flies in the face of history, and that harms our people by diverting significant resources that could otherwise be invested in development," Prince Sisowath said.

"My dearest wish, Your Excellency, would be to see Preah Vihear standing as the enduring symbol of the reconciliation between our two nations, of the harmony of our relationship, and a model of fruitful cooperation between the two neighbours."

Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Wednesday Mr Abhisit had received the letter.

The prime minister said he agreed the temple should be a symbol which reflects common culture, peace and reconciliation between the two countries. But he said the issue should not lead to attempts to take advantage of another country over the unsettled boundary.

Army chief Anupong Paojinda on Wednesday ordered 1st Army chief Kanit Sapitak and 2nd Army commander Weewalit Chornsamrit to tighten security along the border as a result of the WHC meeting, deputy army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngna-thong said.

One concern was the possibility of Thais staging a protest on the border which could create a misunderstanding.

An army source said commanders responsible for the Thai-Cambodian frontier, including those from the Suranaree and Burapha task forces, held a separate meeting to assess the situation.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of 240 million baht for the army to prepare measures and reinforce the border with Cambodia, the source said.