Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a yet-to-be disclosed new map of Preah Vihear temple that would pave the way for neighbouring Cambodia to apply for the disputed Preah Vihear temple to be listed as a World Heritage Site.
Cambodia will present the new map as key document to experts of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the meeting in Quebec next month.
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Tuesday the disputed and undemarcated 4.6-square kilometre area surrounding and adjacent to the temple complex itself is not included on the map.
The minister also emphasised that all details in the new map would be released after the World Heritage Committee meets in July to consider the matter.
The 21-nation committee is scheduled to meet in Quebec beginning July 2 to decide whether or not to grant the world heritage site status to the temple.
Historically, both Thailand and Cambodia have claimed the ancient Khmer-built Hindu temple complex astride the mutual border in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province in the northeast, but practical access is only possible from the Thai side.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.
In a related development, the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy on Tuesday issued its third statement supporting its civil disobedience measure, calling for the Foreign Ministry's officials to come
out to argue regarding the disputed Preah Vihear temple.
Pipob Thongchai, a core leader of PAD, said in the latest civil disobedience announcement that the group wanted to urge Thai ambassadors, charge d' affaires, consuls, and officials of the Foreign Ministry to carry out a mission to maintain the country's sovereignty.
In particular, they should come out to make an argument over the controversial issue on the historic Preah Vihear temple.
He said the PAD supporters would march to the ministry on Wednesday to monitor the issue because the group believed it involved vested interests gained by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The opposition Democrat Party had earlier cast doubts regarding the new map of the historic temple, suggesting that Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama might have compromised Thailand's national interests over the issue.
Source: MCOT
Thought: I'm sure the govt really would love to hang on to this so they could turn it into a park and slap a 400 baht entrance fee on it for foreigners.
Govt approves secret Cambodia temple deal
Govt approves secret Cambodia temple deal
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
STEVE G wrote:Access to this temple is from Thailand so they still can charge entry,but the actual bulk of the building is in Cambodia.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/t ... ?id=128278
Travel tips:
The easiest access for tourists to Preah Vihear is on the Thai side of the border. Drive to the town of Kanthalak, in Si Sa Ket province, spend the night at one of the town's two hotels, which charge 500 baht for air conditioned rooms and drive out to Preah Vihear early to be at the border crossing when it opens at 8 am and the weather is still cool and windy.
Foreign tourist need to pay 200 baht ($6) to enter Thailand's Phra Viharn National Park on the Thai side, and another 200 baht on the Cambodian side when entering the temple.
There is also a 5 baht charge collected by the Thai military for use of their border road.
Don't buy the duty free booze on the Cambodian side. The bottles are genuine, the booze usually isn't. (dpa)
Bangko Post
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
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sandman67
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This whole argument just has me stumped, and wondering whether Thais get the UNESCO idea at all.....once it becomes a UNESCO site it in effect belongs to the world, and is held in trust by the country who are awarded status....of course the Thai "not one inch" childishness has kicked in.
This is particularly sick in light of the Thai authorities allowing, through their incompetence and indifference, the serious vandalism of a similar Khymer temple in recent months by forces as yet unidentified and un-investigated.....only to blame the vandalism on "ethnic Khymer black magicians".....yeah, like we believe that one.
Like the two cases are not related in any way..... smash one up so you can get control of the other...... seems to make sense to me.
At least the Cambodian authorities take guarding the temples seriously. Only the Thai authorities would use vandalism of world heritage sites as a political tool.
ah sorry.....I forgot the other lot who did....the Taliban (the Buddhas of Bamiyan...held to ransom....now gone forever).
This is particularly sick in light of the Thai authorities allowing, through their incompetence and indifference, the serious vandalism of a similar Khymer temple in recent months by forces as yet unidentified and un-investigated.....only to blame the vandalism on "ethnic Khymer black magicians".....yeah, like we believe that one.
Like the two cases are not related in any way..... smash one up so you can get control of the other...... seems to make sense to me.
At least the Cambodian authorities take guarding the temples seriously. Only the Thai authorities would use vandalism of world heritage sites as a political tool.
ah sorry.....I forgot the other lot who did....the Taliban (the Buddhas of Bamiyan...held to ransom....now gone forever).
"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."