Cabinet firm on Thailand's stance on P.Vihear

28 July, 2010
Bangkok Post

The cabinet on Wednesday made a resolution for Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti to walk out if the World Heritage Committee goes ahead to consider Cambodia's management plan for the Preah Vihear temple without taking into considering Thailand's protest, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

Mr Suwit is current in Brasilia, Brazil's capital, to attend the WHC meeting which is expected to discuss Cambodia's management plan for the Hindu temple.

Mr Abhisit said the cabinet agreed that if the WHC went ahead to consider Cambodia's proposal Mr Suwit could walk out without joining the voting.

Mr Suwit could also review Thailand's WHC membership if it looked likely to endorse the management plan.

The prime minister stressed that even if the WHC endorsed Cambodia's management, it would not have any effect on the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Cambodia would not be able to use the WHC endorsement to manage the overlapping territory of 4.6 square kilometres which is still in dispute and has not been demarcated, Mr Abhisit said.

He said Thailand would solve this problem by trying to avoid use of force although the Thai army is ready to protect the Thai sovereignty over its territory.

Mr Abhisit said it might take as long as one year to withdraw from WHC membership because the matter would require approval from the House of Representatives.

If Thailand withdrew from WHC membership, the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site would not be able to proceed, he said.

Therefore, Thailand would persist in its attempt to put off the WHC consideration of the Cambodian proposal and ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to adhere to its intention of promoting peace, not conflict, the prime minister said.

Deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the cabinet made this resolution after Mr Suwit sent a message by fax on Wednesday morning asking it to confirm Thailand's stance.

Thailand has made clear its stance that it will not cooperate with the WHC if it agrees to the management plan for the Preah Vihear temple that infringes on the disputed border area.