Move To Quit UN Panel Stalled; UNESCO Withdrawal

[webfact]

UNESCO WITHDRAWAL

Move to quit UN panel stalled

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Cabinet backs Suwit's stance at World Heritage Convention but leaves decision to next government

The Cabinet yesterday was reluctant to endorse the intention to withdraw from the World Heritage Convention and decided to leave the decision to the next government due to conflicting opinion among government agencies on the matter.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva instructed the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Cultural Ministry to prepare information and necessary documents for the new government, Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti announced Thailand's intention to quit the convention but the withdrawal would have become effective only 12 months after the submission of a written request to the Unesco director.

Suwit said in his letter to Unesco director Irina Bokova that the formal instrument of denunciation would be made in due course.

Suwit, who led the Thai delegation to the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris last week, reported to the Cabinet on his decision to walk out of the session and the announcement of denunciation. The action is to protect Thai sovereignty over the territory adjacent to the Preah Vihear Temple, Panitan quoted Suwit as telling the Cabinet.

Abhisit backed Suwit's decision and most of ministers in the Cabinet agreed with him, but the caretaker government decided not to carry out the procedure of denunciation, Panitan said.

However, the withdrawal was not fully backed by the Foreign Ministry, a government source said.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry who attended the meeting together with Suwit in Paris were satisfied with their negotiations with the Cambodian delegation on the draft of the World Heritage Committee's decision.

The resolution mentioned only the need to restore and repair the Hindu temple, not the Cambodia-proposed management plan, the source said. Suwit has jumped the gun and the denunciation is unnecessary, said an official at the Foreign Ministry who declined to be named.

However, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement later yesterday that its officials to the meeting stood by Suwit and there were no differences on the matter.

Unesco director Bokova wrote to Prime Minister Abhisit on Monday to express her disappointment at the Thai delegation's decision and Suwit's walk-out. She explained that at the time of the examination of the item on Preah Vihear, Thailand had requested adjournment of the debate under Rule 31 of the Rules of the Procedures of the Intergovernmental World Heritage Committee but the motion was not supported by any other member of the Committee as is the requirement of this rule.

"Thereafter, the committee unanimously adopted a decision which only reaffirms the need to ensure the protection and conservation of the property from any damage," Bokova said in the letter and urged the government to continue Thailand's participation in the convention.

Suwit contested Bokova's version, saying the committee's decision as adopted at the meeting allowed Cambodia to do anything it wished to restore and repair the temple. Thailand has a clear position not to allow Cambodia to do anything at the temple before a settlement of the border dispute, he said.

In his Facebook page, Abhisit blamed former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama for his support of Cambodia to list the temple as a World Heritage Site. The support would cost Thai sovereignty over the Preah Vihear, Abhisit said. Shame on Noppadon who created the conflict with Cambodia, hurting the country and people along the border, he said.

Noppadon argued in his Facebook that Abhisit had uttered a lie only to suit his political campaign. "My government under the late Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej managed to negotiate to exclude the disputed area of 4.6 square kilometres adjacent to Preah Vihear out of the inscription," he said.

The World Heritage Committee made it clear that it listed the temple as a heritage site without Thailand's support, Noppadon said. "I have nothing to be ashamed of in this matter, as my government then protected Thai territory, and nothing was lost," he said.

Facebook face-off

Abhisit, in a Facebook message, blamed former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama for supporting Cambodia in listing the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. Shame on Noppadon ... for hurting the country and people along the border, Abhisit said.

Noppadon argued on his Facebook page that Abhisit told a lie only to suit his political campaign. "My government under late prime minister Samak Sundaravej managed to negotiate to exclude the disputed area of 4.6 sq km adjacent to Preah Vihear out of the inscription," he said. "I have nothing to be ashamed of..."

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

[jonclark]

This has been well played by the Abhisit government ( from a political strategy point of view). They will more than likely leave a politically inexperienced PM open to the full sentiment and wrath of a nationalistic nation, as well as the establishment should she lose 1 inch of land. [perfect conditions for a coup] At the same time I'd imagine Hun Sen is expecting the power broker in PTP to give him the temple in return for shelter given or other favours provided by him. There will be no honeymoon for poor old Yingluck and she my well shed a few more tears in parliament. Yingluck - more like Noluck!

I thinly the only job worse in the world than being Thai PM has to be the England Football Manger!!

[webfact]

Cambodia has been continuously reinforcing its troops at the border with Si Sa Ket; Thais there are on alert for possible evacuation /TAN_Network

[tragickingdom]

As so often, the smart plans of Suthep blow up in the face of the government and are damaging their election prospects instead of boosting them. It is like the embarrasing Rachaprasong rally where supporters bused in by the Democrats were sheering killed Thai people, shown on the screen. Any well thinking citizen would puke by the idea of government ministers enjoying killed people. In this case they instantly lost the support of all those tens of thousands of people depending on the other World Heritages sites in Thailand. The next mistake will be attacking Cambodia in the hope to derail either the elections or the installation of a new government. Thai people do not deserve to be insulted by their leaders.

[whybother]

As so often, the smart plans of Suthep blow up in the face of the government and are damaging their election prospects instead of boosting them. It is like the embarrasing Rachaprasong rally where supporters bused in by the Democrats were sheering killed Thai people, shown on the screen. Any well thinking citizen would puke by the idea of government ministers enjoying killed people. In this case they instantly lost the support of all those tens of thousands of people depending on the other World Heritages sites in Thailand. The next mistake will be attacking Cambodia in the hope to derail either the elections or the installation of a new government. Thai people do not deserve to be insulted by their leaders.

Can you please point me to a news article that says the Democrat supporters were cheering red shirt deaths?

All I could find was references to the supporters cheering to Suthep's regret at the deaths.

[Asa]

Reading news report from 35th UNESCO session. The Director General Bokova said " The decision of the World Heritage Committee on the Temple of Preah Vihear World Heritage site in Cambodia only reaffirms the need to ensure the protection and conservation of the property from any damage. It further encourages the two countries to use the 1972 Convention as a tool to support conservation, sustainable development and dialogue."

If this is the case, then why the Abhisit Government is so jumpy to denounce the Committee adoption, which concern only the Temple/ shrine restoration that situates inside the land lost to Cambodia since 1962. This actually means there is nothing involve Thailand, whatsoever. They can go without Thailand anyway. More, after after a decision to a walkout protest, the caretaker government will leave it to the next government to do the official letter to UNESCO. Brave, huh...

reference: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/772

[whybother]

Reading news report from 35th UNESCO session. The Director General Bokova said " The decision of the World Heritage Committee on the Temple of Preah Vihear World Heritage site in Cambodia only reaffirms the need to ensure the protection and conservation of the property from any damage. It further encourages the two countries to use the 1972 Convention as a tool to support conservation, sustainable development and dialogue."

If this is the case, then why the Abhisit Government is so jumpy to denounce the Committee adoption, which concern only the Temple/ shrine restoration that situates inside the land lost to Cambodia since 1962. This actually means there is nothing involve Thailand, whatsoever. They can go without Thailand anyway. More, after after a decision to a walkout protest, the caretaker government will leave it to the next government to do the official letter to UNESCO. Brave, huh...

reference: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/772

Do some more reading. Abhisit isn't objecting to the ruling that the temple is in Cambodia, as per the 1962 ICJ ruling.

What is being objected to is Cambodia's temple management plan, which includes the use of land that is STILL in dispute, and the fact that UNESCO were still looking at this plan.

[Orac]

This is sounding more and more like some political smoke and mirrors to beat the nationalistic drum before the election in the hope of tempting some of the PAD no voters back on side.

[rubl]

As so often, the smart plans of Suthep blow up in the face of the government and are damaging their election prospects instead of boosting them. It is like the embarrasing Rachaprasong rally where supporters bused in by the Democrats were sheering killed Thai people, shown on the screen. Any well thinking citizen would puke by the idea of government ministers enjoying killed people. In this case they instantly lost the support of all those tens of thousands of people depending on the other World Heritages sites in Thailand. The next mistake will be attacking Cambodia in the hope to derail either the elections or the installation of a new government. Thai people do not deserve to be insulted by their leaders.

'supporters buses in'? First time I hear about this, are you sure and if so where did you find this piece of wisdom ?

[outre99]

As so often, the smart plans of Suthep blow up in the face of the government and are damaging their election prospects instead of boosting them. It is like the embarrasing Rachaprasong rally where supporters bused in by the Democrats were sheering killed Thai people, shown on the screen. Any well thinking citizen would puke by the idea of government ministers enjoying killed people. In this case they instantly lost the support of all those tens of thousands of people depending on the other World Heritages sites in Thailand. The next mistake will be attacking Cambodia in the hope to derail either the elections or the installation of a new government. Thai people do not deserve to be insulted by their leaders.

It appears that the majority of Thai people either can't tell or don't mind being insulted by their leaders. Otherwise it is impossible to explain why rural poor continue to lend their unwavering support to TRT (or it's latest incarnations). The much touted populist policies of K. T did not produce any lasting improvements for the people. If anything it made things worse (closed down hospitals, substandard schools, unchecked development in the flood plains leading to unprecedented flood damage, deep corruption, etc. etc). And yet these people keep voting against their own self interest blinded by the 500 baht bribes. Reminds me of the poor Americans in the South who keep voting for Republicans, who in turn keep letting the corporations to exploit the poor.

A functional democracy requires engaged and informed citizenry. Just like in the US, Thai democracy will continue to thrash around as long as the citizens are uninformed and focus on distractions like the temple troubles, or gay marriage, or all kinds of prohibition. The level of public discourse in Thailand seems to be at the 9th grade level with a few rare exceptions. (The recent UN walkout being a perfect example). So it seems only logical that if people act like children they will attract a daddy to resolve disputes and send the troublemakers to their room. And for the time being it might not be a bad idea.

[Asa]

Reading news report from 35th UNESCO session. The Director General Bokova said " The decision of the World Heritage Committee on the Temple of Preah Vihear World Heritage site in Cambodia only reaffirms the need to ensure the protection and conservation of the property from any damage. It further encourages the two countries to use the 1972 Convention as a tool to support conservation, sustainable development and dialogue."

If this is the case, then why the Abhisit Government is so jumpy to denounce the Committee adoption, which concern only the Temple/ shrine restoration that situates inside the land lost to Cambodia since 1962. This actually means there is nothing involve Thailand, whatsoever. They can go without Thailand anyway. More, after after a decision to a walkout protest, the caretaker government will leave it to the next government to do the official letter to UNESCO. Brave, huh...

reference: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/772

Do some more reading. Abhisit isn't objecting to the ruling that the temple is in Cambodia, as per the 1962 ICJ ruling.

What is being objected to is Cambodia's temple management plan, which includes the use of land that is STILL in dispute, and the fact that UNESCO were still looking at this plan.

I maybe wrong, but I could not see where it mentioned management plan and the land in the vicinity. By the information given, Unesco wants Cambodia and Thailand to ensure the protection and restoration of the Shrine. Do you reckon that the Director General intend to deceive us?

[whybother]

I maybe wrong, but I could not see where it mentioned management plan and the land in the vicinity. By the information given, Unesco wants Cambodia and Thailand to ensure the protection and restoration of the Shrine. Do you reckon that the Director General intend to deceive us?

What is being discussed by UNESCO if it is not the management plan?

Did they have the meeting just to ensure "the protection and restoration of the Shrine"? Did they have meetings for the hundreds of other world heritage sites around the world just to "ensure the protection and restoration" of them?