Unesco urged to delay study of temple plan

Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear temple trespasses on Thai territory, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who said yesterday he would call on the World Heritage Committee to delay consideration of the plan for another year.

Suwit was scheduled to meet Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Paris today and discuss postponing the management plan until both countries are able to settle the border row.

"We should stop fighting and instead cooperate to have the boundary demarcated via the Joint Boundary Commission," Suwit told reporters.

"Once the boundary demarcation is completed, this problem would be resolved. Cambodia would then have the freedom to do what it wants on its own land."

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over Preah Vihear for a long time, and the conflict intensified when the World Heritage Committee and Unesco agreed to list the Hindu temple as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

Thailand disagreed with the listing and wants the committee to delay consideration of the temple's management plan, as it fears Cambodia would seize land near the temple, which Thailand claims as its own.

Sok An said on Monday said Cambodia's plan would not affect Thailand as it only covered Cambodian territory.

Sok An said he was prepared to discuss the management plan with Suwit and tell Unesco about the damage inflicted upon the temple during the major military clash between Thai and Cambodian troops in February.

Cambodia would also urge Unesco to dispatch its experts to evaluate the damage and consider renovation, he said.

Meanwhile, Phnom Penh's National Committee for World Heritage issued a statement earlier arguing that Suwit has no reason to delay the consideration of the Preah Vihear's management plan as the World Heritage Committee had decided last year to consider the documents during its 35th session this year.

"It is worth recalling that Mr Suwit himself signed [the document], with the Cambodian head of delegation and chairperson of the session, and recognised the draft Decision," the statement said.

The World Heritage Committee will be holding its 35th session from June 1929 in Paris.

The Nation