Ministers discuss Preah Vihear as key meetings loom

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday wrapped up his work on the border conflict with Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple - as the World Heritage Committee (WHC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) are set to look into different aspects of the disputed area.

Abhisit called a meeting on the issue with his deputies Suthep Thaugsuban, Sanan Kachornprasart and Trairong Suwankhiri, as well as Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Environment and Natural Resources Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

Indonesia is set to dispatch an advance survey team to visit the border area near the historic temple to clear the way for a full team of observers.

The survey team will spend two days in Si Sa Ket province to inspect the locations where observers will be, Abhisit said.

The survey team would only visit the site when Thailand and Cambodia convene the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting to discuss withdrawing troops from the disputed area, he said.

"If Cambodia agrees to the troop withdrawal and removes its community from the disputed 4.6 square kilometre area, we will allow the Indonesian observer team in," Abhisit told reporters.

The peace effort brokered by Jakarta is a part of attempts to settle the dispute over Preah Vihear temple. Indonesia, as the Asean chair, was asked by the United Nations Security Council to help implement a permanent cease-fire between the two countries after a major clash in February.

Cambodia has also requested the ICJ to clarify its 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear case. The court ruled that Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia. Thailand complied with the ruling but argued that the court ruled only on the sandstone ruin while the area around the temple belongs to Thailand.

Abhisit said the court would hold a public hearing on May 30-31 on Cambodia's request for provisional measures to get Thai troops to withdraw from the disputed area. "The court might order an injunction by the time we stage the election in July but before the new government," he said.

"I am confident in our way of handling the case and we won't lose this territory," he said.

In regard to Cambodia's bid to get the site listed by the World Heritage Committee, Suwit would fly to talk with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An tomorrow about Thailand's push for the Heritage body to postpone consideration of the Preah Vihear management plan.

The Hindu temple was listed as a World Heritage in 2008. Phnom Penh submitted an initial management plan the following year and a comprehensive plan in 2010. Thailand urged the committee to delay consideration of the plan last year on the grounds that it had not had time to study it.

Suwit signed a note with Sok An during the meeting last year in Brasilia agreeing to consider the plan this year. But Abhisit said Thailand wanted consideration of the plan delayed for another year.

The Nation