COMMENTARY
SARITDET MARUKATAT
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama should not miss the opportunity to redeem his credibility.
After being badly bruised by the attacks in the House from the Democrat party led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former legal adviser of the ousted prime minister should realise by now that he made the wrong pick in the World Heritage issue.
Mr Noppadon and the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decided to get behind Cambodia's bid to turn Preah Vihear temple into a new World Heritage site. The decision now rests with the World Heritage Committee, which starts meeting from tomorrow till July 10 in Quebec.
Mr Noppadon said supporting the Cambodian government was a good gesture and cited the need to make sure that the area to be tabled by Phnom Penh would not intrude on borderland which had yet to be demarcated, as the reasons for backing the neighbouring country.
But why did he overlook another chance for Thailand to add more local sites to the World Heritage listing? This country still has many more locations to impress members of the committee which screens places to be announced as new heritage sites of the world.
Achieving such a status can translate into attracting more tourists to the country, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation can step in to help maintain these places by giving financial and technical assistance.
Already listed in Thailand is the old capital of Ayutthaya, among other places. It is a must-see place for all foreigners visiting the Kingdom.
As far as nature is concerned, the country also has some World Heritage places to offer visitors. Not many people realise that two forest areas are already being promoted as global heritage sites. They are the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary on the western front from Uthai Thani down to Kanchanaburi. Another place is the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex covering several central provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri and Saraburi.
Next for Thailand is the move by the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. The agency believes the Kaeng Krachan forest complex is a good enough candidate for the natural World Heritage list because it is home to a number of wildlife, some of which have already become rare.
The Kaeng Krachan proposal won't be ready in time for the Quebec meeting because it takes time to prepare all the necessary information to persuade the committee members.
Mr Noppadon has a chance to redeem his credibility - not by throwing his support behind the natural park, though.
To reclaim his stature, the foreign minister should consider proposing House Number 111 for the committee to consider as a political World Heritage site. Though just only a year old, the House already has made history in Thai politics and its implications are being felt even today and probably will be long into the future.
The uniqueness is indisputable. It is, and will remain, the only House where 111 politicians - young and old, famous and so-so - can be brought together all in one place, after the Constitution Tribunal ruled on May 30 last year that their party, Thai Rak Thai, had violated election laws and thus all executive members had to bear responsibility for that. They cannot enter politics for five years.
The House is a perfect reminder for politicians today of the two-edged sword in having too many executive members in a party.
Giving all faction leaders positions like executive party members can ease friction within the party, as the TRT did. But once the party and all key members are banned from politics, it suddenly faces a human resource crisis.
House Number 111 has international consequences, too. As a result of the ban, House owner Thaksin Shinawatra has had time to go shopping, which included the purchase of Manchester City Football Club last year. He now plans to put his money into several investment projects in Cambodia, such as the casino and entertainment project in the province of Koh Kong.
The problem for that House is that nobody wants to stay there for long. Its members want outside help - from People Power party members in Parliament - to press for political amnesty. They tried to do it once but had to step back after heavy criticism. Now with the censure debate over and all targeted ministers saved, it won't be long before a fresh move to push for an amnesty for the 111 executives, to close down the House of the Banned, will surface. If Foreign Minister Noppadon truly wants to reclaim lost ground, he'd better hurry.
Saritdet Marukatat is News Editor, Bangkok Post.
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