SPOTLIGHT
Preah Vihear temple may have been granted World Heritage status, but the controversy is far from over
Piyaporn Wongruang
The ruins of Preah Vihear temple can be seen in the distance from Pah Mor E Daeng in Si Sa Ket province. Many tourists use binoculars to get a clearer view of ancient site. |
Pongpol Adireksarn, the chairman of the Thai World Heritage Committee, attended the World Heritage Committee's meeting in Quebec, Canada, last week. |
Bas-relief on Pah Mor E Daeng, Si Sa Ket. |
Things finally came to a head last Thursday when Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama walked firmly to a podium set up at the Foreign Ministry and announced his resignation, taking responsibility for allegedly mishandling the controversial Preah Vihear issue.
But his resignation has not stopped the public anger and growing sense of nationalism among the people. Apart from questioning the minister's motives and responsibility, people have also cast doubt on the merit of the nomination process for World Heritage sites. The transparency and public participation of the process is being widely debated.
Cambodia first initiated the proposal in the early 1990s, but hardly anyone realised the matter was up for consideration at the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was at that meeting that Thai representatives realised that some part of the unsettled boundary between the two countries was included in the proposal.
The Thai representatives then opposed the proposal and asked that Preah Vihear be jointly nominated by the two countries as a World Heritage site. But after that meeting, most people were kept in the dark as future meetings were held behind closed doors. The two countries also mostly worked separately on how to cooperate, as requested at the meeting in Christchurch.
Some Thai sources involved in the matter said the Thai team planned to discuss joint management with Cambodia, but were turned down by their Cambodian counterparts.
In a press release put out by Cambodia on Jan 26, the country called its progress in the management plan development a success. It later convened a meeting to demonstrate this progress, but the Thai representatives alleged there were some flaws in their assessment. This, however, was not bought up at the meeting in Quebec, Canada, last month, according to one source.
Then-Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An met Thai representatives to try to settle the boundary issue before he met Mr Noppadon, as well as some officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), at the body's headquarters in Paris on May 22.
But it was not until June 18, when Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint communique acknowledging Thailand's support for Preah Vihear becoming a World Heritage site, that people learned what had been finalised.
The joint communique was attached to a Cambodian map showing the temple, with the disputed zones still being marked without any boundary lines.
Dissatisfaction grew into extensive protests, resulting in the Administrative Court's injunction against the document. The Constitution Court also handed down a verdict that the joint communique was unconstitutional. This all prompted Mr Noppadon's resignation.
For several observers, the matter has clearly shown the lack of the public's right to information and involvement in decisions concerning national property.
Paranee Sawasdirak, a civic representative from Icomos Thailand, said the civic sector never learned of Cambodia's proposal until the meeting in Christchurch.
Icomos stands for the International Council for Monuments and Sites, the body which advises the WHC on cultural properties.
Ms Paranee said authorities concerned ignored the group's right to information regarding the matter, and the committee's process should be questioned.
With no information available, it was no surprise that people resorted to public protests, she said.
"Even now that seven countries will jointly work further, we still know nothing about it," said Ms Paranee.
Pisit Charoenwongsa, a two-time former representative of the WHC, pointed out some weaknesses in the committee's process.
He said the convention has given importance to public participation, but in reality, that is hardly ever practiced in some countries.
Even some procedures, including a meeting to approve a nomination, are still done in a closed manner, he said. In the case of Preah Vihear, it was mainly the authorities concerned participating, he said.
"All this has reflected the lack of learning in society," said Mr Pisit, who is also the centre director of regional archeological advocacy group SPAFA.
"We didn't give people time to talk and listen, so they talked on different subjects. While we try to protect properties, we forget those who deserve to take part in the process."
Despite some of the truth coming to light over the issue, other developments were kept quiet. In Quebec, the representatives of Unesco, Thailand and Cambodia met to try to negotiate the best way out after Thailand could not support the Cambodian proposal. The temple proposal eventually sailed through and won the committee's approval and has become a new World Heritage site - but only the temple itself, without any of the surrounding land.
Pongpol Adireksarn, the chairman of the National World Heritage Committee, admitted that the work there was done in a rushed manner. The map used in the committee's decision was changed to "a revised graphic plan of the property" at the last minute.
In the draft of the WHC decision, it was noted that the joint communique must be disregarded, as Cambodia submitted a "revised graphic plan of the property". Cambodia's supplementary report beyond the deadline was accepted on an exceptional basis, and Cambodia was asked to submit a full management plan and a finalised map by 2010.
"Now it has become difficult to explain to people, as the issue has been politicised," said Mr Pongpol.
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