Foreign Ministry opposes Unesco temple visit

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Foreign Ministry opposes Unesco temple visit

Published: 10/02/2011 at 10:08 AM
Newspaper section: News

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has come out against a plan by Unesco to send a mission to inspect the Preah Vihear temple following claims by Cambodia that it suffered severe damage in fighting between the two countries.

Thani Thongpakdi, the ministry's spokesman, said the government saw the visit as inappropriate as the situation along the border remained unstable.

"They can go there when the tension eases," Mr Thani said.

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: Writer: Thanida Tansubhapol; Position: Reporter

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riverhawk
Post : 26
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Discussion 27 : 10/02/2011 at 04:33 PM27
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SunnyJim D# 24:

The reason that you didn't need visa it was because that was special tourism area where visa is not required for temple visit, and you must leave Cambodia the same day, no overnight stay. That was done to ease the tourist traffic and attract more tourists from Thailand. This type of special tourism area has been created by many countries around the world at the sites close to the borders.
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rabbit
Post : 4
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Discussion 26 : 10/02/2011 at 01:42 PM26
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Respond to Ivyking#23. Will you agree if I build my house on your land ?
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siamgoody
Post : 23
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Discussion 25 : 10/02/2011 at 11:52 AM25
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Thailand this and Thailand that.

Hun Sen started cursing Abhisit right from the day that Abhisit took over as PM. The reason was only because Thaksin filled Hun Sens ears with sweet dreams and promises.

Thaksin by Thai law is a convict, and he was appointed as a special consultant both to Cambodia and to Hun Sen.

Ask anyone where most of the Thais who run away from the law head first. Stretch your memory this goes back to many years.

Now, let the UN decide based on evidence in hand. Border and territory issues are always prolonged and tough issues for both sides involved. Ask Margaret Thatcher and Ireland, force is sometimes used and that was UK not two Asian territories.
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sunnyjim
Post : 119
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Discussion 24 : 10/02/2011 at 10:35 AM24
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RE # 19 - Indeed I have read the ICJ account and the whole judgements revolves around whether Thailand accepted the map - Thailands argument was that as it has for material purposes been in charge of the local administration of the area (as was shown during my recent visit where i did not need a Cambodian Visa) it never felt required to challenge the validity of the Annex 1 map.

If Cambodia owns the temple why do i not need a visa to vist the entrace??
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ivyking
Post : 826
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Discussion 23 : 10/02/2011 at 10:31 AM23
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UNESCO can visit the temple, as it is Cambodian. However, the land that the Cambodia sit is in Thailand, according to internationally recognized watershed line. Hence UNESCO are welcome to o to the temple, as long as they don't tough the ground (which belong to Thailand). Hot air balloon business should be good.
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Eggmeng
Post : 104
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Discussion 22 : 10/02/2011 at 08:57 AM22
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"There has never been and there will never be Cambodian soldiers at the temple of Preah Vihear. This has always been a place for worship and tourism," the statement said, adding that the only security presence at the temple was a small number of police officers with light weapons to ensure safety."

I hope to see this resolved peaceably, but in the interest of accuracy, this statement is plain rubbish.

In late 2008 I drove from Phnom Penh to Preah Vihear. The closer you got to the temple the more military encampments there were along the way. At the temple proper there were soldiers everywhere, albeit behaving more like security guards and tour guides than warriors. One nice young chap in uniform gave me a private tour of the grounds, showing me where some comrades had been killed by Thai gunfire, and where the market that was bombed by the Thais once stood. And he showed me their nearby encampment, where a stretch of only about 50 meters of ground separated the Cambodian army tents from the those occupied by the Thais. He spoke of mostly friendly relations amongst the soldiers on both sides.

As Woody Guthrie wrote; "...still I wonder why, the worst of men must fight and the best of men must die?"
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pheakdey
Post : 25
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Discussion 21 : 10/02/2011 at 08:34 AM21
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Cambodian should bring its case before the UNSC Court about thai shelling artillery with poisonous gas. that is against the international law. permissible only conventional war head. not warfare head.
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matin
Post : 18
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Discussion 20 : 10/02/2011 at 08:34 AM20
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Look at the answers to [ Why Thai oppose UNESCO's inspecting to Preah Vihear?]

1-Thai plan to oppose Preah Vihear managament plan proposed by Cambodia in the upcoming UNESCO meeting; so if UNESCO come to inspect the Temple now, Thai's opposition plan will be failed becasue UNESCO will pay more attention on managing the Temple.

2-Thai afaid of the UNESCO's inspetors doing reports and send to all UNESCO members about the demages made by Thai; if so Thai will loose face among UNESCO members. All members will know more clearly about the worse & black intention of Thai toward Preah Vihear, the world heritage.

3-If UNESCO come to Preah Vihear, Thai will loose the opportunity to open fire to Preah Vihear or to Cambodian teritory, or to threaten Cambodian by force at the area.
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cambodian
Post : 15
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Discussion 19 : 10/02/2011 at 08:24 AM19
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To Sunnujim's comment: Did u read all judgment by ICJ? What did Thai Govt did sofa? accept the rule? u are not clear about the history.
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jayavarman
Post : 35
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Discussion 18 : 10/02/2011 at 08:23 AM18
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The temple belongs to Cambodia, so who come and go is non of Thailand's business. If Unesco comes to inspect the disputed area, then maybe Thailand has some say. However, this is a visit to the temple which was on Cambodian soil.
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