Thailand threatens to quit World Heritage group

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PREAH VIHEAR

Thailand threatens to quit World Heritage group

Published: 25/06/2011 at 04:37 AM
Newspaper section: News

Thailand is threatening to resign its membership of Unesco's World Heritage Convention.

It says it will resign from the body if a draft agreement on issues regarding the management plan for Preah Vihear temple, prepared by the Unesco World Heritage Centre, is forwarded for consideration to the World Heritage Committee (WHC).

The draft was suggested by centre director Kishore Rao after both Thai and Cambodian versions failed to win each other country's approval.

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maloore
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Discussion 47 : 28/06/2011 at 01:40 PM47
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It's not like we think UNESCO's WHC will not be able to work without Thailand. By staying in the WHG, it means we have to comply to the WHC agreements even if that means losing our territory; therefore, to protect our land, resigning seems to be unavoidable.
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maipenhrai
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Discussion 46 : 26/06/2011 at 04:30 AM46
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Kaweeka d38, you have summed it up perfectly. If the power drunk parasites on both sides bloated by the blood and sweat of their respective populations feel so strongly about it, let them stand on the elusive line facing each other with light artillery and fight it out, but leave everyone else alone to get on with their lives. Cross border solidarity of the people who have lived in the area for hundreds of years as friends and families after building this temple in the first place should prevail over bloody politics carried out thousands of miles away.
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somchai
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Discussion 45 : 26/06/2011 at 12:57 AM45
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We are lucky having a strong leader not making deals for personal benefit like the fugitive in Montenegro did. The decision to exit makes Thailand stronger and both UNESCO and Cambodia lose faces.
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suthichai
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Discussion 44 : 26/06/2011 at 12:50 AM44
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The World Heritage Committee has no authority on the territory issue. Even if the fugitive wants to give away our land for personal gain the Thai people will never accept it.
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minburi
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Discussion 43 : 26/06/2011 at 12:07 AM43
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Although I'm a supporter of the Democrat Party, I strongly disagree with the handling of the temple issue. The temple belongs to Cambodia and it's common sense that the vicinity belongs to Cambodia as well. Don't use maps but use common sense instead !!!!
This area is of no use for Thailand, the only use is to bullying Cambodia, that's really childish.
Thailand should try to exchange the disputed area for another disputed area. Because other disputed area that is not in the vicinity of a temple could be of practical use for Thailand.
But I would like if YS has any own idea for solving that problem ?
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wsma
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Discussion 42 : 25/06/2011 at 10:37 PM42
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I believe this is only threatens but not going to happen otherwise world will skip Thai land to the cube if they dare to withdraw from UNESCO membership.
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fma
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Discussion 41 : 25/06/2011 at 09:48 PM41
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Once again I get surprised by the statements from public figures here in LoS. Another winner for Abhisit!
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johninbkk
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Discussion 40 : 25/06/2011 at 08:52 PM40
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Thailand has five world heritage sites. They want the land around the temple (not the temple itself) to be declared as part of Thailand. By leaving Unesco, the five sites will be delisted, and the land will still be disputed by Thailand. It's like cutting off your arm to stop a finger cut from bleeding. Lets hope that YS un-quits Unesco when she becomes the next PM.
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samrain
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Discussion 39 : 25/06/2011 at 07:33 PM39
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Very good decision by Thai government, making UNESCO and Hun Sen look like fools.
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kaweeka
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Discussion 38 : 25/06/2011 at 06:15 PM38
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Let these war monger ultra-nationalists paint themselves against the corner so they can eat their own words later on, as they often do. Let them fight temples they never visit, land they never lived at, people they never represent. Lip service is all they are good at.
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