Pheu Thai MPs in Si Sa Ket will ask Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to discuss the potential reopening of the Preah Vihear temple ruins during his upcoming meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet.
Access to the ancient temple from Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district has been blocked since 2008 following border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops.
Phumin Leethiraprasert, a Pheu Thai MP in Si Sa Ket’s Constituency 4, said MPs are invited to meet the prime minister on Wednesday to brief him on Thai-Cambodian issues ahead of Hun Manet’s official visit on Feb 7.
He said the party MPs will take the opportunity to ask Mr Srettha to hold talks with the Cambodian prime minister about reopening tourism around the Preah Vihear temple complex.
“The much-awaited reopening depends on talks between the two prime ministers. I believe that reopening tourism around the temple’s complex will reflect friendly ties between the two nations, so reopening is quite possible,” Dr Phumin said.
There have been attempts to restore access to the culturally and historically significant site in recent months and the issue has also drawn interest from the House committee on foreign affairs chaired by Pheu Thai MP Noppadon Patama.
Earlier this month, the panel summonsed Anupong Suksomnit, the governor of Si Sa Ket, and the military to provide information about the border tensions. Mr Anupong told the meeting that provincial authorities agreed at their meeting in November last year to ask the Thai and Cambodian governments to work together to foster tourism around the temple complex.
According to the governor, the private sector also supported the move — with a plan to lobby the trade and commerce bodies to join the campaign for renewed tourism.
Mr Noppadon, a former foreign minister, also expressed support for the reopening which would bolster border trade, investments and strengthen ties between local people.
According to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke, the Cambodian prime minister will make an official visit on Feb 7 when the two premiers are expected to discuss the joint development of energy resources in the overlapping claim area (OCA).