Thai cabinet acknowledges court order on temple

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) -The Thai cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged an
injunction granted by the country's Administrative Court suspending its endorsement of the Cambodian government's bid to propose the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site, according to Deputy Prime Minister/Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Mr. Somchai said the cabinet would strictly follow the court's order, and
would ask the state's legal arm, the Council of State, to review the
government's options.

It is expected that the Council could come up with a solution next week,
he said.

The cabinet decision came three days after the Administrative Court handed
down a temporary injunction against the June 17 cabinet resolution to
endorse a Cambodian map of Preah Vihear temple, as well as the
Thai-Cambodian Joint Cmmunique signed by Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama
and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 18.

The joint communique provided Thailand's support for Cambodia's planned
application to register Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site
during a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)'s World Heritage Committee annual meeting in Quebec, Canada
starting Wednesday.

The International Court of Justice awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia
in 1962. Both countries have historically laid claim to the site, which
sits on Cambodian soil but which can only be easily accessed from
Thailand.

Mr. Somchai said the Thai foreign ministry will inform the Cambodian
government, UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee of the Thai
Administrative Court's order.

The Thai cabinet did not discuss whether it would appeal the court's order
as it prefers to wait for the findings of the Council of State first, he
said.

The Thai ambassador to Canada has been asked to attend the World Heritage
Committee's meeting. (TNA)