ID :
134887
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 13:16
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http://m.oananews.org//node/134887
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Yellow Shirt leader Chamlong leads protest at UNESCO regional office
BANGKOK, July 27 - Chamlong Srimuang, a top leader of the 'Yellow Shirt' People's Alliance for Democracy on Tuesday led protesters to rally at the the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) regional office in Bangkok, and submitted a petition to the UN agency's representative to oppose the listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site.
Retired Thai army general, a former governor of Bangkok who also leads a Buddhist ascetic movement, Gen. Chamlong said he and other protesters were opposed to Cambodia's management plan to administer the zone area adjacent to the historic Hindu temple which he claimed might cause Thailand to lose territory once the 21-member UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting endorses the plan.
The protest came in the wake of the 34th session of the UNESCO world heritage committee in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
The Cambodia's management plan is expected to include the disputed 4.6-square kilometre overlapping claim area near Preah Vihear temple.
Gen. Chamlong said he has been following the WHC meeting from the beginning and found that only Cambodia's plan is on the agenda, not a Thai response. He therefore was not confident that the Thai government will succeed in its attempt to oppose the neighbouring country's move.
He insisted the gathering was not aimed to pressure UNESCO but it was an urgent matter even though Bangkok is still under a state of emergency and he might be at risk of being arrested for violating the law.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier said Thai government would not recognise the Cambodian map expected to be submitted to the WHC during the session, as the 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice which awarded the 11th century temple to Cambodia did not demarcate the border between the two countries.
UNESCO two years ago listed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. It was awarded to Phnom Penh by the International Court of Justice in 1962 in a decision ehich rankled most Thais.
Armed clashes of the two countries occurred frequently after the listing, and Cambodia maintains the demarcation of the disputed area, which it says must be based on a map drawn in 1908.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have historically laid claim to the temple site, which sits on Cambodian soil but can only be easily accessed from Thailand. (MCOT online news)
Retired Thai army general, a former governor of Bangkok who also leads a Buddhist ascetic movement, Gen. Chamlong said he and other protesters were opposed to Cambodia's management plan to administer the zone area adjacent to the historic Hindu temple which he claimed might cause Thailand to lose territory once the 21-member UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting endorses the plan.
The protest came in the wake of the 34th session of the UNESCO world heritage committee in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
The Cambodia's management plan is expected to include the disputed 4.6-square kilometre overlapping claim area near Preah Vihear temple.
Gen. Chamlong said he has been following the WHC meeting from the beginning and found that only Cambodia's plan is on the agenda, not a Thai response. He therefore was not confident that the Thai government will succeed in its attempt to oppose the neighbouring country's move.
He insisted the gathering was not aimed to pressure UNESCO but it was an urgent matter even though Bangkok is still under a state of emergency and he might be at risk of being arrested for violating the law.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier said Thai government would not recognise the Cambodian map expected to be submitted to the WHC during the session, as the 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice which awarded the 11th century temple to Cambodia did not demarcate the border between the two countries.
UNESCO two years ago listed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. It was awarded to Phnom Penh by the International Court of Justice in 1962 in a decision ehich rankled most Thais.
Armed clashes of the two countries occurred frequently after the listing, and Cambodia maintains the demarcation of the disputed area, which it says must be based on a map drawn in 1908.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have historically laid claim to the temple site, which sits on Cambodian soil but can only be easily accessed from Thailand. (MCOT online news)
