Abhisit sets out Thai position on temple [-Rapprochement with Thailand is a futile exercise by Hun Xen]

Abhisit: Opposes development

22/11/2010
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has clearly told his Cambodian counterpart that Thailand opposes any attempt to develop disputed territory adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Mr Abhisit said he held bilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week on the sidelines of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy meeting in Phnom Penh.

Mr Abhisit said during his weekly talk show yesterday morning that it was the first time the two leaders had seriously discussed issues relating to the proposed development near the temple as part of the Preah Vihear World Heritage project.

He told Hun Sen that Thailand considered the area to be Thai territory but the World Heritage listing in 2008 had led to a proposal for Cambodia to manage the area "and that is unacceptable to us".

Mr Abhisit said Cambodia's management plan would lead to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and other countries managing an area that was Thai territory. He told Hun Sen that this development would cause conflict between the neighbours.

Hun Sen disagreed with the presence of Thai soldiers in the disputed area, but Mr Abhisit said the army presence resulted from Cambodia's development of a market there in violation of the 2000 memorandum of understanding under which the countries promised not to make any changes to the area pending demarcation negotiations.

Mr Abhisit said the talks ended with Thailand and Cambodia still opposed on the border issue, but they would try to find ways to prevent it triggering a conflict in the lead-up to the World Heritage Committee meeting next June