Thailand pulls out of UNESCO convention

27 Jun 2011

Thailand announced on Saturday that it was withdrawing from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Paris. Issuing the statement, Thai minister Suwit Khunkitti said that Thailand would not accept any judgments that came as a result of the meeting.

The Thai action comes as a result of an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Cambodia over the 11^th century Preah Vihear Temple, and the land that encircles it, which sits on their common border.

Mr Khunkitti, who is attached to the Natural Resources and Environment Department, said his country was pulling out of the convention in response to the committee’s decision to put a management plan for Preah Vihear on its programme.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple was on Cambodian land. Cambodia and Thailand both say that a five kilometre² plot of land adjacent to it is theirs.

The area around the majestic hilltop edifice has seen a number of battles and conflicts which recently seem to be exacerbating. Two incidents have claimed almost 30 lives this year, with observers alleging the Thai and Cambodian governments are using the temple issue to stir patriotism and divert attention from their own internal problems.

In May this year, Cambodia lodged a legal appeal at the Hague-based Court of Justice which demanded Thailand withdraw troops from the disputed area of land at Preah Vihear.

Until Saturday, Thailand and Cambodia were both on the World Heritage Convention committee which meets every year to debate and approve new World Heritage listings.

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