World Heritage Committee delays considering temple plan to next year/Thai delegation produces crucial evidence but worries over country's 'villain' image
Thailand had a "narrow escape" for the second year in a row as Unesco's World Heritage Committee agreed to delay considering Phnom Penh's proposed management plan for the Preah Vihear Temple until next year.
Swayed by strong protests by the Thai delegation, last-minute "evidence" of fresh territorial conflicts, and probably concerned that the Thai-Cambodian diplomatic row could spiral out of control, the committee decided to defer the issue.
A Thai security official familiar with the case revealed yesterday that there were some crucial pieces of evidence behind Thailand's latest success.
"They [the evidence] are our trump card," he said.
He revealed that these pieces include photos showing Cambodia's military and weapons build-up near the Preah Vihear Temple. The ancient Hindu sanctuary has been inscribed a World Heritage Site since 2008.
"There is also a map prepared by the Royal Thai Survey Department. This map clearly shows that the map included in the Cambodian management plan encroached on areas under Thai sovereignty," the same source added.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the security official said the Thai delegation, led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, initially had no intention to rebuff Cambodia by producing these crucial pieces of evidence.
"But we had to do it at the last minute because Cambodia has refused to let us see the map annexed to its management plan," he said.
He said Thai security authorities would continue to stick to their current stance that the management plan of Preah Vihear should be put on hold until Thailand and Cambodia complete demarcation of their shared borders.
Meanwhile, a source at the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed concern that the tough stance taken by Thailand had made the country look pretty much like a "villain" on the international stage.
"The tough stance has prevented us from winning greater sympathy," the source said.
Cambodia has constantly campaigned about Preah Vihear and showed to the international community how much it was proud of this national treasure.
"During the past year, it has showed to the world what it has done for the conservation and development of the Preah Vihar temple. Its lobbying campaigns have also gone on actively, especially among big countries,' the source said.
The source lamented that Thailand, so far, had done nothing new to increase its persuasiveness.
"If Thailand does not have a new strategy, the Cambodian management plan for the Preah Vihear Temple will finally get the green light from the World Heritage Committee in the future anyway," he said.