Democrats petition UNESCO against Preah Vihear statement

BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) – Thai opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit
Vejjajiva on Monday petitioned the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) against accepting a joint statement from Thailand and Cambodia regarding the disputed Preah Vihear temple.

Mr. Abhisit said he had already submitted his party's written objection to
the two government's joint communique issued for UNESCO and affirmed he
would call for the reconsideration of the Thai cabinet resolution on the
matter after the Administrative Court's injunction on the case.

The court on Saturday issued an injunction temporarily blocking the
government from supporting Cambodia's unilateral move to have the 11th
century temple registered as a World Heritage site.

Meanwhile, a group of 77 senators led by Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul
presented a petition to Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondech asking that it
be forwarded to the Constitution Court for deliberation.

The petition asked the court to consider whether the June 17 Cabinet
decision endorsing the Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique supporting
Cambodia's unilateral move to apply on Preah Vihear temple was
unconstitutional or not.

Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit said the military
was ready to evacuate Thai nationals from Cambodia if there was an
untoward confrontation.

He said some people in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket bordering
Cambodia continued protesting and demanding the expulsion of Cambodians
out of the overlapping areas of the temple compound.

But military units stationed there had managed to create proper
understanding among the people, Gen. Boonsang said.

He said neither the Thai nor the Cambodian sides want to see any clashes
between the peoples of the two neighbouring countries. (TNA)