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| Damage to Gopura III from Thai shelling |
DPA
Bangkok - Thailand on Thursday opposed a trip planned by UNESCO to the Thai-Cambodian border to inspect an 11th-century temple for damage sustained in fighting last week.
'I don't think its necessary for UNESCO to send a representative to Phra Viharn at this sensitive time,' said Suwit Khunkitti, minster of natural resources and environment.
Suwit is the government's main negotiator with UNESCO on the temple, called Preah Vihear in Khmer and Phra Viharn in Thai. It was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008
'If they do send someone, they must get Thailand's permission; otherwise, it means UNESCO is not being neutral in the dispute,' Suwit said.
The only access to Preah Vihear is now on the Cambodian side. A visit to the temple complex would include entering an adjacent area that is claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia.
Thailand said UNESCO's world heritage site listing was 'the root cause' for the escalating conflict, since the organization went ahead with its decision despite the ongoing dispute over the adjacent 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land.
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said Tuesday that she would send a mission as soon as possible to the temple.
On Friday, Asda Jayanama, head of the Thai-Cambodian joint border commission, is to fly to Paris to explain Bangkok's stance at UNESCO's headquarters.
Fighting occurred in the vicinity of the temple from Friday to Monday, killing at least three Thais and five Cambodians and forcing an estimated 25,000 people to flee their homes.
The Hindu temple was damaged in the exchange of fire.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of using the complex as a base for attacks, which Phnom Penh has denied.
Visits by journalists to the temple this week have provided evidence that Cambodian troops have dug in at the site.
Thailand maintains that the conflict must be settled bilaterally while Cambodia is pushing for intervention by the UN Security Council and UNESCO.
The sovereignty spat over Preah Vihear first flared up more than five decades ago, and in 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia's favour. However, the ruling did not define the border and the current confrontation focuses not on the temple itself but the disputed plot nearby.
Thailand wants UNESCO to postpone approval of Cambodia's management plan for the temple when its World Heritage Committee meets again in Bahrain in July.
'What we're saying to UNESCO is that the issue should be shelved, pending the work of the joint boundary committee on coming up with a clearer border demarcation,' Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said.
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