14/02/2011
Letters to The Bangkok Post
A missed opportunity
Amid the jingoistic ballyhoo surrounding Preah Vihear temple one point has been largely drowned out.
Article 11.3 of the 1972 Unesco World Heritage Convention states that ”the inclusion of a propery situated in a territory, sovereignty or jurisdiction over which is claimed by more than one State shall in no way prejudice the rights of the parties to the dispute”. Thus, any call for delisting is essentially a red herring.
The sane and civilised approach, which briefly looked possible three years ago, would be a joint listing and management plan as per the 2008 World Heritage operational guidelines. Of course, that idea was scuppered by those who are now engaged in a bout of mutual recriminations over the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding.
Not that World Heritage status of itself necessarily solves anything. The Old City of Jerusalem has sat on the endangered list since 1982.
CHRIS JEFFERY
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