ANALYSIS Will the Maps Have Their Days In Court? (The Annex I map vs. the unilateral and secret map)

Phnom Penh, February 28, 2011
AKP

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy Koichiro Matsuura, in Bangkok on 25 February 2011 listened to the very unusual assurance given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that “Thailand would settle the conflict with Cambodia over the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear’s inscription before the World Heritage Committee’s next meeting in Bahrain in the middle of this year,” as reported by The Nation on 26 February under the title: Unesco told to delay consideration. Moreover, as reported by The Bangkok Post Online the same day, under the title: Unesco special envoy supports ‘Thai stance’, among other things the FM spokesman Thani Thongphakdee said “The minister also told Mr. Matsuura about the history of the Preah Vihear problem that stems from both countries using different maps. Thailand has stuck to an international principle of using a watershed as a border line but Cambodia has relied on a map made by France.”

Is it a Thai poor PR?

Taking into account the two statements by PM Abhisit and FM Kasit, Thailand hinted at the settlement of the conflict based on the “Cambodian map” or the “Thai map”. It sounds as the “Cambodian map” and the “Thai map” will have their days in court soon. Whether this is true or this is only a poor public relation campaign stunt by Thailand remains to be seen.

FM Kasit Piromya of Thailand as well as PM Abhisit Vejjajiva many times before FM Kasit, told the press and foreign or international dignitaries including lastly the UNESCO special envoy Koichiro Matsuura who is also a former Unesco director-general, “about the history of the Preah Vihear problem that stems from both countries using different maps,” over which I have no quarrel with them. It is very rare for PM Abhisit and FM Kasit to say exactly what it is. I was waiting until he said something of this nature to a prominent international dignitary as a witness to voice my opinion. Yes, the problem stems from both countries using different maps.

There is no doubt in my mind that those who have heard PM Abhisit and FM Kasit speaking would have naturally and instantaneously asked the simplest question oblivious for a moment to the spin that comes next, and that spin is “Thailand has stuck to an international principle of using a watershed as a border line but Cambodia has relied on a map made by France”. The question is: what is the map used by Cambodia, and what is the map used by Thailand?

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