Scholar Says
Share Preah Vihear With Thailand
The Cambodia Daily -
September 25, 2013
By Denise Hruby
Preah
Vihear temple should become split territory between Cambodia and Thailand so
that both countries can be considered “winners” in the dispute over the temple,
two experts on Thailand wrote in an opinion article printed Tuesday in The
Bangkok Post.
Using
the European micro-state Andorra, nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between
France and Spain, as an example, a German scholar and a German journalist said
that the 4.6 square km around the 11th-century temple should be equally ruled
over by the King of Thailand and King Norodom Sihamoni.
“Thailand
could put forward a plan that would be the perfect face-saving solution for
both parties,” Volker Grabowsky, professor for Thai studies at the University
of Hamburg, and Rene Gralla, who is described as an expert on international
law, argue in The Bangkok Post.
Next
month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to release an
interpretation of its 1962 decision, which says that the temple and its
“vicinity” are part of Cambodia.
In
2011, fighting erupted over the temple, and a cease-fire was agreed upon in
April that year, when the Cambodian government requested that the ICJ explain
whether “vicinity” meant the 4.6 square km around the temple or a smaller area.
Instead
of waiting for the ICJ’s ruling, which, the authors said, will likely be in
favor of Cambodia, Thailand should suggest that the whole area be equally ruled
by both countries, similar to the monarchy of Andorra.
“[Andorra]
is the result of a unique compromise putting an end to a bitter quarrel over
468 sq km of rugged terrain,” which is co-ruled by the Spanish Bishop of Urgell
and the President of France, the authors wrote.
“In
practical terms it would mean there will be proclaimed the independent state of
‘Preah Vihear-Phra Viharn’ on a territory of slightly less than 5 sq km,” the
op-ed suggests.
Phay
Siphan, spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, said that the opinion
article was an attempt to influence public opinion.
“There
will not be a joint management, no, we will not do this…it is a baseless idea
and a manipulative information,” Mr. Siphan said Tuesday.
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