Wednesday, October 27, 2010

OPINION: THE IRRATIONAL AND ABSURD MENTALITY OF THE “YELLOW SHIRTS”


It was reported on ASTV manager online, dated 26 October 2010 that a group of “yellow shirts” political movement led by its spokesperson, Mr. Panthep Phua Phongphan and its outspoken activist, Mr. Thepmontri Limpaphayom had presented a motion addressed to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Abhisit Vijjajeva while this latter was to present the government-already approved drafts seeking for the endorsement by the joint session of the Thai Parliament, among those are the three agreed minutes in 2008 and 2009 of the meetings between Cambodian and Thai representatives under the framework of the JBC.

The five contentious points contained in the motion of the “yellow shirts” political movement does not serve to build and strengthen the recently-improved good relations between the two kingdoms. Actually, the “yellow shirts” political movement has repeatedly demanded that Thailand must walk away from its international agreements and commitment especially when it comes to the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty between France (protectorate power of Cambodia) and Siam and the MOU 2000 signed by the representative of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the representative of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Though this matter of the “yellow shirts” political movement handling a motion to the Thai Prime Minister is purely a domestic affair of the Thai people, but because it involves the interests of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN has included in the national policy of building peace, prosperity and development in the border areas between Cambodia and her neighbours, including Thailand, that the International Relations Institute of Cambodia feels that the “yellow shirts” political movement is:

• Putting up dangerous obstacles with the dark intention to destroy good relations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand for its own internal political gains;
• Disrespectful of the normal practice of the international community related to international treaties and agreements based on the universal principle of international legal security;

Regarding the “yellow shirts” political movement’s irrational and absurd demand to delist the Temple of Preah Vihear from the World Heritage List, it must be noted that in accordance with the 1972 Heritage Convention only the State Party on whose territory the listed property is situated could withdraw it from the World Heritage List or when the listed property has lost its Universal Outstanding value. For the Kingdom of Cambodia this dire situation will never occur. Actually, the Kingdom and the World Heritage Committee have spared no efforts in preserving and developing the Temple of Preah Vihear for the benefits of humanity and future generations.

Phnom Penh, 27 October 201