Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Protests Shutter Preah Vihear Temple

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 June 2008

Khmer audio aired 24 June (1.10 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 24 June (1.10 MB) - Listen (MP3)

As Thai protesters arrived on the northern border, Cambodian authorities on Monday closed the gates to Preah Vihear temple, whose application for Unesco World Heritage protection has brought border anxieties between the neighbors to the fore.

Thai opposition politicians and activists accuse Thailand's foreign minister of hastily allowing the Cambodians to forward the application to Unesco, and over the weekend a group of protesters were outside the temple, requesting permission to enter.

Cambodia then closed the temple to all visitors, pending further notification.

The temple will be reopened when "the situation becomes good and no one is causing any more problems," said Var Kimhong, chairman of the government's border committee.

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