UNESCO Recommends Monitoring Mission for Luang Prabang Amid Dam Concerns

BANGKOK (AP) — The United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, has recommended that Laos invite a monitoring mission to the historic city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This recommendation comes in light of concerns regarding a nearby multibillion-dollar dam project on the Mekong River, which could jeopardize the site’s status. During its annual meeting in New Delhi, a Lao delegate expressed the country’s willingness to collaborate with UNESCO to preserve the heritage site. The dam, located approximately 25 kilometers upstream, has raised alarms about its impact on local wetlands and the riverbanks of Luang Prabang. Additionally, UNESCO has highlighted the need to protect historic buildings in the area, which are unrelated to the dam’s construction. The decision to recommend a monitoring mission was adopted without discussion, prompting criticism from human rights group Save Cambodia, which deemed the action insufficient to address deeper issues. Morton Sklar, legal counsel for Save Cambodia, emphasized that the core issue lies in the displacement of long-term residents from traditional villages, which violates the Angkor Wat Heritage Site Agreement. He called for an end to evictions and the return of displaced individuals to their homes. Meanwhile, Cambodian authorities have not responded to inquiries regarding the situation. Amnesty International has raised concerns about the nature of relocations in the Angkor area, suggesting that many were coerced rather than voluntary. The World Heritage Committee acknowledged reports of possible forced displacements but did not explicitly call for Cambodia to cease such practices, leading to further criticism from human rights advocates.