By Jessica Turnbull, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Cambodia where author Loung Ung grew up was full of beauty and normal activities, such as going to the movies with her family.
But it also was one where the little girl and her family got caught up in violent political upheaval that led to genocide.
Ung, a petite woman clad in a black T-shirt with "Peace Rocks" in red lettering, spoke at an assembly in the Plum School District Friday about her experience surviving the 1970s genocide in the Southeast Asian country.
Plum students read Ung's memoir, "First They Killed My Father," in class and invited Ung to speak. Ung has written two books about her experiences and is working on a third.
Ung, 39, of Cleveland, was born in 1970 in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, one of seven children. She was 8 when the Communist group called the Khmer Rouge began executing fellow Cambodians.
Between 1975 and 1979, about 1.7 million people — or 25 percent of the population — were killed.
"I didn't know about politics. I didn't know about genocide," Ung said. "But I did know that people, little by little, would disappear from the villages."
Her father was executed by Khmer Rouge soldiers. Several months later, worried that keeping the family together hurt their chances of survival, Ung's mother told the children to leave and separate.
Her mother's hard decision is the basis for her third book.
In 1980, Ung escaped with her older brother and his wife to a refugee camp in Thailand, then was sent to Vermont.
She talked about her adjustment to life in America after living through a war that was deeply ingrained in her mind.
"When I would be trying to learn geometry for a test, the soldiers were there looking over my shoulder," she said, describing the difficulty of erasing the traumatic images even once she was safe in America.
She now works as a peace activist, and even returns to Cambodia to aid survivors.
Her main message is that peace is not a given, but a choice that takes hard work.
"We need to take responsibility for others in the world who are less fortunate," Ung said.
Sophomore Adam Albright, 16, of Plum said he liked hearing directly from the author of a book he read in class.
He said her message of peace struck him because America is perceived as a stable country where citizens don't have to worry about peace.
"It's worth fighting for," he said. "It's ironic that you have to fight for peace."
Sophomore Ian Walla, 16, of Plum said he didn't know anything about Cambodia or its war until he read Ung's book.
"It was a really inspiring story," he said. "It makes you think about other places in the world."
He said Ung's message is important so people can learn from past mistakes. He said a saying by his history teacher summed up the importance of Ung's story.
"The reason we teach history is so we don't repeat it," Walla said.
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 22 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2552
Meet the go-to guy on Cambodia
By SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION
Published on November 22, 2009
The Thai news media's go-to guy for information about the current row with Cambodia isn't a career diplomat but one of those rare politicos who most people feel they can trust.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut accepts all reporters' phone calls, whether the questions are about the perils of Phnom Penh or any other issue involving the government or opposition.
He's secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and speaks on his behalf and sometimes for the ministry itself in the absence of the customary spokesman, Information Department Director General Wimon Kidchob, a civil servant.
Chavanond is a political appointee of the ruling Democrats, who have him assisting the minister in running foreign affairs.
The assistance takes many forms. Chavanond both helps organise routine programmes and serves as a buffer against opposition attacks on the minister.
Kasit is outspoken in his own right, and as such a ready target. Chavanond takes some of the political bullets so that Kasit can get on with more important work.
"As secretary and spokesman, it's my duty to defend him," he says. "And when the ministry's civil-servant spokesman is not in a position to speak, it becomes my job."
Chavanond was never trained in political communications. He earned a BA in business management at Mahidol University, then attended Yale to extend his master's degree in economics and environmental-resource management.
Originally a planner at the National Economic and Social Development Board, Chavanond handled the think tank's agriculture policy for six years before trying to jump into politics.
He says he learned much at the agency about the country's development and realised he could help more as a politician.
It wasn't unfamiliar territory. His grandfather, Yos Intarakomalyasut, represented Nakhon Ratchasima province in Parliament more than half a century ago, and in 1986 his father Manasak was elected to the post.
"I chose the Democrats," Chavanond says, "because I have faith in the party and admire Abhisit Vejjajiva. He's really my inspiration."
In 2004, at age 30, he contested Bangkok's Chatuchak constituency, but Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party was then at the peak of its power.
Defeated at the polls, Chavanond returned to the civil service, this time at the Ministry of Natural Resources, and put his college education to good use.
At the same time he worked part-time for the party, and when Abhisit led the Democrats to power a year ago, he selected staff members to fill political positions at the ministries.
Chavanond became Kasit's secretary at the Foreign Ministry, initially assigned - because of his dual education in economics and the environment - to handle foreign policy on climate change.
He helped the minister prepare papers and a political stance on the issue for presentation at international forums.
Then came Preah Vihear.
Kasit tasked Chavanond with overseeing the complicated dispute over the old Hindu temple on the Cambodian border after the Democrats and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) objected to Phnom Penh's plan to list it as a World Heritage site.
The PAD demanded that the government take harsh action against Cambodia. It fell to Chavanond to explain the ministry's view and cool things down. He spent a great deal of time researching the temple's history, the vicissitudes of the boundary demarcation and Thailand's relations with its Khmer neighbour.
Cambodia hasn't stopped being a source of grievances since, and Chavanond has kept on top of them all.
Thai reporters have found that the government's spokespeople are the first to speak but often the last to know exactly what's going on. Chavanond is different.
As a secretary to the minister, Chavanond is part of the inner circle, allowed to sit in on the decision-making process at the ministry. He has access to all the pertinent information before he speaks out in public.
And he offers a guarantee: what he tells the public is always based on fact.
THE NATION
Published on November 22, 2009
The Thai news media's go-to guy for information about the current row with Cambodia isn't a career diplomat but one of those rare politicos who most people feel they can trust.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut accepts all reporters' phone calls, whether the questions are about the perils of Phnom Penh or any other issue involving the government or opposition.
He's secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and speaks on his behalf and sometimes for the ministry itself in the absence of the customary spokesman, Information Department Director General Wimon Kidchob, a civil servant.
Chavanond is a political appointee of the ruling Democrats, who have him assisting the minister in running foreign affairs.
The assistance takes many forms. Chavanond both helps organise routine programmes and serves as a buffer against opposition attacks on the minister.
Kasit is outspoken in his own right, and as such a ready target. Chavanond takes some of the political bullets so that Kasit can get on with more important work.
"As secretary and spokesman, it's my duty to defend him," he says. "And when the ministry's civil-servant spokesman is not in a position to speak, it becomes my job."
Chavanond was never trained in political communications. He earned a BA in business management at Mahidol University, then attended Yale to extend his master's degree in economics and environmental-resource management.
Originally a planner at the National Economic and Social Development Board, Chavanond handled the think tank's agriculture policy for six years before trying to jump into politics.
He says he learned much at the agency about the country's development and realised he could help more as a politician.
It wasn't unfamiliar territory. His grandfather, Yos Intarakomalyasut, represented Nakhon Ratchasima province in Parliament more than half a century ago, and in 1986 his father Manasak was elected to the post.
"I chose the Democrats," Chavanond says, "because I have faith in the party and admire Abhisit Vejjajiva. He's really my inspiration."
In 2004, at age 30, he contested Bangkok's Chatuchak constituency, but Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party was then at the peak of its power.
Defeated at the polls, Chavanond returned to the civil service, this time at the Ministry of Natural Resources, and put his college education to good use.
At the same time he worked part-time for the party, and when Abhisit led the Democrats to power a year ago, he selected staff members to fill political positions at the ministries.
Chavanond became Kasit's secretary at the Foreign Ministry, initially assigned - because of his dual education in economics and the environment - to handle foreign policy on climate change.
He helped the minister prepare papers and a political stance on the issue for presentation at international forums.
Then came Preah Vihear.
Kasit tasked Chavanond with overseeing the complicated dispute over the old Hindu temple on the Cambodian border after the Democrats and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) objected to Phnom Penh's plan to list it as a World Heritage site.
The PAD demanded that the government take harsh action against Cambodia. It fell to Chavanond to explain the ministry's view and cool things down. He spent a great deal of time researching the temple's history, the vicissitudes of the boundary demarcation and Thailand's relations with its Khmer neighbour.
Cambodia hasn't stopped being a source of grievances since, and Chavanond has kept on top of them all.
Thai reporters have found that the government's spokespeople are the first to speak but often the last to know exactly what's going on. Chavanond is different.
As a secretary to the minister, Chavanond is part of the inner circle, allowed to sit in on the decision-making process at the ministry. He has access to all the pertinent information before he speaks out in public.
And he offers a guarantee: what he tells the public is always based on fact.
Thai official confirms Hun Sen's daughter to take over CATS
http://www.chinaview.cn/
2009-11-21
BANGKOK, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's daughter plans to hold shares in Cambodia Traffic Air Services (CATS) after the Cambodian government has temporarily taken over management of the firm, a Thai senior official confirmed Saturday.
Panitan Wattanayakorn, Thai acting government spokesman confirmed the news report that Hun Sen's daughter is planning to hold shares in CATS.
Having controlled CATS by the Cambodia government occurs after Siwarak Chothipong, a 31-year-old-Thai man, who worked as engineer at CATS, has been arrested from Nov. 11, according to the arrest warrant of prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipality Court.
Cambodia has charged Siwarak of having had confidential information affecting Cambodia's national security, a senior Thai official said Wednesday.
According to a news report by the Khmer language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, Siwarak spied through copying the letters of flights of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Cambodia and Hun Sen from CATS which has duties to control all flights in country and he sent those reports to Thailand.
Siwarak has been detained in a prison in Phnom Penh since last week as the Thai government is now in the process of seeking a release for him.
Chawanon Intarakomalsut, Thai Foreign Minister's secretary said he expected that the process could be completed next week and the engineer's mother could probably visit her son next week.
He also said it would be difficult for any individual to take over the company, but his ministry would try to assist CATS. So far the company has not requested help.
Panithan said that he did not know whether the company could be protected as other companies registered in Cambodia, and it's up to the company to file a request for the Cambodian government to consider.
Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Hun Sen on Nov. 4.
A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.
Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then. He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.
Editor: Yan
2009-11-21
BANGKOK, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's daughter plans to hold shares in Cambodia Traffic Air Services (CATS) after the Cambodian government has temporarily taken over management of the firm, a Thai senior official confirmed Saturday.
Panitan Wattanayakorn, Thai acting government spokesman confirmed the news report that Hun Sen's daughter is planning to hold shares in CATS.
Having controlled CATS by the Cambodia government occurs after Siwarak Chothipong, a 31-year-old-Thai man, who worked as engineer at CATS, has been arrested from Nov. 11, according to the arrest warrant of prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipality Court.
Cambodia has charged Siwarak of having had confidential information affecting Cambodia's national security, a senior Thai official said Wednesday.
According to a news report by the Khmer language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, Siwarak spied through copying the letters of flights of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Cambodia and Hun Sen from CATS which has duties to control all flights in country and he sent those reports to Thailand.
Siwarak has been detained in a prison in Phnom Penh since last week as the Thai government is now in the process of seeking a release for him.
Chawanon Intarakomalsut, Thai Foreign Minister's secretary said he expected that the process could be completed next week and the engineer's mother could probably visit her son next week.
He also said it would be difficult for any individual to take over the company, but his ministry would try to assist CATS. So far the company has not requested help.
Panithan said that he did not know whether the company could be protected as other companies registered in Cambodia, and it's up to the company to file a request for the Cambodian government to consider.
Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Hun Sen on Nov. 4.
A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.
Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then. He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.
Editor: Yan
Cambodian PM's daughter to take over CATS
21 November 2009
BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s daughter plans to hold shares in Thai-owned Cambodia Traffic Air Services (CATS) after the Cambodian government has temporarily taken over management of the firm, according to Dr Panitan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the Thai prime minister.
Dr Panitan, also acting government spokesman, confirmed the news report that Cambodian leader's daughter is planning to hold shares in CATS.
The plan followed confirmation by the Cambodian government of its temporarily assuming control of the management of the country's air traffic control company following the arrest of CATS employee Siwarak Chutipong on charges of espionage.
Tekreth Samrach, a deputy minister of Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, said in Phnom Penh Friday that his government acted against CATS for the sake of national security and for flight safety. Nine other Thai employees of the company were also banned from the workplace.
Meanwhile, Chawanon Intarakomalsut, the Thai Foreign Minister’s secretary, said in Bangkok that CATS is registered in Hong Kong and it was not possible to determine the identity of its shareholders.
He said, however, it would be difficult for any individual to take over the company, but his ministry would try to assist CATS. So far the company has not requested help.
He said the Thai foreign ministry is studying whether CATS is included in the Thai Cambodian Investment Protection Act as it is registered in Hong Kong.
Dr Panithan said that he did not know whether the company could be protected as other companies registered in Cambodia.
It is up to the company to file a request for the Cambodian government to consider, said Mr Panithan, adding that the firm’s lawyer and Mr Siwarak’s lawyer are different persons.
Referring to the bail request for detained Siwarak, Mr Chawanon said he expected that the process could be completed next week.
Mr Siwarak’s mother could also probably visit her son next week, Mr Chawanon added.
Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been strained after Phnom Penh rejected a formal request from Thailand to extradite Mr Thaksin during his five-day stay in Cambodia, beginning November 10.
The situation deteriorated when ambassadors of the two countries were recalled. Mr Siwarak was apprehended in Phnom Penh on spying charges on November 12 when he was seen releasing flight information on the fugitive former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra’s, to a Thai embassy official. (TNA)
BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s daughter plans to hold shares in Thai-owned Cambodia Traffic Air Services (CATS) after the Cambodian government has temporarily taken over management of the firm, according to Dr Panitan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the Thai prime minister.
Dr Panitan, also acting government spokesman, confirmed the news report that Cambodian leader's daughter is planning to hold shares in CATS.
The plan followed confirmation by the Cambodian government of its temporarily assuming control of the management of the country's air traffic control company following the arrest of CATS employee Siwarak Chutipong on charges of espionage.
Tekreth Samrach, a deputy minister of Cambodia’s Council of Ministers, said in Phnom Penh Friday that his government acted against CATS for the sake of national security and for flight safety. Nine other Thai employees of the company were also banned from the workplace.
Meanwhile, Chawanon Intarakomalsut, the Thai Foreign Minister’s secretary, said in Bangkok that CATS is registered in Hong Kong and it was not possible to determine the identity of its shareholders.
He said, however, it would be difficult for any individual to take over the company, but his ministry would try to assist CATS. So far the company has not requested help.
He said the Thai foreign ministry is studying whether CATS is included in the Thai Cambodian Investment Protection Act as it is registered in Hong Kong.
Dr Panithan said that he did not know whether the company could be protected as other companies registered in Cambodia.
It is up to the company to file a request for the Cambodian government to consider, said Mr Panithan, adding that the firm’s lawyer and Mr Siwarak’s lawyer are different persons.
Referring to the bail request for detained Siwarak, Mr Chawanon said he expected that the process could be completed next week.
Mr Siwarak’s mother could also probably visit her son next week, Mr Chawanon added.
Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been strained after Phnom Penh rejected a formal request from Thailand to extradite Mr Thaksin during his five-day stay in Cambodia, beginning November 10.
The situation deteriorated when ambassadors of the two countries were recalled. Mr Siwarak was apprehended in Phnom Penh on spying charges on November 12 when he was seen releasing flight information on the fugitive former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra’s, to a Thai embassy official. (TNA)
The opposition points to the East
By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Sam Rainsy lost his parliamentary immunity on Monday 16 November for inciting Svay Rieng villagers to uproot demarcation stakes along the Vietnamese border. His message was clear: Hanoi stole Cambodian lands.
“It’s not because we have border disputes with Thailand along the west that we should forget our eastern border with Vietnam.” That was the message that the opposition leader sent to his compatriots at a time when all the news media are focused on the border dispute in the Preah Vihear area. To Sam Rainsy, Cambodia “lost a portion of its territory to the benefit of Vietnam,” however, according to him, the government did not react with the same tenacity it did against the Thai government.
On 25 October, during a Kathen procession he led to Wat Ang Romdenh Pagoda, located in Svay Rieng province, Sam Rainsy travelled to a village neighboring with Vietnam. With the help of a small group of villagers, he uprooted demarcation stakes. To Sam Rainsy, these stakes are located “inside Cambodian territory” and they encroach on rice fields belonging to local villagers.
However, for the government and the provincial authorities, Sam Rainsy’s initiative seriously compromised the work performed by [Var Kim Hong’s] committee in charge of border dispute resolution with Hanoi and the latter did not take long to react. Nguyen Tan Dung, the Viet PM, asked that measures be taken against Sam Rainsy so that such initiative will never take place in the future, and that the relationship between the two countries would not suffer from it.
Meanwhile, the Svay Rieng authorities sued the opposition leader at the provincial court, accusing him of “destroying public properties.” On Monday 16 November, Sam Rainsy who is currently in France, saw his parliamentary immunity lifted in order to allow the court to consider his lawsuit case.
Unconditional reaction
On the same day, about 100 opposition activists gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest the decision by the parliament which is dominated by the CPP MPs. “Sam Rainsy did not commit any mistake. He only protected the country’s interests,” a 50-year-old woman shouted. “We are sad and ashamed to see our National Assembly making such a decision,” Yim Sovann, SRP MP and SRP spokesman, indicated. “This is the proof that our institution is not protecting the territorial integrity of Cambodia,” he added.
In a joint communiqué, 26 SRP MPs firmly protested the lifting of their leader’s immunity. “This action violates our country’s Constitution and it shows that the Cambodian government is only putting in application the orders issued by the Vietnamese government,” the MPs said.
The SRP MPs took the opportunity to remind the elected officials the oath they took when they started their duty: “Each elected official swears in front of the King and the representatives of the monks to protect the country’s territorial integrity,” they underscored. “Under this context, Sam Rainsy, as a MP, is only showing his solidarity with the farmers who were victims of land-grabbing by the Vietnamese authorities.”
Furthermore, Chan Savet, an investigator for the Adhoc human rights group, deplored the fact that the National Assembly made its decision without prior investigation. “The lifting of a MP’s parliamentary immunity is a serious issue and it cannot be decided in such an abrupt manner. Furthermore, the MPs have other issues more important that this to resolve,” Chan Savet said.
As for Sam Rasinsy, he issued a communiqué in which he presented himself as “a messenger and spokesman for the people” that the government intends to destroy.
Unacceptable provocation
During a press conference organized on Monday 16 November at the Council of Ministers office, Var Kim Hong, chairman of the committee in charge of border dispute resolution, called Sam Rainsy’s initiative as being “serious and unacceptable provocation.” “He uprooted posts installed by experts from both countries, before taking them to Phnom Penh. It is an act that is against the law,” he told reporters.
An upset Var Kim Hong added that Sam Rainsy’s initiative could legitimize the border demands made by Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s PM, in the Preah Vihear area. “Sam Rainsy’s actions through his contest against the eastern border agreements, are comparable to the claims made by Abhisit in the west,” Var Kim Hong barked.
According to Var Kim Hong, border delimitation with Vietnam is a long process. “At the start, we projected to complete this work within 2009, but for now, we are more leaning toward 2012,” he explained while stressing that, as Khmer, he tried as best to protect the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.
Lack of information
Border issues remain a sensitive topic for Cambodians. For more than one year, the government never ceases to react with virulence to the territorial protests made by Bangkok. Most of the time, Cambodians support their leaders on this issue, but the Phnom Penh regime remains tight-lip when it comes to the border with Vietnam. Committees from both countries worked for several years to jointly install border posts, but some experts are doubting their work. “I wrote to Samdach Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, to set up a joint committee of experts to check on the spot the installation of border posts with Thailand and Vietnam. But, I never receive any reply to that,” Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay deplored.
On his end, Var Kim Hong denied that he is hiding information. According to the latter, the opposition MPs can follow up on the work under the reservation that they respect the agreed upon procedures. “I already spent 4 hours in front of the MPs to tell them about the current negotiations with Vietnam,” Var Kim Hong claimed. Nevertheless, to independent observers, a better communication between the government and the opposition should help ease the tension.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Sam Rainsy lost his parliamentary immunity on Monday 16 November for inciting Svay Rieng villagers to uproot demarcation stakes along the Vietnamese border. His message was clear: Hanoi stole Cambodian lands.
“It’s not because we have border disputes with Thailand along the west that we should forget our eastern border with Vietnam.” That was the message that the opposition leader sent to his compatriots at a time when all the news media are focused on the border dispute in the Preah Vihear area. To Sam Rainsy, Cambodia “lost a portion of its territory to the benefit of Vietnam,” however, according to him, the government did not react with the same tenacity it did against the Thai government.
On 25 October, during a Kathen procession he led to Wat Ang Romdenh Pagoda, located in Svay Rieng province, Sam Rainsy travelled to a village neighboring with Vietnam. With the help of a small group of villagers, he uprooted demarcation stakes. To Sam Rainsy, these stakes are located “inside Cambodian territory” and they encroach on rice fields belonging to local villagers.
However, for the government and the provincial authorities, Sam Rainsy’s initiative seriously compromised the work performed by [Var Kim Hong’s] committee in charge of border dispute resolution with Hanoi and the latter did not take long to react. Nguyen Tan Dung, the Viet PM, asked that measures be taken against Sam Rainsy so that such initiative will never take place in the future, and that the relationship between the two countries would not suffer from it.
Meanwhile, the Svay Rieng authorities sued the opposition leader at the provincial court, accusing him of “destroying public properties.” On Monday 16 November, Sam Rainsy who is currently in France, saw his parliamentary immunity lifted in order to allow the court to consider his lawsuit case.
Unconditional reaction
On the same day, about 100 opposition activists gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest the decision by the parliament which is dominated by the CPP MPs. “Sam Rainsy did not commit any mistake. He only protected the country’s interests,” a 50-year-old woman shouted. “We are sad and ashamed to see our National Assembly making such a decision,” Yim Sovann, SRP MP and SRP spokesman, indicated. “This is the proof that our institution is not protecting the territorial integrity of Cambodia,” he added.
In a joint communiqué, 26 SRP MPs firmly protested the lifting of their leader’s immunity. “This action violates our country’s Constitution and it shows that the Cambodian government is only putting in application the orders issued by the Vietnamese government,” the MPs said.
The SRP MPs took the opportunity to remind the elected officials the oath they took when they started their duty: “Each elected official swears in front of the King and the representatives of the monks to protect the country’s territorial integrity,” they underscored. “Under this context, Sam Rainsy, as a MP, is only showing his solidarity with the farmers who were victims of land-grabbing by the Vietnamese authorities.”
Furthermore, Chan Savet, an investigator for the Adhoc human rights group, deplored the fact that the National Assembly made its decision without prior investigation. “The lifting of a MP’s parliamentary immunity is a serious issue and it cannot be decided in such an abrupt manner. Furthermore, the MPs have other issues more important that this to resolve,” Chan Savet said.
As for Sam Rasinsy, he issued a communiqué in which he presented himself as “a messenger and spokesman for the people” that the government intends to destroy.
Unacceptable provocation
During a press conference organized on Monday 16 November at the Council of Ministers office, Var Kim Hong, chairman of the committee in charge of border dispute resolution, called Sam Rainsy’s initiative as being “serious and unacceptable provocation.” “He uprooted posts installed by experts from both countries, before taking them to Phnom Penh. It is an act that is against the law,” he told reporters.
An upset Var Kim Hong added that Sam Rainsy’s initiative could legitimize the border demands made by Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s PM, in the Preah Vihear area. “Sam Rainsy’s actions through his contest against the eastern border agreements, are comparable to the claims made by Abhisit in the west,” Var Kim Hong barked.
According to Var Kim Hong, border delimitation with Vietnam is a long process. “At the start, we projected to complete this work within 2009, but for now, we are more leaning toward 2012,” he explained while stressing that, as Khmer, he tried as best to protect the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.
Lack of information
Border issues remain a sensitive topic for Cambodians. For more than one year, the government never ceases to react with virulence to the territorial protests made by Bangkok. Most of the time, Cambodians support their leaders on this issue, but the Phnom Penh regime remains tight-lip when it comes to the border with Vietnam. Committees from both countries worked for several years to jointly install border posts, but some experts are doubting their work. “I wrote to Samdach Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, to set up a joint committee of experts to check on the spot the installation of border posts with Thailand and Vietnam. But, I never receive any reply to that,” Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay deplored.
On his end, Var Kim Hong denied that he is hiding information. According to the latter, the opposition MPs can follow up on the work under the reservation that they respect the agreed upon procedures. “I already spent 4 hours in front of the MPs to tell them about the current negotiations with Vietnam,” Var Kim Hong claimed. Nevertheless, to independent observers, a better communication between the government and the opposition should help ease the tension.
Khmer Rouge prison chief readies for final arguments
22 November 2009
AFP
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's war crimes court this week hears final arguments in the trial of the Khmer Rouge prison chief, with Duch expected to apologise for the regime's horrors in a bid to lessen his sentence.
Duch, 67, has repeatedly used the UN-backed court since hearings started in February to publicly ask forgiveness for overseeing the murders of around 15,000 people at the Tuol Sleng torture centre three decades ago.
The former maths teacher is one of five leaders of the brutal communist movement who have been detained by the court but is the only one to have admitted any guilt on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
A verdict in the trial, the first by the tribunal, is not expected until early 2010. Duch - whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav - faces a life sentence in prison because the court cannot impose the death penalty.
"This will be a very meaningful and significant week for the people of Cambodia and the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime who lost their loved ones," tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath told AFP.
"They have waited for so long. Finally peace will be coming close to them."
The Khmer Rouge, led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, emptied Cambodia's cities during its 1975-1979 rule, exiling millions to vast collective farms in a bid to take society back to "Year Zero" and forge a Marxist utopia.
Up to two million people were executed in the notorious "Killing Fields" or died from starvation and overwork before a Vietnamese-backed force toppled the regime. Pol Pot died in 1998.
The Khmer Rouge court was established in 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between the government and UN, and many more years of civil war in Cambodia following the fall of the regime.
Arguments this week are expected to be shown live on television across Cambodia, and the court said that thousands of people have inquired about coming to the tribunal to watch from behind bullet-proof glass.
Prosecutors have tried to portray Duch, who was captured in 1999, as a meticulous executioner who built up a huge archive of photos, confessions and other evidence documenting inmates' final terrible months.
But the trial's format has allowed Duch to comment on all testimony and repeatedly give his own version, portraying himself as a terrified bureaucrat who performed his duty out of fear leaders would kill him and his family.
"I tried to survive on a daily basis, and that's what happened. And yes, you can say I am a cowardly person," Duch told the court in September.
Duch, a born-again Christian, has rejected several allegations he personally tortured and executed prisoners, and also denied prosecution assertions he played a key role in the Khmer Rouge leadership.
"The civil law system gave Duch far more time speaking out loud in the court than any other player. That gave him a huge advantage over any of the other parties," said Heather Ryan, who monitors the court for the Open Society Justice Initiative.
His defence has indicated it hopes his contrite testimony will earn him a reduced sentence, pointing to a similar defence used by Hitler's main architect, Albert Speer, at the Nuremberg trials after World War II.
The tribunal itself has meanwhile faced continued controversy during the trial.
There have been claims that Cambodian staff paid kickbacks for their jobs, while Prime Minister Hun Sen has opposed pursuing more suspects on the grounds that it could destabilise the country.
The court has also been hit by the early departure of prosecutor Robert Petit, who cited family reasons for resigning in July, and claims investigating judge Marcel Lemonde prefers evidence biased against accused leaders.
The other Khmer Rouge members awaiting trial are "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was the minister of social affairs.
Most Cambodians have welcomed the idea that Duch at least partially confessed in the court, which is seen as the last hope to deal with Khmer Rouge crimes - but few are ready to forgive his past.
"Duch is like a piece of white paper - when it is stained with black ink, it cannot be totally cleaned," said Bou Meng, who is one of the handful who survived Tuol Sleng because his artistic skill was deemed useful to the regime.
AFP
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's war crimes court this week hears final arguments in the trial of the Khmer Rouge prison chief, with Duch expected to apologise for the regime's horrors in a bid to lessen his sentence.
Duch, 67, has repeatedly used the UN-backed court since hearings started in February to publicly ask forgiveness for overseeing the murders of around 15,000 people at the Tuol Sleng torture centre three decades ago.
The former maths teacher is one of five leaders of the brutal communist movement who have been detained by the court but is the only one to have admitted any guilt on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
A verdict in the trial, the first by the tribunal, is not expected until early 2010. Duch - whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav - faces a life sentence in prison because the court cannot impose the death penalty.
"This will be a very meaningful and significant week for the people of Cambodia and the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime who lost their loved ones," tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath told AFP.
"They have waited for so long. Finally peace will be coming close to them."
The Khmer Rouge, led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, emptied Cambodia's cities during its 1975-1979 rule, exiling millions to vast collective farms in a bid to take society back to "Year Zero" and forge a Marxist utopia.
Up to two million people were executed in the notorious "Killing Fields" or died from starvation and overwork before a Vietnamese-backed force toppled the regime. Pol Pot died in 1998.
The Khmer Rouge court was established in 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between the government and UN, and many more years of civil war in Cambodia following the fall of the regime.
Arguments this week are expected to be shown live on television across Cambodia, and the court said that thousands of people have inquired about coming to the tribunal to watch from behind bullet-proof glass.
Prosecutors have tried to portray Duch, who was captured in 1999, as a meticulous executioner who built up a huge archive of photos, confessions and other evidence documenting inmates' final terrible months.
But the trial's format has allowed Duch to comment on all testimony and repeatedly give his own version, portraying himself as a terrified bureaucrat who performed his duty out of fear leaders would kill him and his family.
"I tried to survive on a daily basis, and that's what happened. And yes, you can say I am a cowardly person," Duch told the court in September.
Duch, a born-again Christian, has rejected several allegations he personally tortured and executed prisoners, and also denied prosecution assertions he played a key role in the Khmer Rouge leadership.
"The civil law system gave Duch far more time speaking out loud in the court than any other player. That gave him a huge advantage over any of the other parties," said Heather Ryan, who monitors the court for the Open Society Justice Initiative.
His defence has indicated it hopes his contrite testimony will earn him a reduced sentence, pointing to a similar defence used by Hitler's main architect, Albert Speer, at the Nuremberg trials after World War II.
The tribunal itself has meanwhile faced continued controversy during the trial.
There have been claims that Cambodian staff paid kickbacks for their jobs, while Prime Minister Hun Sen has opposed pursuing more suspects on the grounds that it could destabilise the country.
The court has also been hit by the early departure of prosecutor Robert Petit, who cited family reasons for resigning in July, and claims investigating judge Marcel Lemonde prefers evidence biased against accused leaders.
The other Khmer Rouge members awaiting trial are "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was the minister of social affairs.
Most Cambodians have welcomed the idea that Duch at least partially confessed in the court, which is seen as the last hope to deal with Khmer Rouge crimes - but few are ready to forgive his past.
"Duch is like a piece of white paper - when it is stained with black ink, it cannot be totally cleaned," said Bou Meng, who is one of the handful who survived Tuol Sleng because his artistic skill was deemed useful to the regime.
วันเสาร์ที่ 21 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2552
Feng Shui expert foretold Thailand faces turmoil in the "Year of Tiger"
By Khmerization
A Thai Feng Shui expert has foretold that in the Year of Tiger (2010) Thailand will face political turmoil and Prime Minister Abhisit will be toppled from powers while luck and fortunes will come on the way of fugitive ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, reports Koh Santepheap.
A week ago, Mr. Soraccha Mulyu, another Thai famous fortune-teller, predicted that in 2010 Thailand will face misfortunes. Cambodia and Thailand will fight a bloody battle where many Thais will be killed by Cambodian soldiers.
The Feng Shui expert also foretold that Mr. Thaksin will face danger in the first three months of the Year of Tiger if he is not careful. He said Mr. Thaksin's zodiac sign is good that makes it possible for his return to Thailand or setting up his base along the Khmer-Thai borders such as in Koh Kong becaase in the Year of Tiger Cambodia will become more powerful and influential which can order Mr. Thaksin to cause choas and turmoil in Thailand like 60 years ago.
The Feng Shui expert predicted that February, June and October (2010) the political turmoil in Thailand will reach boiling point that will lead to a big change. The government will not be able to sustain the turmoil and two important persons in the government (Abhisit and Kasit?) will be toppled from powers in the middle of the year.
The expert predicted that the government can only survive the turmoil if it moves the central government administration and offices to a new place, preferably Phitsanoulok (Chiangmai), because it has a good Feng Shui. In the past Mr. Thaksin and Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda (king's chief advisor) have used Phitsanoulok as their headquarters because the present government office building has a U-shape which, according to Chinese Feng Shui, looks like a person with their hands being handcuffed behind their back. The other two government office buildings location is a bit isolated from the main building and their isolation, according to Feng Shui, makes government's powers unsecured and untenable. As such, the government must move its headquarters and administration offices to a new place.
A Thai Feng Shui expert has foretold that in the Year of Tiger (2010) Thailand will face political turmoil and Prime Minister Abhisit will be toppled from powers while luck and fortunes will come on the way of fugitive ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, reports Koh Santepheap.
A week ago, Mr. Soraccha Mulyu, another Thai famous fortune-teller, predicted that in 2010 Thailand will face misfortunes. Cambodia and Thailand will fight a bloody battle where many Thais will be killed by Cambodian soldiers.
The Feng Shui expert also foretold that Mr. Thaksin will face danger in the first three months of the Year of Tiger if he is not careful. He said Mr. Thaksin's zodiac sign is good that makes it possible for his return to Thailand or setting up his base along the Khmer-Thai borders such as in Koh Kong becaase in the Year of Tiger Cambodia will become more powerful and influential which can order Mr. Thaksin to cause choas and turmoil in Thailand like 60 years ago.
The Feng Shui expert predicted that February, June and October (2010) the political turmoil in Thailand will reach boiling point that will lead to a big change. The government will not be able to sustain the turmoil and two important persons in the government (Abhisit and Kasit?) will be toppled from powers in the middle of the year.
The expert predicted that the government can only survive the turmoil if it moves the central government administration and offices to a new place, preferably Phitsanoulok (Chiangmai), because it has a good Feng Shui. In the past Mr. Thaksin and Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda (king's chief advisor) have used Phitsanoulok as their headquarters because the present government office building has a U-shape which, according to Chinese Feng Shui, looks like a person with their hands being handcuffed behind their back. The other two government office buildings location is a bit isolated from the main building and their isolation, according to Feng Shui, makes government's powers unsecured and untenable. As such, the government must move its headquarters and administration offices to a new place.
Government challenges Sam Rainsy to show maps to find the truth
By Khmerization
The Cambodian government has challenged opposition leader Sam Rainsy to show maps of Vietnmam's encroachments on Cambodian borders, after he accused the government of allowing Cambodia's neighbour (Vietnam) to encroach on significant portions of Cambodian territories in the last 30 years, report Khmer Sthapana.
On 19th of November, Mr. Rainsy had released a statement accusing the Cambodian government of failing to protect Khmer territories."Vietnam has been, over the last 30 years, grabbing thousands of square kilometres of Khmer territories in Kep, Kampot, Takeo, Kandal, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri provinces. This is an ongoing painful process that Mr. Hun Sen does not want us to look at. But we can’t help seeing the tears and hearing the cries of countless Khmer farmers who are losing their rice fields and other farmland to Vietnam as I have recently witnessed in Svay Rieng province", the statement said.
However, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith (pictured) flatly rejected Mr. Rainsy's accusations and challenged him to show on the maps where the encroachments had occurred.
Cambodia Strengthens Banking ASEAN Cooperation
Saturday, 21 November 2009 05:13 DAP-NEWS
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Friday urged cooperation on baking system integration with other ASEAN countries.
“I am rather optimistic that rational dialogue based on responsible and knowledgeable positions, between people acting professionally, is always a source of progress in the banking industry to support economic growth,” Neav Chanthana, deputy governor of NBC told the 39th ASEAN Bankers council meeting in Cambodia.
Close cooperation among ASEAN banks will certainly help to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015, she added.
As the 10th member of ASEAN, Cambodia enjoyed double-digit economic growth over the past decade. In 2009, however, Cambodia was severely hit by the global crisis, especially in garments, construction and tourism, previously main drivers of the economy, he noted. Agriculture remains a bright spot, with positive growth expected.
The economic prognosis for 2010 is optimistic, with positive growth, she stresses. I have noted that our program focuses on three major items on cooperation in finance, investment and trade, education and ASEAN inter-regional relations, Neav Chanthana added. The NBC will carefully follow international developments and consider implementation in a progressive manner and in line with domestic market developments and priorities, she said.
At the same time, Phung Kheav Se, chairman of Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), and president and CEO of Canadia Bank PLC, said that the occasion was of great significance since it was the first time a council meeting has been held in Cambodia. “Many of you are already familiar with Cambodia and are well aware of the impressive progress we have made, both in terms of economic development and political maturity,” he added.
“We are proud of how far we have come in the relatively short time that our country has been at peace, but we also recognized that we have great challenges and hard work ahead of us before we can realize our country’s potential.”
“Our industry’s affiliation with the ASEAN bankers association has been equally beneficial. We are very grateful to the association as a whole and to the individual banks that have worked with us. Members of the Cambodian association of the banks have been active participants in ABA committee and workshop and more recently helped organize the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam investment conference. This has been a wonderful experience for us. Cambodia is eager to participate in the continuing integration of ASEAN econo- mies. We banking sector in Cambodia has been a large number of new entries over the past few years … However we also believed that agriculture and medium scale manufacturing will be particularly attractive areas for new activity as we seek to diversify our economic base.”
“With the help of our investment of our international friends, much public and private investment has been channelled into infrastructure such as power and roads to enhance the overall investment environment, he noted. We have also streamlined our need to be competitive.”
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Friday urged cooperation on baking system integration with other ASEAN countries.
“I am rather optimistic that rational dialogue based on responsible and knowledgeable positions, between people acting professionally, is always a source of progress in the banking industry to support economic growth,” Neav Chanthana, deputy governor of NBC told the 39th ASEAN Bankers council meeting in Cambodia.
Close cooperation among ASEAN banks will certainly help to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015, she added.
As the 10th member of ASEAN, Cambodia enjoyed double-digit economic growth over the past decade. In 2009, however, Cambodia was severely hit by the global crisis, especially in garments, construction and tourism, previously main drivers of the economy, he noted. Agriculture remains a bright spot, with positive growth expected.
The economic prognosis for 2010 is optimistic, with positive growth, she stresses. I have noted that our program focuses on three major items on cooperation in finance, investment and trade, education and ASEAN inter-regional relations, Neav Chanthana added. The NBC will carefully follow international developments and consider implementation in a progressive manner and in line with domestic market developments and priorities, she said.
At the same time, Phung Kheav Se, chairman of Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), and president and CEO of Canadia Bank PLC, said that the occasion was of great significance since it was the first time a council meeting has been held in Cambodia. “Many of you are already familiar with Cambodia and are well aware of the impressive progress we have made, both in terms of economic development and political maturity,” he added.
“We are proud of how far we have come in the relatively short time that our country has been at peace, but we also recognized that we have great challenges and hard work ahead of us before we can realize our country’s potential.”
“Our industry’s affiliation with the ASEAN bankers association has been equally beneficial. We are very grateful to the association as a whole and to the individual banks that have worked with us. Members of the Cambodian association of the banks have been active participants in ABA committee and workshop and more recently helped organize the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam investment conference. This has been a wonderful experience for us. Cambodia is eager to participate in the continuing integration of ASEAN econo- mies. We banking sector in Cambodia has been a large number of new entries over the past few years … However we also believed that agriculture and medium scale manufacturing will be particularly attractive areas for new activity as we seek to diversify our economic base.”
“With the help of our investment of our international friends, much public and private investment has been channelled into infrastructure such as power and roads to enhance the overall investment environment, he noted. We have also streamlined our need to be competitive.”
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister opens Jimmy Carter Work project
Saturday, 21 November 2009 05:53 DAP-NEWS
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, and the former US President on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for the poor Cambodians.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sok An said he was pleased with the humanitarian work done by the Project, led by the former US President Jimmy Carter over the last 26 years, for building the homes for those are relocated from the Steung Meanchey dumpsite outskirt of Phnom Penh.
“This project is of course to promote the living standard of the poor Cambodians... as well as contribute to social welfare activities which aims to reduce poverty,” Dr. Sok An told the crowd attended by the American ambassador to Cambodia and volunteers who participated in building the houses.
He also said the housing project contributed to the country’s political and social stability, which has been materialized by the Royal Government of Cambodia after two decades of civil war ended in 1998.
“The present of Jimmy Carter and Madam reflects another step of enhancing the good bilateral cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and America,” Sok An said.
There are 250 Cambodian volunteers joined hands with foreign volunteers in the housing project of the New Life Community which surrounded by rice fields in Oudong about 40 km north of Phnom Penh.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former US President Jimmy Carter said before cutting the ribbon that he was impressed with the contribution made by the Royal Government of Cambodia for making a possible for this project done as well as receiving the delegations to visit this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.
“For 26 years, my wife and I each year have gone to build habitat homes but we never had an exciting ceremony than this one and never had a beautiful place,” Carter told the cheerful villagers.
Carter said his project has planned to build another 166 homes this week in the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Another 50,000 homes will be built in the next five years including 6,000 homes in Cambodia alone.
“This is a great demonstration of the Cambodian leadership in this region of the world.”
“It is a wonderful work,” Carter, who is accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, told the crowd waved Cambodian and American flags.
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Opens Jimmy & Carter Work Project
Oudong, Cambodia, Nov. 21: Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, and the former US President on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for the poor Cambodians.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sok An said he was pleased with the humanitarian work done by the Project, led by the former US President Jimmy Carter over the last 26 years, for building the homes for those are relocated from the Steung Meanchey dumpsite outskirt of Phnom Penh.
“This project is of course to promote the living standard of the poor Cambodians... as well as contribute to social welfare activities which aims to reduce poverty,” Dr. Sok An told the crowd attended by the American ambassador to Cambodia and volunteers who participated in building the houses.
He also said the housing project contributed to the country’s political and social stability, which has been materialized by the Royal Government of Cambodia after two decades of civil war ended in 1998.
“The present of Jimmy Carter and Madam reflects another step of enhancing the good bilateral cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and America,” Sok An said.
There are 250 Cambodian volunteers joined hands with foreign volunteers in the housing project of the New Life Community which surrounded by rice fields in Oudong about 40 km north of Phnom Penh.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former US President Jimmy Carter said before cutting the ribbon that he was impressed with the contribution made by the Royal Government of Cambodia for making a possible for this project done as well as receiving the delegations to visit this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.
“For 26 years, my wife and I each year have gone to build habitat homes but we never had an exciting ceremony than this one and never had a beautiful place,” Carter told the cheerful villagers.
Carter said his project has planned to build another 166 homes this week in the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Another 50,000 homes will be built in the next five years including 6,000 homes in Cambodia alone.
“This is a great demonstration of the Cambodian leadership in this region of the world.”
“It is a wonderful work,” Carter, who is accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, told the crowd waved Cambodian and American flags.
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, and the former US President on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for the poor Cambodians.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sok An said he was pleased with the humanitarian work done by the Project, led by the former US President Jimmy Carter over the last 26 years, for building the homes for those are relocated from the Steung Meanchey dumpsite outskirt of Phnom Penh.
“This project is of course to promote the living standard of the poor Cambodians... as well as contribute to social welfare activities which aims to reduce poverty,” Dr. Sok An told the crowd attended by the American ambassador to Cambodia and volunteers who participated in building the houses.
He also said the housing project contributed to the country’s political and social stability, which has been materialized by the Royal Government of Cambodia after two decades of civil war ended in 1998.
“The present of Jimmy Carter and Madam reflects another step of enhancing the good bilateral cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and America,” Sok An said.
There are 250 Cambodian volunteers joined hands with foreign volunteers in the housing project of the New Life Community which surrounded by rice fields in Oudong about 40 km north of Phnom Penh.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former US President Jimmy Carter said before cutting the ribbon that he was impressed with the contribution made by the Royal Government of Cambodia for making a possible for this project done as well as receiving the delegations to visit this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.
“For 26 years, my wife and I each year have gone to build habitat homes but we never had an exciting ceremony than this one and never had a beautiful place,” Carter told the cheerful villagers.
Carter said his project has planned to build another 166 homes this week in the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Another 50,000 homes will be built in the next five years including 6,000 homes in Cambodia alone.
“This is a great demonstration of the Cambodian leadership in this region of the world.”
“It is a wonderful work,” Carter, who is accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, told the crowd waved Cambodian and American flags.
Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Opens Jimmy & Carter Work Project
Oudong, Cambodia, Nov. 21: Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, and the former US President on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for the poor Cambodians.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sok An said he was pleased with the humanitarian work done by the Project, led by the former US President Jimmy Carter over the last 26 years, for building the homes for those are relocated from the Steung Meanchey dumpsite outskirt of Phnom Penh.
“This project is of course to promote the living standard of the poor Cambodians... as well as contribute to social welfare activities which aims to reduce poverty,” Dr. Sok An told the crowd attended by the American ambassador to Cambodia and volunteers who participated in building the houses.
He also said the housing project contributed to the country’s political and social stability, which has been materialized by the Royal Government of Cambodia after two decades of civil war ended in 1998.
“The present of Jimmy Carter and Madam reflects another step of enhancing the good bilateral cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and America,” Sok An said.
There are 250 Cambodian volunteers joined hands with foreign volunteers in the housing project of the New Life Community which surrounded by rice fields in Oudong about 40 km north of Phnom Penh.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former US President Jimmy Carter said before cutting the ribbon that he was impressed with the contribution made by the Royal Government of Cambodia for making a possible for this project done as well as receiving the delegations to visit this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.
“For 26 years, my wife and I each year have gone to build habitat homes but we never had an exciting ceremony than this one and never had a beautiful place,” Carter told the cheerful villagers.
Carter said his project has planned to build another 166 homes this week in the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Another 50,000 homes will be built in the next five years including 6,000 homes in Cambodia alone.
“This is a great demonstration of the Cambodian leadership in this region of the world.”
“It is a wonderful work,” Carter, who is accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, told the crowd waved Cambodian and American flags.
Seven villagers charged in Kampong Thom land dispute
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 November 2009
The Kampong Thom provincial court on Friday charged seven villagers on connection with damaging properties belonging to a developing company and a security team.
“We have charged the seven men of damaging public and private properties,” Men Sarath, the court prosecutor, told VOA Khmer. He said that there will be more charges against an alleged ringleader, whom he did not identify. If found guilty, the men face up to three years in prison.
Human rights advocates, however, decry the charges and insist the men should be educated instead. “These men should not be charged as they do not understand the law,” said Nhoung Samoeun, coordinator for local human rights group Licadho.
Kampong Thom police chief Phan Sopheng said 20 additional people might be arrested while others will be rehabilitated and informed about the law. “Some villagers should be educated, but for those brutal men, we can’t be patient with them,” he said.
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 November 2009
The Kampong Thom provincial court on Friday charged seven villagers on connection with damaging properties belonging to a developing company and a security team.
“We have charged the seven men of damaging public and private properties,” Men Sarath, the court prosecutor, told VOA Khmer. He said that there will be more charges against an alleged ringleader, whom he did not identify. If found guilty, the men face up to three years in prison.
Human rights advocates, however, decry the charges and insist the men should be educated instead. “These men should not be charged as they do not understand the law,” said Nhoung Samoeun, coordinator for local human rights group Licadho.
Kampong Thom police chief Phan Sopheng said 20 additional people might be arrested while others will be rehabilitated and informed about the law. “Some villagers should be educated, but for those brutal men, we can’t be patient with them,” he said.
Khmer Rouge Tribunal Asked to Define Victim Reparation
By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 November 2009
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) and a London-based rights group, Redress, urged the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on Friday to show respect for the principle of reparation and make funds available for the regime’s survivors.
The groups insist on having victims participate in the discussions about reparations with the court, and that judges should issue an order about reparations and explain ways to find funds for it.
“We want to know clearly from the Khmer Rouge tribunal regarding the reparation,” said Hang Chhaya, director of Khmer Institute for Democracy and coordinator of the CHRAC.
But Reach Sambath, head of public affairs of UN-backed court, said the court is not yet in a position to thoroughly review the issue of reparation. “The court is now working on Duch’s case,” he said, referring to case 001 against a notorious former Khmer Rouge prison chief. “And that issue has not been discussed in details yet.”
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 November 2009
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) and a London-based rights group, Redress, urged the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on Friday to show respect for the principle of reparation and make funds available for the regime’s survivors.
The groups insist on having victims participate in the discussions about reparations with the court, and that judges should issue an order about reparations and explain ways to find funds for it.
“We want to know clearly from the Khmer Rouge tribunal regarding the reparation,” said Hang Chhaya, director of Khmer Institute for Democracy and coordinator of the CHRAC.
But Reach Sambath, head of public affairs of UN-backed court, said the court is not yet in a position to thoroughly review the issue of reparation. “The court is now working on Duch’s case,” he said, referring to case 001 against a notorious former Khmer Rouge prison chief. “And that issue has not been discussed in details yet.”
Somchai: P. Thai will win at next polls
Published: 21/11/2009
Online news: Breakingnews
Puea Thai Party would win the forthcoming general elections and become a government again, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said on Saturday.
He was making the remark while chairing the opening ceremony of the main opposition party’s coordinating center in Pitsanulok’s Prompiram district.
Mr Somchai said after returning to power, Puea Thai party will pay most attention to settle the poverty problem of Thai people.
He said many countries welcomed and wanted ousted from prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to help them by taking a job as an economic advisor. He did not understand why the appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor by the Cambodian government created problem between Thailand and Cambodia.
The ex-premier was confident that Thaksin will never love Cambodia more than his own motherland.
“Thaksin wants to help Cambodia as it will also help Thailand at the same time”, Mr Somchai, who is also a brother-in-law of Thaksin, said.
Mrs Yaowapa, Mr Somchai’s wife, said if Puea Thai Party wins at the upcoming polls and becomes a government, her elder brother will definitely be able to return home.
Online news: Breakingnews
Puea Thai Party would win the forthcoming general elections and become a government again, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat said on Saturday.
He was making the remark while chairing the opening ceremony of the main opposition party’s coordinating center in Pitsanulok’s Prompiram district.
Mr Somchai said after returning to power, Puea Thai party will pay most attention to settle the poverty problem of Thai people.
He said many countries welcomed and wanted ousted from prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to help them by taking a job as an economic advisor. He did not understand why the appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor by the Cambodian government created problem between Thailand and Cambodia.
The ex-premier was confident that Thaksin will never love Cambodia more than his own motherland.
“Thaksin wants to help Cambodia as it will also help Thailand at the same time”, Mr Somchai, who is also a brother-in-law of Thaksin, said.
Mrs Yaowapa, Mr Somchai’s wife, said if Puea Thai Party wins at the upcoming polls and becomes a government, her elder brother will definitely be able to return home.
Thai news today
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured in October) visited the north of the country amid heavy security Saturday after receiving death threats over a planned trip to a stronghold of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Some 1,500 police were sent to guard Abhisit as he toured the three northern provinces of Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit, to inspect government works.(AFP/Pool/File/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)
Police and soldiers survey the site of a bomb attack in Yala province November 20, 2009. Five soldiers were injured in the bomb attack by suspected Muslim militants during a patrol, police said. REUTERS/Surapan Boonthanom
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter at the inauguration of the New Life Community at Oudong village in Kandal province,
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter (2nd R) and his wife Rosalynn Carter (R) greet Cambodian officials upon their arrival at the inauguration of the New Life Community at Oudong village in Kandal province, 50 km (31 miles) north of Phnom Penh November 21, 2009. Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and the former U.S. president on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for poor Cambodians. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
วันศุกร์ที่ 20 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2552
Navy chief warns govt on MoU
Man City to expose Thaksin 'failings'
Published: 21/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
Navy chief Kamthorn Pumhirun has warned the government to tread carefully with its plan to revoke a memorandum of understanding on the overlapping maritime boundary with Cambodia.
Adm Kamthorn said even though the cabinet has decided to scrap the MoU, the decision will not take effect until it is approved by parliament. The government is seeking parliamentary approval to annul the MoU.
Adm Kamthorn urged all parties concerned to weigh the pros and cons of terminating the MoU carefully.
However, he was confident the Foreign Ministry and three House committees responsible for deliberating the matter will handle it in a professional manner.
"I believe they are professionals and will put the country's interests first. They should know what the advantages and disadvantages are for the country," he said.
The government's move to scrap the MoU is in response to Cambodia's appointment of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser.
The document was signed in 2001 when Thaksin was prime minister. Its main goal is for the two countries to demarcate territorial waters and jointly explore natural gas and oil reserves in the overlapping area.
Adm Kamthorn said the navy has continued to look after Thai territorial waters and to make sure the disputed maritime area is not violated.
The navy chief said relations between the navies of the two countries have remained healthy. There had been no Cambodian military movements nor any Cambodian navy presence in the waterways, he said.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said the Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) will hold its meeting to discuss border issues in Pattaya next Thursday and Friday.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh will jointly chair the meeting.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he believed relations between Thailand and Cambodia will return to normal shortly. However, he said the government will not send Thai envoys to Phnom Penh until the Cambodian government reviews its position.
The prime minister said the government is stepping up its efforts to arrange for Simarak na Nakhon Phanom to visit her son Sivarak Chutipong, a Cambodia Air Traffic Services engineer who is being held in a Cambodian prison on charges of spying.
Deputy permanent secretary for justice Thawee Sodsong said he and Suvana Suwannajuta, the director-general of the Liberties and Rights Protection Department, will travel to Cambodia on Monday to visit Mr Sivarak.
Mr Thawee said he will arrange for Mr Sivarak's family members to visit him.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said it will take 10 days for Cambodia to consider whether to grant him bail.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party deputy leader Kraisak Choonhavan has said executives of the English Premier League soccer club Manchester City are planning to expose the failings of Thaksin, its former owner.
Mr Kraisak said the football club had been unhappy with Thaksin's style of running the club, including superstitious practices he brought to the club and his efforts to meddle with the management of the football team. Thaksin bought City in July 2007, 10 months after he was ousted in a military coup. He sold the club to an investment group from the United Arab Emirates in September 2008.
Published: 21/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
Navy chief Kamthorn Pumhirun has warned the government to tread carefully with its plan to revoke a memorandum of understanding on the overlapping maritime boundary with Cambodia.
Adm Kamthorn said even though the cabinet has decided to scrap the MoU, the decision will not take effect until it is approved by parliament. The government is seeking parliamentary approval to annul the MoU.
Adm Kamthorn urged all parties concerned to weigh the pros and cons of terminating the MoU carefully.
However, he was confident the Foreign Ministry and three House committees responsible for deliberating the matter will handle it in a professional manner.
"I believe they are professionals and will put the country's interests first. They should know what the advantages and disadvantages are for the country," he said.
The government's move to scrap the MoU is in response to Cambodia's appointment of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser.
The document was signed in 2001 when Thaksin was prime minister. Its main goal is for the two countries to demarcate territorial waters and jointly explore natural gas and oil reserves in the overlapping area.
Adm Kamthorn said the navy has continued to look after Thai territorial waters and to make sure the disputed maritime area is not violated.
The navy chief said relations between the navies of the two countries have remained healthy. There had been no Cambodian military movements nor any Cambodian navy presence in the waterways, he said.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said the Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) will hold its meeting to discuss border issues in Pattaya next Thursday and Friday.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh will jointly chair the meeting.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he believed relations between Thailand and Cambodia will return to normal shortly. However, he said the government will not send Thai envoys to Phnom Penh until the Cambodian government reviews its position.
The prime minister said the government is stepping up its efforts to arrange for Simarak na Nakhon Phanom to visit her son Sivarak Chutipong, a Cambodia Air Traffic Services engineer who is being held in a Cambodian prison on charges of spying.
Deputy permanent secretary for justice Thawee Sodsong said he and Suvana Suwannajuta, the director-general of the Liberties and Rights Protection Department, will travel to Cambodia on Monday to visit Mr Sivarak.
Mr Thawee said he will arrange for Mr Sivarak's family members to visit him.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said it will take 10 days for Cambodia to consider whether to grant him bail.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party deputy leader Kraisak Choonhavan has said executives of the English Premier League soccer club Manchester City are planning to expose the failings of Thaksin, its former owner.
Mr Kraisak said the football club had been unhappy with Thaksin's style of running the club, including superstitious practices he brought to the club and his efforts to meddle with the management of the football team. Thaksin bought City in July 2007, 10 months after he was ousted in a military coup. He sold the club to an investment group from the United Arab Emirates in September 2008.
Vietnamese economy poses no threat to Thailand
Hanoi ensures existence of political stability and cheap labour
Published: 21/11/2009
The Vietnamese economy poses no immediate threat to Thailand, which has healthy investments in that country, says the Thai ambassador in Hanoi.
Vietnam said it would put in a high-speed train, similar to the bullet train in Japan, running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The news excited Thai readers but most did not realise that work on the railway won’t start until 2036, or nearly 30 years into the future.
Pisanu Chanvitan says Thailand's economy is still far more advanced than Vietnam's.
However, the ambassador told Thai Rath newspaper, Vietnam has certain advantages including political stability, thanks to its one-party rule and cheap labour.
Last year, Vietnam's economy grew 3%.
Mr Pisanu said that medical advances in Vietnam lag far behind Thailand. For difficult cases, well-to-do patients still travel to Thailand for treatment because Vietnam's health care expertise is lacking.
Nor was Thailand's status as the world's top rice exporter under threat from Vietnam.
Mr Pisanu said Vietnam exported about 5 million tonnes of rice last year while Thailand exported 8-9 million tonnes.
Thai rice is more expensive because of its higher quality especially the world famous Hom Mali, while Vietnam exports cheaper varieties.
Vietnam can face typhoons several times a year, causing extensive damage to rice fields.
Vietnam's rice cultivation area is similar to Thailand's, but Vietnam has a growing population. As its population grows, Vietnam will probably export less rice.
Vietnam's rulers like to talk about their plans for the economy, but sometimes these projects can be many years off.
Vietnam said it would put in a high-speed train, similar to the bullet train in Japan, running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
The news excited Thai readers but most did not realise that work on the railway won't start until 2036, or nearly 30 years into the future.
In 1990, Vietnam began to open the country to foreign direct investment, creating special industrial zones and expanding the economic zone in Ho Chi Minh City.
Thailand is ranked 9th among foreign investors in Vietnam. Investment is concentrated in agri-business, cement, real estate, and motorcycle parts.
Mr Pisanu said Thailand exported more than 10,000 tonnes of fruit to Vietnam last year, including longan, mangosteen, durian and mango.
Food processing including canned fish is another bright prospect for Thai exporters. Several Thai canneries have set up operations in Vietnam and are doing good business.
Engineer is a
'political victim'
Sivarak Chutipong, 31, the Thai engineer arrested in Cambodia on a spying charge, is being used as a pawn in the diplomatic dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, argues a Matichon newspaper writer.
Sivarak worked for Cambodia Air Traffic Services, a subsidiary of Thailand's Samart Telecom.
He was arrested last week on a spying charge, after he allegedly transmitted the flight schedule of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's premier Hun Sen to Thailand.
The newspaper argues the engineer was a victim of the conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia concerning Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as economic adviser.
If Sivarak is found guilty by a Cambodian court, he could be jailed for 7-10 years and/or fined 50,000-250,000 baht.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin's flight schedule was not secret information and Thailand already knew Thaksin's likely flight movements.
Suthep argued that Cambodian authorities may have misunderstood the intention of the government, which never intended to inflict any harm.
Yet the Matichon writer was not satisfied with explanations offered by the Thai Foreign Ministry and Samart Telecom in defence of Sivarak.
The government, the writer said, should protect Sivarak's honour and tell international observers that Cambodia's allegations are trumped up.
Miscellany
Cambodia has expelled all Thai staff from Cambodia Air Traffic Services after a Thai engineer on staff was charged with spying.
Phnom Penh has filed national security charges of stealing classified information against engineer Sivarak Chutipong.
Cambodia has now ordered all Thai nationals working for CATS to leave the company and prohibited them from re-entering until the legal proceedings against Mr Sivarak are completed, Samart Corporation Plc president Watchai Wilailuck said.
CATS, a fully owned subsidiary of Bangkok-based Samart, holds a concession to run air traffic control services in Cambodia.
The firm employs nine Thai officials at Cambodian airport, in management or senior engineering positions. About 200 other staff are Cambodians.
Mr Watchai was told Cambodian authorities would send their own people to run the company.
"We need to follow Cambodia's order and are asking the Thai government to negotiate with Cambodia.
'We have nothing to do with their diplomatic dispute, but it is affecting our business," Mr Watchai said.
Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to an investment protection agreement, to protect each other's private businesses.
Thai businesses fear closure of border
Published: 21/11/2009
As the Thai-Cambodian media skirmish continues, Thai executives are starting to fear their operations will suffer.
Gamblers are staying away from casinos in Koh Kong and Poipet, while tourist numbers are on the slide. Kasikorn Research Center said the escalating tensions could affect businesses and populations on both sides of the border.
The conflict between the Thai and Cambodian governments recently reached a new and alarming level when both countries withdrew their ambassadors after Cambodia named fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser and refused to extradite him when he visited the country.
But the Thai-Cambodian border remains open so the border trade, which accounts for as much as 80% of bilateral trade, continues as usual.
If the conflict is quickly resolved without either side resorting to force, trade will not be disrupted, said K-Research.
Even a temporary border closure, similar to that caused by the earlier Preah Vihear temple dispute, would only have a limited impact, the researchers said. But a prolonged closure would inevitably damage trade, causing Thai exporters to lose their share in Cambodia's market.
Thai exports to Cambodia last year were worth 67 billion baht, while imports from Cambodia were only 3 billion baht.
Thailand's trade surplus reflects Cambodia's inability to supply its market's demand, while Cambodian consumers are accustomed to imported Thai products such as sugar, beverages, cosmetics, soaps and related products. The Cambodian business sector also relies on imported processed oil and cement.
Thailand is currently the largest exporter to Cambodia, supplying 23% of its imports, followed by Vietnam with 17% and China with 15%.
Like Thailand, Vietnam benefits from close proximity with Cambodia, with significant border trade. Vietnam's exports to Cambodia have soared from US$178 million in 2002 to $1.43 billion last year. The country is now competing directly with Thailand in oil, sugar and cement.
Chinese goods, currently in third place, also have good opportunities for growth due to the strength of the Chinese economy and the development of the logistics system linking China and Asean.
But Cambodia would also face losses from this scenario. Materials and intermediate goods from other countries for its production sector would likely have higher prices due to the logistics costs. Similarly, Cambodian consumers would likely have higher living costs.
Journalist seeks help
Originally Posted at South Asia Mail
I am a freelance journalist from the US, looking for human rights-related story ideas in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. I plan to spend 3-6 months (probably from January 2010 onward) traveling and reporting in these countries for US-based publications. I plan to work in print, still photography and video.
I am 30 years old, and have been working in journalism for about the past seven years. I've won a number of awards for my reporting, including the National Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism from the University of Oregon and the Weltner Hero Award for Courage in Journalism from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. In the past year and a half, I've begun reporting from South Asia with trips to India, Pakistan and Nepal. I've lived in India for the past six months, and am back in the States planning my next trip.
Any leads, ideas, contacts, etc, etc, etc, welcome: joeldelliott@gmail.com
I am a freelance journalist from the US, looking for human rights-related story ideas in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. I plan to spend 3-6 months (probably from January 2010 onward) traveling and reporting in these countries for US-based publications. I plan to work in print, still photography and video.
I am 30 years old, and have been working in journalism for about the past seven years. I've won a number of awards for my reporting, including the National Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism from the University of Oregon and the Weltner Hero Award for Courage in Journalism from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. In the past year and a half, I've begun reporting from South Asia with trips to India, Pakistan and Nepal. I've lived in India for the past six months, and am back in the States planning my next trip.
Any leads, ideas, contacts, etc, etc, etc, welcome: joeldelliott@gmail.com
Thai PM: Thai-Cambodian relationship now stable
BANGKOK, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Thai-Cambodian relationship is currently stable and is not expected to deteriorate, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday.
Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov.4.
A day after the appointment of the ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.
"The Thai-Cambodian relationship is now stable," Thai News Agency quoted Abhisit as saying.
Also, both sides are ready to discuss as there will be a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said Abhisit.
The JBC meeting will be co-chaired by Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, he said.
Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.
He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.
Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov.4.
A day after the appointment of the ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.
"The Thai-Cambodian relationship is now stable," Thai News Agency quoted Abhisit as saying.
Also, both sides are ready to discuss as there will be a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), said Abhisit.
The JBC meeting will be co-chaired by Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, he said.
Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.
He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.
UNPO Speaks About Indigenous Issues at the European Parliament
Friday, 20 November 2009
UNPO
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) was invited to speak at a Hearing on Cambodia facilitated by Human Rights Without Frontiers at the European Parliament on 17 November 2009.
The Hearing was chaired by Niccolò Rinaldi (Vice President of ALDE group) and moderated by Edward McMillan-Scott (VP European Parliament) alongside Willy Fautre (Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers). The panels were composed of representatives from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (Ms Maggie Murphy, Program Coordinator), Cambodian Government (H.E. Ambassador Mr. Rudi Veestraeten), the United Nations (Prof. Surya P. Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia), the European Commission (Mr. Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit), the Center for Development Research and Cooperation (Dr. Prof. Tazeen Murshid), Amnesty International (Susi Dennison, Executive Director), International Trade Union Confederation (June Sorensen), The Cambodian Association for Human Rights (Mr. Thun Saray, President and former political prisoner) and Human Rights Watch (Brad Adams, Asia Director).
Forced evictions, labor rights, judiciary issues, the role of the EU in Cambodia, as well as political and institutional factors impacting on human rights in Cambodia were among the list of issues discussed during the hearing. Panelists shared valuable information on several topics to describe the current status of human rights in Cambodia.
Susi Dennison, Executive Officer of Amnesty International explained how the ongoing violence against women subsequently leading to forced evictions can be traced back to their lack of civil and political rights.
On the other hand, Mr Thun Saray, former political prisoner and President of the Cambodian Association for Human Rights raised deep concerns about the failure of Cambodia’s justice system to provide a political environment that would safeguard fundamental human rights of both Cambodians and its defenders in the country.
The international community is aware of Cambodia’s ratification of 7 out of 8 labour rights laws. However, June Sorensen of the International Trade Union Confederation stressed that the majority of Cambodia’s workforce remains completely unaware of labour rights making it difficult for trade unions to operate in Cambodia.
Mr. Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit of the European Commission recognized that Cambodia has entered the process of recovery. However whilst the country has achieved some level of stability, as the elections in 2008 showcased, international standards on electoral processes have not been followed. Furthermore, not all violations against human rights in Cambodia are accurately reported especially those committed during the dictatorship. Mr Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, stressed this issue saying that crimes committed in the past should not be forgotten by simply concentrating on the recent ones.
Maggie Murphy, Program Coordinator of UNPO, spoke on four major issues of great concern to the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom and the Montagnards: land rights claims and subsequent forced relocation, religious persecution, violence and torture and forced repatriation.
Ms Murphy reiterated that these issues should be primarily addressed by acknowledging the indigenous status of both the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people and the Montagnards. The unfortunate fact is that Cambodia can sign and ratify all international declarations and agreements pertaining to indigenous peoples but unless the people of Khmer Krom and the Montagnards are acknowledged as such, every declaration is meaningless. Thus, the first step in effecting significant changes to the lives of the marginalized peoples of Khmer Krom and Montagnards is to give them the status of indigenous peoples and then ensure that constant international pressure is applied to Cambodian authorities to ensure that they abide by these international agreements.
UNPO suggests a more active role for EU in Cambodia
There are significant political and institutional factors that impede the forceful repatriation of Khmer and Montagnard refugees from Cambodia to Vietnam. UNPO hopes that the EU will put pressure on Cambodia to sign and ratify the ILO Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, with the aim of respecting the traditions of indigenous peoples in relation to the use of their ancestral lands.
Lack of Political Will
In contrast to the presentations by the majority of panelists, the Ambassador of Cambodia strongly affirmed that the concept of “freedom of expression in Cambodia is very strange” and further elaborated that “freedom of expression is in place”. He contended that this is especially true in the areas of civil and political rights. However, whilst sufficient mechanisms are in place to adequately guarantee the rights of minorities and indigenous groups, the implementation has been severely lacking. Issues addressed in the hearing can only be tackled if the Cambodian government demonstrates a strong sense of political will to ensure that the human rights of the aforementioned groups are safeguarded.
Ms Murphy concluded by explaining that many similar recommendations were made by states and NGOs as Vietnam recently underwent examination under the UPR process. On 24 September the review ended with Vietnam rejecting 45 of the Human Rights Council’s recommendations, which demonstrated a lack of commitment to securing fundamental human rights. UNPO hopes that Cambodia will be more receptive to the UPR process, and that they will facilitate it, rather than obstruct it through rejections and rebuttals. Political will is fundamental to guaranteeing the improvement of the human rights situation in Cambodia.
UNPO
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) was invited to speak at a Hearing on Cambodia facilitated by Human Rights Without Frontiers at the European Parliament on 17 November 2009.
The Hearing was chaired by Niccolò Rinaldi (Vice President of ALDE group) and moderated by Edward McMillan-Scott (VP European Parliament) alongside Willy Fautre (Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers). The panels were composed of representatives from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (Ms Maggie Murphy, Program Coordinator), Cambodian Government (H.E. Ambassador Mr. Rudi Veestraeten), the United Nations (Prof. Surya P. Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia), the European Commission (Mr. Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit), the Center for Development Research and Cooperation (Dr. Prof. Tazeen Murshid), Amnesty International (Susi Dennison, Executive Director), International Trade Union Confederation (June Sorensen), The Cambodian Association for Human Rights (Mr. Thun Saray, President and former political prisoner) and Human Rights Watch (Brad Adams, Asia Director).
Forced evictions, labor rights, judiciary issues, the role of the EU in Cambodia, as well as political and institutional factors impacting on human rights in Cambodia were among the list of issues discussed during the hearing. Panelists shared valuable information on several topics to describe the current status of human rights in Cambodia.
Susi Dennison, Executive Officer of Amnesty International explained how the ongoing violence against women subsequently leading to forced evictions can be traced back to their lack of civil and political rights.
On the other hand, Mr Thun Saray, former political prisoner and President of the Cambodian Association for Human Rights raised deep concerns about the failure of Cambodia’s justice system to provide a political environment that would safeguard fundamental human rights of both Cambodians and its defenders in the country.
The international community is aware of Cambodia’s ratification of 7 out of 8 labour rights laws. However, June Sorensen of the International Trade Union Confederation stressed that the majority of Cambodia’s workforce remains completely unaware of labour rights making it difficult for trade unions to operate in Cambodia.
Mr. Seamus Gillespie, Head of Unit of the European Commission recognized that Cambodia has entered the process of recovery. However whilst the country has achieved some level of stability, as the elections in 2008 showcased, international standards on electoral processes have not been followed. Furthermore, not all violations against human rights in Cambodia are accurately reported especially those committed during the dictatorship. Mr Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, stressed this issue saying that crimes committed in the past should not be forgotten by simply concentrating on the recent ones.
Maggie Murphy, Program Coordinator of UNPO, spoke on four major issues of great concern to the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom and the Montagnards: land rights claims and subsequent forced relocation, religious persecution, violence and torture and forced repatriation.
Ms Murphy reiterated that these issues should be primarily addressed by acknowledging the indigenous status of both the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people and the Montagnards. The unfortunate fact is that Cambodia can sign and ratify all international declarations and agreements pertaining to indigenous peoples but unless the people of Khmer Krom and the Montagnards are acknowledged as such, every declaration is meaningless. Thus, the first step in effecting significant changes to the lives of the marginalized peoples of Khmer Krom and Montagnards is to give them the status of indigenous peoples and then ensure that constant international pressure is applied to Cambodian authorities to ensure that they abide by these international agreements.
UNPO suggests a more active role for EU in Cambodia
There are significant political and institutional factors that impede the forceful repatriation of Khmer and Montagnard refugees from Cambodia to Vietnam. UNPO hopes that the EU will put pressure on Cambodia to sign and ratify the ILO Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, with the aim of respecting the traditions of indigenous peoples in relation to the use of their ancestral lands.
Lack of Political Will
In contrast to the presentations by the majority of panelists, the Ambassador of Cambodia strongly affirmed that the concept of “freedom of expression in Cambodia is very strange” and further elaborated that “freedom of expression is in place”. He contended that this is especially true in the areas of civil and political rights. However, whilst sufficient mechanisms are in place to adequately guarantee the rights of minorities and indigenous groups, the implementation has been severely lacking. Issues addressed in the hearing can only be tackled if the Cambodian government demonstrates a strong sense of political will to ensure that the human rights of the aforementioned groups are safeguarded.
Ms Murphy concluded by explaining that many similar recommendations were made by states and NGOs as Vietnam recently underwent examination under the UPR process. On 24 September the review ended with Vietnam rejecting 45 of the Human Rights Council’s recommendations, which demonstrated a lack of commitment to securing fundamental human rights. UNPO hopes that Cambodia will be more receptive to the UPR process, and that they will facilitate it, rather than obstruct it through rejections and rebuttals. Political will is fundamental to guaranteeing the improvement of the human rights situation in Cambodia.
Ecstasy factories destroyed in Cambodian rainforests
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 20, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Ten ecstasy laboratories operated by local drug cartels were destroyed Wednesday in one of Cambodia's most impenetrable and remote jungle areas in the country's southwest Cardamom Mountains, according to a statement released Friday by Wildlife Alliance.
The raid was carried out by an anti-drug task force led by Wildlife Alliance and in close cooperation with forest rangers from Cambodia's armed services and Ministry of Environment.
"At least 35 tons of safrole oil, a main ingredient used in the methamphetamine production of ecstasy, could have been used to make over five million ecstasy pills with a street value of over 100 million U.S. dollars," according to local officials.
Wildlife Alliance-sponsored ranger team from Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and managed by Fauna and Flora International, came across the ecstasy labs several months ago during a routine foot patrol through Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, 200 miles northwest of Phnom Penh.
Wildlife Alliance Technical Advisor and former French Legionnaire, Eduard Lefter, who planned the complex and dangerous raid with Cambodian Forest Rangers, commented on the operation, saying "The mission was very difficult to organize and the conditions extremely tough. The mountain terrain and dense forest made a helicopter insertion virtually impossible, so we went in by foot."
According to Lefter, the team spent 12 days in the jungle battling leeches and the resulting wound infections, as well as skirting landmines which made forward progress extremely difficult. By the end of the mission much of Lefter's ranger teams were suffering from dehydration from dwindling water supplies.
The teams also carried explosive ordnance in the form of landmines, provided by the Cambodian Military, to destroy the ecstasy labs and safrole distillation equipment.
The raid was carried out by an anti-drug task force led by Wildlife Alliance and in close cooperation with forest rangers from Cambodia's armed services and Ministry of Environment.
"At least 35 tons of safrole oil, a main ingredient used in the methamphetamine production of ecstasy, could have been used to make over five million ecstasy pills with a street value of over 100 million U.S. dollars," according to local officials.
Wildlife Alliance-sponsored ranger team from Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and managed by Fauna and Flora International, came across the ecstasy labs several months ago during a routine foot patrol through Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, 200 miles northwest of Phnom Penh.
Wildlife Alliance Technical Advisor and former French Legionnaire, Eduard Lefter, who planned the complex and dangerous raid with Cambodian Forest Rangers, commented on the operation, saying "The mission was very difficult to organize and the conditions extremely tough. The mountain terrain and dense forest made a helicopter insertion virtually impossible, so we went in by foot."
According to Lefter, the team spent 12 days in the jungle battling leeches and the resulting wound infections, as well as skirting landmines which made forward progress extremely difficult. By the end of the mission much of Lefter's ranger teams were suffering from dehydration from dwindling water supplies.
The teams also carried explosive ordnance in the form of landmines, provided by the Cambodian Military, to destroy the ecstasy labs and safrole distillation equipment.
Tensions in and on Thailand's borders
November 20, 2009
By Frank G. Anderson
Column: Thai Traditions
UPI Asia Online
Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — “Thaksin’s the obstacle. He’s uprooting our relations with Cambodia,” Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vajjajiva said in response to media inquiries about the two kingdoms’ recent rocky diplomatic road, news reports said Friday.
Abhisit may have something there. It was during the administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that the now infamous dispute over the Phrea Vihear temple on the two countries’ border first boiled over into a tit-for-tat diplomat expulsion and a one-on-one word-for-word accusation contest began.
It is rumored, given no small amount of circumstantial evidence, that Thaksin had traded Thai sovereignty by, in part, obtaining oil concessions that benefitted himself while surrendering part of Thailand’s territory to Cambodia in a less-than-transparent Phreah Vihear quid pro quo. Both Cambodia and Thaksin deny any such oil deal was made, but experts are sifting through trails to establish conclusive connections. It won’t be an easy task.
Meanwhile the Thai government, responding to deep concerns in both countries about a possible border war, has stated that it has no plans to close the border – as it did recently with Malaysia in one area because of terrorism and drug threats.
As well, Thai officials, including the governors of Buriram and Sisaket provinces, which border Cambodia, have been busy shuttling back and forth to reassure locals and senior officials that things are normal and there is nothing to worry about. Sisaket’s governor Raphee Phongbuphakij told residents in the area he was confident that a coming athletic competition between Thailand and Cambodia “will restore close relationships between the people of our two nations and lead to further increase in friendly ties.”
His words were echoed by the Thai Army Region 2 commander in the area, Lt. Gen. Thowee Walit Jarasamrit, who told the public and media in an interview, “In general everything along the border is quiet … everything is peaceful and normal, and there is still close understanding between (our) two countries.”
He neglected to mention, however, that some 4.6 kilometers of Thai territory that was accessible to Thais in the past is now blocked off and occupied by Cambodian civilian settlers and military.
The Thai military’s silence is reputed to be one of the main reasons that relationships continue to be cited at least as friendly; to wit, that it has refused to act to first protect Thai territory, and then to recover it.
Thai opposition voices, including those indignant ones among the People’s Alliance for Democracy, have added fuel to the fire by suggesting that Thailand’s army has been unduly awarded with a massive budget over the years but failed to perform its duty – primarily, to protect the nation – in letting Cambodia take over Thai land.
Such nationalist sentiment is appreciated by Thailand’s powers-that-be – but so too are the vested interests that powerful political and commercial kingpins have in the economies of both countries. Even with national security at stake, closets are full of skeletons and the ones who know where they are have been lining their pockets over time with unrecorded deals that often don’t respect national interests. It’s an old game in Thailand and hardly one to be dropped anytime soon.
Thailand, as part of the ASEAN monolith, is playing a much bigger game than finding fault with a former prime minister or squabbling about sovereignty. That game is a greater Southeast Asia community that is fully independent of Western shackles and that can run its own destiny.
Recent ASEAN meetings in Thailand and in countries in the region have been designed to cement greater unity and cooperation in a broad range of areas, including those ubiquitous human rights issues. The great game afoot is as divergent as the gap between the poor and the rich.
For ASEAN leaders, the game is officially to seek solidarity, independence and closer cooperation among the players. For the people living in ASEAN countries, however, the game means being further exposed to a well-organized and well-armed authoritarian style of rule that obfuscates the line between human rights and national security, always sacrificing one in favor of the other. That is, constantly sacrificing human and civil rights in favor of the interests of the state.
That kind of game can have only one eventual outcome: a police state. That in itself brings on another eventual outcome, revolution and bloodshed caused by a frustrated public and amalgam of intellectuals and activists who have had enough of state control.
In the case of Thailand, the state has domestically asserted itself in a dangerous, seemingly laissez-faire fashion that speaks of democracy while implementing the tools of totalitarian rule, based on an illusion and dogma.
--
(Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67, working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post – www.thekoratpost.com – he has spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology.)
By Frank G. Anderson
Column: Thai Traditions
UPI Asia Online
Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — “Thaksin’s the obstacle. He’s uprooting our relations with Cambodia,” Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vajjajiva said in response to media inquiries about the two kingdoms’ recent rocky diplomatic road, news reports said Friday.
Abhisit may have something there. It was during the administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that the now infamous dispute over the Phrea Vihear temple on the two countries’ border first boiled over into a tit-for-tat diplomat expulsion and a one-on-one word-for-word accusation contest began.
It is rumored, given no small amount of circumstantial evidence, that Thaksin had traded Thai sovereignty by, in part, obtaining oil concessions that benefitted himself while surrendering part of Thailand’s territory to Cambodia in a less-than-transparent Phreah Vihear quid pro quo. Both Cambodia and Thaksin deny any such oil deal was made, but experts are sifting through trails to establish conclusive connections. It won’t be an easy task.
Meanwhile the Thai government, responding to deep concerns in both countries about a possible border war, has stated that it has no plans to close the border – as it did recently with Malaysia in one area because of terrorism and drug threats.
As well, Thai officials, including the governors of Buriram and Sisaket provinces, which border Cambodia, have been busy shuttling back and forth to reassure locals and senior officials that things are normal and there is nothing to worry about. Sisaket’s governor Raphee Phongbuphakij told residents in the area he was confident that a coming athletic competition between Thailand and Cambodia “will restore close relationships between the people of our two nations and lead to further increase in friendly ties.”
His words were echoed by the Thai Army Region 2 commander in the area, Lt. Gen. Thowee Walit Jarasamrit, who told the public and media in an interview, “In general everything along the border is quiet … everything is peaceful and normal, and there is still close understanding between (our) two countries.”
He neglected to mention, however, that some 4.6 kilometers of Thai territory that was accessible to Thais in the past is now blocked off and occupied by Cambodian civilian settlers and military.
The Thai military’s silence is reputed to be one of the main reasons that relationships continue to be cited at least as friendly; to wit, that it has refused to act to first protect Thai territory, and then to recover it.
Thai opposition voices, including those indignant ones among the People’s Alliance for Democracy, have added fuel to the fire by suggesting that Thailand’s army has been unduly awarded with a massive budget over the years but failed to perform its duty – primarily, to protect the nation – in letting Cambodia take over Thai land.
Such nationalist sentiment is appreciated by Thailand’s powers-that-be – but so too are the vested interests that powerful political and commercial kingpins have in the economies of both countries. Even with national security at stake, closets are full of skeletons and the ones who know where they are have been lining their pockets over time with unrecorded deals that often don’t respect national interests. It’s an old game in Thailand and hardly one to be dropped anytime soon.
Thailand, as part of the ASEAN monolith, is playing a much bigger game than finding fault with a former prime minister or squabbling about sovereignty. That game is a greater Southeast Asia community that is fully independent of Western shackles and that can run its own destiny.
Recent ASEAN meetings in Thailand and in countries in the region have been designed to cement greater unity and cooperation in a broad range of areas, including those ubiquitous human rights issues. The great game afoot is as divergent as the gap between the poor and the rich.
For ASEAN leaders, the game is officially to seek solidarity, independence and closer cooperation among the players. For the people living in ASEAN countries, however, the game means being further exposed to a well-organized and well-armed authoritarian style of rule that obfuscates the line between human rights and national security, always sacrificing one in favor of the other. That is, constantly sacrificing human and civil rights in favor of the interests of the state.
That kind of game can have only one eventual outcome: a police state. That in itself brings on another eventual outcome, revolution and bloodshed caused by a frustrated public and amalgam of intellectuals and activists who have had enough of state control.
In the case of Thailand, the state has domestically asserted itself in a dangerous, seemingly laissez-faire fashion that speaks of democracy while implementing the tools of totalitarian rule, based on an illusion and dogma.
--
(Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67, working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post – www.thekoratpost.com – he has spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology.)
39th ASEAN bankers' council meeting held in Cambodia
November 20, 2009
Xinhua
Senior officials from ASEAN nations' national and private banks gathered here on Friday to attend the 39th ASEAN banking council meeting.
The annual bankers' meeting focused on how to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015, and discussed on the cooperation in finance, investment, education and ASEAN inter-regional relations.
"The close cooperation among ASEAN banks will certainly help to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015," Neav Chanthana, deputy governor of the Central National Bank of Cambodia, said in her keynote address at the two-day meeting.
"Due to increasing regional integration, the banking industry and banking supervisors share a number of convergent priorities," She stressed, adding that "I am rather optimistic that rational dialog based on responsible and knowledgeable positions, between people acting professionally, is always a source of progress in the banking industry to support economic growth," she added.
As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia enjoyed double digit economic growth over the past decade. In 2009, however, Cambodia is severely hit by the global financial crisis through the real sector, namely garments, construction, and tourism which had been the driving forces of Cambodian economy.
Neav Chanthana said that national bank of Cambodia will carefully follow the international developments and consider implementation in a progressive manner and in line with domestic market developments and priorities.
Phung Kheav Se, chairman of Association of Banks in Cambodia, said at the meeting that "Our close association with the ASEAN organization and with its member countries has been of enormous benefit to Cambodia in many respects economic, social and political."
According to a report from Association of Banks in Cambodia, Cambodia has six specialized banks and commercial banks and 20 microfinance institutions as its members.
Founded in 1967, the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asia Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Xinhua
Senior officials from ASEAN nations' national and private banks gathered here on Friday to attend the 39th ASEAN banking council meeting.
The annual bankers' meeting focused on how to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015, and discussed on the cooperation in finance, investment, education and ASEAN inter-regional relations.
"The close cooperation among ASEAN banks will certainly help to speed up the process of the integration of ASEAN financial services by 2015," Neav Chanthana, deputy governor of the Central National Bank of Cambodia, said in her keynote address at the two-day meeting.
"Due to increasing regional integration, the banking industry and banking supervisors share a number of convergent priorities," She stressed, adding that "I am rather optimistic that rational dialog based on responsible and knowledgeable positions, between people acting professionally, is always a source of progress in the banking industry to support economic growth," she added.
As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia enjoyed double digit economic growth over the past decade. In 2009, however, Cambodia is severely hit by the global financial crisis through the real sector, namely garments, construction, and tourism which had been the driving forces of Cambodian economy.
Neav Chanthana said that national bank of Cambodia will carefully follow the international developments and consider implementation in a progressive manner and in line with domestic market developments and priorities.
Phung Kheav Se, chairman of Association of Banks in Cambodia, said at the meeting that "Our close association with the ASEAN organization and with its member countries has been of enormous benefit to Cambodia in many respects economic, social and political."
According to a report from Association of Banks in Cambodia, Cambodia has six specialized banks and commercial banks and 20 microfinance institutions as its members.
Founded in 1967, the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asia Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The solution's simple, says Suthep
20/11/2009
Bangkok Post
If former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigns or is replaced as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, the diplomatic row between Thailand and Phnom Penh will cool down, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.
“This does not mean that I am asking the Cambodian government to do this. They would not do it. But I think this is the easiest way to ease tension between the two countries,” said Mr Suthep.
The deputy premier said he thought Thaksin traveled to Cambodia quite often because he wants to use the neighbouring country as his political base. It was easier to meet his political supporters there.
Mr Suthep thanksed Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Gen Tea Banh for coming forwardand denying that his government has an audio recording of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya ordering the Thail embassy’s first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai to obtain Thaksin's flight schedule, as claimed by Puea Thai party list MP Jatuporn Promphan.
Earlier in the day, Gen Tea Banh was reported as saying the Cambodian government has no secret audio recording as claimed by Mr Jatuporn.
“I think the person who exposed this case has an ill-intention or a hidden agenda. The person might want to incite war between the two countries and then put the blame on Cambodia,” Gen Tea Banh said in an interview published in the Thai-language Kom Chad Luek newspaper
The Cambodian defence minister said that military relations between Thailand and Cambodia remain intact.
He refused to comment on the arrest of Sivarak Chutiphong, a Thai employed by Cambodia Air Traffic Services who has been charged with spying. He said the case is still being investigated according to Cambodian legal procedure.
Meanwhile, the Thai-Cambodia Joint Border Committee (JBC) will meet on Nov 27 at 28 at the Dusit Thani hotel in Pattaya, defence ministry spokesman Col Thanathip Saengsawang said.
“It will be a ministerial level defence meeting to discuss border security and military cooperation,” Col Thanathip said.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would use his ties with Cambodian military leaders to help ease the current tension between the two countries, he said.
The spokesman said that military relations between the two countries remain intact despite the diplomatic row between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
The Defence Ministry hopes to help settle the dispute between the two governments and at the same time to strengthen ties and trust on both sides, Col Thanathip said.
Bangkok Post
If former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigns or is replaced as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, the diplomatic row between Thailand and Phnom Penh will cool down, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.
“This does not mean that I am asking the Cambodian government to do this. They would not do it. But I think this is the easiest way to ease tension between the two countries,” said Mr Suthep.
The deputy premier said he thought Thaksin traveled to Cambodia quite often because he wants to use the neighbouring country as his political base. It was easier to meet his political supporters there.
Mr Suthep thanksed Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Gen Tea Banh for coming forwardand denying that his government has an audio recording of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya ordering the Thail embassy’s first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai to obtain Thaksin's flight schedule, as claimed by Puea Thai party list MP Jatuporn Promphan.
Earlier in the day, Gen Tea Banh was reported as saying the Cambodian government has no secret audio recording as claimed by Mr Jatuporn.
“I think the person who exposed this case has an ill-intention or a hidden agenda. The person might want to incite war between the two countries and then put the blame on Cambodia,” Gen Tea Banh said in an interview published in the Thai-language Kom Chad Luek newspaper
The Cambodian defence minister said that military relations between Thailand and Cambodia remain intact.
He refused to comment on the arrest of Sivarak Chutiphong, a Thai employed by Cambodia Air Traffic Services who has been charged with spying. He said the case is still being investigated according to Cambodian legal procedure.
Meanwhile, the Thai-Cambodia Joint Border Committee (JBC) will meet on Nov 27 at 28 at the Dusit Thani hotel in Pattaya, defence ministry spokesman Col Thanathip Saengsawang said.
“It will be a ministerial level defence meeting to discuss border security and military cooperation,” Col Thanathip said.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would use his ties with Cambodian military leaders to help ease the current tension between the two countries, he said.
The spokesman said that military relations between the two countries remain intact despite the diplomatic row between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
The Defence Ministry hopes to help settle the dispute between the two governments and at the same time to strengthen ties and trust on both sides, Col Thanathip said.
Thailand to request bail for Thai engineer detained in Cambodia
BANGKOK, Nov 20 (TNA) - Thailand will ask to post bail for the Thai engineer detained on spy charges in Cambodia within one or two days to free him on a temporary basis, according to the Thai Foreign Minister's Secretary Chawanon Intarakomalsut.
Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) employee Siwarak Chutipong, 31, was arrested in Phnom Penh on spying charges last week when he was discovered releasing Thaksin Shinawatra’s flight schedule to a Thai embassy official in Phnom Penh.
Mr Chawanon said the Thai authorities had approached Kao Sopha, a Cambodian lawyer with experience in human rights protection, to be Siwarak's lawyer. Kao Sopha had met Mr Siwarak and is collecting information and evidence to write a request to provide bail for the engineer within one to two days to release him temporarily.
The representatives of Samart Corporation, CATS parent company, met Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to give information which could be useful to support Thailand’s belief that Siwarak has done nothing illegal, he said.
CATS is wholly-owned by the Samart Corporation and received a concession from the Cambodian government to supply aeronautical radio and air traffic control services to Cambodia.
The Foreign Ministry legal experts were studying the two countries’ Investment Protection Agreement to find options to help Samart Corporation, he said, adding that Mr Kasit had affirmed that the ministry would extend full help as it did not want the problem to be escalated to affect other people and other Thai companies invested in Cambodia.
Thani Thongphakdi, deputy director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Department of Information, told reporters that the lawyer was preparing the document for seeking bail but the date to submit the request had not been set. However, it could be early next week, he said.
After submitting the request, Cambodia is expected to take 10 days to consider whether to allow the bail.
In a related development, Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Col Thanatip Sawangsaeng said Thailand would host the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (JBC) extraordinary session November 26-27 at Pattaya in the eastern province of Chonburi.
The Thai and Cambodian defence ministers would head their delegations to the meeting, he said.
It was expected that the meeting would discuss the border situation, and military cooperation, said the spokesman.
Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) employee Siwarak Chutipong, 31, was arrested in Phnom Penh on spying charges last week when he was discovered releasing Thaksin Shinawatra’s flight schedule to a Thai embassy official in Phnom Penh.
Mr Chawanon said the Thai authorities had approached Kao Sopha, a Cambodian lawyer with experience in human rights protection, to be Siwarak's lawyer. Kao Sopha had met Mr Siwarak and is collecting information and evidence to write a request to provide bail for the engineer within one to two days to release him temporarily.
The representatives of Samart Corporation, CATS parent company, met Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to give information which could be useful to support Thailand’s belief that Siwarak has done nothing illegal, he said.
CATS is wholly-owned by the Samart Corporation and received a concession from the Cambodian government to supply aeronautical radio and air traffic control services to Cambodia.
The Foreign Ministry legal experts were studying the two countries’ Investment Protection Agreement to find options to help Samart Corporation, he said, adding that Mr Kasit had affirmed that the ministry would extend full help as it did not want the problem to be escalated to affect other people and other Thai companies invested in Cambodia.
Thani Thongphakdi, deputy director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Department of Information, told reporters that the lawyer was preparing the document for seeking bail but the date to submit the request had not been set. However, it could be early next week, he said.
After submitting the request, Cambodia is expected to take 10 days to consider whether to allow the bail.
In a related development, Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Col Thanatip Sawangsaeng said Thailand would host the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (JBC) extraordinary session November 26-27 at Pattaya in the eastern province of Chonburi.
The Thai and Cambodian defence ministers would head their delegations to the meeting, he said.
It was expected that the meeting would discuss the border situation, and military cooperation, said the spokesman.
Ecstasy factories destroyed in Cambodian rainforests
Friday, November 20, 2009
HNOM PENH, Nov. 20, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Ten ecstasy laboratories operated by local drug cartels were destroyed Wednesday in one of Cambodia's most impenetrable and remote jungle areas in the country's southwest Cardamom Mountains, according to a statement released Friday by Wildlife Alliance.
The raid was carried out by an anti-drug task force led by Wildlife Alliance and in close cooperation with forest rangers from Cambodia's armed services and Ministry of Environment.
"At least 35 tons of safrole oil, a main ingredient used in the methamphetamine production of ecstasy, could have been used to make over five million ecstasy pills with a street value of over 100 million U.S. dollars," according to local officials.
Wildlife Alliance-sponsored ranger team from Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and managed by Fauna and Flora International, came across the ecstasy labs several months ago during a routine foot patrol through Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, 200 miles northwest of Phnom Penh.
Wildlife Alliance Technical Advisor and former French Legionnaire, Eduard Lefter, who planned the complex and dangerous raid with Cambodian Forest Rangers, commented on the operation, saying "The mission was very difficult to organize and the conditions extremely tough. The mountain terrain and dense forest made a helicopter insertion virtually impossible, so we went in by foot."
According to Lefter, the team spent 12 days in the jungle battling leeches and the resulting wound infections, as well as skirting landmines which made forward progress extremely difficult. By the end of the mission much of Lefter's ranger teams were suffering from dehydration from dwindling water supplies.
The teams also carried explosive ordnance in the form of landmines, provided by the Cambodian Military, to destroy the ecstasy labs and safrole distillation equipment.
(Source: iStockAnalyst )
HNOM PENH, Nov. 20, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Ten ecstasy laboratories operated by local drug cartels were destroyed Wednesday in one of Cambodia's most impenetrable and remote jungle areas in the country's southwest Cardamom Mountains, according to a statement released Friday by Wildlife Alliance.
The raid was carried out by an anti-drug task force led by Wildlife Alliance and in close cooperation with forest rangers from Cambodia's armed services and Ministry of Environment.
"At least 35 tons of safrole oil, a main ingredient used in the methamphetamine production of ecstasy, could have been used to make over five million ecstasy pills with a street value of over 100 million U.S. dollars," according to local officials.
Wildlife Alliance-sponsored ranger team from Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and managed by Fauna and Flora International, came across the ecstasy labs several months ago during a routine foot patrol through Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, 200 miles northwest of Phnom Penh.
Wildlife Alliance Technical Advisor and former French Legionnaire, Eduard Lefter, who planned the complex and dangerous raid with Cambodian Forest Rangers, commented on the operation, saying "The mission was very difficult to organize and the conditions extremely tough. The mountain terrain and dense forest made a helicopter insertion virtually impossible, so we went in by foot."
According to Lefter, the team spent 12 days in the jungle battling leeches and the resulting wound infections, as well as skirting landmines which made forward progress extremely difficult. By the end of the mission much of Lefter's ranger teams were suffering from dehydration from dwindling water supplies.
The teams also carried explosive ordnance in the form of landmines, provided by the Cambodian Military, to destroy the ecstasy labs and safrole distillation equipment.
(Source: iStockAnalyst )
Thai-Cambodia JBC meeting next week
20/11/2009
Bangkok Post
The Thai-Cambodia Joint Border Committee (JBC) will meet on Nov 27 at 28 at the Dusit Thani hotel in Pattaya, defence ministry spokesman Col Thanathip Saengsawang said on Friday.
“It will be a ministerial level defence meeting to discuss border security and military cooperation,” Col Thanathip said.
Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon would use his ties with Cambodian military leaders to help ease the current tension between the two countries.
The spokesman said that military relations between the two countries remain intact despite the diplomatic row between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
The Defence Ministry hopes to help settle the dispute between the two governments and at the same time to strengthen ties and trust on both sides, Col Thanathip said.
Bangkok Post
The Thai-Cambodia Joint Border Committee (JBC) will meet on Nov 27 at 28 at the Dusit Thani hotel in Pattaya, defence ministry spokesman Col Thanathip Saengsawang said on Friday.
“It will be a ministerial level defence meeting to discuss border security and military cooperation,” Col Thanathip said.
Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon would use his ties with Cambodian military leaders to help ease the current tension between the two countries.
The spokesman said that military relations between the two countries remain intact despite the diplomatic row between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
The Defence Ministry hopes to help settle the dispute between the two governments and at the same time to strengthen ties and trust on both sides, Col Thanathip said.
Missionary to speak on Khmer Rouge experiences
Dareth Ly and his wife, Thida, are Assembly of God missionaries to their native Cambodia. From left are Dareth, Thida, Sophie, 15, Sabrina, 11, and Saidah, 4. Dareth will speak at Crossroads Church Sunday, Nov. 22. Submitted PhotoNovember 20 2009
By Molly Miron
The Bemidji Pioneer (Minnesota, USA)
Dareth Ly spent his childhood in Cambodia under the deadly 1975-1979 rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
His father was among the 1.5 to 2.5 million people who died directly on the Killings Fields or from starvation and disease.
His mother survived, but they were separated when he was 7 in 1975. He was sent to a child labor camp, and she was sent to an adult labor camp.
When the Vietnamese army liberated the camps in 1979, he walked to Thailand and was put in a refugee camp.
“They didn’t know what to do with us, so they asked different countries to take us,” Ly said in a telephone interview from his Eagan, Minn., home.
He was sent to St. Paul when he was 11 and grew up in a foster home.
“I didn’t speak a word of English,” he said.
He said he had no idea where he was going at the time, but he knew it had to be better than where he was.
Now, with his wife, Thida, he is an Assembly of God missionary to Cambodia. Ly will be the featured speaker Sunday, Nov. 22, at Crossroads Church. Ly will share his story during both the morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. and the Missions Banquet at 5:30 p.m. The Missions Banquet will also feature a potluck, ethnic dinner and a question-and-answer time with Ly. Crossroads Pastor John Hubert and the congregation invite the public to attend.
Ly said he returned to Cambodia and found his mother in 1992. He said she is still living in her home country. He then returned to Cambodia as a missionary in 1996 and began working in an orphanage and starting churches and schools in rural Cambodia. He and his wife have built schools, provided school meals for students, as well as school supplies and uniforms.
“We basically go back and offer the people in that country – who have suffered so much – hope,” Ly said.
He said the Assembly of God as a denomination focuses on mission outreach and is a fast-growing church worldwide. He said he and his wife and daughters, Thida, Saidah and Sabrina, plan to return to Cambodia next summer. Meanwhile, he travels to churches to present the message of what God is doing and raise funds for the mission.
The Thaksin Card
Alternatives Watch – 20xi09
Op-Ed by Ung Bun Ang
After conquering his local opponents, prime minister Hun Sen must content himself with escalating the border dispute into
a major international clash that absolutely antagonises Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. His trump card is deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra whom he has appointed as his economic adviser.
Hun Sen appears totally committed to Thaksin, eventhough he has not disclosed his main objective. He pushes so hard for Thaksin, whom he treats as an eternal friend, to be back in power in Bangkok. He openly goads the Thai prime minister into elections: “If Abhisit is so sure of himself, then he should call an election... What are you afraid of? Is it that you are afraid you will not be the prime minister?” He virtually calls the Abhitsit government a thief when he refers to the fact that it cajoles sixteen of Thaksin’s allies in parliament to form the current government. “You claim other people's property as your own. How can we respect that?” asks Hun Sen.
However, Cambodia – not Hun Sen – may just end up missing out. The adviser seems assuring when saying he sees a lot of synergy between Cambodia and Thailand. “What is good for you will also be good for my country,” claims Thaksin. This possibly means a joint-administration of Preah Vihear and other grey areas along the border is the best option for both countries. This implication is consistent with the fact that it was Thaksin’s ally Samak government that sent Thai troops to Preah Vihear in July 2008, and that the first armed clash occurred in October 2008 when Thaksin’s brother-in-law and close ally Somchai Wongsawath was the Thai prime minister. Thus, either Thaksin supports his allies’ blatant aggression, or his influence over them is insignificant. Either way, Cambodia is unlikely to benefit from the prime minister’s eternal friend.
Cambodia is not a Thaksin’s priority. In his claimed effort to reduce Cambodian poverty, the adviser promises to attract foreign investments. Nevertheless, while accepting and appreciating his appointment, Thaksin confesses, “it's not going to be fun like working to help Thai people out of poverty”. Cambodia is pushed to the back seat.
Thaksin may also have difficulty in sharing benefits, despite his sound rhetoric: “If the benefits are shared equally, surely the government can stay longer”. The fact that his own government did not last long means he failed the benefit sharing test; subsequent governments that were regarded as Thaksin’s proxies lasted even shorter. Unless he learns from the lesson, it will be doubtful how Cambodia can benefit from the wisdom. Furthermore, for a person like Thaksin who makes a fortune of two billion dollars in just four years from a telecommunication monopolistic structure secured through his connections and corruption, sharing benefits equally may just be hot air.
However, if the adviser does believe what he claims: “Everything depends on benefits”, Hun Sen can look forward to some substantial return for his titanic investment in Thaksin. Meanwhile, disappointment, if not disaster, likely awaits Cambodian people.
Ung Bun Ang
Quotable Quote:
“Benefits make a man a slave.” - Anonymous. Arabic proverb.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 19 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2552
Romance is in the air
I took this photograph of the prime minister and his wife on the flight back to Bangkok from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit held this past Friday to Sunday in Singapore.
I normally photograph the prime minister in the course of.. his official duties. This time, though, I asked for permission to capture this image, mainly because he and his wife were rarely seen together during the summit.
The PM had to attend meetings with other leaders, while
Peerapat Wimolrungkarat, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's personal photographer, tells The Nation's Jintana Panyaarvudh how he managed to capture a very rare and intimate moment between the first couple
his wife had to stick with other leaders' spouses
So when I saw them together, I thought it would be the perfect time to grab a shot. When I first asked them, the couple started posing for the camera. I did not want that, so I said I would not press the shutter if they did not relax.
That's when the PM suddenly leaned towards his wife and closed his eyes. And even though the first lady looks a bit embarrassed, I believe I have captured the love they have for each other.
I have never seen the first couple acting this affectionate with each other in public. They are usually seen talking and relaxing together, which is why this photograph is so impressive and rare - the first couple look absolutely adorable. I never thought I would be able to capture an image like this.
The prime minister looked relaxed even though the situation was growing tense between Thailand and Cambodia. (The Cambodian Foreign Ministry had expelled one of the first secretaries from the Thai Embassy and arrested Siwarak Chotipong, a Thai engineer, on spying charges.) I don't think he was thinking about these problems at the time.
Still, when I told the premier that The Nation was publishing this sweet image on its front page, he did not seem very comfortable with the idea. He complained his eyes were closed in the photograph, but he finally agreed when I insisted this was the best shot.
Enjoy more photographs of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva taken by Peerapat at www.pm.go.th or PM_Abhisit on Twitter.source http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/11/20/politics/politics_30116997.php
Thai factory worker kills Cambodian colleague with an axe
Nov 20, 2009
DPA
Bangkok - A Thai labourer allegedly killed a Cambodian co-worker with an axe early Friday after a heated and inebriated argument over the two countries' deteriorating diplomatic relations, police said.
Thai national Sinchai Namnon, 44, was the chief suspect in the slaying of Cambodian national Dieng, 40, who died shortly after midnight from a gash in the head and a nearly severed arm. Both injuries were inflicted with an axe.
The two men were employees at the Srimaharacha rubber processing company in Sri Racha, Chonburi province, 60 kilometres south-east of Bangkok.
'They were drinking together and got in an argument about the Thai engineer who was arrested on spying charges in Cambodia last week,' Police Lieutenant Colonel Praphan Wangkanom said.
Sinchai had fled the scene by the time police arrived.
'We are still investigating whether there were others involved in the attack,' Praphan told the German Press Agency dpa.
Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong, an employee of the Cambodian Air Traffic Service (CATS), was arrested in in Phnom Penh on November 11.
The Cambodian government has accused Sivarak of passing on confidential information to the Thai embassy about the arrival of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on November 10.
Sivarak's arrest was part of an escalating spat between the two neighbouring countries, triggered by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's decision to name Thaksin his personal adviser.
Thaksin, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, faces a two-year jail term in Thailand on an abuse-of-power charge and is the main political antagonist of the current Thai government.
Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh following the official announcement of Thaksin's appointment and called for a review of all aid and economic agreements with Cambodia.
Cambodia also recalled its ambassador and expelled Thailand's second secretary on charges of recruiting Sivarak.
The spat is likely to harm both countries' economies.
Cambodia is a major market for Thai exports, while Thailand is a major source of employment for Cambodian labourers.
According to a report released Friday by the International Organization for Migration, some 148,420 Cambodians had obtained permission for 'temporary stay' in Thailand as labourers as of early September.
Another 6,130 Cambodians have been granted work permits, allowing them to work in the country year round.
Cambodians account for about 10 per cent of the one million-plus migrants working legally in Thailand. Thousands more work illegally in the kingdom.
DPA
Bangkok - A Thai labourer allegedly killed a Cambodian co-worker with an axe early Friday after a heated and inebriated argument over the two countries' deteriorating diplomatic relations, police said.
Thai national Sinchai Namnon, 44, was the chief suspect in the slaying of Cambodian national Dieng, 40, who died shortly after midnight from a gash in the head and a nearly severed arm. Both injuries were inflicted with an axe.
The two men were employees at the Srimaharacha rubber processing company in Sri Racha, Chonburi province, 60 kilometres south-east of Bangkok.
'They were drinking together and got in an argument about the Thai engineer who was arrested on spying charges in Cambodia last week,' Police Lieutenant Colonel Praphan Wangkanom said.
Sinchai had fled the scene by the time police arrived.
'We are still investigating whether there were others involved in the attack,' Praphan told the German Press Agency dpa.
Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong, an employee of the Cambodian Air Traffic Service (CATS), was arrested in in Phnom Penh on November 11.
The Cambodian government has accused Sivarak of passing on confidential information to the Thai embassy about the arrival of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on November 10.
Sivarak's arrest was part of an escalating spat between the two neighbouring countries, triggered by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's decision to name Thaksin his personal adviser.
Thaksin, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, faces a two-year jail term in Thailand on an abuse-of-power charge and is the main political antagonist of the current Thai government.
Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh following the official announcement of Thaksin's appointment and called for a review of all aid and economic agreements with Cambodia.
Cambodia also recalled its ambassador and expelled Thailand's second secretary on charges of recruiting Sivarak.
The spat is likely to harm both countries' economies.
Cambodia is a major market for Thai exports, while Thailand is a major source of employment for Cambodian labourers.
According to a report released Friday by the International Organization for Migration, some 148,420 Cambodians had obtained permission for 'temporary stay' in Thailand as labourers as of early September.
Another 6,130 Cambodians have been granted work permits, allowing them to work in the country year round.
Cambodians account for about 10 per cent of the one million-plus migrants working legally in Thailand. Thousands more work illegally in the kingdom.
"Cambodia never loses such a whole lot of land to Vietnam (sic!)" - sVar Kim Hong
sVar Kim Hong (President of the Cambodian border destruction commitee): Hey! Only the expert Svar Kim Hong never saw a loss of Khmer land! Don't tell me I'm blind!Opposition Blames Hun Sen for Border Encroachment
By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
19 November 2009
Cambodia has lost over 1,000 square kilometers to
Vietnam within the past 30 years, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said in a statement issued Thursday.
Sam Rainsy also criticized Prime Minister Hun Sen’s foreign policy in handling border issues with its neighbouring countries, in which he said the premier tends to focus more on Thailand and neglect Vietnam.
“Vietnam has been, over the last 30 years, grabbing thousands of square kilometres of Khmer territories in Kep, Kampot, Takeo, Kandal, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri provinces,” the statement asserted.
“This is an ongoing painful process that Mr. Hun Sen does not want us to look at,” it added.
Sam Rainsy is now in Europe mobilizing support after Cambodia’s National Assembly lift his immunity earlier this week to pave the way for court investigation into his involvement in uprooting six wooden demarcation posts in the eastern province of Svay Rieng last month.
Rong Chhun, president of Cambodia Teacher Association, alleged that Cambodia receives pressure from Vietnam on border issue.
Head of the government Border Committee Var Kim Hong, however, said that the accusation is baseless and exaggerated.
“I wonder where Sam Rainsy got this information from. Cambodia never loses such a whole lot of land to Vietnam,” he said.
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)