Monday, 25 August 2008

Chambok: Community Based Ecotourism Site in Cambodia

PR-inside.com
2008-08-25

Located at the border of Kirirom National Park in Kampong Speu Province, Chambok is commonly known as Community Based Ecotourism Site in Cambodia. Chambok provides a 40-meter high waterfall, which can be reached via 3 Km trail.

Chambok serves the model of best practice in Community Based Ecotourism in Cambodia. The site was an initiative developed by a local environment organization Mlup Bai Tong in 2001 in cooperation with Ministry of Environment.

This site is developed to address the deforestation and enhance local livelihood to use the resources in the sustainable way by transferring their traditional job depending on forest to produce charcoal into the services for tourism supply site.

This practice is a model of good implementation that provides the sample of Community Based Ecotourism in Cambodia, especially accelerating local lively hood.

For instance, educational training programs show the benefit of forest protection and through direct income contribution can help the community to manage and protect the forest in a sustainable way for the future generation.

The site offers a wide rang of outdoor activities and attractions that visitor can experience with as below:

• Seeing the high water fall and the fabulous forest landscape
• Trekking, Hiking, Bird Watching, animal trekking or visiting the bat cave
• Swimming in a stream or riding bicycle
• Picnicking or enjoying local Cambodian food
• Experiencing Cambodian rural life style on ox cart ride or through home stay
• Watching Cambodian traditional dance and buying local handicraftsIf you are interested in ecotourism activities as above, please contact you travel agency to deal with the service provision.
www.tourismindochina.com

By CHHEM Samnang

BBDO expands into Cambodia and Laos

Media
by Kenny Lim
25-Aug-08

PHNOM PENH - BBDO has made inroads into Cambodia and Laos by tying up with Red Dot, a local full-service advertising agency.

The Omnicom agency is looking to grow in the Indochinese region following the Cambodian People’s Party’s return to power in recent elections, which is expected to bring stability and make Cambodia more attractive to international businesses.

Chris Thomas (pictured), chairman and CEO of BBDO Asia-Pacific, said, “We identified the need to have a good local partner with whom we can offer our standard of services to our global clients in Cambodia and Laos. Red Dot shares the same zest and business principles as we do and we are pleased to have them as our affiliate to grow in new markets.”

Red Dot, with a staff strength of 50, currently counts Visa International, Sony Ericsson, Panasonic, Star-Cell, KFC, Dumex, Omega and Rado in its portfolio of global clients.

Trade with Cambodia on surges in 2008

Nhan Dan
August 25, 2008

The trade revenue between Vietnam and Cambodia is expected to surpass US$1.5 billion this year against US$1.2 billion in 2007.

The Commercial Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, Le Bien Cuong, said the two countries recorded almost US$900 million in trade revenues for the first half of the year.

Vietnam exported over US$700 million to Cambodia and imported over US$140 million worth of commodities from the neighbouring country.

Textile and garments, computers, electronic appliances, household electrical products, fruit and vegetables, seafood and plastic commodities are Vietnam’s major hard currency earners.

The two countries set a target of US$2.3 billion in bilateral trade by 2010 and US$6.5 billion by 2015. (VNA)

Sacravatoons :" Xmer-Great Wall "

Courtesy Sacravatoon at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/

Re:Sacravatoons :" My Old Friend,Lee Kuan Yew "

Courtesy Sacravatoon at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/

Sacravatoons : " Thai-King "

Courtesy Sacravatoon at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/

PM will receive army reshuffle list Monday: Boonsang

Bangkok Post

(BangkokPost.com) - The Supreme Commander, Gen Boonsang Niampradit, insisted the annual military reshuffle list will be handed to Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej on Monday.

Gen Boonsang reckoned no voting session would take place at the meeting to consider the military reshuffle list scheduled to be held later this week because he believed the meeting members will consider the list rationally. The meeting will be chaired by the premier and attended by commanders of the armed forces.

On Monday morning, Gen Boonsang together with Mr Samak welcomed the visit of Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh.

Cambodian father kills for a baby boy

The Earth Times
Mon, 25 Aug 2008
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian father murdered two of his infant daughters and badly beat his pregnant wife before killing himself after he learned she was having a fifth girl, police said Monday. Ou Em, the police chief of Siem Reap province, 300 kilometres north of the capital, said Youen Nil, a 37-year-old father of four daughters, became distraught when his wife told him their unborn fifth child was also a girl.

"He first beat the mother, who ran, and then slit the throats of his 3 and 4-year-old before killing himself," Ou Em said.

"The family was very poor and Nil was disappointed he was not having a son. Two other daughters were staying with their grandmother at the time or he would have killed them too."

The name of the wife and murdered children were not provided.

As in many cultures, in Cambodia sons are traditionally more highly valued because it is believed they can look after their parents in old age and take over the family business.

Police said Nil had "lacked an understanding of domestic violence issues and women's rights." They said the incident occurred Thursday.

Corruption article provokes Khieu Kanharith

Cambodge Soir

25-08-2008

Khieu Kanharith the government spokesman organised a press conference for the morning of Sunday August 24, to protest against an article on corruption in Cambodia written by an American journalist.

The minister of information, and government spokesman, Khieu Kanharith, accused Joel Brinkley of being “partial”. The author, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, wrote an article entitled: “the world leader in corruption is-Cambodia” which was published on August 21 in the Modesto Bee, a Californian newspaper.

“I met Joel Brinkley on August 14. He said he wanted to write articles on education, economy, land grabbing issues and the government’s political vision” indicated Khieu Kanharith. “I suggested he meet Say Chhum, the General Secretary of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) along with Im Chhunlim, Minister of Land Planning, Im Sothy, the Secretary of State for Education, Chum Bunrong, spokesman of the Committee on Land disputes and Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers”.

“Joel Brinkley told me he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, therefore he should be entitled to meet high ranking officials. He treated me like his assistant”, Khieu Kanharith stated.

The article—also posted on the Ki-media internet site, a website close to the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP)—quoted at length the Phnom Penh Post when mentioning an accident which personally involved Prime Minister Hun Sen’s nephew, during which a motorbike driver died.” According to the Phnom Penh Post, the victim’s family received $4,000 in hush money, with the Military Police favouring Hun Chea’s (Hun Sen’s nephew ) version of the event.

Joel Brinkley’s article also quotes Joseph Mussomeli, the American Ambassador to Cambodia, who agreed that this incident “goes to the whole culture of impunity here. Who you are, who you know, is more important than following the law”.

Joel Brinkley, received the Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for foreign correspondent articles on Cambodia. He wrote: “I have worked in many corrupt states - Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, among others. But in none of them is the corruption so pervasive, even pandemic”.

During the press conference, Khieu Kanharith denied the accusations published in the Phnom Penh Post. He also stated that Hun Chea’s traffic accident was “private business”.

When asked if Joel Brinkley could be banned from entering the country, Khieu Kanharith answered that “the journalist could return to Cambodia any time”.

Norodom Sihanouk: “my wealth”

Cambodge Soir

25-08-2008

In a press release dated Saturday August 23, written in French and sent from his Beijing residence, the King father Norodom Sihanouk unveiled the extent of his personal wealth.

In the one page text, the former King outlines, in four detailed sections, his modest wealth. The King father reveals that he has Euros 30,313.28 in an account with the French Bank Palatine, in Paris. He also owns a “small house in Siem Reap’s town centre. When I die my spouse Norodom Monineath Sihanouk will inherit this small house. After her death H.E. Preah Norodom Sihamoni will be the owner” he wrote.

The former King added that none of the annexes from this house (garage, palace) belong to him as these were built to host foreign heads of state and are “financed by” the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

He then mentioned his home located near the Independence monument, today the location of the North Korean Embassy. Sihanouk stated that “[he] wishes to present this house to the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2014, so that from this year onward [it] will be turned into a national museum”. He also highlighted that the residences where he stays in Beijing and Pyongyang do not belong to him. They are “States guesthouses”, property of the DPRK and China”, he concluded.

This statement from Norodom Sihanouk is released a few days after the American bi-monthly magazine Forbes published in its latest issue a list of the 15 wealthiest Kings, Queens, Sheiks or Princes.

The magazine mentioned that none of them can be included in the annual richest billionaire list established by Forbes as their “ assets are hereditary and often shared between members of a much larger family and with the goal of ensuring the stability of a nation or a territory”.

As for the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, he is listed as the wealthiest King in the world with assets amounting to $ 35 billion. Queen Elizabeth ranks 12th.

Oil Emirs rank behind the Thai King: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, president of United Arab emirates (60 years old, assets of $23 billion), King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (84 years old, $21 billion), the Sultan of Brunei Haj Hassanal Bolkiah (62 years old, $20 billion) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid Al Maktoum from Dubai (58 years old, $18 billion).

Appeal in Duch closing order

Cambodge Soir

25-08-2008

The co-prosecutors of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) appealed Duch’s closing order, stating that it overlooked some of the accused responsibilities, according to a release on Thursday August 21.

The August 8, closing order drafted by co-investigating judges Marcel Lemonde and You Bunleng indicted Duch, former S-21 prison chief for “crimes against humanity” and “serious breaches of the August 12, 1949 Geneva Convention”.

The co-prosecutors argued that the co-investigating judges omitted charges for breach of the 1956 Cambodian Penal code which according to the release “could highlight the criminal demeanour of Duch and […] reinforce the Cambodian people’s feelings that this trial belongs to them”.

The co-judges mentioned violations of articles 500, 501, 503 and 506 of Cambodian Law on homicide and torture, and stated in the indictment that these crimes “should be prosecuted at the highest legal level, one of crimes against humanity or for serious breaches of the August 12, 1949 Geneva Convention.” Moreover, the prosecutors asserted that the closing order did not mention part of Duch’s responsibilities “as co-perpetrator of an important number of crimes committed at S-21”.

Yet, the closing order accused Duch of “personally torturing inmates” and inflicting “maltreatment”, accusations which have always been denied by the accused.

But the indictment focuses more on administrative responsibility rather than any personal commitment in perpetrating the atrocities carried out at S-21. Before the co-prosecutors’ appeal the trial was due to start in September and last four months.

The co-prosecutors have until September 10 to finalise their appeal submission and indicated that “[they] took into account the expectations of the Cambodian people and the international community in bringing [the accused] to trial as soon as possible”.

“No parties want to delay the opening of the trial” declared KRT spokesman Reach Sambath. The trial should start either late September or early October which does not make a big difference. The co-prosecutors and the co-investigating judges started to draft a new closing order friday so that a new text can be finalised as soon as possible.”

Cambodia to build concrete wall at complicated border areas with Thailand

Mathaba

Posted: 2008/08/24
From: MNN

Cambodian government planned to build concrete walls at complicated border areas with Thailand, a Cambodian official said here on Sunday.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Both sides should start to discuss to plant border markers from undisputed border areas to the complicated border areas and some complicated border areas will be built with border markers or concrete walls, Khieu Kanharith, Information Minister and government spokesman, told reporters at a press conference.

Cambodian government will allow private companies to invest at least two million U.S. dollars at the Preah Vihear Temple to set up cable cars for tourists, he said, adding that the government is also trying to build road accessing to the temple.

The Preah Vihear border gate to Thailand will be open when the situation there is stable, he said, adding that foreign tourists could visit the temple from the Cambodian side.

Cambodia and Thailand share a border of over 800 km with only 73 demarcation markers.

Previously, during the meeting on Aug. 18-19, Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers agreed to arrange a second-phase troop redeployment at the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear Temple in the eponymous province of Cambodia.

Both sides will convene a meeting between Head of the Cambodian Temporary Coordinating Task Force and Head of the Thai Regional Border Committee on Aug. 29 in Cambodia to discuss the second-phase of redeployment.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to recommend to their governments that the next meeting of legal experts and the Thai-Cambodian JBC be convened in early Oct. 2008 to discuss the issues related to the survey and demarcation of the relevant sectors under the term of reference and master plan of JBC.

On July 15, Thai troops went into the border area to fetch three trespassers who had intended to claim Thai sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple. However, the troops stationed there ever since, thus triggering the military standoff and propelling both sides' military personnel to grow over a thousand in the border areas.

During the time, Thai troops respectively entered the Keo SikhaKiri Svara Pagoda, which is constructed on the only way leading to the Preah Vihear Temple, as well as the Tamone Toch and Tamone Thom temples in neighboring Otdar Meanchey province of Cambodia.

On Aug. 16, most of the troops at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda and within the surrounding area of the Preah Vihear Temple were evacuated according to both sides' agreement.

The Preah Vihear Temple straddles the Cambodian-Thai border atop the Dangrek Mountain and was listed as a World Heritage Site on July 7 by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided that the 11-century temple and the land around belong to Cambodia, which rankled the Thais and has led to continuous disputes.

Cambodian Prince Ranariddh to leave politics, work for the palace

Anyone believe Ranariddh of what he has said while he doesn't even know what he is talking about??

August 25, 2008

Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh is expected to resign as head of his self-named party and quit politics, fellow royal Prince Sisowath Thomico said, suggesting that the move could be part of a plan for his return from exile, local newspaper reported Monday.

"I heard of his intentions two weeks ago," Sisowath Thomico was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

He added that he did not know if the resignation would be permanent or temporary.

Former king Norodom Sihanouk had often requested that Ranariddh give up politics and focus on improving the nation, Sisowath Thomico said.

Ranariddh, who left Cambodia last year under a cloud of legal problems, is living in Malaysia.  

Source:Xinhua

Cambodian anti-corruption law to be submitted to parliament for approval

August 25, 2008

The long-awaited anti-corruption draft law has been finalized and will be given to the National Assembly (NA) shortly after the new government is formed next month, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Monday.

"We have finished the (anti-corruption draft) law. When the penal code is approved, we will submit the anti-corruption (draft law) to avoid any changes," Khieu Kanharith, Information Minister and government spokesman, was quoted as saying at a press conference here Sunday.

The decision to turn over the draft law to the assembly will likely be made at the first cabinet meeting of the new government, which is scheduled to be formed shortly after NA convenes on Sept.24, he added.

Anti-corruption legislation first reached the assembly in 1994 but has never been passed. The government has placed much of the blame for the delay on the lack of an updated criminal code, saying that such legislation must first be adopted.

Cambodia just concluded its general election in July and the new government is expected to be established one month later.  

Source:Xinhua

ASSESSMENT BY AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER:

ASSESSMENT BY AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER:CAMBODIA'S ELECTIONS ARE NEITHER FREE NOR FAIR

No competent election observer could possibly write a report that did not note how the voting registration process pre-determined and warped the outcome of Cambodia's July 27, 2008 national election. I would add that this type of rigging process was engineered and configured by both the NEC as well as international organizations that became complicit, either knowingly or unwittingly, in a process that would ensure that opposition voters would face a range of procedural as well as behavioral obstacles. Two years ago a letter I wrote to The Cambodia Daily fired one of the first warning shots about the dangers of creating permanently disenfranchised voters (*).
Elections are not just about vote counting but are a fundamental chance for citizens to engage in a open dialogue with those who make decisions that effect the health and direction of the state.
The July 2008 General Election could not be judged as credible, free or fair. Dr. Paul D. ScottElection Observer The Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asiapaulscott1950@hotmail.com

(*) Letter titled "New Voter Registration Process in Danger of Being a Paper Chase" published in The Cambodia Daily, August 21, 2006. Full text at http://tinyurl.com/6h85zo

Australian finds new spiritual career in Cambodia

Correspondents Report
Sunday, 24 August , 2008
Reporter: Karen Percy

ELIZABETH JACKSON: To Cambodia now, where the dirt poor nation is providing spiritual richness to an Australian man. Paget Sayers was in the import-export business, until he retired a few decades ago.

But now pushing 80 years of age he's found a new career and a new journey that fits with his Buddhist beliefs.

South East Asia correspondent, Karen Percy, met up with him in Cambodia on his visit there last month.

(Sound of children reciting their times tables)

KAREN PERCY: At the Kbal Romea school near the town of Kampot in Southern Cambodia young students are reciting their three times tables.

It's the kind of scene you'd expect to see at almost any school across the country. But there is something that sets this school apart.

(Sound of water)

Paget Sayers is visiting.

PAGET SAYERS: We say just as important to wash you inside as you outside. So we've got to get them enthusiastic, and I hope they're gradually getting a taste for clean water.

KAREN PERCY: The 78-year-old is a hero here after building rainwater tanks. Today he's on a mission to ensure that every child has his or her water bottle, and he's making sure the bottles are filled.

PAGET SAYERS: Good. Nearly empty. One more.

KAREN PERCY: He was prompted to act when he discovered there was arsenic in the local wells.

PAGET SAYERS: Some of the mother's were a bit nervous about "Ooh, rainwater. Pond water is what we've been using. You know, boiled pond water, but a bit murky". We got a letter from the Pasteur Institute which said the water is fine, so the mothers are feeling pretty relaxed now about this nice clean water.

KAREN PERCY: This part of Cambodia isn't on any tourist trail. Paget Sayers was brought here in 2005 on a spiritual path. A practising Buddhist for 30 years, he was visiting temples and monasteries.

During his journey he came across so many that were locked up and neglected by the abbots. But here Abbot Chay Nhu was different.

PAGET SAYERS: For me he's a fulfilment of what the Buddhist story is all about; being satisfied with life; being happy. You can tell he's happy because he's always laughing and smiling.

That's something that you don't always see in abbots around South-East Asia and even Australia. Sometimes they're a bit grumpy. But he's never grumpy, are you? You're never grumpy, particularly when you get two lots of cement out of me, two tonnes. No.

KAREN PERCY: Yes, yes, to build the kitchen, says Abbot Chhay Nhu. When it's finished I will thank you, he tells Paget Sayers.

PAGET SAYERS: Always cheer me up. Always cheer me up you do. When I think it's too hard, or too hot, you cheer me up.

(Sound of Chhay Nhu speaking)

Yes, the floor, I know. You want the cement floor in the kitchen, yes, yes I'm happy, happy.

KAREN PERCY: Paget Sayers' Sydney-based not-for-profit charity, The Buddhist Library and Meditation Centre, initially raised money to build water tanks.

There were three to begin with at one school, and now there are well over 1,000 in 170 schools.

His project, Cambodia Now, runs Khmer language classes, English language classes; and helps older students develop job skills.

He's also established informal schools near the local rice fields for children who can't afford to attend or can't make the journey to the local school.

Each time he visits this region there's a new school or a new program, and many new demands. But his focus never waivers from his Buddhist aims.

PAGET SAYERS: You see a lot more monks now than you used to; there used to be not too many monks around cause a lot of them were killed. And now you see monks going out on their dhyana rounds in the morning.

So there's endless things we can do to take advantage of the synergy we've already created.

This is Karen Percy for Correspondents Report.

Cambodia's temple wall

The Bangkok Post

Phnom Penh - Cambodia plans to build a Berlin-style wall to shut off Thailand and develop tourist facilities around the still disputed Preah Vihear temple, a senior official said on Sunday.

The Cambodian government will build a series of walls at "complicated border areas," while still calling for talks to mark and properly demarcate the frontier, Khieu Kanharith, Information Minister and government spokesman, told reporters at a press conference.

Both sides should start to discuss to plant border markers from undisputed border areas to the complicated border areas and some complicated border areas will be built with border markers or concrete walls, Khieu Kanharith said

Cambodia will allow private companies to invest at least $2 million dollars at the Preah Vihear Temple to set up cable cars for tourists, he said, adding that the government is also trying to build a road to the temple.

The Preah Vihear border gate to Thailand will be open when the situation there is stable, he said, adding that foreign tourists could visit the temple from the Cambodian side.

At the moment, authorities have closed the temple grounds to visitors. For decades, the only way to get to Preah Vihear was through Thailand, because the temple is situated atop a sharp cliff on the Cambodian side.

Cambodia and Thailand share a border of over 800km with only 73 demarcation markers, the Cambodian official said on Sunday.

At a meeting on Aug 18-19, Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers agreed to arrange a second-phase troop redeployment at the disputed border area near the temple.

They agreed to a meeting of the Cambodian Temporary Coordinating Task Force and the Thai Regional Border Committee on Aug 29 in Cambodia to discuss the troop redeployment.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to recommend to their governments that the next meeting of legal experts and the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee be convened in early October, to discuss the issues related to border survey and demarcation of the relevant frontier sectors.

On July 15, Thai troops went into the border area to fetch three trespassers who had intended to claim Thai sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple. The incident triggered a military standoff, as troop strength on each side grew to more than 1,000 soldiers.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice (World Court) decided that the 11-century temple belongs to Cambodia. (Agency reports)

Cambodia to build concrete wall at complicated border areas with Thailand

August 24, 2008

Cambodian government planned to build concrete walls at complicated border areas with Thailand, a Cambodian official said on Sunday.

Both sides should start to discuss to plant border markers from undisputed border areas to the complicated border areas and some complicated border areas will be built with border markers or concrete walls, Khieu Kanharith, Information Minister and government spokesman, told reporters at a press conference.

Cambodian government will allow private companies to invest at least two million U.S. dollars at the Preah Vihear Temple to set up cable cars for tourists, he said, adding that the government is also trying to build road accessing to the temple.

The Preah Vihear border gate to Thailand will be open when the situation there is stable, he said, adding that foreign tourists could visit the temple from the Cambodian side.

Cambodia and Thailand share a border of over 800 km with only 73 demarcation markers. Previously, during the meeting on Aug. 18-19, Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers agreed to arrange a second-phase troop redeployment at the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear Temple in the eponymous province of Cambodia.

Both sides will convene a meeting between Head of the Cambodian Temporary Coordinating Task Force and Head of the Thai Regional Border Committee on Aug. 29 in Cambodia to discuss the second-phase of redeployment.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to recommend to their governments that the next meeting of legal experts and the Thai-Cambodian JBC be convened in early Oct. 2008 to discuss the issues related to the survey and demarcation of the relevant sectors under the term of reference and master plan of JBC.

On July 15, Thai troops went into the border area to fetch three trespassers who had intended to claim Thai sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple. However, the troops stationed there ever since, thus triggering the military standoff and propelling both sides' military personnel to grow over a thousand in the border areas.

During the time, Thai troops respectively entered the Keo SikhaKiri Svara Pagoda, which is constructed on the only way leading to the Preah Vihear Temple, as well as the Tamone Toch and Tamone Thom temples in neighboring Otdar Meanchey province of Cambodia.

On Aug. 16, most of the troops at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda and within the surrounding area of the Preah Vihear Temple were evacuated according to both sides' agreement.

The Preah Vihear Temple straddles the Cambodian-Thai border atop the Dangrek Mountain and was listed as a World Heritage Site on July 7 by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided that the 11-century temple and the land around belong to Cambodia, which rankled the Thais and has led to continuous disputes.

Source: Xinhua

Welcome restraint seen in Thai-Cambodia border issue

Editorial Desk
The Straits Times
Publication Date: 23-08-2008

The Asean community has reason to breathe a sigh of relief as Cambodia and Thailand reached an interim agreement this week on their Preah Vihear dispute. The two countries came too close to armed hostilities for their neighbours to avoid raising concern. The situation, indeed, remains sufficiently unsettled for anyone to take for granted an enduring resolution.

For the time being, foreign ministers Hor Namhong of Cambodia and Tej Bunnag of Thailand have managed to keep the conflict from worsening. Their accord reduces the most immediate sign of tension; more troops from both sides will leave the overlapping area around the temple.

It also envisages removal of landmines. Making it possible again for tourists to visit the site will promote a return to normalcy. The challenge remains, nevertheless, for the two governments to ratify what the ministers have reached in informal talks. An even greater challenge confronts the joint boundary commission, which the negotiators have agreed will be the key mechanism to settle the issue. The dispute remains more fundamentally over borders than over property ownership.

More than a hundred years ago, French cartographic ineptitude or simply colonial hauteur placed the thousand-year-old temple on one side of the boundary and then on the other. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, but left unadjudicated the boundary ambiguity that gave rise to competing claims to the sanctuary. Preah Vihear, nevertheless, remains a potent symbol of gain and loss in territorial integrity. When--as is the case these days--there is no lack of ambitious politicians on either side to inflame and then exploit nationalistic passions, the dispute can easily boil over.

The latest re-ignition arose, ironically, from Unesco's designation last month of the temple as a World Heritage site. The proposal to underscore its 'outstanding universal value'--if implemented without any territorial implications--could yet contribute to building trust and confidence, not to mention increased tourism for both countries. In the event, neither the United Nations nor Asean played a direct role in negotiations to defuse the danger. Still, Asean influence must have weighed on Cambodia and Thailand even as they confined themselves to bilateral channels.

Both sides adhered to the Asean spirit of peaceful conflict resolution. This is an important gain for the grouping as it continues to build institutions and mechanisms for cooperation. As the two sides resume more difficult talks in the coming days, a relieved Asean should remain ready to help.