Sunday, 13 February 2011

AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press


via CAAI

Cambodia To Request UN a Permanent Ceasefire with Thailand

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011 AKP – Cambodia will request the intervention from the United Nations to ensure a permanent ceasefire with Thailand, said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Hor Namhong on Friday at Phnom Penh International Airport before his departure for the UN Security Council’s meeting to be held on Feb. 14 in New York.

The upcoming UNSC’s meeting is the big loss for Thailand, said H.E. Hor Namhong, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, explaining that Thailand has so far tried to convince the UNSC not to have this meeting.

He said in the meeting he will express Cambodia’s stance in solving the border conflict with Thailand by peaceful means and with the international participation, whether the UN or ASEAN, because the bilateral mechanism does not work anymore.

“I’ll explain to the UNSC’s meeting the cause of the war, the Thai encroachment on Cambodian territory since 2008, and Thailand’s use of cluster bombs during the recent war against Cambodia,” he said.

He further stressed that there will not be a bilateral talk between him and his Thai counterpart before the UNSC’s meeting. The bilateral talk could be possible if there is also the presence of the Indonesian foreign minister, he added.

The Cambodian deputy prime minister said he was informed that as the current Chair of ASEAN, the Indonesian foreign minister is planning to convene an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting [over Cambodian-Thai border dispute]. Cambodia will accept to join the meeting, he affirmed. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHIM Nary
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

______

Not only a War of Aggression, but also a War to Destroy the Temple of Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011 AKP – (opinion)A week before deadly fighting erupted in four consecutive days from 04th to 7th February 2011 between Cambodia and Thailand by which Abhisit, Prime Minister of Thailand is widely known as a mastermind who ordered a military exercise at the border close to the Temple of Preah Vihear. A few days later, Abhisit demanded Cambodia to remove its national flag from the KEO SIKHA KIRI SVARA pagoda. It is crystal clear that Abhisit prepared a well premeditated plan to wage a war against Cambodia aimed at occupying the vicinity of the Temple of Preah Vihear or even to destroy the Temple as soon as possible prior to the 35th Session of WHC which will be held in Bahrain in June 2011. The real war started once the Thai armed forces stormed into the area belonging de jure and de facto to Cambodia. Heavy artilleries and cluster munitions were fired by Thai armed forces at the Temple of Preah Vihear and other areas adjacent to the temple, which inflicted serious damages.

It is not important to raise that who fights first and who fights later, but the most important factor related to the deadly fighting is that who creates the causes leading to a real war between the two countries? Why did the Thai armed forces fire artillery at the Temple of Preah Vihear as they are well aware that the Temple is the world heritage site which must be protected and preserved as guaranteed by the Hague Convention of 1954?

In the eyes of the national and international public opinion it is fully aware that some of the causes are firstly, Thailand used its mysterious, unilateral and internationally unrecognized map to keep claiming the area adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear, which grossly violated the 1962 ICJ judgment. Secondly, Abhisit ordered a military exercise close to the border without giving any notification to Cambodia in its attempts to occupy the abovementioned area or even to destroy the Temple as soon as possible following the PAD’s pressure on Abhisit.

In 2008, Democrat was the opposition party, by which Abhisit provoked the PAD to protest against the listing of the Temple of Preah Vihear in the world heritage list which brought in the Thai aggression into the sovereign Cambodian territory in the area around the Temple on 15 July 2008. With full support of the PAD, Abhisit promised to retake the Temple of Preah Vihear to Thailand, failed in its efforts to thwart inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear, failed in its efforts to have joint Management Plan, and later failed in its efforts to derail the Management Plan during the 34th Session of WHC held in Brasilia of Brazil in 2010.

Now Abhisit and Kasit are holding Cambodia hostage in its internal political conflict to divert attention from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, particularly, to push the Democrat winning in the upcoming elections. The real causes of the dispute stem from Thailand’s usage of its mysterious, unilateral and internationally unrecognized map. So far as we learned, it is only recognized by Thailand itself, to keep claiming the area adjacent to the Temple.

In 1962, the ICJ used ANNEX I Map as the basis to rule that the Temple of Preah Vihear and its vicinity are situated in the territory under the Cambodian sovereignty. In its reasoning, ICJ clearly demonstrated the legal validity of frontier line which was drawn on the ANNEX I Map by the French-Siamese Joint Commission and accepted by both parties in 1908. Therefore, there is no doubt that the pagoda, which is situated approximately 300 meters from the Temple, and 700 meters inside Cambodian territory belongs to Cambodia.

The Thai authorities did not raise objection to the construction of pagoda in 1998 along with a market following the peace and political stability achieved throughout the country in Cambodian history. In this sense, the Thai Government can not say that they are not aware of the construction since 1998. For the existence of this pagoda, in 2008, the Thai Governor of Sisaket Province acknowledged that it was built in 1998. It is crystal clear that the legitimacy of the pagoda was not protested by any Thai authorities until the Temple of Preah Vihear was proposed by Cambodian Government to inscribe the Temple on the World Heritage List in 2007 in Christchurch of New Zealand and was officially granted its status in Quebec of Canada in 2008.

By the year 2000, a MOU was signed between Cambodia and Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary in which neither pagoda nor market were raised or even protested by Thai Government. According to article 1 (c) of the said MOU, both parties agreed to use the maps of the French- Siamese Commission, which were established by the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907, by which ANNEX 1 Map used by ICJ in its 1962 judgment was included for the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary between the two countries.

Now Thailand’s credibility in its international relations with Cambodia is being watched carefully by the international community, by which Thailand has been seen by the later as a big bully of Cambodia, a small member country of the ASEAN. Given the recent act of aggression of Thai armed forces against Cambodia, Thailand is badly facing with a losing face, image and dignity on the international fora by its claiming to own the area adjacent to the Temple contrary to the international rule of law. In such a very ugly move, Thailand is being exposed as a big bully, an international vigilante that openly defies the international rule of law and acts like Hitler, an international criminal and an anarchist in vanishing the World Order as already stated in the UN Charter.

In the eyes of the national and international public opinion, Abhisit could not make any excuse to reserve its rights of self defense once the Temple already suffered grave damage as the direct result of Thai armed forces’ artillery shelling. Abhisit is clearly aware that the Temple of Preah Vihear is not a military base. On the contrary, the Temple of Preah Vihear is a place for worship and tourism. And at all time there are only a small number of policemen with only light weapons to provide safety to the visitors at the Temple. However, Abhisit could not justify Thailand’s attack at the Temple of Preah Vihear once the Temple is world heritage which must be protected and preserved in the event of armed conflict as guaranteed by the 1954 Hague Convention, which all High Contracting Parties are determined to take all possible steps to protect cultural property.

The Cambodian Mine Action Center’s preliminary report revealed that Thai armed forces fired cluster munitions at the Temple, in which some cluster munitions exploded on the temple grounds and other did not, but those which did not explode will take lives of human being after the fighting ends. This is a real war, not armed clash, which the Thai armed forces’ heavy shelling pounded at the Temple. This is a real war because heavy artilleries and cluster munitions have been fired at the Temple by Thai armed forces under the war waged by Abhisit, and he must be responsible for that.

In this sense, according to the 1954 convention, it is an urgent and most important matter to have the UN Military Observers along with Unesco Assessment Team to visit the Temple of Preah Vihear for its assessment of damages on the spot since the Temple has been granted the status as World Heritage in 2008. With its grave damage, now The Temple of Preah Vihear is really demanding for the international contribution to protect and preserve immediately in conformity with the implementation of the Management Plan which was already submitted to the WHC by Cambodia during the 34th Session of the WHC in Brasilia in 2010. Cambodia gained support in implementation of the Management Plan from the report issued by the World heritage Centre, which serve as the secretariat to the World Heritage Committee.

Therefore, member countries of WHC must take into consideration the urgent matter for protection and preservation of the Temple which is being gravely destroyed by Thai armed forces’ heavy shells. The living soul of the Temple of Preah Vihear is crying for help from UNESCO, one of the most powerful United Nations agencies and the international community for the protection and the salvation of the long-lasting existing cultural heritage of all mankind.

By Long Sokun

Young Researcher on the Case Concerning The Temple of Preah Vihear
(Cambodia v. Thailand) 15 June 1962

(The comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Government of Cambodia.)

______

Thai Invasion: Letter to President of American Bar Association

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011, AKP–Letter to President of American Bar Association.


______

Thai Invasion:Letter to President, Vice President and Secretary General of Japan Federation of Bar Association

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011, AKP – Letter to President, Vice President and Secretary General of Japan Federation of Bar Association.


______

Thai invasion:Letter to President,Vice President and Secretary General of International Bar Association

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011, AKP – Letter to President,Vice President and Secretary General of International Bar Association.


______

Thai invasion:In four days of recurrent attacks on and around the Temple of Preah Vihear

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011, AKP–In four days of recurrent attacks on and around the Temple of Preah Vihear .


______

PM Meets Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen warmly received here on Feb. 11 visiting Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yutaka Banno.

In the meeting, the Japanese state secretary for foreign affairs told the Cambodian premier of his visit to Cambodia, the purpose of which he said is to join the opening ceremony of the construction site of Neak Loeung Bridge and to strengthen and expand the cooperation between Cambodia and Japan as well as between both countries’ private sectors.

H.E. Yutaka Banno highly appreciated the rapid development in Cambodia, Ieng Sophalet, assistant to Samdech Techo Hun Sen told reporters after the meeting.

For his part, the Cambodian prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation and relations between the two countries, saying that Neak Loeung Bridge is for Cambodia on the one hand, and for the ASEAN-Japan relationship on other hand.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen further said Cambodian economic growth needs the participation from private sector, stressing that more and more Japanese investors have recently come to invest in Cambodia.

The Cambodian premier thanked the Japanese government and people for their contribution in the peace seeking and the development of Cambodia.

On the same day, H.E. Yutaka Banno also met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

______

Statement by ICAPP Standing Committee on Border Disputes between Cambodia and Thailand

Phnom Penh, Febbruary 12, 2011, AKP–Statement by ICAPP Stading Committee on Border Disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.

______

Statement of Press and Quick Reaction Unit

Phnom Penh, February 12, 2011, AKP–Statement of Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers, the Royal Government of Cambodia.


______

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An says exports to Japan increases

Phnom Penh, February 12,20011, AKP – Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An said late Friday that Cambodia’s exports to Japan has increased to $90 million US last year from $40 million in 2009.

Dr. Sok An told Japan’s State Secretary of Foreign Ministry H.E Yutaka Banno that there are now 21 Japanese companies operating in Cambodia ,capitalized at almost $200 million US.

He also said that Cambodia has been implementing the anti-corruption law, which is part of the government’s efforts to improve transparency, good governance as well as to attract more foreign investments.

Cambodia has seen hefty investments in infrastructures, which is one of the government’s priority, to reduce poverty as proven by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) which, through its poll survey found that 76 percent of Cambodian respondents supported
the government’s policy.

Dr. Sok An requested Japan to assist Cambodia in the newly established National Training Board (NTB) to train Cambodia’s graduates to be ready for employment as well as the National Employment Agency (NEA) in order to enhance its efficiency.

He also recalled the success the 5 world records of the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

Dr. Sok An also briefed the diplomat about the Thai’s aggression in attacking Cambodia near the Preah Vihear temple from 4 to 7 February, 2011, killing 4 Cambodia’s troops, one policeman, and 2 civilians.

At least 30 Cambodian civilians were wounded by the Thai army’s bombardment, said Dr. Sok An.

More than 3,000 families or more than 10,000 people have become displaced, many of whom are women and children, as a result of Thai army’s shelling into their villages, said Dr. Sok An.

The Deputy Prime Minister also told Japanese deputy foreign minister that Cambodia has petitioned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), seeking the world body to interpret the ICJ’s decision 1962 and to send a fact finding mission and or U.N military observers to monitor the cease fire in the area.

“This is the best solution, which also helps to build trust between Cambodia and Thailand,” said Dr. Sok An.

Cambodia also sought ASEAN’s role in settling the border dispute with Thailand. Cambodia has sent a letter to UNESCO who said they will send its experts to assess the damage sustained by the Preah Vihear temple as a result of the Thai army’s bombardment.

The UN’s legal institution, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had in 1962 ruled that: the Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

The court found that Thailand is under obligation to withdraw any military or police force, or other guards or keepers, stationed by her at the Temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory.

Thailand is under an obligation to restore to Cambodia any objects of the kind specified in the Cambodia’s fifth submission which may, since the date of the occupation of the Temple by Thailand in 1954, have been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by the Thai authority, said the ICJ’s Judgment.

by Ek Madra (contributor)

______

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An tells British and Russian ambassadors that the Thais used unconventional arms

PHNOM PENH, February 12, 2011,AKP – Dr. Sok An told foreign diplomats late Friday that Thai troops fired rounds of unconventional shells, comprising cluster bombs and gas shells at Cambodia’s soldiers during their artillery battles with Cambodia between 4- 7 February, 2011.
Dr. Sok An said that extremist Thais, precisely the Yellow-Shirts, had pressured Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to send Thai troops to dislodge Cambodian villagers from vicinity of the temple of Preah Vihear, which cannot be accepted by Phnom Penh.

“So the situation is very dangerous now. We can see Thai Prime minister Abhisit is working to fulfill the Yellow-Shirt’s demand to seize Cambodia’s land,” he said in the meeting.

Dr. Sok An cited Cambodia’s military source saying that Thai military is building up 25,000 troops along the border supported by more than 100 tanks and heavy weapons.

“The situation is very tough, very dangerous. Nobody can tell when Thailand will attack us again,” Deputy Prime Minister told the two diplomats who wanted to learn more about the Cambodia-Thailand border situation.

He said Thai had destroyed Cambodia’s market near the temple before and now they are trying to destroy Cambodia’s territory and property even more.

“Thai troops have seriously damaged our Preah Vihear temple and a Buddhist pagoda,” Dr. Sok An told the diplomats.

He briefed the diplomats about the Thai aggression of attacking Cambodia near the Preah Vihear temple from 4 to 7 February, 2011, killing 4 Cambodia’s troops, one policeman, and 2 civilians.

At least 30 Cambodian civilians were wounded by direct bombardments by the Thai army, he said.

More than 3,000 families comprising more than 10,000 displaced villagers, many of whom are are women and children, have been displaced as a result of Thai bombardment of their villages, said Dr. Sok An.

The Deputy Prime Minister told Russian and British ambassadors that Cambodia has petitioned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), seeking the world body to interpret the ICJ’s decision of 1962 and to send a fact finding mission and or U.N military observers to monitor the cease fire in the area.

“This is the best means to reduce tension and to eliminate the war,” said Dr. Sok An, adding that “these actions meant that there is no hostility to either Thailand or Cambodia.”

Cambodia also sought ASEAN’s role in settling the border dispute with Thailand. Cambodia has sent a letter to UNESCO who said they will send its experts to assess the damages sustained by the Preah Vihear temple as a direct result of the Thai shelling.

The UN’s legal institution, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had in 1962 ruled that: the Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

The court found that Thailand is under obligation to withdraw any military or police forces, or other guards or keepers, stationed by her at the Temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory. Thailand is under an obligation to restore to Cambodia any objects of the kind specified in the Cambodia’s fifth submission which may, since the date of the occupation of the Temple by Thailand in 1954, have been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by the Thai authority, said ICJ’s Judgment.

by Ek Madra (contributor)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Organic Mulch) (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, NRES-19-97). Louis, a new delivery tradition has been created: the "Mulch Man.
This same person spread several yards of the mulch around their house before they realized
the problem, and it ruined many of their plants.

Here is my homepage; mulching