via CAAI News Media
Cambodia Ready to Bring Border Dispute to international Level: Hun Sen
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 02:52 DAP-NEWS
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday reaffirmed the Cambodian government’s willingness to resolve the ongoing border dispute with Thailand at the international level, using such arbiters as the International Court of Justice or the UN Security Council.
Tuesday was the fourth day of the premier’s historical visit to border areas, including Preah Vihear Temple. The PM again blasted Thai Prime Minister Abhisit over his claims that 4.6 squares kilometers of territory around the temple belong to Thailand. Hun Sen strongly stated that Cambodia will never accept this territory is a ‘disputed area’, saying it belongs to Cambodia.
“At the moment, Cambodia will solve this matter by international justice and courts, and if it is necessary, Cambodia will bring this matter to solve at the UN Security Council,” the premier said during the inauguration of a new building for soldiers in Oddor Meanchey province.
“This (disputed) area (claim) was made by Thailand itself to invade Cam-bodian territory, and Kesekha Kirisvarak pagoda absolutely belongs to Cambodia, inside in Cambodian land,” the premier said.
Concerning the 10 Thai soldiers stationed at Kesakha Kirisvarak pagoda, the PM said that the soldiers will not be authorized to sleep at Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak at night. In the daytime, they are allowed to enter, but are not allowed to carry weapons.
The premier urged all soldiers stationed at the border to defend their territory, stressing Cambodia’s readiness to repel any enemy.
He also praised the ancient Cambo-dian kings who build the temples that are now at the centre of the territorial dispute. “They never stole anybody’s land, but it was the others who came to rob from Khmer kings,” he said. “The Khmers never demand (the return) of Khmer lands which were lost in the past.”
Opposition back international border solution.
As the government stated its readiness to take an ongoing border dispute with Thailand to the international community, Cambodian opposition party members backed the suggestion.
“This stance is very good as we do not waste time and avoid a war,” Yem Ponhrith, Human Rights Party secretary-general, told DAP News Cambodia on Tuesday.
“We want to do like this with border areas,” said Ho Vann, Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker.
Rumored Thai plans to invade 4.6 sq km ‘disputed area’.
As the PM Hun Sen blasted the Thai government, Thai soldiers in Zone 2 and Zone 4 near Preah Vihear temple have allegedly declared their desire to invade the 4.6 square kilometers they say is disputed territory.
The Thai troops made a declaration boasting that they want to fight to take the area, zoned as Thai territory only on the Thai’s own unilateral map. The information was reported by a Cambodian troop source stationed in the Veal Entry area on February 9. The sourced claimed that the Thai troops made their declaration after Hun Sen’s 3-day visit to the border zone.
Nevertheless, the Cambodian source indicated that, currently, the Cambodian army is prepared to face any invaders. Cambodian troops will wait to see what action the Thai troops dare to take today or tomorrow, the source said. However, right now the situation in this zone still remains normal.
Thai yellow shirts destroy border markers
The People’s Alliance of Democracy (PAD) or ‘yellow shirts’ destroyed Cambodia-Thailand border markers at Ta Moan Toich temple located in Cambodia’s Banteay Ompel district, Oddor Meanchey province.
The yellow shirt protesters confirmed that they damaged one border marker they insisted is in Thai territory.
The protest and criminal damage comes during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s historical visit to the border area.
Nak Vong, Ta Moan Toich sub-commander, told DAP News Cambodia he demanded Thai soldiers station nearby re-post the border markers after they were removed.
Var Kimhong, Cambodian Border Joint Committee president, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Germany Gives Another US$1.37 Million for Cambodia's Mine Clearance
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 08:33 DAP-NEWS/ Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 10 - German announced $1.37 million on Wednesday for the Cambodia's demining project in two provinces for this year, the release said of the signing note.
It was singed by Cambodia's deputy minister for foreign affairs Ouch Borith and German ambassador Frank M. Mann.
The money will be managed by Cambodia Mine Action Group (CMAG), which has been financed by Germany since 1999, to demine the explosive materials in Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey, said the release.
The German commitment to humanitarian demining has been demonstrated by approximately US$214 million which the Federal Government has granted to 42 mine affected countries so far, said the release by the German embassy.
In total German tax payers have supported demining worldwide by granting more than US$ 300 million since 1992 which brings Germany on the top of the list of donors for mine action, it said.
In view of the magnitude of the problem of mines and unexploded ordnances left over from decades of civil war and armed conflicts Cambodia has always been of high priority for Germany.
Since 1994 some US$17.5 million have been granted thus far, exclusively for the support of local demining activities.
Germany will continue to support the demining platoons through this year to support the Cambodian mobile teams to respond to emergency requests and three Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams.
Last December, Belgium gave 550,360 euros for Cambodia's landmine clearance.
A UK-based Mines Advisory Group (MAG) announced late Friday to provide 550,360 euros for Cambodia to clear mines in two provinces for period of two years.
MAG, which has been helped Cambodia to clear the explosive devices since 1992, said the money will be spent for the clearing mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in northwestern provinces of Battambang and Pailin where reporting the highest numbers of mine/UXO casualties in this former war-torn nation.
Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily landmines and unexploded ordnance buried of between 4-6 million, which remained from its 30 years of civil war and killed an estimated 60,000 people since 1992 many of them are children.
Cambodia continues to have one of the highest landmine casualty rates in the world, as a result of heavy mine laid over almost three decades of conflict.
Belgium has long taken an interest in dealing with landmines and other ordnance, becoming the first country to ban anti-personnel landmines in 1995 and also the first country to ban cluster munitions in 2006.
Belgium started supporting landmine clearance in the 1990's and is now also funding physical rehabilitation centers and prevention activities in Cambodia.
This financial support and previous development activities supported by Belgium in the sectors of health and education, showed the commitment of the Belgian government towards development in Cambodia.
The Belgian government also supports MAG's work in Iraq, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cambodians Winning More Foreign Scholarships
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 02:52 DAP-NEWS
The Education Ministry said on Tuesday that Cambodian students now can compete with foreign students to win scholarships to foreign countries.
Students have upped their ability and improved their knowledge, especially in foreign languages like English, said Yong Yano, director of the Education Ministry’s Scholarship Department.
He said that in 2009, nearly 500 Cambodian students got scholarships to study abroad and with support from development partners and host countries. This represents an increase of about 50 students over last year.
“It is good that our students have more ability to go to foreign countries, and they catch up in foreign languages like English,” he said, adding the ministry is seeking more scholarships.
“We have always encouraged them to apply for the scholarship because they can share view and ideas and learn new things … to help construct the country,” he added.
Uch Mey, another Education Ministry official, said that most students who graduate abroad command higher salaries than local graduates.
Cambodia sends most students to Thailand, France, Vietnam, Australia, the US and Arabic countries.
Seang Soleak, a former Fulbright scholarship students in the US, said that study in developed countries helps increase knowledge.
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