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PM Hun Sen Meets Thai DPM and UN Special Rapporteur
Phnom Penh, February 18, 2011 AKP – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received here on Thursday visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Trairong Suwannakiri.
In the meeting, the Cambodian premier said Cambodia’s objective is to minimize the conflict, but maximize the cooperation and not to let the border dispute affect the investment and trade between the two countries, Ieng Sophalet, assistant to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, told reporters after the meeting.
The Cambodian prime minister further compared the Cambodian-Thai relationship to that of tongue and teeth. “We cannot lack any of them. Therefore, we have to increase and strengthen our cooperation,” he said.
He further affirmed that Cambodia welcomes Thai tourists, investors and businessmen.
For his part, H.E. Trairong Suwannakiri thanked Samdech Techo Hun Sen and the Cambodian government for their support to the Thai Trade Fair 2011 in Phnom Penh. He told the Cambodian premier of his good cooperation with Cambodian Senior Minister and Commerce Minister H.E. Cham Prasidh in organizing the trade fair.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Trairong Suwannakiri came to Cambodia to attend the opening ceremony of the four-day Thai Trade Fair 2011 held on Feb. 17 at Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center.
On the same day, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen also met with Mr. Surya Prasad Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.
Mr. Subedi appreciated the democratization development in Cambodia and asked the royal government to pay attention on court’s independence and the discussion between the government and the civil society. Some 300 NGOs have been now preparing relevant documents for that discussion.
In reply, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his regret at the selection of those over 300 NGOs without paying attention to other 2,000 NGOs’ rights.
Cambodia has currently more than 3,000 NGOs, he said, asking “How did the civil society select those over 300 NGOs? How was the voice of other 2,000 NGOs denied?”
He said he cannot accept it unless the representative NGOs are elected by all the NGOs in Cambodia.
Regarding the court’s independence, Samdech Tech Hun Sen recognized that the issue still exists because Cambodia has been reforming the court and judicial systems. Both the royal government and himself cannot interfere in the court system, he stressed. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
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DPM Hor Namhong To Join Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta
Phnom Penh, February 18, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Hor Namhong will lead a delegation to attend the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held on Feb. 22, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The visit will be made at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Chair of ASEAN H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa, according to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dated today.
The meeting will focus on the Exchange of Views on International and Regional Issues, especially focusing on the situation at the border between Cambodia and Thailand, it pointed out.
At the end of the meeting, the press release added, H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa will hold a Press Conference. –AKP
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Border Issue: Cambodia To Complain to ICJ
Phnom Penh, February 18, 2011 AKP – Cambodia will complain to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague over the border dispute with neighboring Thailand, said here yesterday Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.
Cambodia will not ask the ICJ to conduct a new trial, but to translate the 1962 verdict concerning the Preah Vihear Temple issue, he told a press conference held at the Peace Palace.
ASEAN mechanism can only prevent the armed conflict at the border, he said, stressing that ASEAN can not find a solution to the border demarcation.
The Thai side is also ready, he pointed out.
Cambodia is ready to respect the judgment of ICJ, affirmed Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen further said he sent the draft permanent ceasefire to his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva through visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakiri before the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting to be held on Feb. 22 in Jakarta.
The draft permanent ceasefire includes four points – Cambodia and Thailand agree on the lasting and permanent ceasefire; to maintain existing position, not to deploy forces, and attack each other and wait until a lasting resolution on border marker planting is made; both sides encourage their respective field army commanders to discuss, cooperate to maintain stability at the border; and to ensure the effectiveness of the ceasefire, both sides suggest a ceasefire control.
“If the Thai side does not agree with the 4th point – ceasefire control by ASEAN countries –, Cambodia will welcome unilaterally forces from the ASEAN countries on its territory so that they can monitor Cambodian armed forces,” he said.
Cambodia will ask for a signing of the ceasefire agreement by Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers under the witness of ASEAN foreign ministers or the chair of ASEAN.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen further said that Cambodia has never tried to stop international mechanism, asking: “Who exactly is against the international mechanism, the UN and ASEAN frameworks? Who asked the UN Security Council to convene a meeting?”
“When my request [to convene a UNSC’s meeting] reached the UNSC, Thailand opposed first the meeting, then the issue of the meeting’s declaration,” he pointed out, adding that when the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22, the Thai side said it has to do its best to convince Cambodia to join the meeting. “Who really needs and who really oppose the [intervention of] ASEAN?” Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked.
The Cambodian prime minister clarified that the multilateral mechanism is used only for border dispute, but for other forums such as trade and tourism… forums should be done bilaterally. –AKP
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
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Comment: why Thailand is trying to export its domestic political problems and dump them on poor Cambodia?
Phnom Penh, February 18,2011, AKP – When I was publisher and editor-in-chief of the Phnom Penh Post I was sued once by then-Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, accused of spreading disinformation and trying to create political instability. Over the years, several Cambodian government officials even accused me and my newspaper of attempting to “destroy the nation”.
At the very least I’ve never been called a spin doctor for the Cambodian government. But on the issue of the current border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand surrounding Wat Preah Vihear I’m as angry as all Cambodians are at what we perceive as a Thai-initiated conflict of grossly unjust proportions.
We are not alone. Since this issue flared up two years ago, I have not met one Asian or Western diplomat, one foreign aid worker or one expatriate businessman in Phnom Penh who disagrees. Even a few Thai friends have sheepishly expressed support for the Cambodian side on this spat.
The nagging question that perplexes us all is why Thailand is trying to export its domestic political problems and dump them on poor Cambodia? The sentiment here is that if the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts want to fight it out, do so somewhere in Thailand, but don’t use Cambodia as a scapegoat.
The view from Cambodia is simple: the issue of sovereignty over the temple was decided back in 1962 when the case was submitted to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
If Thailand didn’t want to abide by the court’s ruling then why did it agree to submit the case in the first place? And why are they groaning now and firing artillery shells at the temple almost 50 years later?
Moreover, when Thailand says: Well, we controlled the temple in the 1800s and before, the Khmers have a simpler reply: Yeah, but WE BUILT IT! We started construction in the early 9th century, modified and improved it for 250 years and then continued to pray there and celebrate our Gods for another three centuries until you guys stole it after you sacked and looted our capital at Angkor Wat three times between 1352 and 1431. Thank you very much. End of story.
Cambodia has no interest whatsoever in another protracted violent conflict with anybody. The Kingdom is still trying to recover from 30 years of civil war, Pol Pot madness and the ensuing guerilla conflict in the 80’s and 90’s that in total cost the lives of over 2.5 million Cambodians and left the country in ruins. Every dollar spent on the military conflict there is a dollar lost for building desperately needed roads, schools and hospitals.
The Thai accusation that Cambodia has had some secret plot to steal Thai land along the border is also seen as ludicrous.
Everybody knows that since 1970 Cambodia has been too consumed with domestic strife to take even one meter of land from any of its neighbors. In fact, foreign aid officials who worked on the Thai border in the 80s will readily admit that border creep worked in reverse. It was Thai farmers living in peace—and I’m not accusing the Thai government of some orchestrated campaign here—who took the opportunity to plant a few extra hectares in disputed border areas while internally Cambodia was in complete disarray.
If there is one thing that is clear, it is that the entire border needs to be systematically surveyed and demarcated, step by step, once and for all.
As for the disputed 4.5 square kms just north of temple, why not consider this: Turn the area into the Cambodian-Thai International Friendship Park and set it up as a jointly managed enterprise by both countries’ Ministries of Tourism. Invite in hawkers, entrepreneurs, whatever from both sides of the border to set up businesses to cater to the millions of tourists who will want to visit the site in the coming decades and beyond. Tax revenues could be shared by both nations equally. Everybody wins.
It could also be a model for other border disputes around the globe.
If the Thais want a protracted, bloody fight on their hands over the temple, they’ve got one. In the 20 years I’ve been in Cambodia the Preah Vihear issue is without question the only one I’ve seen that has united the entire nation. Cambodian TV stations have been running fundraisers off and on with donations large and small pouring in from all quarters for two years. Even the normally truculent Sam Rainsy Party and others in the opposition are fully on board.
It’s clear from a visit to the temple last week that the Cambodian military has dug in for the long haul. New heavy tanks, armored personnel carriers and ammunition “donated by friendly countries” are evident all over the base of the escarpment. Battle-scarred veterans, no doubt from all of Cambodia’s four previously warring factions and including ex-Khmer Rouge who controlled the temple from 1975 to 1998, are now all operating under one flag. And yes, of course there are Cambodian soldiers with weapons bunkered around the temple. If they weren’t there the Thai military could literally walk in and take control of it in five minutes. What government in Phnom Penh could allow that?
If this dispute goes real hot, relations between Cambodia and Thailand will be ruined for years, hundreds on both sides will die needlessly and the economic costs to the two countries will be astronomical.
Cooler heads need to prevail but rest assured the Cambodians will never, no matter what the price, give up control of Wat Preah Vihear.
Why should they? It’s theirs.
by Michael Hayes
co-founded the Phnom Penh Post in 1992 and was Publisher & Editor-in-Chief from 1992 to 2008.
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Cambodia To Request a Lasting Ceasefire in the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Phnom Penh, February 17, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen emphasized that in the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Jakarta, Cambodia will ask for a signing of the ceasefire agreement by Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers under the witness of ASEAN or the chair of ASEAN.
At a press conference held here today, the Cambodian premier said Cambodia will suggest four points – Cambodia and Thailand agree on the lasting and permanent ceasefire; to maintain existing position, not to deploy forces, and attack each other and wait until a lasting resolution on border marker planting is made; both sides encourage their respective field commanders to discuss, cooperate to maintain stability at the border; and to ensure the effectiveness of the ceasefire, both sides suggest a ceasefire control.
“If the Thai side does not agree with the 4th point – ceasefire control by ASEAN countries –, Cambodia will welcome unilaterally forces from the ASEAN countries on its territory so that they can monitor Cambodian armed forces,” he said.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen further said that Cambodia has never tried to stop international mechanism, asking: “Who exactly is against the international mechanism, the UN and ASEAN frameworks? Who asked the UN Security Council to convene a meeting?”
“When my request [to convene a UNSC’s meeting] reached the UNSC, Thailand opposed first the meeting, then the issue of the meeting’s declaration,” he pointed out, adding that when the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22, the Thai side said it has to do its best to convince Cambodia to join the meeting. “Who really needs and who really oppose the [intervention of] ASEAN?” Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked.
The Cambodian prime minister clarified that the multilateral mechanism is used only for border dispute, but for other forums such as trade and tourism… forums should be done bilaterally. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHIM Nary
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
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PM: Cambodia Needs to Promote the Development of Industrial Sector
Phnom Penh, February 17, 2011 AKP – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, presided over here on Wednesday the opening ceremony of the 4th Cambodia Economic Forum.
The two-day forum under the theme “Cambodian Economy in Post-Crisis Environment: Industrial Policy – Options Toward a Sustainable Development” was attended by some 500, who are government’s policy makers, economists, development partners, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and United Nations Development Program.
On the occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stressed the urgent need for Cambodia to modernize its economy; in practical terms this means “Promoting the Development of Industrial Sector”. Modernizing the economy by promoting industrial development in an appropriate and necessary solution for achieving sustainable growth of the Cambodian economy and take it to a higher stage of development.
It would help Cambodia avoid the “Middle Income Country Trap” that has crippled a number of countries from moving further after achieving a middle income level due to a lack of industrial capacity including technological know how, he explained, adding that the industrial development strategy should focus on transforming the economic structure by providing more value added from a wider economic base that can ensure sustained growth with equity.
Our primary and practical objective is to upgrade our economy through promoting the development of the industrial sector that would lead Cambodia toward a “New Phase of Economic Base Diversification” through the use of our endowments and placing reliance on our comparative advantages, he said.
The Cambodian premier further underlined that it is clear that strategic industrial development is needed to bring about economic transformation and holds tremendous promise of success. To ensure success we have to integrate the industrial development policy into the general development policy systematically and consistently with interconnected policy measures. This reemphasizes importance of the State’s role in creating an educational system consistent with industrial development requirements. The other roles of the State include management of the development process and facilitating efficient functioning of the market mechanism.
“I am confident that Cambodia now has appropriate favorable conditions to move forward to the next higher development stage. We have maintained complete political stability and peace for more than ten years. During this period, we have built physical infrastructure assets such as roads and bridges, irrigation projects, electricity networks and communication systems in many areas of our country. The Royal Government will continue providing high priority to public investment and the construction of all kinds of physical infrastructure. At the same time, the Cambodian economy has been actively integrated into the regional and global economy. Cambodia is endowed with a young and dynamic labor force which is keen to learn and work very hard. The labor cost in the country is low. The Royal Government is determined and strongly committed to reform key sectors to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability as well as to improving governance, enhancing institutional effectiveness and capacity development. The reforms are aimed at reducing barriers to business and facilitating active participation from the private sector. These are pre-conditions and key requirements to move forward on the development process,” he said.
The Royal Government has acknowledged that the Cambodian economy cannot continue to rely on garment manufacture, tourism and construction sectors in order to promote sustained growth. We must expand our sources of growth by seizing opportunities emerging from the global and regional developments and by nurturing the industrial sectors in our economy with good growth potential. Our excessive dependence on garments focused on a few market destinations in the developed world and tourism was the main reason why our growth performance faltered during the recent crisis. We cannot allow this experience to repeat, he said.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen also expressed the Royal Government’s ambitious goals to ensure sustainable economic growth of around 7 percent per year on broader and more competitive economic basic and to reduce poverty at the rate of more than 1 percent per annum. In order to achieve these ambitious goals, he indicated, the Royal Government must focus attention on a number of key strategic issues – the necessity to ensure sustainability of high economic growth in order to promote and accelerate poverty reduction, the necessity to diversify the growth base that is currently narrow and the necessity to solve unemployment and lack of skill training in the youth cohorts and equip them to cope with the challenges caused by unforeseen changes in the economic structure.
According to the prime minister, in 2010, the country’s economic growth was 5.5 percent and it is expected to be more than 6 percent this year.
For his part, World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia Mr. Qimiao Fan said the country has abundant land, some of it very productive for agriculture, some of it ready for tourism development, some of it with mining potentials, some of it with indispensable biodiversity, some of it for housing, urbanization and infrastructure.
“Because of its history and notwithstanding major achievements over the past 20 years, Cambodia still lags in terms of skills – both soft skills like attitude to work and technical skills. This requires attention today so that Cambodia can climb the ladder of comparative advantages over the next 20 years,” he said.
ADB Country Director Mr. Putu Kamayana said ADB is now working closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia to define our Cambodia Country Partnership Strategy for the period 2011 to 2013. ADB look forward to working with the Royal Government in defining a new policy paradigm to shepherd the country through the next decade: to accelerate diversification of the economy and strengthen competitiveness, to support the decentralization process and rural development, to meet the challenge of urbanization, to harness the benefits of regional cooperation and integration and to strengthen environmental management and cope with climate change. –AKP
By SOKMOM Nimul
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PM Receives Australian Police Commissioner General and UNDP’s Representative
Phnom Penh, February 17, 2011 AKP – Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen received here on Monday Police Commissioner General of Australia Mr. Tony Negus.
In the meeting, Mr. Tony Negus told Samdech Hun Sen of the close cooperation and good ties of friendship between Australian and Cambodian police, Ieng Sophalet, Samdech Hun Sen’s assistant, told reporters upon the meeting.
Besides, the two sides have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen and expand their cooperation, Mr. Negus said.
In reply, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his pleasure for the just signed MoU and thanked the Australian side for its material assistance to Cambodia.
Following on the same day, Samdech Hun Sen met with Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Development Program for Asia and the Pacific Region Mr. Ajay Chhibber.
On the occasion, Mr. Ajay Chhibber told Samdech Hun Sen that he is happy to see Cambodia successfully overcome the world financial crisis and maintain the economic growth.
For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that UN has been an important Cambodia’s development partner.
He added that Cambodia has focused on infrastructure development and other sectors, especially hydropower projects. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by CHEA Vannak
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