Wednesday, 27 April 2011

ANALYSIS: Domestic issues drive Thai-Cambodian border clashes

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

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By Mick Elmore and Robert Carmichael
Apr 27, 2011

Bangkok/Phnom Penh - In the absence of credible information on why Thai and Cambodian forces started fighting along a disputed stretch of the border last week, the rumour mills are working overtime, but the message seems aimed at domestic audiences.

Since Friday, at least 14 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in on-and-off clashes near several disputed temples.

One question is the timing. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva plans to dissolve parliament in early May and call an election, fuelling speculation that some political faction might try to gain from the conflict. Another is that the military wants to control the poll's outcome and the fighting is their way to be in charge. And those are just the least outlandish takes on the situation from Bangkok.

Lawmaker and political observer Kraisak Chohoven said he believes motives other than election considerations had to be behind the conflict. But as so often in recent years, Thai domestic politics muddy any examination of the border strife.

The close relationship between former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, for example, has been a thorn in the side of the current government in Bangkok.

Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 coup and lives in exile to avoid a Thai jail sentence for corruption. Last year, he served as an advisor to Hun Sen's government, which ignored Thai extradition requests.

Thaksin's supporters say Abhisit's government has no legitimacy because it was not elected, and hope to return to power.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, a nationalist movement, has vowed to topple Abhisit for his poor handling of the border crisis. In December, seven nationalists were arrested for illegally crossing into Cambodia. The tussle about their release further soured bilateral relations.

The Thai Foreign Ministry insists the current situation benefits no one in Thailand and accuses Cambodia of having kicked off the most recent spat.

The main conflict surrounding Preah Vihear, an 11th-century Hindu temple, goes back decades. A spat in 1958 prompted the suspension of diplomatic ties, but can be traced back to 1904 when France demarcated the border and put Preah Vihear inside its colonial territory.

Back then Thailand had more pressing concerns, such as not being colonized itself. But many Thais never accepted a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that said the temple compound belonged to Cambodia.

Bangkok says UNESCO escalated the conflict in 2008 by designating Preah Vihear a world heritage site, over its objections.

In Cambodia, the opinion prevails that Thai domestic politics, currently 'very strained' with rumours of a coup seldom far from the surface, drive the conflict.

'Thailand's national elections are coming soon and the government would want to get the border issue in order before the election, because doing so would mean a likelier chance that the current government would win,' said Chhaya Hang, executive director of the Khmer Institute of Democracy, a non-governmental organization.

He said Cambodia, a much weaker player than Thailand, is looking to boost its image in the region and trying to show it can stand up to its more powerful neighbour.

On the domestic front, the ruling Cambodian People's Party regularly trumpets that it brought peace to the country after years of war.

With local elections due next year and a general election scheduled for 2013, Chhaya Hang said the border conflict has provided the government with the chance to show the electorate that it can defend the country.

But too strong a focus on the borders could backfire. Cambodia is currently demarcating its eastern border with Vietnam, and some farmers claimed to have lost their land in the process.

The risk for the ruling party is that accentuating the border issue could rebound when it is time to vote in 2013.

Indonesia, as the current chair of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), has failed to mediate between the neighbours.

Chhaya Hang said it was difficult to say whether that lack of leverage would damage the body, but suggests ASEAN should at least be able to employ a 'red card' should a member stand in the way of a solution.

'And if cancelling membership isn't (in the charter), then something for the agenda of the next ASEAN meeting could be: How much should we ASEAN members put up with this?'

With tensions high and rhetoric being ratcheted up over the past days, Chhaya Hang believes the situation remains dangerous.

'One can only hope it won't be more serious than at present because that will have a huge impact on people on both sides, and we don't want that,' he said.

Thai-Cambodian Border Clashes Continue As Talks Stalled

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4/27/2011

(RTTNews) - Clashes between security forces along the Thai-Cambodia border continued on Wednesday, as Thailand's Defense Minister canceled his planned trip to Cambodia for ceasefire talks.

Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Keowkamnerd told reporters that Thailand pulled out of the ceasefire talks with Cambodia in protest against comments in Cambodian media that the Thai government agreed to talks as it was losing the five-day-old border clash

Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan was scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart in Phnom Penh on Wednesday to discuss ways to put an end to border skirmishes.

Thai, Cambodian border forces have been engaged in renewed clashes since Friday over the ownership of a 4.6-square-kilometer territory around the Preah Vihear temple.

Eight Cambodian and five Thai soldiers have been killed and more than 60 others wounded in exchange of fire and artillery at the disputed sites around the 11th-century Hindu temple. It forced tens of thousands of residents at the border to flee their homes. The fighting continued on Wednesday afternoon, reports said.

Reports quoting a Thai Army spokesman said a civilian was killed overnight in Thailand's border province of Buriram.

Cambodia said Army troops on both sides of the border exchanged shots early on Wednesday at two sites along the disputed border.

Cambodia and Thailand share an 800-kilometer land border. Their claims over the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple, which is on the Cambodian side of a vague boundary, has been a cause for a long-standing feud between the South East Asian neighbors.

Both sides built up military forces along the border when the shrine was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2008, making it a regular flashpoint between the two nations.

by RTT Staff Writer

Cambodia proposes talks with Thailand in early May

Cambodian soldiers inspect a multi-rocket launcher near the Cambodian-Thai border in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, 26 April 2011. Border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops after four days of fighting killed and injured soldiers on both sides and forced thousands of civilians to evacuate their villages near two disputed temples. Both sides blame the other for instigating the fighting. EPA/MAK REMISSA

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

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Bangkok/Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed on Wednesday that he and Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva meet at a regional summit in early May to discuss their border conflict.

Six days of fighting between the two nations have left at least 13 soldiers and one Thai civilian dead, and about 60 people wounded on both sides.

Cambodia said the border was quiet Wednesday afternoon.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Hun Sen proposed the meeting at the Association of South-East Asian Nations' (ASEAN) summit in Jakarta, scheduled for May 7-8.

'It would be direct talks between (him and Abhisit),' he said.

There was no official response from Thailand concerning Hen Sun's proposal that the prime ministers talk at ASEAN, but Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thingphakdi suggested earlier Wednesday they would like to solve the conflict before the regional summit.

Earlier Wednesday, Phnom Penh condemned Bangkok's threat to use military action to force Cambodian troops from areas that Thailand considers in dispute.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said officials considered Thailand's decision 'tantamount to a declaration of war against Cambodia.'

A Thai government spokesman said Tuesday that the cabinet had passed a three-part resolution that focused on military retaliation against claimed Cambodian incursions, diplomatic efforts to arrange bilateral talks, and reviewing all cooperation with Cambodia.

Koy Kuong said the part relating to military action was an unacceptable threat.

On Wednesday, Thailand confirmed it had pulled out of ceasefire talks scheduled for Phnom Penh. Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Keowkamnerd said the decision was made after Cambodian media reported that Thailand had only agreed to the talks because it was losing.

But Cambodian spokesman Phay Siphan dismissed that as 'just a cover-up,' and said only one article on a Cambodian website had suggested Thailand was losing the border clashes.

'It was not a TV commentary or on the radio - just one website,' said Phay Siphan. 'And why should the Thai minister of defence mind that much about the media? He should not be affected by the media.'

Indonesia has tried to mediate, and proposed putting observers along the contested border. However that failed Monday when Thailand objected.

On Tuesday, a Thai government spokesman said Bangkok would agree to border monitors, provided Cambodia pulled its troops out of Preah Vihear temple, near another disputed border area. The temple was awarded to Cambodia by an international court in 1962.

Phay Siphan said Wednesday that condition was unacceptable.

'They cannot order us to pull out of our land. It is de jure and de facto Cambodia,' he said.

Each side has blamed the other for the fighting, which started on Friday along Cambodia's northwest border near two temples known as Ta Krabei and Ta Moan.

Cambodia said Wednesday that more than 31,000 of its citizens had fled the border region, while Thailand said a similar number of its civilians had been evacuated from their villages.

Thailand has blamed UNESCO for escalating the tensions with its decision in 2008 to list the 11th-century temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site, despite Thai claims that a 4.6-square-kilometre area near the temple is still the subject of a five-decade border demarcation dispute.

Thai Defence Minister ready for truce talks: local reports

http://news.xinhuanet.com/

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2011-04-27

BANGKOK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would be open to having talks on ceasefire with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh after he returns from a visit to China, Bangkok Post online quoted his secretary as saying on Wednesday.

Gen. Noppadol Inthapanya said Gen. Prawit left for China on Wednesday morning for a visit at the invitation of the Chinese defence minister issued during his visit to Thailand several months ago.

The China trip had long been planned and could not be postponed, he said.

"In fact, Gen. Prawit did not have an appointment to meet Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday, May 27, when he was scheduled to leave for China. However, Gen. Prawit said that on his return from China on Saturday he would seek a meeting with Gen Tea Banh provided that the situation has returned to normal," Gen. Noppadol said.

Gen. Prawit earlier planned to hold talks with his Cambodian counterpart on Wednesday but it was later postponed.

The army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, however, said that the reason behind the postponement was due to some Cambodia media reports saying Thailand admitted defeat as the country agreed on truce talks. Moreover, the defence minister would wait for a few days to see Phnom Penh's sincerity before he would re-schedule the meeting.

Gen Noppadol said that by holding talks with Gen. Tea Banh did not mean Thailand admitted defeat but the defence minister was firm about solving the problem through bilateral mechanisms.

Ceasefire talks was raised Tuesday evening after the border fighting between the two countries had continued for five straight days since April 22, leaving at least a dozen of soldiers and civilians on both sides dead. Some 27,000 Thais living along the border near clash zone were evacuated to makeshift camps while about 23,000 Cambodian were forced to flee their houses.

Editor: Zhang Xiang

Thai soldiers wounded in latest clashes

http://www.upi.com/

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Published: April 27, 2011

BANGKOK, April 27 (UPI) -- Sporadic fighting continued for a fifth day on the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border, with 10 Thai soldiers wounded since the weekend.

Soldiers exchanged fire in a disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple and other areas along the border.

Thai army spokesman Col. Prawit Hookaew said the soldiers were wounded in a clash on the border in Surin province when Cambodian soldiers attacked Ta Kwai and Ta Muen Thom temple ruins at 3 a.m., but they were repulsed.

Sporadic small arms fire and some heavy artillery shells were exchanged throughout the day and into the evening, Prawit said. At one point Cambodian soldiers fired at a Thai air force F16 fighter that was flying along the border.

Prawit said Thai forces must be careful when exchanging fire with Cambodian soldiers dug in near the Preah Vihear temple because there are many civilians close Cambodian positions.

"I can assure you that we can protect our sovereignty with our border defense forces," Prawit told reporters.

"Negotiation is out of the question because every movement on the Cambodian side is commanded solely by (Cambodian Prime Minister) Hun Sen. Last night seven or eight artillery rounds were fired at us across the border and one of them landed (4-5 miles) inside Thai territory, near Phanom Dong Rak hospital," Prawit said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement Washington was "deeply concerned" by the reports of violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

"We strongly urge both sides to exercise restraint, refrain from provocative acts and immediately take all necessary steps to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict," she said.

One of the main areas in the dispute is less than 2 square miles around Preah, since 2008 a World Heritage Site. The temple is in the Dangrek Mountains 300 miles east of Bangkok on Cambodia's northern border.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple was on Cambodian land but the some access to the mountaintop structure passes through the Thai side, a route that Thai troops occasionally seal off.

Around 2,000 troops from both sides are stationed on border patrol. In one of the previous cross-border incidents, in October 2008, two Cambodian troops died and seven Thai troops were wounded in a gun battle lasting an hour.

Clinton's comments come after Association of South East Asian Nations Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan -- a former foreign minister of Thailand -- added his voice to that of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Pitsuwan appealed for both countries to show restraint and stop fighting that also claimed four lives last weekend.

"The world and ASEAN have been alarmed by the new outbreak of violent and fatal clashes along the Cambodian-Thai border," Pitsuwan said.

"I can only add my voice to that call for a peaceful solution to a long simmering tension between our two ASEAN member states. There is really no other alternative to a genuine dialogue between the two sides."

In February, Ban said he was "deeply concerned" about the latest fighting after several years of peace, even though both sides disputed the border in the mountainous region. He called on both sides to "exercise maximum restraint."

Thailand is reviewing its economic and political cooperation with Cambodia, ahead of meetings between Thai and Cambodian politicians at an ASEAN meeting in Indonesia next week. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is to meet Thursday with ASEAN Chairman Marty Natalegawa.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva instructed all ministries to review all areas of their cooperation with Cambodia.

Inconvenience: Blind man claims brutal beating

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

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Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:02Thik Kaliyann

Inconvenience

A blind man in Banteay Srei district, Siem Reap province, yesterday accused Apsara Authority officials of beating him during an investigation of his toilet.

Villager Hok Vet admits he had replaced his wooden toilet with a concrete one without permission, but claims he was beaten during a subsequent raid by Apsara officials. He also claims substantial damage to his home was caused and that US$2,500 was stolen.

“If they only destroyed the toilet, I could accept that. But how can they justify ravaging my home and taking my money,” he said.

His neighbour Ouk Chan Dara, claims Apsara employees hit the blind man several times during the raid despite his disabilities, saying: “I saw them hit him like an animal.”

Yeang Savoeun, a spokesman for Apsara Authority who participated in the raid, called Hok Vet’s allegations “fiction” and said no illegal actions took place. “He didn’t get approval from Apsara to build the toilet. It was erected in an area where you cannot construct without Apsara’s permission.”

Thailand acts with restraint: Suthep

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Thailand has acted with restraint to ensure a measured response to border skirmishes, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Wednesday during the House query session on the Thai-Cambodian dispute.

"Thailand, its government and citizens want peace and strive for friendly relations with neighbouring countries; we are not a war-monger nation," he said, calling for bilateral negotiations to settle the dispute.

Suthep said the country had never provoked nor initiated the border attacks, which began in Surin on Friday, but was obligated to defend its territorial integrity.

He said he suspected the unresolved dispute related to Preah Vihear Temple might have triggered the Cambodian military attacks.

The Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes would not escalate into a full-blown war even though the Cambodian side appeared unwilling to stop firing into Thai territory, he said.

"Although Thailand aims for peace, it has to safeguard its territory," he said, explaining why Thai soldiers had to retaliate and return the Cambodian fire.

A number of government MPs took the floor to voice concern on the Thai-Cambodia border.

Bhum Jai Thai MP Sanong Thapaksornnarong from Buri Ram said he questioned the timing of the early election when the country was on the brink of a war with Cambodia.

He called on his fellow lawmakers to unite in defending the country, attacking certain opposition MPs who he said had adopted the Pheu Cambodia Party in lieu of their Pheu Thai Party.

He also alleged that foreign troops were assisting Cambodia to attack Thailand.

Puea Pandin MP Somkiat Soralamba said he suspected Cambodia took the military action to retaliate against the protests led by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Makkhawan Bridge.

The PAD rally organisers had made insulting remarks against the Cambodian prime minister for months, he said.

He also voiced concern that the fighting would escalate due to the presence of F-16 fighter aircraft at the border areas.

In the government rebuttal, Suthep said the F-16 jets were conducting a training flight not linked to the skirmishes.

Cambodia and Thailand Battle, A World At War?

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April 27, 2011

By Dennis Behreandt

Violence continues to spread across the world, with the latest fighting breaking out between Thailand and Cambodia.

The Singapore Straits Times reported on Sunday that fighting at the Thai-Cambodia border had continued into a third day.

“Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged heavy weapons fire for the third straight day on Sunday, officials from both countries said, after clashes on their joint border left 10 dead,” the paper noted.

The most recent clash follows a cease-fire that had lasted for two months. Military officials involved in the hostilities acknowledged that both sides had exchanged mortar and artillery fire.

“What we can confirm is it involves artillery shell fire,” Cambodian commander Suos Sothea said.

An official from Thailand said the Cambodians fired first, the Straits Times reported.

According to the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “said he was troubled by reports of renewed fighting” between the two nations.

“In a statement released by his spokesperson,” the UN said, “Mr. Ban said he … believes that the dispute cannot be resolved by military means and urged the two countries to engage in serious dialogue to find a lasting solution.”

By Sunday, however, that seemed increasingly unlikely. The Bangkok Post reported that Thai officials believe that Cambodia is attempting to occupy and seize temples near the countries disputed border region.

“Phnom Penh has reportedly removed soldiers and tanks from its Preah Vihear military base, next to the disputed main border area near Si Sa Ket province, to fortify its troops near the two temples at the Thai-Cambodian border in Surin’s Phanom Dong Rak district, said army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd citing a late military report,” the Post said.

Thai military officials also claimed that Cambodian troops were building fortifications in the area.

The Cambodians, meanwhile, claim that Thai troops have used cluster bombs and chemical weapons during the fighting.

“They (Thai troops) have not only fired poisonous smoke on our troops, but they have also used cluster bombs to attack on Cambodian troops and surrounding villages,” Suos Sothea saidaccording to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Meanwhile, in a sign of a probable escalation of the hostilities, the Bangkok Post reported that “Both sides were bringing in reinforcements right along the border including heavy weaponry, heightening fears” of a wider war.

The fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border has broken out as wars and violence continue to spread throughout the Middle East.

In Libya, forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi fired artillery shells and rockets at the besieged city of Misrata on Sunday. Doctors there reported that as many as 32 people had been killed over the previous two days due to the attacks.

Also in Libya, U.S. Predator drones conducted their first strikes in support of rebel forces. NATO acknowledged that the drones “destroyed a Qadhafi regime Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL) in the vicinity of Misrata” at about 1100 GMT on April 23.

President Obama authorized use of the drones in Libya on April 21. Speaking about the use of Predator drones in Libya, Marine Corps General James E. Cartwright said the craft have an “ability to get down lower and therefore, to be able to get better visibility, particularly on targets that have started to dig themselves into defensive positions.”

In addition to the ongoing civil war in Libya, tensions remain high elsewhere in the Middle East as well, particularly in Syria.

According to the Los Angeles Times, up to 300 protestors have been killed in recent weeks by plainclothes and uniformed government security personnel. The paper reported that as many as 120 had been killed in the past two days.

__________________

The Moral Liberal associate editor, Dennis Behreandt, is the Founder and Editor In Chief of the American Daily Herald, and former long-time contributor, serving both as Senior and Managing Editor, to The New American magazine, writing hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from natural theology to history and from science and technology to philosophy. Mr. Behreandt’s research interests include the period of late antiquity in European history as well as Medieval and Renaissance history.

Cambodian border trade still brisk

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Published: 27/04/2011 at 12:39 PM
Online news: Learning From News

Growth continues in exports to Cambodia of automobiles, motorcycles, sugar, textiles, and cosmetics and imports of agricultural products, minerals and wood.


The photo above is of young Cambodian children and their push-carts carrying goods and farm products across the border at the Aranyaprathet checkpoint near Bangkok.

Though it may not contribute much to official trade statistics, this kind of trade is essential to the livelihoods of many lower-income people who live along the border.

The following is part of a larger article which may be read here.

THAILAND-CAMBODIA CONFLICT: Business community seeks quick fix to clashes by Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Phusadee Arunmas and Parista Yuthamanop

Businesspeople are calling for a quick resolution to border disputes with Cambodia, warning that continued clashes will hurt border trade and bilateral investment sentiment...

Border trade so far affected only slightly.

...According to the Commerce Ministry, border trade between Thailand and Cambodia last year totalled 55.41 billion baht, up 22.1% from a year earlier, with Thai exports making 51.11 billion baht and imports 4.29 billion, up 72.3%.

Despite sporadic border disputes, Thai-Cambodian border trade keeps rising, up 14.3% between January and March to 16.1 billion baht, including 14.54 billion baht in Thai exports, up 8.9%.

Major exports from Thailand include automobiles, motorcycles, sugar, fabrics and textiles, and cosmetics, while imports are mainly agricultural products, minerals and wood. Thailand also exports fruits and vegetables, food and sugar to Vietnam through Cambodia.

Border trade with Cambodia takes place mainly through Sa Kaeo and Trat provinces, representing up to 90% of the total between the neighbours.

Apart from border trade, Thailand last year invested 31 million baht through the Cambodia Investment Board, where it ranked 15th. Taiwan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia were the top investors in the country.

From 1994 to 2009, Thailand invested in 81 projects in Cambodia totalling $226.59 million or 7.02 billion baht. Nine projects are hotels worth 4.29 billion baht, followed by investments in the agricultural industry worth 4.35 billion, and garment and textile ventures worth 221 million.

Thai-Cambodian border trade currently represents only 7.1% of total border trade between Thailand and neighbouring countries, while the trade values in the conflict areas in Surin and Si Sa Ket make up 0.2% of total border trade, " said Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai. "Border trade is therefore unlikely to be affected if the clashes are limited only to the two provinces"...

(Source: Bangkok Post, THAILAND-CAMBODIA CONFLICT, Business community seeks quick fix to clashes, 27/04/2011, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Phusadee Arunmas and Parista Yuthamanop, link)

conflict - an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง, ความไม่ลงรอยกัน, การต่อสู้, ความขัดแย้ง

business community - all the the businesses in a country, a city or a region
quick fix - some action that can be take quickly to solve a problem
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
trade statistics - official numbers collected and published by the government that describe what goods and how much goods are being bought and sold between countries
brisk - moving quickly

Aranyaprathet - the closest Cambodian border town to Bangkok (only 3 hours away), day tourists now travel to the border town for its markets and casinos, foreign tourists travel to the town to extend their visas in so-called "visa-runs", formerly the important train and border stop between Bangkok and Phnom Penh before the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975 (See Wikipedia)

livelihood - some activity such as a job or a small business that provides you with the money you need to live and support your family การดำรงชีวิต, การครองชีพ, การดำรงชีพ, ทางดำรงชีพ, หากิน, การเลี้ยงชีพ
push-cart - a small vehicle or cart that you push along my hand, also "pushcart" รถเข็น
checkpoint - a place along the border of two countries, where goods and people are checked and inspected before being allowed to enter the country ด่านตรวจ, จุดตรวจสอบ

X calling for Y - group or person X is asking for action Y to be taken

resolution (noun) - the solving of a problem
resolve (verb) - to solve a problem
resolve a problem - solve a problem

dispute - a disagreement or argument between two groups or people
clash - a fight between two groups or people
resolve dispute - solve and end a disagreement or argument between two groups or people
resolution to a dispute - the act of solving a dispute

border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
bilateral - involving two groups or countries สองข้าง, เกี่ยวกับกลุ่มทางการเมืองสองกลุ่ม
investment - taking your money and putting it into projects to make a profit or earn interest (buying stock shares, bonds, real estate)
sentiment - a thought, opinion or idea based on a feeling about a situation, or a way of thinking about something กระแส, แนวความคิด, ความคิดเห็น, อารมณ์ทางความคิด
sentiment - how investors and financial experts feel about the economy, whether it will get better or worse in the near future

sporadic - happening from time to time (but not regularly or with any pattern)
garments - clothes
textiles - cloth for clothes (garments), fabric made by weaving or knitting (See Wikipedia)
fabrics - same as textiles
cosmetics - substances that you put on your face, body or skin which are intended to improve its appearance, such as lipstick, mascara or eye-liner that women (and ladyboys) put on their face to look more beautiful เครื่องสำอาง

Banks claim growth in lending and deposits

Photo by: Sovan Philong
A security guard drives past scaffolding that was put in place to prevent landslides at Bokor Mountain, the future site of a Sokha hotel.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

via CAAI

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:01May Kunmakara

Increased lending from the Kingdom’s 30 commercial banks during the first quarter was largely due to increased demand from the domestic agriculture sector, according to National Bank of Cambodia Director General and Spokeswoman Nguon Sokha.

Lending at the end of March totalled US$3.467 billion, a 4.33 percent increase on $3.323 billion extended by Cambodia’s banks on December 31, 2010, she said.

“We see that our commercial banks are increasing loans and deposits after the crisis,” said Ngoun Sokha, adding new lending “is mainly focusing on the agricultural sector, which has greatly increased compared to other [sectors] and business activities.

“The banking sector has improved in line with the whole economy, resulting in more loan accessibility,” she said.

Lending to the construction and real estate sector has languished behind other sectors, she noted.

Nguon Sokha also pointed to an increase in deposits, which totalled $4.001 billion at the end of March, a 3.23 percent rise from $3.876 billion at the end of December last year.

Canadia Bank Vice President Dieter Billmeier wrote that the bank’s total lending increase 37.74 percent during the first quarter to $562 million by the end of March, while deposits increase 41.12 percent to $948 million.

“The economy and business in Cambodia is growing again with a remarkable pace,” he said.

“As far as our loan portfolio is concerned we have a special focus on agriculture and food processing activities nation-wide. But in general we are serving all other sectors and industries.”

He predicted Canadia Bank and the rest of the banking sector would have a strong 2011.

Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia saw its total deposits grow by 29 percent during the quarter to $296 million, and gross loans and advances increase by 38 percent during the quarter to $145 million at March 31, according to its unaudited figures.

“Our loans are mainly granted to service industry, agriculture and micro-finance institutions,” said Gui Anvanith, general manager and board member.

“We have increased our exposure to the agribusiness sector since we believe that this sector will continue to experience sustainable growth in light of better access to international markets as well as stronger government support,” he said.

Kookmin Bank Cambodia President and Chief Executive Officer Jang Ki-sung said the number and amount of its loans increased by 100 percent and 112.6 percent respectively during the quarter. Kookmin launched its first branch in the Kingdom in 2009.

South Korea-based Hwang DBS Commercial Bank, which began operation in July 2009, has seen number of deposits grow to 1,191 and 154 loans customers as of 31 March 2011.

“This growth was complimented by our ability to reach out to more customers in the housing loan and SME sectors ...,” wrote Hwang DBS General Manger Han Peng Kwang. He added the bank had expanded its domestic reach by adding two more branches last year.

Ngoun Sokha said she expects the domestic banking sector to have a strong 2011.

“Relying on our surveys as well as the economic climate in the region and the world, we are in a very favourable environment to make our whole economy better.”

“It will require more loans, to meet the economy’s needs,” she said.

Banks claim growth in lending and deposits

Photo by: Sovan Philong
A security guard drives past scaffolding that was put in place to prevent landslides at Bokor Mountain, the future site of a Sokha hotel.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

via CAAI

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:01May Kunmakara

Increased lending from the Kingdom’s 30 commercial banks during the first quarter was largely due to increased demand from the domestic agriculture sector, according to National Bank of Cambodia Director General and Spokeswoman Nguon Sokha.

Lending at the end of March totalled US$3.467 billion, a 4.33 percent increase on $3.323 billion extended by Cambodia’s banks on December 31, 2010, she said.

“We see that our commercial banks are increasing loans and deposits after the crisis,” said Ngoun Sokha, adding new lending “is mainly focusing on the agricultural sector, which has greatly increased compared to other [sectors] and business activities.

“The banking sector has improved in line with the whole economy, resulting in more loan accessibility,” she said.

Lending to the construction and real estate sector has languished behind other sectors, she noted.

Nguon Sokha also pointed to an increase in deposits, which totalled $4.001 billion at the end of March, a 3.23 percent rise from $3.876 billion at the end of December last year.

Canadia Bank Vice President Dieter Billmeier wrote that the bank’s total lending increase 37.74 percent during the first quarter to $562 million by the end of March, while deposits increase 41.12 percent to $948 million.

“The economy and business in Cambodia is growing again with a remarkable pace,” he said.

“As far as our loan portfolio is concerned we have a special focus on agriculture and food processing activities nation-wide. But in general we are serving all other sectors and industries.”

He predicted Canadia Bank and the rest of the banking sector would have a strong 2011.

Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia saw its total deposits grow by 29 percent during the quarter to $296 million, and gross loans and advances increase by 38 percent during the quarter to $145 million at March 31, according to its unaudited figures.

“Our loans are mainly granted to service industry, agriculture and micro-finance institutions,” said Gui Anvanith, general manager and board member.

“We have increased our exposure to the agribusiness sector since we believe that this sector will continue to experience sustainable growth in light of better access to international markets as well as stronger government support,” he said.

Kookmin Bank Cambodia President and Chief Executive Officer Jang Ki-sung said the number and amount of its loans increased by 100 percent and 112.6 percent respectively during the quarter. Kookmin launched its first branch in the Kingdom in 2009.

South Korea-based Hwang DBS Commercial Bank, which began operation in July 2009, has seen number of deposits grow to 1,191 and 154 loans customers as of 31 March 2011.

“This growth was complimented by our ability to reach out to more customers in the housing loan and SME sectors ...,” wrote Hwang DBS General Manger Han Peng Kwang. He added the bank had expanded its domestic reach by adding two more branches last year.

Ngoun Sokha said she expects the domestic banking sector to have a strong 2011.

“Relying on our surveys as well as the economic climate in the region and the world, we are in a very favourable environment to make our whole economy better.”

“It will require more loans, to meet the economy’s needs,” she said.

Thailand, Cambodia need to prove their commitment to settle dispute peacefully -- Indonesian diplomat

http://news.xinhuanet.com/

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2011-04-27

By Cundoko Aprilianto

JAKARTA, April 27 (Xinhua) - Thailand and Cambodia need to prove their commitment they have made in the meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Indonesia to settle dispute peacefully, an Indonesian official told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

Michael Tene, spokesperson of Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, said that Indonesia is keeping to facilitate efforts for peaceful solution.

"However, we need a political will of both governments and Indonesia keeps trying to push it," said Tene.

He said that Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN is deeply concerned over ongoing hostilities at their border areas between the two countries.

"We repeatedly ask them to stop these hostilities or this military action and urge them to use force that is in line with vision towards the ASEAN Community by 2015. Indonesia calls for both parties to show courage in putting to the fore the urgent need for cease fire," said Tene.

He said that Indonesia recalled that only barely two weeks ago, at the meeting of the JBC in Bogor of West Java province, Cambodia and Thailand had resolved to address the issues between them through diplomacy, however complex the issues are. "We believe that such diplomatic path must be persevered," he said.

According to Tene, actually there are some progresses of diplomacy between both countries as by early February, there was no hostility occurred.

"At that time, we had a successful mediation," he said.

He said that problem between the two countries should not put obstacle for the bloc to reach the ASEAN Community by 2015 and beyond it.

"We realize that there are threats against the goal of the ASEAN Community, including boundary, continent shelf as well of exclusive economic zone as we still have not yet 'managed' the issues well," said Tene.

However, he said, it does not mean that the issues becoming excuses for the countries to become enemies.

"We must settle the issues through negotiations," said Tene.

He also said that the ASEAN must work hard to achieve the safe and peaceful atmosphere.

"We don't take for granted on issues of peace and security. That atmosphere just doesn't fall from the sky. We must work it for years through diplomacy and negotiations. Thank God, we don't have any conflict for years," said Tene.

The border clash occurring nearby Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples in the disputed areas adjacent Thailand's northeastern Surin province early Wednesday morning marked the sixth straight day of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

The six-day deadly clashes occurring since April 22 result in deaths of soldiers on both sides. Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other to launch a new round of border conflicts.

Editor: Chen Zhi

Clashes spark concern for de-mining groups

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Wednesday, 27 April 2011 14:35 Mary Kozlovski


Landmine experts yesterday expressed concern that ongoing border violence could hamper de-mining efforts, as statistics revealed that casualties resulting from mines and unexploded ordnance dropped slightly in the first quarter of this year.

A total of 61 people were killed or injured from January to March this year, compared with 62 over the same period last year, according to figures from the Cambodia Mine/ERW Victim Information System.

Leng Sochea, deputy-secretary general of the Cambodian Mines Action Authority which collects the data, said yesterday that overall figures were “stable” but ongoing border clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops in the border provinces could affect de-mining efforts.

“People are moving away from this area and maybe some de-miners are moving away,” he said. “If we have no proper measures to take the UXO out of the villages maybe it will ... cause the number of casualties to increase next month.”

According to CMVIS data, there was a 20 percent increase in casualties last month, with 24 people killed or injured compared with 20 reported casualties in March last year.

Heng Rattana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, said yesterday that he was not satisfied with the figures.“The high casualty districts are along the border and the fighting [between Cambodia and Thailand] occurs in those areas,” he said. “This creates a difficult environment for us to work and we decide to cease operations and move to areas further from the border.”He added that CMAC wanted “zero victims”.

The provinces with the most recorded casualties resulting from mines and UXO between January 2010 and March this year are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces, all of which are located on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Earlier this month, United Kingdom-based group Cluster Munitions Coalition said it had evidence that Thailand used cluster munitions – which break up into bomblets that often lie dormant for years before exploding – during border clashes with Cambodia in February. Thailand has disputed that the weapons found are classified as clusters, an opinion anti-landmine groups reject.

Fighting continues

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By Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Phnom Penh/Bangkok

The Cambodian government has confirmed that Thailand's defence minister has pulled out of ceasefire talks that were scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The two countries have engaged in five straight days of fighting that have left at least 13 soldiers dead and around 50 wounded on both sides.

Cambodia said shots were exchanged early Wednesday at two sites along the contested border.

On Tuesday the Cambodian Defence Ministry announced that Thailand's Defence Minister, General Prawit Wongsuwan, would meet his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh, something Thai media later confirmed.

But on Wednesday Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan told the German Press Agency dpa that Prawit had cancelled his visit, but had given no reason.

"We didn't trust that they would come at all," he said.

The cancellation of the ceasefire talks was a blow to hopes that the border clashes might end. Indonesia, as current chair of the regional Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, has tried to mediate between the two nations.

Part of that effort was a plan to station Indonesian observers along the contested border, but that failed Monday when Thailand objected to certain aspects of the deal.

On Tuesday a Thai government spokesman said Bangkok would agree to Indonesian border monitors, provided Cambodia pulled its troops out of Preah Vihear temple, near another disputed border area around 150 kilometres east of the recent clashes.

Phay Siphan said that condition was unacceptable to Phnom Penh.

"They cannot order us to pull out of our land - it is de jure and defac to Cambodia," he said on Wednesday. "Thailand is looking for an opportunity to invade and occupy our land."

Phay Siphan said Wednesday that troops were exchanging rifle fire around the ancient temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabei, known in Thai as Ta Muen and Ta Kwai.

He said there was no word on Cambodian casualties, adding that the situation near Preah Vihear temple was quiet.

The clashes started on Friday near Ta Krabei and Ta Moan.

Each side has blamed the other for the fighting over the past six days.

At least eight Cambodians have been killed and 17 wounded, while one is missing. A Thai army spokesman said Tuesday that five Thai soldiers had been killed and 31 injured.

Cambodia said more than 22,000 of its citizens had fled the border region, while Thailand said around 30,000 civilians had been evacuated from their villages.

Thai-Cambodia fighting flares again as talks collapse

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Wed Apr 27, 2011
By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Thai and Cambodian troops clashed with heavy artillery for a sixth day on Wednesday near two disputed 12th-century Hindu temples, the Cambodian defense ministry said following a night of shelling that killed a Thai villager.

Talks between Thai and Cambodian defense ministers to end Southeast Asia's bloodiest border dispute in years were abruptly canceled, dashing hopes of an imminent end to fighting that has killed at least 14 people and sent more than 50,000 into evacuation centres.

Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon had been expected to meet his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Banh, in Phnom Penh, but he instead was flying to China for previously scheduled meetings.

"We welcome talks but only if Cambodia stops the shooting first," said Thai Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took a more conciliatory approach, saying talks between defense ministers have merely been "rescheduled."

Many experts say the fighting over territory and sovereignty is fueled by political interests, as each government seeks to discredit the other by appealing to nationalists at home, especially as Thailand prepares for an election due by July.

A change in government could be in Cambodia's interests.

Analysts said the Thai military could also be flexing its muscles to preserve its sizeable stake in Thailand's political apparatus and to satisfy conservative elites at odds with the country's powerful opposition forces.

Thailand says it wants a bilateral solution to the dispute. Cambodia seeks international mediation and independent monitors in the disputed area as agreed by Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers in Jakarta in February.
"The two countries appear to be calling for different kinds of talks. Cambodia is calling for ceasefire talks, which Thailand says are pointless," said Surachart Bumrungsuk, a security expert at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

MAJOR TEST FOR ASEAN

Those differences are posing a major test for ASEAN, a 10-member bloc with ambitions to become a regional community by 2015 and a viable counterweight to China's growing clout.

It is also a potential embarrassment for Indonesia, whose foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, had brokered the U.N.-backed ceasefire pact in February that would have placed unarmed Indonesian military observers along the disputed border.

The Thai army objected and the deal never went through.

Thailand's foreign minister is due to meet with Natalegawa on Thursday in Jakarta.

The latest fighting began early in the morning with heavy artillery near the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, Cambodia's defense ministry said.

Sovereignty over the ancient, stone-walled Hindu temples -- Preah Vihear, Ta Moan and Ta Krabey -- and the jungle of the Dangrek Mountains surrounding them has been in dispute since the withdrawal of the French from Cambodia in the 1950s.

"We are moving people further away from the border because Cambodia is using longer-range weapons," Surin Province Deputy Governor Yutthana Viriyakitti told Reuters.
Before Friday, Cambodian and Thai soldiers jointly patrolled the area largely without incident. Villagers on both sides, many of whom share the same ethnic makeup, would mingle each day.

"We are neighbors and people here want to live in peace," said a Thai villager who identified herself as Samorn. "I don't understand why talks aren't working."

In the Thai town of Karb Cherng, villagers returned to damaged houses and shelled farmland.

Fighting also erupted on Tuesday at Preah Vihear 150 km (93 miles) to the east, scene of intense clashes February 4-7 that killed 11 people. An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia 49 years ago, but both countries lay claim to a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) patch of land around it.

The temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, a decision fiercely opposed by Thailand on grounds that the land around Preah Vihear was never demarcated.

(Additional reporting by Ambika Ahuja in Bangkok and Sukree Sukplang in Surin. Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)

Border dispute on 2 temples could negotiate bilaterally: Cambodian PM

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April 27, 2011

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that the border dispute on temples of Ta Mon and Ta Krabei could negotiate bilaterally.

Hun Sen made the remarks at the conference of Cambodian Women Association for Peace and Development on Wednesday.

However, Hun Sen said that as the issue of Preah Vihear temple has been raised to the UNSC and ASEAN, so "We have to respect the role of ASEAN, all the negotiations about the disputed border areas near Preah Vihear temple must be with the participation of the third party."

"But for the disputed areas such as Ta Mon temple and Ta Krabei temple, Cambodia and Thailand can negotiate bilaterally," he said.

He called on Thailand for a cease-fire, saying that "Cambodia doesn't want the conflict to spread further." But at the same time the premier stressed that "Cambodia is small, poor and small armed forces, but don't forget that ants can hurt elephant."

Hun Sen, meanwhile, said that "Cambodia will raise the issue in the ASEAN summit next month, so Abhisit (Thai prime minister) and I can negotiate in the ASEAN summit." "Even there is no Cambodia- Thai border issues on the agenda in the ASEAN summit, I will also raise the issue with ASEAN leaders," he added.

The ASEAN summit will be held on May 7-8 in Jakarta, Indonesia. "Cambodia wants to solve all issues peacefully, not use weapons, " Hun Sen said. He said that until Wednesday, Thai troops still launched artillery shelling into Cambodian territory.

The latest in a series of deadly clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops have occurred for five straight days from April 22-26 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province and on April 26 at the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, the World Heritage site.

The clashes left at least a dozen of killed and more than 30 injured on both sides.

The fighting has not only cost lives, damaged to the temples, but also forced tens of thousands of civilians of both countries to flee for safe shelters.

Source: Xinhua

Cambodia: Thai threat "tantamount to a declaration of war"

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Apr 27, 2011

Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government on Wednesday condemned Bangkok's threat to use military action to force Cambodian troops from areas that Thailand considers in dispute.

Phom Penh 'considers the above decision of (the Thai) government as tantamount to a declaration of war against Cambodia,' Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said.

On Tuesday, a Thai government spokesman said the cabinet had passed a three-part resolution that focused on military retaliation against claimed Cambodian incursions, diplomatic efforts to arrange bilateral talks, and reviewing all cooperation with Cambodia.

Koy Kuong said the part relating to military action was an unacceptable threat.

'(Cambodia) condemns in the strongest terms Thailand's threat and belligerent actions to use its larger and materially superior military might to take control over the Cambodian territory recognized by the International Court of Justice in its 1962 judgment,' he said.

That court ruling referred specifically to the 11th-century temple of Preah Vihear, the scene of fighting on Tuesday and sporadic clashes since mid-2008. Both countries also dispute other areas of their common border. The court awarded the temple to Cambodia, but did not rule on nearby areas.

Koy Kuong said Thailand's assessment of what constituted disputed areas was based on maps that Cambodia did not recognize.

Wednesday saw the sixth consecutive day of fighting at another disputed border location, which has left at least 14 dead and around 60 wounded on both sides.

Thailand earlier announced its defence minister had pulled out of planned ceasefire talks scheduled for Wednesday in Phnom Penh.

Thai PM denies media report Thailand exits planned ceasefire talks

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BANGKOK, April 27 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday denied a Cambodian media report that Thailand has pulled out of planned ceasefire talks with Phnom Penh, saying Thailand's defence minister postponed his trip to Cambodia due to his mission to China.

Mr Abhisit said Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon cancelled travelling to Cambodia for talks with his counterpart Tea Banh on Wednesday as he is busy on a mission to China from April 27-30. Talks with Cambodia will be rescheduled later.

Gen Prawit said before leaving to China that the Beijing trip was fixed earlier, and denied he was travelling to China to ask for help negotiating with Cambodia. Talks with Phnom Penh will be rescheduled once he returns from China, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit cancelled his daily schedule on Wednesday in order to travel to Surin to visit hospitalised Thai soldiers who were wounded in the border clashes and boost morale of local residents at Ban Khok Klang evacuation centre.

Mr Abhisit's trip follows new of one civilian being killed in Surin's Kap Choeng district.

Shells dropped on about ten villages in Surin and Buri Ram damaging ten homes. Army sources said over 60 BM-21 Grad multiple rockets fell in Thailand.

However, the sounds of gunfire ceased Wedneday and some local residents in Nongkhanna village in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district returned home to remove belongings from their houses. (MCOT online news)

Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes continue for 6th day

Cambodian soldiers load rocket shells in Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia, April 26, 2011. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday ordered review of overall relations with Cambodia in the wake of border clashes between the two countries. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

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BANGKOK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The border clash occurring nearby Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples in the disputed areas adjacent Thailand's northeastern Surin province early Wednesday morning marked the sixth straight day of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

New round of small arms firing erupted near the 13th-century temple ruins at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning and lasted for thirty minutes, according to Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the Thai army spokesman.

The spokesman told Xinhua over the telephone that Cambodian troops move toward the disputed areas triggered firing which involved exchange of small arms and mortar shelling.

Regarding gunfire exchanges Tuesday's night which flared at around 10 p.m., Col. Sansern said it took place as Cambodia used tanks and heavy arms to attack Thai soldiers in order to capture Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples, located 150 kilometers west of contentious Preah Vihear temple.

The six-day deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand occurring since April 22 left five Thai soldiers dead and at least 57 injured as well as killed one civilian, according to the spokesman. Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other to launch a new round of border conflicts.

Cambodian PM calls for truce with Thailand

"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," the country's Prime Minister Hun Sen has said


via CAAI

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday called for a truce with Thailand as border clashes that have left 14 people dead on both sides entered their sixth day.

"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," the premier said in a speech in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, adding that he was ready to hold talks with his Thai counterpart at a regional summit in Jakarta in early May.

Planned truce talks were abruptly cancelled after Thailand's defence minister pulled out of a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart which had been scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

Talks cancelled as Thailand-Cambodia clashes continue

Thousands of villagers have been displaced by the border fighting


via CAAI

27 April 2011

Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged fire again along their disputed border, as the death toll from six days of conflict rose to 14.

The fighting took place near the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, where most of the clashes have taken place.

A Thai spokesmen said a Thai villager was killed by rocket fire on Tuesday.

Each side has accused the other of starting the conflict. Plans for ministerial-level talks today on the dispute were cancelled by Thailand.

"We decided last night to cancel (Defence Minister) Gen Prawit's trip to Phnom Penh today after some Cambodia media reported Thailand agreed to ceasefire talks after it admitted defeat and losses," said army spokesman Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

Parts of the Thai-Cambodian border have never been formally demarcated, causing continuing tensions and firing nationalist sentiment in both countries.

There has been sporadic fighting in recent years. Clashes took place three years ago in the run-up to a general election in Cambodia, and this latest outbreak of violence comes with the Thai government due to call an election in coming weeks.

The renewed fighting began on Friday, near two disputed temples that lie in a jungle area that both sides claim.

On Tuesday clashes were also reported 160km (100 miles) further east at the hill-top temple of Preah Vihear, a flashpoint for the dispute.

Cambodian officials said Wednesday's fighting began in the early morning and continued for several hours.

Thousands of villagers have been displaced by the fighting, in which eight Cambodian and five Thai soldiers have been killed.

Border casinos claim recent custom drop

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Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:00Sieam Bunthy

Casino owners along the Cambodia-Thailand border yesterday noted a sharp drop in business since clashes again broke out between the two countries near Oddar Meanchey province.

Chea Kea, owner of the Mongkodpich casino in the border province of Pailin, said that customer traffic had fallen significantly since the fighting began in February and restarted on April 22.

“Since early February I have lost more than $100,000 per month, and visitors to the casino are down 40 percent since the most recent fighting,” he said.

Most of Mongkodpich’s customers are Thai citizens, he said.

Officials at the O’Smach international border gate in Oddar Meanchey said that the area’s two main gambling centres – Royal Hill Casino and O’Smach Resort Casino – also had suffered declines for the same reasons.

“Since Thailand closed their border [at O’Smach] on April 22, there aren’t many customers coming to the casinos because 99 percent of those who come to play are Thai,” said Nguy Cheang, deputy director at the O’Smach gate.

He said he expects business to return to normal once the gate is reopened and the conflict subsides.

Loem Heng, owner of Royal Hill Casino Loem Heng agreed, saying that Thai customers will cross the border once the fighting has stopped.

“It is normal when there is a problem like this,” he said. “We know that when the gate is opened there will be business again.”

He declined to discuss the size of the casino’s loss.

Sources at O’Smach Resort reiterated that operations had slowed since the fighting began.

The casino could close if the conflict grows any worse, said a company official requesting anonymity.

Officials at the Choam and O’Smach border points yesterday confirmed the two gates remained closed since the restart of fighting in April.

Talking Finance: Understanding bank lending

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Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:00Anthony Galliano

Firms around the world depend on several sources of capital to finance their businesses. The stock market provides long-term equity financing, the bond markets provides debt financing, and the bank market provides loans. Cambodia will soon have an equity and bond market, but historically, businesses have been financed through owner’s equity and bank borrowing.

Thus banks play an extremely vital role given the absence of alternatives. Understanding how banks evaluate loans and their decision-making process is extremely helpful for potential borrowers. Banks strongly prefer companies with an operating history and with several years of profitability. Therefore obtaining financing as a start-up company may be difficult. The bank will have lending policies based on the local market regulations and the bank’s own rules and procedures.

Lending to certain industries may be restricted for reasons such as the impact to the environment or for moral reasons. Banks will also diversify their lending portfolio by applying lending limits per industry. Local regulations must be adhered to. For example, a bank may only lend 20 percent of its capital to a single borrower, this being known as the single borrower lending limit.

Cambodia’s lending rates have improved over the last decade, yet interest rates are still perceived as higher than international market rates. How a bank prices a loan is based on several factors. The “cost of funds” is generally what a bank has to pay its depositors. This is greatly influenced by supply and demand. If the market is flush with deposits, interest rates on deposits will be lower. They will also be lower if banks restrict lending as there is less need for deposits.

If banks are actively lending and require deposits, then rates on deposits will be higher. Lending costs are also influenced by the banks’ own operating costs and the risk on the borrower. Longer tenors are priced higher as the risk on long-term loans is greater than short-term loans.

An unprepared borrower is normally its greatest enemy. There must be a clear purpose for the loan, and the uses of the requested borrowing amount must be coherently explained and verified if possible.

How the loan will be repaid and in what timeframe must be substantiated. The character of the borrower is a very important aspect of the lending decision. The history of the owners and management will weigh heavily. The competitive position of the borrower in its industry is another key determinant.

Cambodian banks, almost without exception, lend on a secured basis. Thus the value and quality of collateral pledged influences the amount the bank will lend.

Policies of banks vary. Occupied land may be given a collateral value of 50 percent of its market, building 40 percent, and vacant land less. Land and building are immovable collateral and strongly preferred.

The loan documents will include covenants. Affirmative covenants require the borrower to take certain actions, such as filing of financial statements and maintaining insurance. Negative covenants restrict the borrower from doing certain things such as taking on additional debt. These should be reviewed with scrutiny as they can lead to events of default which allow lenders to demand repayment in advance of the due date of the loan.

The complexities of obtaining a loan and satisfying the bank’s requirements are demanding. A well prepared borrower will be in a much better position.


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Anthony Galliano is Chief Executive Officer at Cambodian Investment Management. anthonygalliano@covenantim.com