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Cambodia’s Statement over Renewed Armed Provocation by Thailand
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia has issued a statement concerning renewed armed provocation by Thailand.
The full statement dated today reads as follows:
“From 21h00 on 15 February to 05h00 on 16 February 2011, Thai armed forces, in flagrant violation of the recommendation of the United Nations Security Council on 14 February 2011, fired many grenades and numerous rounds of 81 mm mortars and machine guns into PHNOM TRAP area located approximately 1,600 meters from the border, in the vicinity of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR. Unfortunately, some of the grenades fired by Thai soldiers exploded and injured Thai soldiers themselves, after hitting tree branches and bounced back.
In respect of the recommendation of the United Nations Security Council on 14 February 2011, Cambodian troops exercised utmost restraint and did not respond to this renewed provocation from the Thai armed forces, so as to maintain an environment conducive for the success of the meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 22 February 2011, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This violation of the ceasefire by the Thai armed forces clearly shows that the real intention behind Thailand’s insistence on resolving the matter BILATERALLY is to use its overwhelmingly superior military forces to take over Cambodian territory in the vicinity of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR.” –AKP
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Cambodia Loses Trust on Bilateral Negotiations with Thailand
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – Cambodia has already brought the border issue to the United Nations Security Council and UNESCO as it lost trust on bilateral negotiations with Thailand.
National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin said here on Feb. 15 during a meeting with H.E. Hoang Binh Quan, Special Envoy of Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Chairman of CPV’s Commission for External Relations.
In the meeting, Samdech Heng Samrin briefed his guest on the recent Thai troops’ aggression on Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Samdech Heng Samrin further expressed deep thanks to the Vietnamese government and people for their support and assistance to Cambodia in all fields.
In reply, H.E. Hoang Binh Quan informed Samdech Heng Samrin of the results of the 11th Congress of the CPV and the Vietnamese political strategy 2011-2020 to develop Vietnam to be a modern industrial country.
During his stay in the Kingdom from Feb. 13 to 15, H.E. Hoang Binh Quan was received in a royal audience by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and paid courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim and Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.
He also met with H.E. Say Chhum, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Cambodian People’s Party Central Committee and leaders of the FUNCINPE party. –AKP
By LIM Nary
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PM Hun Sen Appears Near Cambodian-Thai Border for Groundbreaking of National Highway 59
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hen Sen yesterday appeared in vicinity of Cambodian-Thai border in northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey to preside over the groundbreaking of National Highway 59, an important strategic road for the country’s territorial integrity.
His appearance took place while the border situation is still remaining tense following a series of recent military attacks by the Thai army on Cambodia’s territory in the areas of Preah Vihear Temple in its war of invasion of Cambodia that claimed 7 lives, wounded 31 others, and caused damages to the temple and a considerable quantity of property.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hen Sen extended thanks and regards to the people and government of the People’s Republic of China for having provided their funds for the development of Cambodia in all domains, saying: “The Government and people of China are the close and historical friend [of Cambodia].”
In general, he said, China has always considered assisting the priority sectors of the Royal Government of Cambodia including water, electricity, roads and human resources by providing continuous support and assistance, and assisted in the defense of peace and national sovereignty and expanded the cooperation with the neighboring countries.
Chinese friend is a country that has assisted Cambodia not only in the internal integration, but also in the integration with the neighboring countries, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hen Sen pointed out.
After completion, he said, the National Highway 59 will certainly become the most important and the strongest as it is the first long-stretching road along the Cambodian-Thai border that stretches on the west corridor of the provinces of Banteay Meanchey and Battambang towards the provincial town of Pailin.
The 144-km National Highway 59 is built with a total fund of more than US$72 million jointly provided by the People’s Republic of China as concessional loan and with financial contribution by the Royal Government of Cambodia, and the project is scheduled to be completed within 36 months until March 2015, said Tram Iv Tek, Minister of Public Works and Transports.
China is a good neighbor, said Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, underlining, “the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia remains in the hearts of our two peoples and in the new circumstances the two peoples have to join hands to consolidate the friendship and expand cooperation in all domains.”
The Chinese Government supports Cambodia in the efforts for poverty alleviation and economic development and China is delighted to see Cambodia have peace, stability and development, he said.
“All other projects including the construction of new port, new Chroy Changvar Bridge and a new bridge over the Tonle Bassac at Takhmao in the future are the new start in a high level of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries to which China will provide a large contribution in the infrastructure building and economic development of Cambodia,” he added.
The reconstruction and development of road and bridge infrastructure of Cambodia under the loans and grants funded by China have so far been completed on a total length of around 1,500 kilometers or equal to approximately 2/3 (two-third) of the length of all national highways under construction in Cambodia. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by Ravuth M.
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PM Calls for Maintaining Trade Exchanges with Thailand
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP –
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has called on the provinces bordering with Thailand to continue trade exchanges as usual.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of National Highway 59 in Poipet of Banteay Meanchey province yesterday, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stressed the government policy to turn all Cambodian border areas with the neighboring countries into a border of peace, friendship and cooperation.
‘We allowed Thai vehicles to enter as far as 30 kilometers to transport the sold agricultural produce to Thailand, while the disputed area is set aside for the resolution in place rather than being spread further,” he said.
He made known that Cambodia-Thailand Trade Exhibition will be held in Phnom Penh on Feb. 17 due to be attended by a Thai deputy prime minister whom he will also meet.
The Chambers of Commerce of Cambodia and Thailand will gather with the participation of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister H.E. Keat Chhon and Cambodian Senior Minister and Commerce Minister H.E. Cham Prasidh, through which the Cambodian premier requested for keeping a good relation with each other. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHIM Nary
Article in English by THOU Peou
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RCAF at Cambodian-Thai Border Receives More Aid
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC)’s Phnom Penh Branch has donated a humanitarian aid for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) at the Cambodian-Thai border through Bayon Radio and Television Foundation.
The handover ceremony was held on Feb. 15 at the Brigade 8 Headquarters in Sa Em of Choam Ksan district. RCAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Gen. Kun Kim, Phnom Penh CRC’s Branch President H.E. Pa Socheat Vong, and Deputy Director General of Bayon Radio and Television Mr. Tith Thavrith were present at the ceremony.
The donation, including foodstuff and basic consumer goods, is worth in total US$40,000. –AKP
By Théng
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OPINION: A Road Map For Peace
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – This is the 21st century. Peace has a chance to be permanently established in the border region between Cambodia and Thailand, especially in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear.
When Council president Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil made the call by saying: “Members of the Security Council urge the parties to establish a permanent ceasefire and to implement it fully,” the UNSC took note that (i) a war broke out, that (ii) there are losses of lives and properties, that (iii) tens of thousand of people face insecurity and uncertainty everyday, and these calamities must stopped. When the Council president added: “The idea is to work in synergy with the regional efforts – and right now regional efforts are in full force – and resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue,” the UNSC has lay down the modalities for “the parties” to work with, which is a “third party mediation” so intensely advocated and demanded by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Marty Natalegawa, Chairman of ASEAN graciously but vigorously took the hard and hot ball to his court by echoing the UNSC president in the following term: “obviously, this is a matter that will have to be resolved in final analysis bilaterally between the two sides but it does not mean there is not a space and a role for regional countries to play.”
The modalities are set, and the rules of bilateral negations and mediation will certainly be set at the 22 February ASEAN meeting, in Indonesia. Over there, reasons, justice, rules of law will win over lies, misrepresentation, distortion of the facts, innuendo, off-base speculation and wild suggestions.
Pen Ngoeun
Senior advisor and member of the Academic Committee
Puthisastra University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Former Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Business and Economics
At Pannasastra University of Cambodia,
Former Assistant Controller at Phibro Inc
A subsidiary of Citigroup Inc., USA, until 2000
(The comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Government of Cambodia.)
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DPM Hor Namhong: UNSC’s Meeting in New York Is a Big Success for Cambodia
Phnom Penh, February 16, 2011 AKP – Cambodia has enjoyed great successes at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s meeting on Cambodia-Thailand border dispute held on Feb. 14 in New York.
“Cambodia is successful in three areas: the bringing of the Preah Vihear Temple issue to the international arena, i.e. to the UNSC; the statement by the UNSC urging both sides to establish a permanent cease-fire; and the ending of bilateral negotiations with Thailand,” said yesterday Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong in an interview by telephone with a local TV channel.
The UNSC has given ASEAN the role to coordinate the Cambodia-Thailand discussion on border conflict, said H.E. Hor Namhong, who participated in the UNSC’s meeting, indicating that the meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers will be held on Feb. 22 in Jakarta and ASEAN will send its observers to the area of Preah Vihear Temple to examine the permanent cease-fire.
Following the UNSC’s close-door meeting, the UNSC President of the month and Brazilian Ambassador to the UN Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti read the press statement of the Council urging the two sides to display maximum restraint, to avoid any action that may aggravate the situation, to establish a permanent cease-fire, to implement it fully, and to resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue.
The Security Council welcomed the upcoming meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers on Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, she said.
From Feb. 4 to 7, fighting between Cambodian and Thai soldiers broke out near the Khmer Temple of Preah Vihear, listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, causing deaths, injuries and damage to both sides. –AKP
By SOKMOM Nimul
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