World Bank Granted US$30 Million to Cambodia to Support Big Health Projects

Posted on 20 July 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 569

“Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Economy and Finance released information that the World Bank has provided a credit of approximately US$30 million to the Royal Government of Cambodia to support the Second Health Sector Support Program [HSSP2], which is a project to promote the health care of Cambodian people, especially it focuses on the health of women, of children, and of the poor.

“Senior Minister and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Keat Chhon, representing Cambodia, signed an agreement to accept the credit with Mr. Ian Porter, Country Director of the World Bank for Cambodia, on Thursday evening [17 June 2008] at the Ministry of Finance.

“According to an announcement of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the project to support the HSSP2 of the Royal Government of Cambodia will be implemented for a period of five years, and up to US$130 million will be spent in total. Now, the World Bank agreed to provide US$30 million, the Australian Agency for International Development [AusAID] granted US$30 million as grant aid, the Department for International Development [DFID] of Britain granted US$50, and the Royal Government of Cambodia contributes US$20 million.

“Senior Minister Keat Chhon said during the signing ceremony that this project aims to support the health strategies of the Royal Government, to promote accesses to, and to receive and to use efficient and qualified health services. He added that the project will be organized following a new mechanism by transferring and by supplying primary health services from non-government organizations to health staff at lower national levels.

“He continued that this project has been created to support the implementation of the 2008 to 2015 health strategic plan of the Royal Government, specifically, this project will contribute to help the Cambodian government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the health sector.

The three Millennium Development Goals in the health sector are (among eight goals):

4.Reduce child mortality
5.Improve maternal health
6.Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

“Professor Eng Huot, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health, said that over the past decade, the health of Cambodian citizens is improving significantly. The life expectation of men increased from 52 to 58 years, and for women from 56 to 74 years; infant and child mortality declined, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been arrested.

“He added that Cambodia still faces several big problems – the maternity death rate is high, the improvement of the malnutrition situation is slow, health services are expensive, health care is not qualified yet, and accidents and noninfectious diseases increase. He went on to say that now, because of the support through the credit granted by the World Bank and by many other development partners, we expect that these major problems will be reduced.

“Also, Mr. Ian Porter said that the World Bank has been involved to promote the health sector in Cambodia since 1996 through two projects: one project to get rid of infectious diseases, and another project to support the health sector. He continued that the Bank is very pleased to see the HSSP2 off the ground, in line with the Country Assistance Strategy for Cambodia.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4645, 19.7.2008

Military Border Standoff Enters Fifth Day

A Cambodian monk walks past a Thai soldier near Preah Vihear temple Saturday.

By Reporters, VOA Khmer
Original reports from Cambodia and Washington
19 July 2008

Military attaches from at least four countries and Cambodia's top military police commander traveled to Preah Vihear temple near the Thai border Saturday, as a military standoff entered its fifth day.

The military attaches, from Vietnam, China, the US and France, joined Lt. Gen. Sao Sokha near the temple, and soldiers told VOA Khmer the situation was stable.

The military attaches had come in the capacity of "tourists," in order to see the reality of the confrontation, Sao Sokha told reporters Saturday. The diplomats don't want to see either country have a confrontation, which would destroy the mutual interests of both countries, he said.

At least 1,600 soldiers from both sides now occupy land surrounding Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, known in Cambodia as the Prasat pagoda.

Thai Division 6 commander Col. Huong Songnoeun told VOA Khmer Saturday there would be no fighting.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen Friday claiming the construction of the pagoda 200 meters west of Preah Vihear temple was a violation of existing agreements.

"The establishment of the Cambodian community, including construction of a temple and houses, and the stationing of the Cambodian military personnel in the area constitute a continued violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to Agence France-Presse.

Cambodian officials maintain the pagoda and the temple belong to Cambodia.

The week's tensions surround the inclusion of Preah Vihear temple on Unesco's World Heritage list, a decision that sparked opposition protests in Bangkok and led to the resignation of Thailand's foreign minister.

Cambodia Watchdog Council International issued a request to Unesco Thursday asking the organization to request a Thai withdrawal of troops.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers in the pagoda and surrounding land have been mingling together in past days, but they nearly clashed on Thursday, when Thai troops pointed weapons at Cambodian soldiers trying to enter the pagoda.

A joint border committee is scheduled to meet over the standoff on Monday.

Thailand sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day

Thai soldiers on a truck head to reinforce colleagues at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia have deployed troops in a stand-off over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu temple.REUTERS/Nopporn Wong-Anan (THAILAND)

A Thai soldier examines his M-16 rifle in front of a 105mm artillery gun that will be sent to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

A Thai man and his daughter pose for a photo with a 105mm artilery gun heading to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

Thai soldiers sit in a truck towing a 105mm artillery gun in a convoy heading to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

A Thai soldier holds on to the barrel of a 105mm artillery gun that will be sent to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

Thai soldiers sit in a truck towing a 105mm artillery gun during a convoy heading to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

Thai soldiers waits in front of a 105mm artillery gun, part of a convoy heading to reinforce soldiers at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

Thai soldiers on a truck head to reinforce colleagues at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over the Preah Vihear temple.REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang (THAILAND)

Thailand: Demonstrators won't stop anti-gov't protest

Mathaba News Network
2008/07/19
From: MNN

Pledged to bringing down the Thai government, the People's Alliance for Democracy ''PAD'', will not stop its marathon demonstration demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, despite the request of pro-government groups, according to retired Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang.

Gen. Chamlong, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said a pro-government group had presented a letter to the PAD asking its members and supporters to cease their ongoing demonstration in central Bangkok on August 12, the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

The letter said if the rally continues, it would demonstrate that the PAD does not respect the Royal institution. But Gen. Chamlong said the democracy-activist group's members had always shown respect to the Royal institution and had also urged the government to pay attention in a like manner.

He also urged government, military and provincial officials to help prevent future clashes between PAD members and supporters with local residents people as the PAD leaders cannot control demonstrators in each province.

The former Bangkok governor was referring to Thursday's clash between the PAD and local residents in Si Sa Ket province near Preah Vihear temple in which a number of persons from both sides were injured.

The PAD members wanted to march to the temple ruins to protest Cambodia's listing of the temple as a World Heritage site. They were unable to reach the temple after the clash because the army and police had blocked the roads with barbed wire and wooden barricades which succeeded in keeping them out.

Gen. Chamlong said that the PAD rally in the provinces is beyond the control of the PAD leaders because demonstrators voluntarily came and joined it from various locations and communities. (TNA)

Cambodia asks for UN help in Thai border stand-off: Thailand

Cambodian Buddhist monks sit alongside Cambodian soldiers on a road leading to the disputed Preah Vihear temple

AFP - Cambodia has asked the United Nations to intervene in its border dispute with Thailand, a Thai official said on Saturday, the fifth day of a tense stand-off between the neighbours.

More than 600 Thai troops and well over 1,000 Cambodian soldiers are stationed around a small Buddhist pagoda on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of an ancient temple at the centre of the territorial dispute.

"The Thai ambassador to the UN has reported to the Thai government that Cambodia has filed a complaint with the UN over the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia," Thai government spokesman Wichianchote Sukchotrat told AFP.

He said Cambodia wanted the UN to intervene and the Thai government would study the complaint before sending a letter to UN officials.

Military commanders from both sides said they were seeking to calm the soldiers to ensure that violence does not erupt ahead of peace talks planned for Monday.

The confrontation began when three Thai protesters illegally broke across on Tuesday vowing to reclaim the Preah Vihear temple, which they say rightly belongs to them.

US, Chinese, French and Vietnamese embassy staff flew to the disputed territory on Saturday, adding to diplomatic pressure to end the confrontation.

They toured the area and took photographs but did not speak to either side and declined to talk to reporters.

"They came here because they don't want to see a confrontation between the troops of both countries. It is useless for both countries if any armed conflict happens," Sao Sokha, commander of Cambodia's military police said of the officials.

Cambodian and Thai top brass briefly met in the small Buddhist pagoda at the centre of the stand-off Saturday morning to discuss disarming troops stationed there.

"The order from the top is to do whatever it takes to avoid a gunfight. I was talking with him (Thai army Colonel Chay Huay Soongnern) to tell him that the armed forces on the frontlines should stash their weapons away," said Srey Dik, Cambodian army commander overseeing operations.

The standoff nearly erupted into violence late Thursday, when witnesses said troops twice pointed their guns at each other.

The atmosphere was less tense Saturday evening, as some Cambodian and Thai troops put down their weapons and chatted.

Despite that, dozens more black-clad Thai troops were observed crossing into the border area during the day, carrying food along with their rifles.

Cambodian military officials said more than 100 additional Thai troops arrived Saturday, but refused to say how many Cambodian forces had been added to the standoff.

A heavy machine gun could be seen just beyond the border gate on the Thai side earlier Saturday, while a heavy gun faced Thai troops from the Cambodian side.

Cambodian troops, who have been banned from drinking wine to avoid any shooting, are positioned around the area and also stationed with Thais inside the pagoda, which sits on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

The Cambodian commander reiterated his country's claim to own the border territory, including the ancient temple site, and said other countries supported it.

"They recognise the facts. The truth is that Cambodia is the owner of the land here according to the 1904 French-Siam map," he said.

The mood among Cambodians worsened Friday evening when they got word of a letter from Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen saying the addition of Cambodian troops had caused the situation to "deteriorate".

The World Court in 1962 determined the Preah Vihear ruins belong to Cambodia, even though the most accessible entrance lies in Thailand.

The issue has taken on national importance in both countries.

Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, while Thailand has recently been rattled by anti-government protests, driven in part over the handling of the land dispute.

Thailand, Cambodia halt military moves pending Monday talks

MCOT English News

BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) - Thailand and Cambodia agreed to temporary suspend all armed forces movements along the Thai-Cambodian border at Si Sa Ket province which is adjacent to Cambodia's Preah Vihear province of Cambodia, and Thailand's Second Army Area Command is on round-the-clock alert, according to a senior Thai military official.

The Second Army Area Command is responsible for overseeing the northeastern provinces which includes Si Sa Ket. Meanwhile, Pol.Lt-Gen. Vichienchot Sukchokrat, a Thai government spokesman, said he was informed by Don Pramudwinai, Thailand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations that Cambodia has asked for UN help in dealing with the border dispute.

The content of the Cambodian petition is not known to the Thai govenment, and Thailand is awaiting the details, he said.

Gen. Vichienchot said the pressure by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) earlier this week forced Cambodia to ask for help from the United Nations.

He added that Thailand's image was tarnished from the dispute, so he appealed to the PAD and other groups to stop their movement.

Thai News Agency reporters on the scene at Si Sa ket said that both sides of the border in the vicinity of the 11th century temple are quite tense after the two countries built up their armed forces along the border.

Second Army Area Deputy Commander Maj-Gen.Weewalit Jornsamrit said he was assigned by Second Army Area Commander Lt-Gen. Sujit Sitthiprapa to inspect the area and discuss the situation with Cambodia's Preah Vihear province deputy governor.

He said after meeting with Cambodian authorities that both sides agreed to suspend military movements that may cause further tension, but the military officials would remain stationed at strategic points pending the result of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meetng to be held in Sa Kaeo province on Monday.

Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit would lead Thai delegates to meet Cambodian Defence Minister Gen. Tea Banh.

Gen.Weewalit said the situation at other Thai provinces bordering Cambodia was normal.

Meanwhile, Gen. Sujit said he has ordered military officers under his command to be on alert for 24 hours as Cambodian troops had built up their troop numbers at Preah Vihear temple border side.

He believed that the GBC border meeting could find a joint solution to ease the tension.

The military standoff between Cambodia and Thailand entered its fifth day Saturday after the tension build up after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site.

Thai activists fear the new status will undermine Thailand's claim to nearby land since the border has never been properly demarcated. (TNA)

Thai Prime Minister Samak 'Note' Sent To Khmer Prime Minister Hun Sen

July 19, 2008

BANGKOK, July 19 (Bernama) -- Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean a letter from Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in response to the Khmer premier's July 17 diplomatic 'Note', Thailand News Agency (TNA) reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited Ung Sean to receive the letter on Friday.

Samak reaffirmed the Royal Thai Government's resolve to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation in the area immediately adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear.

The Thai premier said he has instructed the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to lead Thai delegates to Monday's session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) in Sa Kaeo Province to discuss issues surrounding the situation with the Cambodian side in a spirit of friendship and cooperation.

Samak affirmed that the two countries should use every means to prevent escalation of the situation.

The Thai prime minister emphasised that the area of Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda mentioned in the Cambodian Prime Minister's Note is within Thai territory, and that the establishment of a Khmer community, including building a temple and homes, as well as stationing Cambodian military personnel in the area constitute a continued violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Royal Thai Government has issued four written protests to Cambodia regarding this matter in 2004, 2005, 2007 and April 2008 respectively.

Meanwhile, the deployment by Cambodia of more than 1,000 troops, in addition to around 200 troops stationed there earlier, has caused the situation to deteriorate.

The Thai Prime Minister called on both sides to exercise restraint and hopes that the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission will accelerate its work to survey and demarcate the entire stretch of the Thai-Cambodian border so that similar problems would not arise in the future.

In addition, pending completion of the JBC's work in this area, the Thai side is ready to jointly explore with Cambodia possible interim measures.

Later on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the remaining eight ASEAN ambassadors to the ministry inform them of the situation and present copies of the July 17 Note to Thailand and Cambodia's ASEAN neighbours, the July 18 Note from Prime Minister Samak to his Cambodian counterpart, including attached copies of the four aide-memoires which Thailand had earlier sent to protest Cambodian actions, as well as copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Thailand and Cambodia on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary dated June 4, 2000.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also circulated all of the said documents to other foreign missions in Bangkok.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the four protests by Thailand to Cambodia were made on the basis of Article 5 of the 2000 MOU, under which both sides agreed not to carry out any work resulting in changes of environment of the frontier zone, pending the survey and demarcation of the common land boundary.

However, to date, no action whatsoever has been undertaken by Cambodia to address Thailand's concerns, protests and requests.

The four Thai protests were made on Nov. 25, 2004 protesting expansion of the Cambodian community and building Cambodian government offices in the area; on March 8, 2005 to protest against Cambodian construction and road improvements from Komui Village, Chom Ksan District, Preah Vihear Province, to Preah Vihear temple; on May 17, 2007 to object to Cambodia's nomination for Preah Vihear temple to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.

On April 10 this year Thailand reiterated all three preceding protests and requested Cambodia's immediate withdrawal of its military and police forces stationed in the areas under overlapping territorial claims between Thailand and Cambodia.

The overall situation at Preah Vihear at present remains stable.

-- BERNAMA

Thai Supreme Commander confident no border clash between Thai, Cambodia troops

www.chinaview.cn

2008-07-19

BANGKOK, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Supreme Commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces Boonsrang Niumpraditt Saturday expressed confidence that Thai and Cambodian troops would not clash although the troops have been built up along the disputed border line near Preah Vihear temple.

Speaking on a Bangkok radio station, Boonsrang said there will definitely be no violence.

Boonsrang said the Thai military will not employ violence to solve this problem. Instead, the military would use peaceful means in solving the border crisis.

He said the deployment of troops along the border would not affect the scheduled meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee on Monday either.

Boonsrang has been assigned by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to lead the Thai delegation to Monday's meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee at Sa Kaeo on the Thai-Cambodian border to discuss issues concerning the Preah Vihear temple situation with Cambodia.

Both countries have claimed sovereignty over a 4.6 square kilometers area adjacent to the temple, which the International Court of Justice awarded, together with the land it occupies, to Cambodia in 1962. The decision has rankled the Thais ever since.

The security situation around the temple deteriorated after three Thais were briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers after surreptitiously crossing into the disputed border area on Tuesday. The three people were released on the same day.

According to reports, both Thailand and Cambodia have reinforced their troops at and near Preah Vihear Temple, which straddles the Thai-Cambodian border atop the Dangrek Mountain and was listed as a World Heritage Site on July 7 by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

Editor: Wang Hongjiang

Foreign officials fly into Cambodian-Thai border standoff

A Cambodian soldier carrying B41 rockets walks past Thai soldiers (in black) as they stand guard near the Preah Vihear temple. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The Straits Times
July 19, 2008

PREAH VIHEAR (Cambodia) - FOREIGN officials flew to the Thai-Cambodian border on Saturday as a tense five-day standoff between hundreds of troops led leaders to warn of 'deteriorating' relations between the neighbours.

US, Chinese, French and Vietnamese embassy staff said they flew by helicopter from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to the disputed territory on the border, adding diplomatic pressure to end the confrontation between more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops.

The Chinese and Vietnamese military attaches, along with French and US embassy officials, toured the area and took photos but did not talk to either side and declined to talk to reporters.

'They came here because they don't want to see a confrontation between the troops of both countries. It is useless for both countries if any armed conflict happens,' said Mr Sao Sokha, commander of Cambodia's military police.

Military commanders from both sides said they were seeking to calm the soldiers to ensure that violence does not erupt ahead of peace talks planned for Monday.

Cambodian and Thai top brass briefly met in the small Buddhist pagoda at the centre of the standoff on Saturday morning to discuss disarming troops stationed there.

'The order from the top is to do whatever it takes to avoid a gunfight. I was talking with him (Thai army Colonel Chay Huay Soongnern) to tell him that the armed forces on the frontlines should stash their weapons away,' said Srey Dik, Cambodian army commander overseeing operations.

Despite that, heavy machine guns could be seen just beyond the border gate on the Thai side Saturday.

Cambodian troops, who have been banned from drinking wine to avoid any shooting, surround the pagoda, which sits on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

The Cambodian commander reiterated his country's claim to own the border territory, including the ancient temple site, and said other countries supported it.

'They recognise the facts. The truth is that Cambodia is the owner of the land here according to the 1904 French-Siam map,' he said.

The mood among Cambodians became tense on Friday evening when they got word of a letter from Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen saying the addition of Cambodian troops had caused the situation to 'deteriorate'.

The standoff nearly erupted into violence late Thursday, when witnesses said troops twice pointed their guns at each other during 10 tense minutes at the pagoda when 50 Cambodian troops entered the pagoda compound to protect food supplies for dozens of monks.

The confrontation began after three Thai protesters were arrested for jumping a fence to reach the temple on Tuesday. -- AFP

Cambodian official confirms Thai troops stand down at border (Roundup)

M&G Asia-Pacific News
Jul 19, 2008

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian official at Preah Vihear temple confirmed Saturday that Thai troops had stood down from a nearby disputed pagoda as a delegation of international military attaches from Vietnam and China flew in by helicopter at Cambodia's request.

A Cambodian government official - speaking on condition of anonymity - confirmed local television reports that Thai troops allegedly stationed at a Cambodian pagoda within a few hundred metres of Preah Vihear temple had moved camp to a jungle clearing.

On Saturday Cambodia's Defence Ministry flew military attaches from China and Vietnam to the temple to view a border dispute first hand, local station CTN said.

The Khmer-language private television station said the delegation was headed by Cambodian armed forces chief Sao Sokha. The official said Thai troops had now moved back.

Thailand has maintained the temple is in a disputed no-man's-land and that a Thai presence in the area was not breaching Cambodian sovereignty. Cambodia disagreed and asked for the tour by international observers.

CTN is viewed as close to the Cambodian government.

Although other international attaches including the US were originally rumoured to be attending, in the end they were supplied by the two Communist nations, which are also closest regional allies.

Tensions have been running high on the border since Cambodia asked UNESCO to list the temple as a World Heritage Site despite there being a dispute over a 4.6-kilometre swathe of land nearby.

UNESCO obliged earlier this month, but tensions spilled over Tuesday when Cambodia briefly detained, then released, three Thais it said had illegally crossed the border, prompting first dozens, and then hundreds of Thai troops to follow in an alleged incursion.

On Friday, Thailand warned the situation was deteriorating but Cambodia has said it is determined to seek a diplomatic solution over the disputed territory around the 11th century Hindu temple.

Cambodian King Attends Reception at Chinese Embassy

By: iStockAnalyst

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

[Xinhua: "Reception Marks 50th Anniversary of China-Cambodia Diplomatic ties"]

PHNOM PENH, July 18 (Xinhua) - The Chinese Embassy hosted here a dinner reception on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia.

At the reception, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jinfeng and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni spoke highly of the all-round development of the Sino-Cambodia relations over the past five decades.

"In the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the friendly relations jointly created by leaders of the two countries have been attentively fostered. It sustains the fierce test of international drastic changes, and keeps consolidated and developed," Zhang Jinfeng said.

"During the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to Cambodia in April 2006, the two governments announced the establishment of Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation, which opened a brand-new prospect for development of the bilateral relations," she said.

The Chinese government will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Cambodia, with the vision to further deepen the traditional friendship, expand down-to-earth cooperation and bring benefits to the peoples of both countries, she added.

While addressing the reception, Sihamoni extended his gratitude for the Chinese government and people, who have helped Cambodia to develop its economy and society, to improve living standards and to reduce poverty.

"On this magnificent occasion, I would like to strongly reaffirm that the Kingdom of Cambodia is embracing the one-China policy and assure that we always consider the People's Republic of China to be our most trusted friend," Sihamoni said.

"I strongly believe that the long term relationship and special cooperation of our two countries will be continuously strengthened and widened," he added.

China and Cambodia formally established diplomatic relations on July 19, 1958.

Originally published by Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1558 18 Jul 08.

More troops, rhetoric in Thai-Cambodia temple row

Thai soldiers on a truck head to reinforce colleagues at a camp along the Thai-Cambodian border July 19, 2008. Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over an ancient Hindu temple.REUTERS/Nopporn Wong-Anan

Cambodian military police (R) stand guard at the Preah Vihear temple, about 245 km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over the ancient temple was unlikely to get violent. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Sat Jul 19, 2008
By Nopporn Wong-Anan

KANTARALAK, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia sent troops and heavy guns on Saturday to their disputed border, where hundreds of soldiers faced off for a fifth day over an ancient Hindu temple.

Despite the military build-up, both sides said they were willing to negotiate an end to the stand-off at the Preah Vihear temple, which has raised investor fears of a major confrontation.

The diplomatic sparring between Bangkok and Phnom Penh has intensified ahead of high-level talks on Monday involving the two countries' defense ministers.

Thailand summoned Cambodia's ambassador on Friday to respond to Prime Minister Hun Sen's charge that Thai troops had "encroached on our territory" and the situation was "worsening".

In a letter to Hun Sen, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Cambodian troops and buildings on the disputed 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area were a "violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

But he added his government was "resolved to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation".

The temple, perched on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary, has been a source of tension since the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia, a decision that still rankles Thais.

The listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site this month triggered a political uproar in Thailand, stoked by groups opposed to Samak, whom they accuse of being a proxy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Thailand's main stock index has fallen more than 23 percent since anti-government street protests in Bangkok started in late May, and could drop further if border tensions get worse, analysts said.

NATIONALIST FERVOUR

In Cambodia, Preah Vihear has become a key issue in the run-up to next Sunday's general election as Hun Sen's ruling party and the opposition jockey for votes by stoking nationalist fervor.

"They should focus on issues like fighting poverty and corruption instead of using Preah Vihear for their political interests," said Kek Galabru, head of the LICAHDO rights group.

Lieutenant General Sujit Sitthiprapha, commander of Thailand's Second Army, said more troops were sent to the border after Cambodia reinforced its forces at the temple.

A Reuters witness saw a convoy of eight Thai army trucks ferrying several hundred soldiers armed with M-16 rifles to the border. In another convoy, trucks were towing heavy artillery guns.

"If things escalate, we can use those troops right away," Sujit said, although he added the soldiers at the temple "were still talking to each other".

Thailand estimates it is facing 1,200 Cambodian troops in and around the temple, although Phnom Penh disputes that figure.

Chea Mon, Cambodia's military commander at Preah Vihear, said the situation was calm at the temple where his men faced about 400 Thai soldiers.

"We are protecting our borders. We will leave it to government leaders to solve this issue," he said by telephone.

(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in PHNOM PENH; Writing by Darren Schuettler; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Cambodians buy food, oil over Thai border fearing border closure

MCOT English News

SA KAEO, July 19 (TNA) - Anxieties regarding an imminent border closure by Thailand over a disputed zone near an ancient temple led to over one thousand Cambodians to cross the border Saturday to stock up on dried foodstuffs and oil from a market in Aranyaprathet district opposite Cambodia's Poi Pet.

The Cambodians bought daily essentials to keep in reserve on worries that the Thai authorities might close the border following military reinforcements and tensions building in Thailand's Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, where Preah Vihear temple is located.

Tensions in the area have increased in recent days as both countries have reinforced their troops near the disputed temple.

A Cambodian villager who crossed the border and bought food supplies said Cambodians in Poi Pet feared that fighting could break out.

He said Poi Pet residents believed that negotiations between the two neighbours' military leaders, scheduled for Monday and aimed at defusing the tensions, would be fruitless after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had demanded that Thailand withdraw its troops.

Cambodians believe that Thailand would not follow the Cambodian leader's request, said the villager.

Meanwhile, Thai Army soldiers and Rangers have set up a checkpoint at a border outpost in Aranyaprathet and are also patrolling the shared border to prevent Cambodians from entering Thailand illegally. (TNA)

Boonsang: Only military-related issues to be discussed at border meeting

MCOT English News

BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) - Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit said Saturday he would confer only on militarily-related issues with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh when they meet early next week.

Gen. Boonsang has been assigned by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to lead the Thai delegation to Monday's session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) at Sa Kaeo on the Thai-Cambodian border to discuss issues concerning the Preah Vihear temple situation with Cambodia.

The talks will be held as troop movements from both countries are raising the level of armed readiness on both sides of the border in the vicinity of the 11th century temple which was awarded World Heritage site status by UNESCO earlier this month.

Speaking on a Bangkok radio station, Gen. Boonsang said he could not yet say whether the Thai troops stationing near Preah Vihear will be withdrawn as requested by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in a diplomatic note sent to his Thai counterpart.

"It is better to wait for the outcome of the meeting first," Gen. Boonsang said, noting that . "the Thai military will not employ violence to solve this problem." Instead, the military would use peaceful means in solving the border crisis.

Gen. Boonsang said he had spoken with Gen. Teah Banh, calling for military commanders of both sides to order soldiers at the border to show restraint.

Both countries have claimed sovereignty over a 4.6 square kilometres area adjacent to the temple.

The Thai foreign ministry will be responsible in negotiations regarding the disputed zone and not the military because it is a "sensitive issue", Gen. Boonsang added. (TNA)

Explaination of Ros Chantraboth about Preah Vihear Temple

News #5 - Preah Vihear - 19.07.2008

Day 5 at Preah Vihear temple (Unlikely to get violent)

Thai Colonel Chay Huay Soon Nern (L) gestures as Cambodian General Srey Dek (R) talks to a Thai soldier at Cekakiri Svarak pagoda in the compounds of Preah Vihaer temple, 245km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over an ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)

A Cambodian soldier carrying B41 rockets walks past soldiers from Thailand (in black) as they stand stand guard near the Cekakiri Svarak pagoda of the Preah Vihear temple, about 245 km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over the ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)

A Cambodian Buddhist monk, left, walks past a Thai soldier at a Cambodian Buddhist temple complex which was occupied by Thai soldiers near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Saturday, July 19, 2008. A Cambodian general said a border standoff between his soldiers and Thai troops came close to a shoot-out overnight as the confrontation over disputed territory surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear temple entered.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Thai soldiers stand guard at a Cambodian Buddhist temple complex which they have occupied near Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Saturday, July 19, 2008. A Cambodian general said a border standoff between his soldiers and Thai troops came close to a shoot-out overnight as the confrontation over disputed territory surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear temple entered.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Thai solder, left, watches his fellow soldiers are heading from the border to a Cambodian Buddhist temple which Thai troops have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand enters its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Cambodian soldier (R) looks at his mobile phone with a Thai soldier as they patrol near Cekakiri Svarak pagoda in the compounds of Preah Vihaer temple, 245km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over an ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)

Cambodia soldiers (front) patrol with a Thai soldier (standing) near Cekakiri Svarak pagoda in the compounds of Preah Vihaer temple, 245km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over an ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA) Photo Tools

Thai soldiers walk next to a pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple which is situated in Cambodia. Thailand sent more military reinforcements to a disputed part of the Cambodian border Friday, after the tense four-day standoff nearly erupted into gunfire during the night.(AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)

Cambodian soldiers stand guard near a Buddhist temple which was occupied by Thai soldiers Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand enters its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian military police (R) stand guard at the Preah Vihear temple, about 245 km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over the ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)

People on a truck loaded with food and other supplies drive past Thai soldiers (R) as they stand guard with Cambodian soldiers (C) near Cekakiri Svarak pagoda in the compounds of Preah Vihaer temple, 245km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over an ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
Photo Tools

Cambodian Buddhist monks, left, square off with Thai soldiers inside a Cambodian Buddhist temple which Thai soldiers have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand enters its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A demining team from Thailand walks inside the compound of the Cekakiri Svarak pagoda of the Preah Vihear temple, about 245 km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 19, 2008. Cambodia sent extra troops to its disputed border with Thailand on Friday, as both sides insisted the flare-up over the ancient temple was unlikely to get violent.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)

Thai soldiers stand guard at a Cambodian Buddhist temple complex which they have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand enters its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Thai soldiers carry a container of water inside a Cambodian Buddhist temple complex which they have occupied near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Saturday, July 19, 2008. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand enters its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Newly-arrived Thai soldiers walk from the border to a Cambodian Buddhist temple which their fellow soldiers have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand entered its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A newly-arrived Thai soldier, center, walks through Cambodian soldiers as he heads from the border to a Cambodian Buddhist temple which Thai soldiers have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand entered its fifth day Saturday, as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Newly-arrived Thai soldiers walk through a Cambodian Buddhist temple which their fellow soldiers have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand entered its fifth day Saturday as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Sacravatoons : " A Thai-Man can't jump "

Please click on image to zoom in

Courtesy of Sacravatoon at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/

Sacravatoons : " A Bully Garuda "

Please click on image to zoom in

Courtesy of Sacravatoon at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/

Cambodia to fly international military attaches to disputed temple

M&G Asia-Pacific News
Jul 19, 2008

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Defence Ministry announced it would fly military attaches from China, the United States and other countries yet to be named to the Preah Vihear temple complex to view a border dispute first hand, local television announced Saturday.

The Khmer-language private television station CTN made the announcement in a lunchtime bulletin, adding that the tour of the temple by the international delegation would take place imminently and would be led by Cambodian armed forces chief Sao Sokha.

Although private, CTN is owned by powerful businessman Kith Meng and is viewed as close to the government.

Thailand has maintained the temple is in a disputed no man's land and that a Thai presence in the area was not breaching Cambodian sovereignty. Cambodia disagreed and asked for the tour by international observers.

Meanwhile CTN announced Thai troops had withdrawn from a pagoda a few hundred metres from Preah Vihear and had camped in nearby jungle.

Tensions have been running high on the border since Cambodia asked UNESCO to list the temple as a World Heritage site despite there being a dispute over a 4.6-kilometre swath of land nearby.

UNESCO obliged earlier this month, but tensions spilled over Tuesday when Cambodia briefly detained then released three Thais it said had illegally crossed the border, prompting first dozens, and then hundreds of Thai troops to follow in an alleged incursion.

On Friday, Thailand warned the situation was deteriorating but Cambodia has said it will not be intimidated.

'I would rather lose my life than lose my country's territory,' veteran parliamentarian Cheam Yeap of the ruling Cambodian People's Party said regarding the temple Friday.

50 years of China-Cambodia diplomatic ties

China and Cambodia have celebrated their 50th anniversaryof diplomatic ties.(Photo: CCTV.com)

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com 07-19-2008

China and Cambodia have celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The President of the China-Cambodia Friendship Association, Gu Xiu-lian, and Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, attended the event.

Yang Jiechi said the Chinese government will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Cambodia. He said China is willing to promote traditional friendship, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Cambodia. He also said China will continue to promote common development to contribute more to regional peace and prosperity.

Editor:Liu Fang

Workers abandon construction site

Three protesters against Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site stand behind barbed wire at Khao Phra Viharn national park in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district after their return to Thailand. From left: Phra Khampheng Chayathamo, Vicharn Tapsorn, and Chanikan Kengnok.

The Bangkok Post
Saturday July 19, 2008

POST REPORTERS

SI SA KET : About 300 Thai construction hands working for Ch Karnchang Plc returned from Cambodia yesterday, fearing the already tense situation would deteriorate into violence and their safety would be compromised over the Preah Vihear temple conflict.

The group abandoned the construction site of a national road project in Oddar Meancheay province and arrived at the Chong Sa-ngam border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district in the morning. They are worried over their security as the protest against the listing of the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site shows no sign of ending, said immigration police captain Supap Srisuk.

Cambodians who work in Thailand have also begun to return to their country. The returning Thai workers were hired last year to build a 167-km-long road linking Chong Sa-ngam, Anlong Veng and Siem Reap under a Thai-Cambodian joint venture.

The Thai government, which is financing the project with a 229-million-baht investment, believes the route would promote tourism when completed next year, providing the shortest journey from Thailand to the world-renowned Angkor Wat.

However, the ongoing protest is keeping away tourists from the region as many tour groups have cancelled trips to Cambodia because of the growing danger.

Nikom Maksik, a car rent service operator in Si Sa Ket, said his business has begun to suffer as the number of customers has dropped. A serious conflict between Thailand and Cambodia also erupted back in 2003.

An alleged comment by a Thai actress that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand caused a violent riot in Phnom Penh, including the torching of the Thai embassy, although she strongly denied saying so.

Three Thai protesters who were arrested in Cambodia for illegally entering the Preah Vihear temple earlier in the week, have filed a charge against Cambodian authorities for detaining them on land they claim "belongs to the Thai people".

The group, consisting of a man, a woman and a monk, lodged the charge with Bueng Malu police in Kantharalak district, asking them to take action against the Cambodian authorities for limiting their freedom.

However, their presence before the police yesterday caused Si Sa Ket police chief Pol Maj-Gen Pinit Faengyong to order an investigation into their protest.

However, one of the protesters, Vicharn Tapsorn, 40, admitted to police that his group climbed over a gate and entered a disputed area claimed by both countries near the temple. Some Cambodian villagers scolded them before they were taken away by Cambodian soldiers. "We just meditated there," Mr Vicharn said, insisting they have the right to do so.

Mr Vicharn, Phra Khampheng Chayathamo and Chanikan Kengnok were released from detention on Tuesday. Their protest irked Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who called them "absurd."

His reaction was strongly criticised by former prime minister and Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, who said the premier was too pessimistic.

"The premier should carefully consider their reasons. No one wants to risk his life by doing anything wrong," Mr Chuan said.

Meanwhile, Somsak Kosaisuk, a key leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, blamed the Si Sa Ket governor and police for failing to prevent Thursday's clash between PAD members and their rivals. The PAD members were blocked by some villagers as they were trying to march toward the temple ruins to stage a protest. Two of its members were injured.

Aid as impediment to development

Cambodia is one of the single biggest recipients of foreign aid in the world. However, some critics say the vast flow of development funds has created a culture of dependency.

101 East's Fauziah Ibrahim finds out if foreign aid is harming the country more than it is helping it.

Cham Kar Bei, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold, is among the poorest villages in Cambodia.

Yet, the village was once considered a progressive community, largely thanks to being granted a development project by the UN agency Unesco in 1998.

UN funding saw a new school built and the installation of machines that meant villagers were taught how to sew, knit and weave.

But when Unesco handed control over to the local authorities at the end of its mandate in 2004, problems began to crop up, according to Chum Nuong, a Cham Kar Bei village councillor.

"Because our community did not have the managing experience and no leadership, we could not continue the activities," he told Al Jazeera.

Without proper infrastructure, the programmes have become dilapidated like the machines and hand looms - which sit rusting while children are forced to stand in classrooms due to lack of chairs.The Cham Kar Bei community say they were not given sufficient training and support to continue the development project and consequently the machines have been left to rot. Many non-governmental organisations say this is typical of major international aid agencies. They may have bigger budgets but they lack effective planning or a policy of consultation with local communities.

Today, a smaller group, Bridges Across Borders, is attempting to revive development in Cham Kar Bei.

Community participation

"Co-operation is the most important aspect," Sil Sineng from the group says. "The idea of thinking ahead for the sustainability of the project is the most important.

"The participation from the community, the empowerment of the community - I don't think Unesco is focusing on such concepts. They are just coming to run it by themselves. When they stop it, nobody can continue because Unesco didn't involve them in the beginning."

Cambodia does not suffer a lack of international aid. It is one of the single biggest recipients of foreign help in the world, most of which goes to helping the majority rural poor.

About half of the central government’s budget is dependent on donor assistance, and there are an estimated 600 NGOs currently operating in the country.

In some experts' opinion, all this available help sometimes proves counterproductive.

"Aid is helping Cambodians with regard to education, with regard to health," Theary Seng from the group Cambodian Social Development.

"But it's also enabling a system that is corrupt, enabling a system that is mismanaged, enabling the status quo that is poor governance, and more than that it is creating a mentality of dependency where we are constantly begging." Large-scale foreign aid continues to be given to Cambodia despite the fact the country consistently ranks among the most corrupt nations in Asia.

Some critics have accused the government of pocketing a portion of the financial aid before the money is channelled to those who need it most.

'Kind of blackmail'

Sam Rainsy, an opposition leader, even says the administration is guilty of a "kind of blackmail"."They [the government] say that if the donor community wants to help the people, they have to go through the Cambodian government and tolerate any practice, otherwise the poor will get nothing," he says.

The government rejects those accusations.

"I don't agree, not at all with such judgment," Hor Namhong, the Cambodian foreign minister, said. "Always the grant aid goes to the people.

"Take one example when China gave us the money to build a bridge in the countryside. We used all the money to build roads and bridges."

Other personalities critical of how development money is spent, say it is the donors who should be more vigilant when dispensing aid to Cambodia.

In 1999, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loaned the Cambodian government $40 million to build part of a national highway linking the capital Phnom Penh to the Vietnam border, aimed at promoting economic trade between the two countries.

But activists say the Cambodian government failed to compensate those who lost their homes and livelihoods to make way for the new road.

Donor indifference

"We found that a lack of monitoring on the part of the ADB," Peter Raingsey of the NGO Forum in Cambodia, said. "And the ADB itself recognises this part of their activity.

"Most of the time ADB try to defend themselves by saying that those monies had already been released to the government, meaning it no longer responsible and the government needs to respond that. So the ADB only thinks about the loan."

International aid has also been plagued by the debate over "technical assistants" or foreign consultants hired by the agencies to oversee aid projects.

Cambodia is not immune to the controversy over these experts who often take up a large amount of the aid budget.

Sil Sineng from Bridges Across Borders says he worked once with an international agency where half the total project budget was taken by technical assistants' pay.

"I don't think it is necessary, they have only three people. It's necessary to have one or two people, is enough and by doing that we can build the capacity of the local people," he says.

"I can see that many Cambodians, they can do the work, but sometimes they are not empowered, they are not respected."

Until Cambodians are respected, many say the culture of dependency and the cycle of poverty will continue.

Cambodia sends more troops to temple area

The Bangkok Post
Saturday July 19, 2008

ANUCHA CHAROENPO, WASSANA NANUAM and THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

Cambodian ambassador to Thailand Ung Sean was summoned to the Foreign Ministry yesterday to hear the government's protest over Cambodia's claim of ownership of the disputed zone near the Preah Vihear temple.

Bangkok's diplomatic manoeuvre came as Phnom Penh sent more troops to the area. The Thai army is likely to counter the move and match forces with Cambodia.

The ministry handed the ambassador a letter from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, which insisted Thai soldiers were deployed on Thai soil, according to ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

On Thursday, the Cambodian prime minister wrote to Mr Samak demanding the withdrawal of Thai troops from Cambodian territory.

Mr Samak's letter said the government was concerned about the increasing border troop build-up by Cambodia, which would lead to a deteriorating situation.

Mr Samak argued that the area the Cambodian leader claimed in his letter was part of Cambodia was actually within Thailand.

"The establishment of the Cambodian community, including construction of a temple, houses and the stationing of Cambodian military personnel in the area is a continued violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the letter said.

Thailand had protested against the intrusion of Cambodians into the area four times - in 2004, 2005, 2007 and last year, it said.

The two neighbours claim sovereignty over a 4.6-square-kilometre area at the border. Thailand claims it is part of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province, while Cambodia claims it is in its province of Preah Vihear.

Eight ambassadors to Thailand from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were briefed by the ministry. They were handed copies of the letters from Mr Hun Sen and Mr Samak.

Mr Samak repeated Thailand's determination to resolve the problem in the area immediately adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple through peaceful means.

In Si Sa Ket, a Thai intelligence source said about 2,000 Cambodian soldiers with heavy military equipment, including helicopters and personnel carriers, were stationed at Komui village close to the contested area yesterday.

They were elite soldiers sent in to counter the special forces which Thailand planned to send to the area.

A Cambodian convoy of four heavy military trucks with mounted machine guns and two smaller trucks was seen travelling from the capital, Phnom Penh, to the border yesterday, according to Reuters. The soldiers were armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles.

"I am leading these men to reinforce our troops at Preah Vihear," Gen Yim Sanh said.

A Thai army source said Thailand planned to dispatch more soldiers to the disputed area to at least match the Cambodian forces.

Second Army commander Lt-Gen Sujit Sithiprapa vowed to keep Thai troops in the overlapping area until the General Border Committee (GBC) meets on Monday in Aranyaprathet district.

Lt-Gen Sujit denied reports that soldiers from the two countries nearly clashed on Thursday evening.

"I can confirm that Thai and Cambodian soldiers are staying together in the area without any conflicts or clashes," he said.

The GBC is chaired by the defence ministers of the two countries.

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit will lead the Thai negotiators to meet their Cambodian counterparts led by Defence Minister Teah Banh.

Gen Boonsrang was assigned by Mr Samak, who is also defence minister, to attend the talks.


Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, air force leader ACM Chalit Pukpasuk, navy commander Adm Sathiraphan Keyanont, national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan and National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Lt-Gen Surapol Puaenaiyaga met yesterday to assess the situation in Si Sa Ket ahead of the GBC meeting.

Gen Boonsrang indicated Thailand could propose Phnom Penh withdraw about 500 Cambodian villagers from the disputed area as a condition for a Thai military withdrawal.

Say no to ugly nationalism

The Bangkok Post
Saturday July 19, 2008

The bloody clash between members of the the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy and a group of local people in Si Sa Ket at the foot of the contentious Preah Vihear temple complex is a sad event. It is a culmination of the relentless building up of nationalist frenzy to the point that it bypasses reason and good judgement.

The touchy issue of Preah Vihear could not have occurred at a worse time for Thai-Cambodian relations, either. An ill-natured election campaign in Cambodia and an equally vengeful government-opposition face-off in Thailand have turned a cultural subject back into a political and nationalist confrontation. The governments on both sides of the border have caved in to the actions of self-styled super-patriots. A border committee meeting scheduled for Monday has to take firm action on both sides of the border to end all threats of violence and ratchet down the ugly voices.

The near-crisis around the temple issue has occurred for a variety of unfortunate reasons. For separate but equal reasons, neither Thai nor Cambodian authorities have been totally in control of events focusing on the ancient treasure. In both countries, extreme nationalists managed to gain the upper hand, leading to an ugly confrontation at the Preah Vihear site.

The priority on both sides of the border must be for the proper authorities to gain total control. There has been neither cause nor justification for the self-styled patriots of either Thailand or Cambodia to challenge the status quo at the temple site. Thais and Cambodians have long inhabited the region around the temple peacefully. Credit is due to both governments and both local military commands at the frontier for dealing peacefully and leniently with the mobs set on "liberating" the temple and the disputed surrounding territory.

It is an unhappy coincidence that both the Thai and Cambodian authorities have had to deal so cautiously with such embarrassing groups. Still, the army should have moved much more forcefully to block extremists in their quest to violate long-established border controls. The brief arrest of three Thais for crossing illegally into Cambodia was embarrassing to Thai forces responsible for border security - and to all Thais who want to see a peaceful resolution to existing disputes around the temple.

Just as in Thailand, the Cambodian political opposition has accused the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen of being soft on Preah Vihear, of negotiating with Thailand instead of seizing the 4.6 square kilometres of overlapping land.

There, as here, the government has had to try to deal with the temple tempest without seeming to be going against the national will.

Thai authorities have invited Cambodian counterparts to Sa Kaeo province on Monday for a special meeting of the General Border Committee. Thankfully, officials of both countries have stayed calm. There is no reason for any cross-border confrontation on the issue.

It might be wise to close the area for a short time to let tempers cool. Thai and Cambodian troops should agree to jointly patrol the area and prevent any civilians or nationalist groups from violating the border.

Because of the temple's unique geographical location, discussions should be held on jointly caring for the grounds around the Cambodia-owned temple. In addition, authorities must agree to begin talks and surveys to settle ownership of the disputed patch of land around Preah Vihear.

Both the temple and bilateral relations are too important to let ultra-nationalists gain the upper hand with violence.

Tension along Thai-Cambodian border continues

BangkokPost.com, agencies

Cambodian and Thailand Saturday increased their troops in the fifth day of a tense standoff on disputed land near Preah Vihear temple.

There are more than 500 Thai troops and over 1,000 Cambodian soldiers stationing in the area, according to AFP.

The mood among Cambodians reportedly became tense on Friday evening when Cambodian ambassador to Thailand Ung Sean was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to hear the Thai government's protest over Cambodia's claim of ownership of the disputed zone near the temple.

According to the ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat, the ministry handed the ambassador a letter from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to his Cambodian counterpart HunSen, which insisted Thai soldiers were deployed on Thai soil.

Mr Samak's letter said the area the Cambodian leader claimed was part of Cambodia was actually within Thailand.

Brigadier Chea Keo, commander of Cambodian forces in the area, replied on Saturday: "On the map, it is our territory."

Cambodia and Thailand continue troop buildup despite pledge to hold talks

The Associated Press
Published: July 19, 2008

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia: Cambodia and Thailand continued to reinforce their troops along a disputed border area near an 11th century temple Saturday, even as they prepared for talks to avert a military confrontation.

Some 300 more Cambodian soldiers and 100 Thais were seen by Associated Press reporters arriving near the Preah Vihear temple late Friday, although commanders declined to confirm those numbers.

Earlier, Cambodian Brig. Gen. Chea Keo said Cambodia had about 800 troops as against 400 Thai soldiers in the area as the standoff entered a fifth day.

The countries are to meet Monday in an attempt to defuse the conflict over territory surrounding the ancient temple, which escalated when UNESCO recently approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site. Thai activists fear the new status will undermine Thailand's claim to nearby land since the border has never been demarcated.

Chea Keo said troops from the opposing forces were on the brink of a shoot-out Thursday night when Cambodian monks gathered to celebrate Buddhist lent at a pagoda about 220 yards (200 meters) from the ancient temple.

The incident occurred when Thai troops tried to evict about 50 Cambodian soldiers from the compound of the Buddhist pagoda, where they sought to camp for the night to provide security for the monks. The two sides raised their rifles at each other, but the standoff ended with the Cambodians eventually pulling back, Chea Keo said Friday.

A Thai army spokeswoman said she was not aware of any brinksmanship taking place.

Thai soldiers entered the Preah Vihear area Tuesday, staking out positions at a Buddhist temple compound. However, some resident Cambodian monks remained and Cambodian soldiers have continued to visit them.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote a letter to Samak on Thursday saying relations had been "worsening" since Thai troops "encroached on our territory," and asked Samak to pull them back.

Responding to his Cambodian counterpart, Samak said the area around the pagoda referred to in the letter "is within the Thai territory," according to a statement Saturday from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While urging both sides to exercise restraint, Samak's letter said that the settlement of Cambodians in that area constitutes "a continued violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

In an effort to contain the tension, the Cambodian Interior Ministry instructed authorities in border provinces to maintain "good working relations" and avoid "confrontation or violence."

The dispute has taken a toll on tourism in the area, with the Thai side closed to visitors and the U.S. Embassy recommending Friday that American citizens "defer travel to this area until the situation has been resolved."

It also is starting to hurt economic relations between the two neighbors. On Friday, about 200 Thai construction workers returned home from Cambodia, said Capt. Supab Srisuk, an immigration policewoman.

"They wanted to return, fearing for their safety," she said. "They said they would go back to work when the situation returns to normal."