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Monday, 21 February 2011

Border conflict poses more questions than answers

via CAAI

Published: 21/02/2011

Newspaper section: News

The ceasefire agreement struck between Thailand and Cambodia poses the interesting question of whether it signifies the beginning of the end or the other way around. The ceasefire has been reached "pending" negotiations that many hope will bring a permanent solution to the border conflict.

In other words, the truce agreed to by the two sides with immediate effect on Saturday at the Chong Sa-ngam Pass border crossing in Si Sa Ket province is only a vehicle to achieving something permanent. Opinion may be split as some might wonder if the ceasefire marks the beginning of the end of the longstanding border hostility or whether it is the end of the beginning of the rough negotiations over the bitter border dispute with peaceful resolution from further rounds of talk far from guaranteed.

The fine print in the ceasefire agreement comes across as supporting the latter theory.

Both sides must hold their fire and not deploy more troops. Fair enough. But all these conditions could be tossed aside if the Asean ministerial meeting tomorrow does not make headway in easing the border violence.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, do not agree on some key issues, especially on a permanent ceasefire deal.

Hun Sen has said Cambodia would urge Thailand to agree to a peace deal at the Asean meeting.

Mr Abhisit insists Thailand did not start the fight and it is premature to talk about signing any agreement at the Asean meeting, a position reiterated by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday.

With a permanent ceasefire unlikely any time soon, a renewed border offensive could be possible.

The confrontation between Thai and Cambodia is in a precarious state. Each side has deployed about 15,000 troops in the disputed area in Si Sa Ket. Heavy artillery faces heavy artillery.

The fact Hun Manet, Cambodia's deputy army chief and son of Hun Sen, came to the ceasefire table in Si Sa Ket as head of the Cambodian delegation was apparently aimed at assuring Thailand the truce would materialise. The Thai side led by army chief-of-staff Daopong Rattanasuwan expected border clashes to ease but ruled out the possibility of an immediate permanent ceasefire.

At 33 years old, Lt Gen Hun Manet, who holds a PhD in economics from Britain, has been thrust into the military leadership. He has not been widely accepted by the rank and file troops stationed in the forests along the border.

Many Cambodian troops are termed "forest soldiers" who spend much of their lives policing the borders. They are not considered by many to be well-disciplined.

Lt Gen Hun Manet may not be able to command all of them, fuelling uncertainty as to how the ceasefire agreement is practical.

Lt Gen Hun Manet was in charge of the troops in the recent clashes as it was his chance to prove his worth. However, the heavy losses suffered by Cambodia bodes unfavourably for the deputy army chief.

The Cambodian soldiers are eager to occupy the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre border area. They may look for an opportunity to launch a fresh attack on Thai soldiers who are abiding by the ceasefire agreement by staying in their positions.

Observations were made that the Chong Sa-ngam truce may be disadvantageous to Thailand.

Cambodia recognises Thailand's superior military capability. That is the reason Cambodia proposed in the ceasefire agreement that the artillery and armaments not be moved.

The ban on the construction of roads stipulated in the ceasefire also means Thailand has to suspend work on a gravel road leading to the disputed area to serve as a supply route.

Thailand welcomed the truce as the government feels that negotiations are the best option. If the fighting continued, the clashes would degenerate into war, which Hun Sen would use to justify his demand for intervention by United Nations peacekeeping troops in the disputed border affair.

If that happens, Thailand will find it hard to defend itself in legal terms and maintain its reputation in the eyes of the world community.

It is calculated that an all-out military offensive does not present a solution to the conflict. At the end of the day, the conflict will be thrashed out at the negotiating table.

However, negotiations after a war has been waged and the issue "internationalised" will work against the interests of Thailand and the country might possibly be seen as bullying its smaller neighbour.

The conflict would also heap even more political pressure on the government, which may not survive the crunch.

Thai Rath Columnist Likit Jongsakul

via CAAI

Published: 21/02/2011

Newspaper section: News

Given the complexity of local politics, it will take time for PM Abhisit to resolve the Cambodia conflict.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has several cards to play. He knows that Prime Minister Abhisit is still facing a lot of pressure from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the opposition Puea Thai Party.

The PAD wants Mr Abhisit to take a hardline stance with regard to the border problem with Cambodia, while Puea Thai is planning a no-confidence debate that will also touch on the ruling Democrat Party's handling of the recent armed clashes near the Preah Vihear temple.

More importantly, leading PAD member Veera Somkwamkid and his companion are serving an 8-year jail term in Cambodia for alleged spying and trespassing on Cambodia territory.

Mr Hun Sen can use the two PAD members as a bargaining chip in his dealings with Mr Abhisit, whose relationship with the PAD has turned sour because of his failure to secure the release of the PAD members.

Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban tried to cool domestic politics by suggesting that PM Abhisit might dissolve the Lower House in June, but his opponents are dead-set on bringing down the government.

PM Abhisit must keep his cool as Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to hold bilateral talks under the auspices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week. The outcome of these talks will measure his leadership and political maturity.

PM denies truce signed

via CAAI

Govt emphasises need for detailed negotiation

Published: 21/02/2011

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denies a ceasefire agreement has been signed with Cambodia.

The prime minister said again in his weekly broadcast address yesterday that his government believed that a lasting solution to the border dispute could only come through careful negotiation.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meet in Jakarta tomorrow to find ways to solve the border dispute, but Mr Abhisit said the regional grouping would only act as a coordinator and as a witness, as well as provide a facility for talks between Thailand and Cambodia.

He and members of the cabinet, including the foreign, defence and the natural resources ministers, would be responsible for explaining the border situation to the world community so people could better understand the situation.

Mr Abhisit said he had talked on the phone with Unesco director-general Irina Bokova about the problems arising from the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site. He said Unesco should suspend the process of listing the surrounding area until the border problem was settled.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday the proposed permanent ceasefire was unnecessary. Peace on the border could be achieved through existing bilateral mechanisms.

These include the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee, the Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee and the Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee.

Mr Kasit yesterday attended a meeting to discuss preparations for the Asean meeting in Jakarta tomorrow, which will be attended by all 10 member nations' foreign ministers.

A delegation led by army chief-of-staff Daopong Rattanasuwan was reported on Saturday to have signed a ceasefire agreement with Phnom Penh, whose team was headed by deputy army commander Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

But Mr Kasit insisted the meeting on Saturday was not about negotiations.

It was merely a discussion between military authorities and the results would be referred to higher authorities for a decision on what next step to take.

The minister said no agreement had been reached and there were no binding effects from the talks.

"It was only a discussion," he said. "It was like sending subordinates to meet for talks and having them report the results [to those in higher places]."

Mr Kasit said any formal negotiations would involve the defence ministers of the two countries under the framework of the General Border Committee.

Mr Kasit said he would emphasise Thailand's position at the Asean foreign ministers' meeting tomorrow that it wished to resolve the border conflict through bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Committee, chaired by Asda Jayanama, the General Border Committee, led by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, and the Regional Border Committee, headed by 2nd Army chief Thawatchai Samutsakhon.

"We will explain that the JBC, the GBC and the RBC have been making progress and they can continue to act in line with a UN Security Council resolution [supporting bilateral talks to settle the dispute]."

The minister said he would also reaffirm Thailand's readiness to allow Asean to act as a facilitator in talks between Thailand and Cambodia.

He said Mr Asda had written to ask the head of the Cambodian delegation to attend a Joint Boundary Committee meeting in Bangkok.

Gen Prawit will also send a letter to ask his Cambodian counterpart, Gen Teah Banh, to hold a General Border Committee meeting in Cambodia in the middle of the year, Mr Kasit said.

The joint committee focuses on border demarcation talks while the general committee involves border security arrangements, particularly a ceasefire, Mr Kasit said.

He said Thailand is ready for talks under the framework set by the two committees, and it was up to Cambodia to decide whether it would enter the talks.

He said Thailand would also ask Indonesia, as Asean chair, to send its representatives to observe the operations of Thai soldiers in the disputed area.

He said the observers would stay with Thai soldiers on the Thai side of the border so they could see for themselves that Thailand was not the instigator of any violence.

Thailand affirms bilateral means to solving border conflict

http://www.mcot.net/

via CAAI

BANGKOK, Feb 20 - Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya reaffirmed Thailand's stance to solving Thai-Cambodian dispute at a bilateral level at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia due to be held on February 22.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday afternoon called a meeting with Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha to discuss Thailand's stance at the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers meeting.

After the one-hour meeting, Mr Kasit said that he would affirm solutions to border conflict through existing bilateral mechanisms between Thailand and Cambodia, particularly Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), General Border Committee (GBC) and Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) after the UN Security Council (UNSC) recommended bilateral talks to end Thai-Cambodian dispute facilitated by ASEAN.

"At the meeting on Tuesday in Jakarta, I will insist that Thailand is ready to use the bilateral mechanism that already exists with Cambodia," Mr Kasit said after the meeting.

He said he would clarify at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, that progress has been made in the committees meetings and Thailand would continue solving the dispute as suggested by the UNSC.

Thailand sent a letter to invite Cambodia to attend the JBC meeting in Bangkok scheduled to be held later this month and under the JBC framework, Thai defence minister will send a letter to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh to ask Cambodia to host another JBC meeting.

He hoped that the JBC meeting will be held and defence ministers of the two countries can discuss how to prevent border skirmishes.

Thailand will propose that Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair, send observers to accompany Thai army forces at the border to witness the situation and to ensure the ceasefire will be permanent. He said Thailand affirmed to have the ASEAN chair to facilitate negotiation processes.

Mr Kasit also said signing of a ceasefire agreement is not necessary because the existing JBC mechanism and issuing of statement by the two countries are integral to several processes meant to address the border situation. (MCOT online news)

Mfone losses $13m

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 16:34 Jeremy Mullins

The majority owners of Cambodian mobile phone provider Mfone lost more than US$13 million in the Kingdom last year.

Pointing to the large number of mobile operators active in Cambodia, Thaicom said there was a “price war and intense competition in the market” in its annual report, which added an appreciating Thai baht as a factor in the loss.

The Bangkok-listed company claimed a loss of 405 million baht (US$13.2 million) in its Cambodia results for 2010, on revenues of 959 million baht.

This compares with a 7.6 million baht profit in the Kingdom in 2009, on 1.514 billion baht in revenues, the report released late last week stated.

The firm also announced an adjusted net book value for Mfone’s property and equipment to about 2.317 billion baht as of December 31, a 22 percent drop on the 2.972 billion baht it had claimed the previous year.

Thaicom did not discuss the reason for the downwards adjustment in Cambodia, but said globally its property, plant and equipment had also declined in value by 8.7 percent.

This decrease was “mostly due to depreciation and amortisation expenses in 2010”, it said.

Thaicom’s Cambodia operations had contributed 20.7 percent of its overall revenues in 2009, but had declined to 14 percent of the company’s global revenues in 2010, according to the report.

The declining value of the US dollar against the Thai baht last year impacted Mfone’s bottom line, as it generates much of its revenue in greenbacks.

“The appreciation of baht has caused lower revenue from the telephone business in Cambodia in baht as Mfone reported financial statements in US dollars,” the report said.

Despite a new strategic approach launched last year which saw Mfone increasingly target specific market niches by tailoring plans to groups such as young people and Muslims, user numbers also declined over 2010.

Mfone claimed 723,860 subscribers at the end of December 2010, a 15.8 percent decline on the 860,089 subscribers at the end of 2009.

Previous Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications statistics showed that Mfone had 660,000 subscribers last November.

Last year, former Mfone chief executive officer Adisai Soonthornratanarak had said the firm had previously “struggled” with competitive pricing among mobile operators, but said “differentiating yourself is the key to success”.

Thaicom is the 51-percent owner of Mfone.

The remainder is owned through a joint venture between Qatar Telecom and ST Telemedia of Singapore, according to Thaicom’s website.

It also owns 100-percent of satellite television provider Cambodian DTV Network Limited.

Cambodia has eight active mobile operators following a merger earlier this year between Smart Mobile and Star-Cell, with the combined company operating under the Smart brand.

At the announcement of the merger last month, Smart chief executive officer Thomas Hundt said the sector was likely overcrowded – a widely-held view in the industry – adding there were few countries with as many mobile operators relative to the number of people as Cambodia.

Company officials have confirmed that Yap Wai Khee is now serving as Mfone chief executive officer, after taking over the helm from Adisai Soonthornratanarak.

He could not be reached for comment today.

Drug busts net 30 suspects

Photo by: Pha Lina

Traffic passes by Golden World Guesthouse in Chamkarmon district after it was raided by police today.

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 17:47 Kim Yuthana

At least 30 suspected illegal drug users and drug traffickers were arrested by police in a raid on three guesthouses in two separate districts of Phnom Penh on Sunday.

Cooperative efforts between Prampi Makara district police and provincial authorities led to the arrests of a total of 19 illegal drug users and distributors from three different guesthouses in the district, where they were found using and selling methamphetamine, Keu Bunnara, deputy prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said today

He added that three of the drug users were found in a guesthouse in Prampi Makara’s Veal Vong commune by district police and the suspects then informed police about other drug traffickers residing nearby.

Police then raided the Piphub Meas guesthouse in Chamkarmon district’s Tonle Bassac commune, and another guesthouse near the commune’s Depou market.

“In total, we arrested 19 illegal drug users and distributors with 5 grams of drugs, along with other evidence they used to take drugs.

“Most of them are students and two of them are females,” Keu Bunnara said.

He added that their sentences would range from seven days to one month in prison, along with further punishment if they were found guilty and charged. The suspects are now being held at Prampi Makara district police station for questioning and will soon be sent to provincial court.

“The suspects were questioned in order to prepare documents to send them to the court,” Yin San, Prampi Makara district police chief said today.

An additional 11 suspected drug users who work at the 133 Guesthouse in Tuol Sangke commune were arrested by Russei Keo district police on Saturday in an unrelated case involving methamphetamine, according to Som Bunny, Russei Keo district police chief.

“They were questioned and sent to court on Sunday for using illegal drug,” Som Bunny said today.

Ben Rath, deputy Phnom Penh police chief, said that as of mid-February, there have been 50 cases of crackdowns on drug deliveries and more than 100 suspects alleged to be active in distributing illegal drugs arrested in Phnom Penh.

5 dead after head-on crash

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 18:50 Mom Kunthear

Five people died and eight others were severely injured in a head-on accident along National Road 4 in Preah Sihanouk province this weekend, bringing an abrupt and tragic end to the journey of a truck full of wedding musicians, officials said yesterday.

“[The truck] crushed the tuk-tuk, which could not move to the other side of the road,” said Vann No, Andaung Thma commune chief.

Three people died on the scene after a tuk-tuk, which was carrying three plastic tanks filled with gasoline, and a truck carting more than 10 musicians and their instruments crashed head-on near Prey Nop district’s Andaung Thma commune, Vann No said.

Two others died at the provincial hospital.

“They were seriously injured by burns from the fire in the accident,” he said. Their bodies looked like charcoal, he added.

The tuk-tuk driver and four members of the local band OCT died.

Nine people have died in the same spot on the road over the past five years, Vann No said.

Storms destroy more than 30 houses

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 18:48 Thet Sambath

More than 30 houses spanning two provinces in northwestern Cambodia were destroyed by storms on Friday.

In Oddar Meanchey, 29 houses were destroyed by a storm on Friday in Banteay Ampil, Anlong Veng and Samrong districts, Pich Sokhin, deputy governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said today.

“Twenty-nine houses were destroyed by the storm but no people were injured,” he said, adding that initially the storm did not appear to be serious.

“I have not yet received a report on other casualties from the storm. I am asking my officials to check,” he said.

Srey Naren, a coordinator for the rights group Adhoc in Oddor Meanchey province, said today that a number of military houses located in the province were also destroyed by the storm.

The storm also struck Banteay Meanchey province on Friday, damaging six houses in O’chrouv district, Ung Oeun, governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said today.

“We have six people’s houses damaged by the storm. It is not serious damage,” he said.

Provincial authorities and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces deputy commander-in-chief Kun Kim have provided each of the 29 families affected by the storm with 25 kilograms of rice and 50,000 riels.

“Storms have attacked our province every year. We are working to assist and advise people to be careful and prevent any casualties in the future”, Pich Sokhin added today.

Nhim Vanda, vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said today that no casualties were reported from lightning strikes and he is assisting families who were affected by the storm in Oddar Meanchey province.

Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology could not be reached for comment today.

Leaving no soldier behind

Photo by: Matt Lundy

Sann Thuon (left) breaks down clumps of dirt in a plastic-lined pit so that members of the recovery team can more easily collect bone fragments and other evidence.

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 18:34 Matt Lundy

Kampong Cham province

For more than four decades, Sann Khuon has intermittently lived in Kampong Cham province’s Memot district – on land where three American soldiers are suspected to have been killed and buried during the Vietnam War.

About 40 years ago, when Sann Khuon was six years old, he claims to have seen a helicopter shot down near his home, some three kilometres from the Vietnamese border.

“I saw when the helicopter was on fire,” he said. “I didn’t dare to come close to the helicopter because I was chased away by the Vietnamese troops. But I know from the old people in the area that Americans have died here.”

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, Sann Khuon and his family resettled on their plot of land, which he says was littered with remnants of a blasted helicopter.

“On my first time planting rice fields here, aircraft parts cut my cow’s feet all the time,” he said. “Later, villagers collected the scrap metal and sold it to brokers.”

Three decades later, Sann Khuon and a team of 20 Cambodians are excavating the suspected burial site.

They’re working for a 12-person recovery team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a task force within the United States Department of Defense that recovers the bodies of missing soldiers primarily from World War II, Cold War conflicts, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Photo by: Matt Lundy

The recovery team and a group of Cambodian labourers use a high-powered hose and mesh screen to search for evidence from the site where a US military is believed to have been shot down.

JPAC has been excavating in Kampong Cham and Kratie provinces for more than two weeks – the command’s 44th joint field activity in Cambodia.

The recovery team stationed in Kratie is searching an underwater crash site for one American soldier, whose helicopter was shot down into the Mekong River.

The other team is searching for three bodies in Memot district.

Lee Tucker, public affairs officer for CPAC, said the Kampong Cham excavation site was determined based on research from a CPAC investigative team, including “eyewitness accounts and locals actually pointing to the location”.

Near the site, he said, a helicopter carrying eight soldiers was shot down by a North Vietnamese unit.

“[The Americans] were able to crash land and a fire fight ensued,” he said.

“There were three killed on scene, and the rest were able to escape.... it’s the three killed on scene that we’re looking for.”

Further details about the site and its history are scant.

Tucker says JPAC knows the missing soldiers’ identities, but will not reveal that information until a laboratory in Hawaii has confirmed whatever evidence is unearthed.

The date of the helicopter attack is also kept confidential, as is the site’s location in Memot district.

To find remains at the excavation site, the recovery team performs a three-step process. Workers dig four-by-four-metre sections, filling wheelbarrows with soil.

Since the area’s soil is thick and muddy, it’s soaked in two basins to break it down.

Finally, the majority of workers hose the sediment through a wire screen, collecting whatever solid matter is caught in the fine mesh.

Laurel Freas, a forensic anthropologist working at the site, says the recovery team is looking for any evidence that might point to the recovery of missing soldiers.

“We’re looking for, of course, human remains,” she said. “We’re looking for material evidence, which would be personal [items].

“And we’re looking for what we call life-support evidence, which is military equipment that the individuals would have had on their person.”

Any collected evidence is sent to the laboratory in Hawaii.

The forensic anthropologists conduct their analysis “blind”, meaning they don’t know the identity of the body under analysis “in order to prevent any subconscious bias from influencing the scientist’s analysis”, according to a description of the investigative process on the JPAC website.

The final step is handing over the soldier’s remains to family members, a process that Freas has been a part of in her 16 months with the command.

“There’s a lot of relief, there’s a lot of gratitude,” she said of the families’ reactions.

“There’s also mourning, sadness. It’s a complicated set of emotions for them.”

Captain JoAnn Kennedy, the recovery team leader, served two years in Iraq with the American military.

The command’s mandate – “Until they are home” – is personally reassuring for her.

“The peace of mind our families get knowing that there’s a unit like this out there – that if we go missing our government will not stop looking for us – is a comfort for them,” she said. “And in turn it’s a comfort us”.

Still, there are no guarantees the Kampong Cham excavation will turn up any bodies.

The process of recovering and identifying missing soldiers can take years.

More than 1,700 Americans are unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, including 59 that are presumed to be in Cambodia.

To date, 31 bodies have been recovered in the Kingdom.

Freas said she couldn’t comment on whether any remains had been found during the current excavation, though Tucker said last Tuesday that “so far we haven’t found anything”.

For the next four weeks, the recovery team and its Cambodian labourers will toil in the heat, digging and sifting through Sann Khuon’s land for any trace of the three Americans who are said to have died in Memot district.

Freas says it would be “disappointing” if the mission didn’t find any human remains, but that any excavation, even those that don’t unearth solid evidence, proves worthwhile.

“There is that disappointment maybe, but there’s also resolve,” she says.

“It’s strengthening for you to step back from it and say, ‘Alright, we’re gonna keep going, we’ll keep looking till we find them’.

“And now we know where they’re not.”

Border ceasefire brokered

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

A Royal Cambodian Armed Forces soldier relaxes at Preah Vihear temple during a lull in fighting with Thailand earlier this month.

via CAAI

Sunday, 20 February 2011 17:35 Cheang Sokha

Cambodian and Thai military commanders have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in the disputed areas close to Preah Vihear temple, after clashes in the area earlier this month left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured on both sides.

Touch Ra, deputy chief of the border relations office in Oddar Meanchey province, said today that military commanders from the two sides met for a two-hour closed-door meeting on Saturday attended by Hun Manet, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son.

“The result of the meeting has not been revealed as it was held secretly,” Touch Ra said.

But he added that since the meeting was conducted, the situation along the border has returned to normal.

“Most of the people have returned to their homes and are continuing with their businesses.

“The situation has calmed down and the people have no more fear of gunfire along the border.”

Chea Morn, commander of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Military Region 4, declined to comment today.

The talks followed four days of clashes from February 4-7, in which troops traded artillery, mortar and small arms fire in disputed areas close to Preah Vihear temple, which sustained damage in the skirmishes.

The Bangkok Post reported today that military commanders from both sides had inked a ceasefire agreement following Saturday’s talks, though it is unclear whether the agreement will hold.

A previous truce was called on February 5, but violence flared up again the next day.

The paper quoted an army source as saying Second Army commander Thawatchai Samutsakhorn was part of a Thai delegation led by Army chief-of-staff Daopong Rattanasuwan. The Cambodian delegation was led by Hun Manet, according to the report.

“All is well,” said Thawatchai Samutsakhorn after the agreement was signed at a restaurant near the Choam Sa-Ngam border crossing between Oddar Meanchey and Sisaket provinces.

The apparent agreement has stoked nationalist sentiment in Thailand, with Yellow Shirt activists from the People’s Alliance for Democracy claiming it could disadvantage Thai claims to disputed territories close to Preah Vihear.

At a press conference in Bangkok, Yellow Shirt spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said the conditions under the ceasefire deal had put Thailand in an underdog situation and would lead to a permanent loss of Thai land to Cambodia, the Bangkok Post reported.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied the claims in his weekly address today, saying the agreement “will not lead to any loss of Thai soil as speculated”.

The agreement comes ahead of a meeting of ASEAN’s foreign ministers in Jakarta tomorrow, which is set to discuss the stand-off between Cambodia and Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said last week that at the meeting Cambodia will press Thailand to sign a permanent ceasefire under ASEAN’s auspices, requesting that the bloc deploy observers into disputed border areas.

Thailand has been steadfastly opposed to a multilateral solution to the border conflict, which has erupted into sporadic violence since July 2008, when UNESCO listed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site over Thai objections.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will lead a delegation to Indonesia today to attend the meeting.

Thai state media also reported on Saturday that former UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura will next week pay a visit to Bangkok and Phnom Penh to hear both sides’ views on the recent conflict, though he will not visit disputed areas along the border.

Observers invited to 'embed' with Thai troops : Thai FM

via CAAI

By The Nation

Thailand planned to invite Indonesia to send observers to "embed" with Thai soldiers at the border where Thai troops clashed with Cambodia, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Sunday.

The observers will be witness for the Thai side that it respected the ceasefire with Cambodia.

Kasit was speaking after attending a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The meeting is held in preparation for Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday.

"We would ask Indonesia, chair of Asean, to dispatch observers to embed with the Thai troops at the border where the Thai troops clashed with Cambodian troops. The observers will be our witness that we respect the ceasefire," Kasit said.

Fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted on February 4 and continued although both generals had met on the following day and agreed for the ceasefire.

Recently UN Security Council issued a statement calling for immediate ceasefire between the countries.

Kasit said Cambodia should also agree to accept the observers to embed with their troops.

Responding to reports that both countries have signed a temporary ceasefire during a meeting between Thai and Cambodian generals in a restaurant in Along Veng of Cambodia on Saturday, Kasit said that both sides did not sign any ceasefire.

What they did was just talking not negotiating and they did not sign anything, he said.

Meanwhile an informed source said representing the Cambodian side in the Saturday meeting was not Maj Gen Hun Manet, the eldest son, of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen but Deputy Supreme Commander Jia Dara.

Sunday, 20 February 2011

Thai PM: ASEAN not to Interfere with Thai-Cambodian Dispute

via CAAI

2011-02-20
Xinhua
Web Editor: haodi

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said ASEAN will not interfere with any substance of negotiation between Thailand and Cambodia on their border dispute.

"I would like to stress that the position of ASEAN, as we have been following, is it will not interfere with any substance that we will talk to Cambodia," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address.

The premier said the United Nations Security Council, which met on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute last Monday, was of the view that the two countries should talk to each other with ASEAN, or the Association of South East Asian Nations, acting as the facilitator or coordinator.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as the current ASEAN chair, has called a meeting of the regional grouping's foreign ministers on Feb. 22 in Jakarta to discuss the issue.

Abhisit has repeatedly said that the border dispute was a bilateral issue and should be solved through the existing mechanism between the two nations.

The premier also said UNESCO now seemed to share Thailand's view that the organization should not proceed with any decision on the administering plan of a disputed 4.6-square-kilometer area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as Thailand and Cambodia both claim sovereignty over the area.

He said he talked to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova over the phone last week to explain Thailand's position on the issue.

Abhsit said Ms. Bokova seemed to understand that any implementation of the administering plan, while there was still a border dispute, "could not proceed."

UNESCO's World Heritage committee is scheduled to discuss the administering plan, as proposed by Cambodia, in June this year.

Abhisit said instead of holding any discussion on the plan, UNESCO, or the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, should let Thailand and Cambodia negotiate bilaterally on their border demarcation first, and suspend any proceeding in regarding to the Preah Vihear temple.

Phnom Penh unilaterally has the temple enlisted as a World Heritage site on July 7, 2008.

PAD: Ceasefire agreement ‘dangerous’

via CAAI

Published: 20/02/2011

The border truce agreement made by the Thai and Cambodian generals on Saturday is dangerous as it will make Thailand lose its territory, spokesman of the yellow-shirt people group Panthep Puapongpan claimed on Sunday.

At a press conferen held at Makkhawan Rangsan rally site, Mr Panthep said the eight conditions under the ceasefire deal, including no more troops are to be deployed in the conflict zones and no building or structure of any kind may be constructed inside the disputed 4.6 square kilometer border zone, would lead to a permanent lose of Thai soil.

He claimed that the truce agreement has put Thailand in an underdog situation.

Core leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang said the eight conditions would only allow Cambodia to 100 per cent occupy the disputed border area.

Other points of the ceasefire deal, took effect from Saturday, are; the existing troops stationed in the conflict zones must not move; no heavy armaments and artillery in the conflict areas may be moved; neither side may attack the other using heavy weaponry; no more military bunkers are to be built, no more road construction is allowed; and the senior military officers of both countries are to communicate via a dedicated mobile phones hotline in discussing border issue.

“ Paro Para Panhaha Khmer Siem” a Poem in Khmer by Ung Thavary

Protest against Thai Aggression at Canadian Parliament Hill and Thai Embassy in Ottawa 18th Feb 2011

Source: http://unitedkhmer.wordpress.com/

Sowing the seeds of a lengthy conflict

via CAAI

Published: 20/02/2011

Ironically, Cambodia, which was one of the leaders on the convention to ban cluster mines, backed out of signing it in December 2008 citing the Preah Vihear border conflict.

EXPLOSIVE: Kim Samnang, who lost his forearm; and what is believed to be a cluster bomb, found near Svay Chrum village.

Cambodia argued it was in no rush to sign, as Thailand was not yet a signatory. Cluster bombs are considered a major threat to civilian populations as they spread across a large area and can lay dormant for long periods of time.

ALLEGED CLUSTER BOMB ATTACK

''My base was shelled between 3:15-4:10pm on Feb 4,'' said Lt Col Sok Min of the Cambodian border police in Svay Chrum.

''I was standing at the gate looking at the mountain and I heard the sound of a bomb approaching, and made it just in time to the bunker.

''The only thing I could hear was BOOM, pop, pop, pop _ like popcorn _ and all I could see was smoke.''

Border policeman Kim Samnang said the bombs were distinctive by their sound. ''I suspected there was something different when I heard the pop-pop-pop,'' he said. ''I had heard about bomblets [cluster munitions] in other provinces.

''At 6pm the next day, we turned on the generator to pump water and decided to watch the Sunday boxing.

''Someone came in with this thing with a white string and I put my hand up and told him to put it down,'' he said.

Policeman Cheng Mol put it on the table and it exploded _ killing two, and injuring eight.

Samnang and Mol both lost forearms. They now share a ward at Siem Reap provincial hospital.

''I was injured by cluster munitions,'' Samnang told the Bangkok Post Sunday ''Two days ago, an NGO showed us a photo. It had slightly different colouring, but it's the same kind of bomblet. It looked like a cow bell or something,'' Mol said.

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) arrived on the scene the morning after the explosion.

''I had never seen anything like them before, they're not like the American War bomblets,'' said Saem Ponnreay, CMAC Demining Unit 3 manager.

''People were playing with the things, spinning them in the air by their cords. We sent photos to headquarters and they confirmed that they were M42/46 submunitions.

''We had recently cleared this area. Now we have to come back.''

CMAC issued a statement on Feb 10 claiming that: ''During the cross-fire there [was] identified evidence of heavy artilleries such as 105mm, 130mm and 155mm used by Thai military, and CMAC experts have confirmed that these artilleries contained cluster munitions including M35, M42 and M46 types.''

Cluster Munition Coalition member Sister Denise Coughlin surveyed the situation this week. ''I am saddened by the suffering and displacement of people from both sides of the border. I witnessed with my own eyes, cluster munitions on the ground,'' she said.

''I have also spoken to the victims who identified the M46 as the munition that injured them.

''The use of cluster bombs causes devastating consequences years after the conflict. A friend of mine lost both his arms in 2004, from cluster munitions left over from the 70s.

''I dont want that to happen to anyone else.''

In a statement issued on Feb 10, the coalition, which represents 350 civil groups worldwide, asked both Thailand and Cambodia to clarify whether their armies had used cluster munitions in the recent conflict.

According to the coalition, both countries have stockpiles of cluster munitions, but little is known about their status or composition.

Cambodia has cited an ongoing review of its defence and security situation as the reason for its delay in joining the treaty, while Thailand says it has concerns over its ability to destroy its stockpile although it has said previously it would not use the weapons.

CMAC faces a huge task, even if the fighting stops tomorrow. ''We don't know how many shells landed around here. Some could have fallen in unpopulated areas. There are 72 bomblets in every shell,'' Ponnreay said.

''Before we can let civilians back in, we need to educate them. We have reached 4,000 families in the camps and told them not to touch them, and to call our hotlines if they see one.''

When he appeared before the UN Security Council on Monday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya categorically denied ''the groundless accusation by Cambodia that Thailand used cluster munitions during the recent skirmishes''.

Mr Kasit added that Thailand has been actively supporting disarmament efforts, including the elimination of cluster munitions.

''We are seriously considering joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions,'' he said. The army also strongly denied the Cambodian cluster bomb allegation.

Cambodian ruler's son enjoys rapid rise

via CAAI

2011-02-20 12:16

By Michelle Fitzpatrick

PHNOM PENH, Sunday 20 February 2011 (AFP) -- When Hun Manet was promoted to a two-star general last month, Cambodia's premier had to defend his eldest son's rapid rise, dismissing claims it was an attempt to engineer an eventual succession.

One expert even drew parallels with dynastic plans in secretive North Korea, where communist ruler Kim Jong-Il has seemingly hand picked son Kim Jong-Un to take over the reigns of power.

Thai-Cambodian border clashes, the heaviest in years between the neighbours, have boosted 33-year-old Manet's military credentials, observers say, a small victory for Prime Minister Hun Sen as the row with Thailand rumbles on.

Described as "a pretty humble guy" by a Phnom Penh-based diplomat who has met Manet on several occasions, the first-born of Hun Sen's six children does not seek out the spotlight.

Much has been made in Cambodia of his foreign education and despite his young age, Manet is already chief of the ministry of defence's anti-terrorism unit as well as deputy commander of his father's personal bodyguard unit.

He was promoted to a two-star general in January, a move that prompted some observers to suggest he was being groomed to succeed his father, 59, who has ruled Cambodia since 1985 -- making him the longest-serving Asian leader.

The premier hit back, saying Manet -- who graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1999 and earned a doctorate in economics from Britain's University of Bristol -- was well-qualified for the roles.

"He has been in the army for 16 years and there is promotion within the army ranks," Hun Sen said at the time.

Chhaya Hang, executive director of the Khmer Institute of Democracy, a local policy group, believes the premier is trying to consolidate power by "orchestrating the future of Cambodia's leadership".

"We saw a similar story last year when the North Korean president promoted his son to a four-star general," he said.

When a long-running border dispute with Thailand boiled over earlier this month, resulting in four days of deadly violence, Thai news outlets were quick to point out Manet's role in the fighting.

Some even claimed -- wrongly -- that he had been injured.

Hun Sen set the record straight, explaining in a speech that his son was involved in border strategy and negotiations with Thai counterparts -- from the safety of the Cambodian capital.

"Manet is so famous in Thailand now," said Hun Sen, sounding like a proud father as he took a swipe at the Thai reports.

"The invaders curse you, son," he said, before adding jokingly: "Let's fight, son, your father encourages you."

A few days after the violence died down, Manet travelled to the tense border to meet troops, stepping into the limelight at last.

"He paid a visit and encouraged our troops at the frontline," said a Cambodian field military commander who did not wish to be named. "He also gave some advice to our soldiers regarding fighting tactics and self-defence."

Many of the Cambodian soldiers on the border are thought to be former Khmer Rouge fighters hardened by decades of the now-over civil war.

The visit appeared to serve the purpose of exposing Manet to a "real war situation", said Chhaya Hang, that would help to "legitimise his role in the military as one of the modern world's youngest generals".

But some analysts cautioned that it was important not to overstate the importance of Manet's rapid rise to prominence.

"Ordinary Cambodian people don't feel too concerned" about his career progression and where it might eventually lead, said political commentator Son Soubert.

He also said it was too soon to speculate whether the premier was paving the way for his son to take the top job, hinting at opposition within the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to the idea.

"Many people think he is being groomed to succeed his father but whether he will succeed in convincing everyone in the CPP circle is another question," said Soubert.

If Manet is to rise to the top, he may have to wait a long time -- his father has vowed to stay in power until he is 90.

"I think for the moment that we should take Prime Minister Hun Sen's statements about staying on in his role for many years to come at face value," said Milton Osborne, a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney.

MySinchew 2011.02.20

Thailand calls on UNESCO to postpone temple's listing

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

via CAAI

Feb 20, 2011

Bangkok - Thailand has asked the United Nations to postpone the World Heritage listing process of a millenial temple on its common border with Cambodia until a territorial dispute has been settled, the prime minister said Sunday.

Abhisit Vejjajiva in his weekly television broadcast said he made the request by telephone to Irina Bokova, director-general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

'I think UNESCO now understands our position on the problems with Phra Viharn becoming a heritage site,' Abhisit said.

UNESCO will reportedly send a representative to Bangkok and Phnom Penh soon to hear both sides of the row over the 11th-century Hindu temple - called Preah Vihear by the Cambodians and Phra Viharn by the Thais - which broke out into a border clash on February 4-7 that claimed at least 10 lives.

Thailand has blamed UNESCO for escalating a territorial dispute over land adjacent to the temple when it decided to declare Preah Vihear a World Heritage Site in mid-2008, despite Thai objections.

Thailand is petitioning UNESCO to shelve plans to approve Cambodia's management plan for the site at a World Heritage Committee meeting in June, until the two sides have settled their joint clams to land north of the temple.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia but stopped short of determining the border demarcation in the contested area.

Both countries claim a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land near the temple, which has been included under Cambodia's management plan for the World Heritage Committee.

Both sides have beefed up their forces in the vicinity of the temple, 450 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, since July 2008, leading to several border skirmishes over the past two and a half years.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called this month's clash a 'war' and called for UN Security Council intervention in the issue.

The council listened to the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers on February 14 in New York and urged a ceasefire and to resolve the matter through talks in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN foreign ministers will meet in Jakarta on Tuesday to address the conflict, but the association's role in a settlement process remains unclear.

Cambodia wants ASEAN to play a mediating role while Thailand insists that organization should merely facilitate bilateral talks.

'ASEAN will be a facilitator and witness to the talks, but will not interfere,' Abhisit said Sunday.

Thai and Cambodian troops have agreed to a temporary ceasefire on the border until the ASEAN meeting in Jakarta.

PM: Thailand won’t lose territory

via CAAI

Published: 20/02/2011

The ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia will not make the country lose its territory as some fear, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insited on Sunday morning.

In his “Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit” weekly programme on NBT, Mr Abhisit said the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) believed that Thailand and Cambodia can settle the border dispute trough bilateral talks.

The UNSC also allowed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to hold a meeting on the border conflict this Tuesday, Feb 22, he added.

On the concerns that Thailand could lose its territory if the government signs a ceasefire agreement with the neighbouring country, Mr Abhisit said any agreement to be made by the government will be only fore bringing about peace.

“The agreement will not lead to any lose of Thai soil as speculated”, he said.

Interview: Cambodia, Thai border row harms ASEAN security community efforts

via CAAI

February 20, 2011

Cambodian and Thai border row near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple could harm the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) toward a community by 2015, said analysts here on Saturday.

"ASEAN will be difficult to achieve its security community by 2015 if it cannot mediate to resolve the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand," Chheang Vannarith, executive director of Cambodian Institute of Cooperation and Peace, said in an interview with Xinhua on Saturday.

ASEAN will have communities including economic, security, and socio-cultural ones.

"By 2015, I believe that it can achieve only the economic community and social and cultural community," he said.

However, he said that it depends on ASEAN itself if it will create any new mechanism to resolve dispute or not.

The ASEAN's foreign ministers will hold a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb. 22 to discuss the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

"Now we wait and see the result of the upcoming meeting," he said."It can be a turning-point for ASEAN if it decides to establish an effective mechanism of dispute resolution for its members."

The dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is the first time that ASEAN meets, so it can be an experiment for ASEAN.

"If ASEAN has no any resolution or measure on this dispute, the ASEAN's security community will be worthless," he said.

Cambodia is expected to ask Thailand to sign a permanent ceasefire under the witness of ASEAN chair or representative during the ASEAN foreign ministers'meeting, and it will also ask ASEAN observers to come to the disputed areas to ensure the permanent cease-fire.

Sok Touch, deputy director general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia's International Relations Institute, said that Cambodia' s suggestions will be failed.

"It will not be successful, I guest. Currently, Thailand increases its military forces in order to put pressure on Cambodia to return to bilateral negotiation table," he said.

"Thai government uses the issue of Preah Vihear temple to treat its internal conflict," he said. "Also, Thai's war against Cambodia is for budget--when there is war, Thai government led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, will be able to withdraw budget from its national coffer easily and legally."

"Another reason, Abhisit uses the war against Cambodia as his excuse to postpone the election in Thailand," he added.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The conflict is due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7, unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, had killed and wounded some soldiers and citizens of both sides, and also caused tens of thousands of the two countries'villagers nearby the disputed areas fleeing for safe shelters.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday urged Cambodia and Thailand to display maximum restraint and to establish a permanent ceasefire. It also expressed support for the active efforts of ASEAN in the matter and encouraged the parties to continue to cooperate with the organization.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua

Governments bluster, people suffer

via CAAI

Published: 20/02/2011

I don't understand why the Thai government should reject every proposal put forward by the Cambodian side _ especially inviting Asean observers into the disputed area in order to ensure that a permanent ceasefire is duly observed by both sides. Currently, Cambodian and Thai troops are within small-arms range of each other. That is very dangerous.

If both governments really put the safety of their peoples first and foremost prior to this, the recent clashes would not have happened. We haven't seen any generals or government ministers from either side die; it is only low-ranking soldiers and some poor souls in the area who have suffered severely.

Both the Thai and Cambodian governments must strive to make sure this foolish, uncivilised situation is resolved immediately.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

'Cambodia, Thai border row harms ASEAN security community efforts'

via CAAI

(philstar.com) Updated February 20, 2011

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) - Cambodian and Thai border row near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple could harm the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) toward a community by 2015, said analysts here on Saturday.