Khmer Prediction..The Rising of Angkor!
For those who understand Thai and Khmer...
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, July 4, 2011
Learning About Our Neighbors: Farwell Abhisit
Prime Minister Abhisit (Mark) Vejjajiva (and his party) has been defeated. His immediate resignation from the Democrat Party and his concession to Pheu Thai Party are great examples for other Khmer leaders who have been clinging to power for too long regardless whether the Khmer people like them or not.
Cambodian political leaders, too, tend to hold on to their respective position(s) for life.
Leadership changing provides new and fresh air for both sides—the leaders and followers—to breathe; and it is good for the country. Clinging to power too long provides the breeding ground for corruption, nepotism, etc. and it is one of the major factors that can lead to a great destruction from deadly uprisings.
Even the law of nature offers no excuse for “permanence” because nothing is permanent except change. This time, Thais don’t just change their leaders; they elected the first woman to become their Prime Minister. They are tired of being led by "men".
For Prime Minister Abhisit, leaving his positions at the right time and the right moment is the right thing to do. He deserves to be congratulated.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A revolution? Cambodia needs change, but not through a bloodshed revolution.
A revolution?
Please click here to read the news in Khmer:
http://www.akp.gov.kh/kh/?p=9550
Cambodia needs change, but not through bloodshed and a revolution.
First, such a violent rebellion is out of date; second, it will be counterproductive; third, it will kill off the last Khmer people which have already been dwindling since the last few wars.
Cambodia has experienced violent changes in its recent past. The violence has led to nothing but atrocity. A new hostility will play right into the hand of Cambodia’s enemies because this is what they want: another chance to destroy the Khmer race.
Change must be done via true democratic processes and by peaceful means, not by violent forces at the expenses of Khmer blood. Cambodia cannot afford another war regardless of whom or what country—Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia--start the fight.
Thai warmongers will not hesitate to invade Cambodia again by using the same reason as the Vietnamese did in 1979. Using Khmer Loeur people to fight Khmer Kandal will only benefit Thais and Viets, not Khmers.
Please click here to read the news in Khmer:
http://www.akp.gov.kh/kh/?p=9550
Cambodia needs change, but not through bloodshed and a revolution.
First, such a violent rebellion is out of date; second, it will be counterproductive; third, it will kill off the last Khmer people which have already been dwindling since the last few wars.
Cambodia has experienced violent changes in its recent past. The violence has led to nothing but atrocity. A new hostility will play right into the hand of Cambodia’s enemies because this is what they want: another chance to destroy the Khmer race.
Change must be done via true democratic processes and by peaceful means, not by violent forces at the expenses of Khmer blood. Cambodia cannot afford another war regardless of whom or what country—Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia--start the fight.
Thai warmongers will not hesitate to invade Cambodia again by using the same reason as the Vietnamese did in 1979. Using Khmer Loeur people to fight Khmer Kandal will only benefit Thais and Viets, not Khmers.
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Monday, May 2, 2011
Beware of Thai's Tricks -- They speak with both sides of their mouth!
Thai-Cambodian border clash an ‘embarrassment for ASEAN’
Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 05/02/2011 10:36 PM | World
Question: Thailand and Cambodia have repeatedly pledged to maintain a cease-fire in February and last Thursday. So why did clashes occur again two weeks ago, with the latest last Friday?
Answer: To reaffirm for the record, we never started the clashes. We have no reason to be unfriendly to Cambodia.
First, we are major exporters to Cambodia. Our exports to Cambodia make up 90 percent of bilateral trade [between Thailand and Cambodia]. So, it’s on our interest to keep trading with and exporting to Cambodia.
Second, we are becoming major investors in [Cambodia] in many fields: electricity generation, [manufacturing] industry, tourism, healthcare and construction.
Third, we welcome 150,000 Cambodian workers to Thailand under a bilateral memorandum of understanding.
Fourth, we are becoming a major donor to Cambodian development, education, social, health and infrastructure development.
Fifth, there’s a growth in Thai tourism to Cambodia and at the same time, we are a transit point as international airlines come to Thailand and visitors take regional airlines to Cambodia. So Thailand is an entry point for Cambodian tourism.
Sixth, we started and initiated the ASEAN master plan of connectivity: physical infrastructure, roads, railways, ICT [information and communication technology], electricity and other things, inclusive of the Mekong River development, as well as people-to-people contact.
We and Cambodia are two kingdoms, one destination. Two months ago, we had an agreement with Cambodia for Cambodians to enter Thailand without the need for visas.
The Thai side of the border is heavily populated. Why should we fight when the munitions fall on Thai villages? The Cambodian side is sparsely populated.
It would be silly for us to keep shooting when we know very well that artillery from Cambodia will fall on villages, temples and schools as has been shown on television.
Last time we had to evacuate about 20,000 people. We had to build houses, repair temples and schools, and we had to build more bunkers.
The physical side [construction] is not as important as the morale of the people. Between 30,000 and 40,000 people have been displaced. Instead of spending time looking after their animals, growing rice and tapioca, they have to sleep on temple floors. The damage is not only on the dollar. It’s frightening to hear the gunfire.
What triggered the additional clashes at two separate temples — 150 kilometers away from Preah Vihear — where February’s skirmishes occurred?
From our point of view, the position of the two military units is about 50 meters apart.
Ten days ago, we found out that the Cambodians had moved closer to the Thai side and started to dig bunkers. So we told the Cambodian soldiers to move back and that’s when they started to shoot.
We highly appreciate the role of Indonesia — the seriousness, the sense of purpose and the goodwill. So we do whatever we can [to cooperate].
I don’t think [Indonesia is failing] because its responsibility is more or less behind the scenes. No one expected that fighting would break out 150 kilometers away [from the original flash point].
The conflict between the two countries is a waste of time. It’s a waste of resources for the Indonesian government, for Cambodia and for Thailand.
We have to respect and honor the role and involvement of Indonesia. Thailand is not in a position to embarrass the Indonesian government.
It’s sad for ASEAN that the two countries keep on fighting. I’m ashamed. It’s an embarrassment to ASEAN that this conflict has dragged us to the UN.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thailand uses bullets to get ballots
Bullets and Ballots?
Don’t count on Thailand’s lip services.
Ceasefire is only a trick or a strategy. Its goal is to gain more territory from Cambodia.
The image on the left are from: www.thaiphotoblogs.com/index.php?blog=5&title...
Aphisit's political promise is to steal Preah Vihear and other temples from Cambodia.
If he can get that done before the Election Day, Abhisit will use his victory to help with his campaign against his political opponents.
It appears that whether Thaliland uses bullets or ballots, Cambodia is still at risk of losing more land to Thailand.
Cambodia must fight on, because regardless who wins in the Thai election, Cambodia will have a tough time regaining her territory from Thailand.
It is vital for Cambodia to hold on to her territory and get help from the international community.
=================
4/30/11 2:13 PM
Thai-Cambodia
Ninth day of Thai-Cambodia border clashes despite truce The latest violence on the disputed
Officials from both sides said Saturday's fighting took place near the Ta Krabey temple - one of three claimed by both countries. No casualties have been reported.
Sixteen people have been killed in the latest clashes, part of a long-running dispute between the two countries.
On Friday a truce was broken by renewed fighting hours after it was agreed.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the violence. Each side accuses the other of starting it.
"Even though there is a recent ceasefire agreement... Thailand still breached it," Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters in Phnom Penh on Saturday.
On Friday, Thai army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd blamed Cambodia, adding that "local units might not agree to the talks as easily as their commanders did".
The latest series of border clashes began on 22 April, mainly around the temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan.
It briefly spread to a third location - the hill-top temple of Preah Vihear - on Tuesday.
Parts of the Thai-Cambodian border have never been formally demarcated, spurring nationalist sentiment in both countries.
Fighting took place three years ago in the run-up to a general election in Cambodia, and this latest outbreak comes with the Thai government due to call an election in the coming weeks.
A long-term solution at governmental level remains elusive, although the two prime ministers may talk at a meeting of the Asean regional bloc next month.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Indonesia is powerless when it comes to Thailand's agression
Below is the image at: ellieteramoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/...Indonesia has no power or influence over Thailand's decision and aggression. Thailand will do whatever it takes to get Cambodia to talk bilaterally, so it can twist Cambodia's arms. It knows that Cambodia is weak militarily, economically, and politically. In addition, Indoneasia and Thailand are the co-founding fathers of ASEAN.
The United Nations is also powerless when it comes to dealing with strong nations that have excellent relationship with the Superpowers. The U.S. pays more than any other nations in the world to support the U.N.
While Cambodia has been friendly with communist countries, Thailand has always have great relationships with the U.S. and Great Britain. King of Thailand was born in the U.S. and Abhisit is a citizen of England. Furthermore, Thailand was one of America's frontline allies in fighting Communism during the 60's and 70's.
So far, neither the United States nor the United Kingdom has officially condemned Thailand for its invasion or for the use of illegal weapons by Thailand.
When push comes to shove, Cambodia will have to turn to its bigger brothers China and Vietnam for help because these two countries have invested heavily in Cambodia in nearly all Cambodia’s infrastructures. However, we do not know how much more it will cost Cambodia in land and concession to get help from these countries.
How will Cambodia pay for help when it natural resources are nearly exausted?
==========================
Indonesia's foreign minister postpones attempt to broker Thailand and Cambodia peace
By Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok 5:07PM BST 25 Apr 2011
Indonesia's foreign minister "indefinitely" postponed a round of shuttle diplomacy to Thailand and Cambodia on Monday aimed at brokering a ceasefire in the neighbours' bloody border clashes that have left 12 soldiers dead.
Thai soldiers transport an injured comrade during fighting with Cambodian troops at the Thai-Cambodia border in Surin Photo: REUTERS
At the last minute Marty Natalegawa cancelled a planned visit that was to take in Bangkok and Phnom Penh to discuss ending the four days of fighting around two 12th century temples in a disputed border area littered with landmines.
The bitter fighting is the worst since trouble flared along the disputed border three years ago. Tens of thousands of people on both sides were sent fleeing for the safety of makeshift shelters, leaving villages like ghost-towns.
The latest round of fighting comes after Indonesia as the chair of the south-east Asian ASEAN bloc – of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members – brokered a truce to deadly skirmishes in February.
Indonesian troops were due to travel to the scene of February's fighting around the UN World Heritage Preah Vihear temple to act as ceasefire monitors, but the Thai army blocked their arrival.
Bangkok has consistently pushed for bilateral talks to resolve the dispute with Cambodia, while Phnom Penh has said only outside help can orchestrate an end to the repeated clashes.
Related Articles
Thai-Cambodian fighting enters third day
24 Apr 2011
The new outbreak of hostilities erupted on Friday near the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Hindu temples, about 90 miles to the east of February's fighting. After a lull during much of Sunday it reignited in the evening and continued into Monday morning, leaving one soldier dead on each side.
Cambodia has accused Thailand of damaging the two temples with artillery fire and shooting shells up to 20 miles inside its territory. Seventeen thousand villagers have moved to safe areas on the Cambodian side, while 30,000 Thais have sought shelter away from the fighting.
It is not immediately clear what sparked the latest round of fighting, but both sides have in the past used the emotive territorial issue to stoke nationalist fervour.
Analysts point to the fact that with an election due in Thailand before July, the fighting could bolster support among hard-line nationalists for prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, which faces an uphill task to win re-election.
Cambodia uses UFO to spy on Thailand--Not bad!
After lying about cluster bombs, now this:
According to Thai Lt Gen Tawatchai, "Cambodia used unmanned aerial vehicles to photograph Thai military locations and Thailand also used similar aircraft to do the same on Cambodian soil."
No one believes that kind of excuse, but the joke is on you Lt General Tawatchai.
General Tawatchai, maybe you were smoking some kind of weed for what you were seeing was probably Cambodian kites flown by Khmer children who was playing around Ta Krabeiy Temple.
Or may be it was just a Cambodian white pigeon looking for his long lost partner because of Cambodia's deforestation problems. How many birds shot by Thai soldiers lately?
Next time you should come up with a better joke, like Thai military leaders saw a UFO flown by Hun Manet or something. How about this: Hun Manet invented a unmanned aircraft using his T-shirt brought from the West Point Military Academy.
With the military budget of less than 200 million dollars per year, Cambodia cannot even afford to buy boots for it soldiers let alone to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles to spy on Thailand. Maybe you are right General; Cambodia used flip-flops to save money in order to buy flying objects to spy on Thailand.
Gen. Hun Manet, please keep your "magical tool kits" to use later. Next time make sure you use the latest model F222 Jet you made in your basement.
Cambodian soldiers opened fire at Thai troops who were warning them not to build a base and bunkers in a disputed area 400m west of the Ta Kwai temple on Friday morning as they were violating the Thai-Cambodian 2000 memorandum of understanding that prohibits any modification or building, especially of military facilities, in disputed areas pending demarcation.
Thai soldiers expected their Cambodian counterparts to honour the gentleman's agreement for a truce, so they trusted their counterparts and sustained many deaths and injuries from the unexpected opening of fire.
The Thai-Cambodian border seemed peaceful over the past two months, after the truce had been agreed by Thai soldiers led by army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan and Cambodian soldiers led by Cambodian army deputy commander Hun Manet in Cambodian territory next to Chong Sa-ngam border pass in Phu Sing district of Thailand's Si Sa Ket province.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers coexisted in a friendly manner in the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
They met, shared meals, played sports and enjoyed the Songkran water festival together. That together with the supposed credibility of the son of Hun Sen convinced Thai soldiers that Cambodia was honouring the truce.
However, a local source said there were signs leading to the latest clash. During the Songkran festival Lt Gen Hun Manet, in his capacity as the combat commander in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, came to Preah Vihear province and Gen Kun Kim, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, travelled to areas near Ta Kwai and Ta Muen temples to inspect and promote local soldiers.
Cambodian soldiers conducted military exercises from late March to last week. They also made reinforcements but claimed the movements were only parts of such drills.
"It is surely the order of Hun Sen because he is upset with the Thai armed forces' refusal to welcome military observers from Indonesia and determination on bilateral approaches. [He] wants to escalate the issue internationally so he had to trigger fire to attract the UN and other countries to handle the issue," said Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army, who supervises defence affairs in the Northeast.
"I did not think Cambodian soldiers would break the promise. Although the truce was not signed, it was a gentleman's agreement."
He said Cambodian soldiers always opened fire first. He contacted a local Cambodian commander who said it was an order. Lt Gen Tawatchai said the order was known to have come from Hun Sen.
"The order of Hun Sen led to the deaths and injury of Cambodian soldiers and heavy damage of their weaponry as Thai soldiers responded equally. We are more precise and even ready to use Caesar [self-propelled] artillery," Lt Gen Tawatchai said.
He has also put his soldiers near the Preah Vihear temple in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket on standby as Cambodian soldiers removed the covers of their artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers there.
"Regarding the situation at Preah Vihear, it depends on Hun Sen as to whether he wants it to expand to the area. It is up to him because we are only defensive and are fully ready," Lt Gen Tawatchai said.
"Don't worry. If [you] shoot at us, [we] will fire back with similar weapons. The Army chief has given a green light. Thai soldiers do not want a fight or a war but Cambodian soldiers started it. So, we must fight and react to protect Thai soldiers, sovereignty and Thai people.
"From now on, we will not believe in any promise or gentleman's agreement from Cambodian soldiers. Even on the first day of the clash, they told us by phone to stop firing our artillery but when we stopped, Cambodia resumed firing their artillery shells at us."
He also denied reports that Thai soldiers were captured by Cambodian troops.
According to Thai Lt Gen Tawatchai, "Cambodia used unmanned aerial vehicles to photograph Thai military locations and Thailand also used similar aircraft to do the same on Cambodian soil."
No one believes that kind of excuse, but the joke is on you Lt General Tawatchai.
General Tawatchai, maybe you were smoking some kind of weed for what you were seeing was probably Cambodian kites flown by Khmer children who was playing around Ta Krabeiy Temple.
Or may be it was just a Cambodian white pigeon looking for his long lost partner because of Cambodia's deforestation problems. How many birds shot by Thai soldiers lately?
Next time you should come up with a better joke, like Thai military leaders saw a UFO flown by Hun Manet or something. How about this: Hun Manet invented a unmanned aircraft using his T-shirt brought from the West Point Military Academy.
With the military budget of less than 200 million dollars per year, Cambodia cannot even afford to buy boots for it soldiers let alone to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles to spy on Thailand. Maybe you are right General; Cambodia used flip-flops to save money in order to buy flying objects to spy on Thailand.
Gen. Hun Manet, please keep your "magical tool kits" to use later. Next time make sure you use the latest model F222 Jet you made in your basement.
==============
Cambodian officers gave their word, not Hun Sen
The Bangkok Post
- Published: 25/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, an army commander, have broken a gentleman's agreement for a truce, leading to the latest border clash and damage to both Thailand and Cambodia.
Thai soldiers expected their Cambodian counterparts to honour the gentleman's agreement for a truce, so they trusted their counterparts and sustained many deaths and injuries from the unexpected opening of fire.
The Thai-Cambodian border seemed peaceful over the past two months, after the truce had been agreed by Thai soldiers led by army chief-of-staff Dapong Rattanasuwan and Cambodian soldiers led by Cambodian army deputy commander Hun Manet in Cambodian territory next to Chong Sa-ngam border pass in Phu Sing district of Thailand's Si Sa Ket province.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers coexisted in a friendly manner in the 4.6 square kilometre disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
They met, shared meals, played sports and enjoyed the Songkran water festival together. That together with the supposed credibility of the son of Hun Sen convinced Thai soldiers that Cambodia was honouring the truce.
However, a local source said there were signs leading to the latest clash. During the Songkran festival Lt Gen Hun Manet, in his capacity as the combat commander in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, came to Preah Vihear province and Gen Kun Kim, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, travelled to areas near Ta Kwai and Ta Muen temples to inspect and promote local soldiers.
Cambodian soldiers conducted military exercises from late March to last week. They also made reinforcements but claimed the movements were only parts of such drills.
Cambodia used unmanned aerial vehicles to photograph Thai military locations and Thailand also used similar aircraft to do the same on Cambodian soil.
"It is surely the order of Hun Sen because he is upset with the Thai armed forces' refusal to welcome military observers from Indonesia and determination on bilateral approaches. [He] wants to escalate the issue internationally so he had to trigger fire to attract the UN and other countries to handle the issue," said Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army, who supervises defence affairs in the Northeast.
"I did not think Cambodian soldiers would break the promise. Although the truce was not signed, it was a gentleman's agreement."
He said Cambodian soldiers always opened fire first. He contacted a local Cambodian commander who said it was an order. Lt Gen Tawatchai said the order was known to have come from Hun Sen.
"The order of Hun Sen led to the deaths and injury of Cambodian soldiers and heavy damage of their weaponry as Thai soldiers responded equally. We are more precise and even ready to use Caesar [self-propelled] artillery," Lt Gen Tawatchai said.
He has also put his soldiers near the Preah Vihear temple in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket on standby as Cambodian soldiers removed the covers of their artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers there.
"Regarding the situation at Preah Vihear, it depends on Hun Sen as to whether he wants it to expand to the area. It is up to him because we are only defensive and are fully ready," Lt Gen Tawatchai said.
"Don't worry. If [you] shoot at us, [we] will fire back with similar weapons. The Army chief has given a green light. Thai soldiers do not want a fight or a war but Cambodian soldiers started it. So, we must fight and react to protect Thai soldiers, sovereignty and Thai people.
"From now on, we will not believe in any promise or gentleman's agreement from Cambodian soldiers. Even on the first day of the clash, they told us by phone to stop firing our artillery but when we stopped, Cambodia resumed firing their artillery shells at us."
He also denied reports that Thai soldiers were captured by Cambodian troops.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
While Thailand wants Bilateral Talk, Vietnam got Bilateral Trade and more
While Thailand wants Bilateral Talk, Vietnam got Bilateral Trade and more, what will Cambodia get?
Below is the image at: www.vuthasurf.com/.../
Vietnam has already achieved most of what it wants from Cambodia. Thanks to Vietnam's former partner, the Khmer Rouge, who killed and starved nearly two million Cambodians to "make room" Vietnam to use as a pretext to invade and install its newest ally to run Cambodia. Consequently, Vietnam has successfully created a long-lasting Cambodia-Vietnam ‘traditional friendship’ that is fully watched over by Vietnam.
Most Cambodians have realized that Vietnam’s grip on Cambodia is getting too tight and their gratefulness toward Vietnam is getting too costly for Cambodia. It is a do-or-die task for Cambodians to reverse such a one-way friendship, but now another big challenge from the western neighbor has just popped up violently—Thailand, too, wants a sweet piece of pie from Cambodia.
Unlike the Vietnamese, it may be a little too late or difficult for the Thais to infiltrate into Cambodian’s political, social, and economic infrastructures. Nevertheless, the important Cambodian territory along Thai-Cambodian border, especially around Khmer Temples, is too sweet for Thailand to ignore. Picture: sokheounpang.wordpress.com
While Vietnam has no problems in demarcating its border with Cambodia, Thailand too is pushing hard to get same status as Cambodia’s eastern neighbor. That’s why Thailand only wants the “bilateral talk” with Cambodia because if Vietnam can get it done bilaterally, Thailand too can do the same.
If Cambodia has lost so much territory to Vietnam as many Cambodians believe, then Cambodians must stand together to defend and to recover Cambodia’s territorial integrity; otherwise Cambodia would shrink further to the point that Mekong River would become the last border of Thailand and Vietnam. Picture: sokheounpang.wordpress.com
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[Vietnam] Prime Minister chairs trade conference in Cambodia
HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is in Cambodia today, where he is co-chairing a two-day Viet Nam-Cambodia investment promotion conference expected to boost bilateral trade and investment ties.
Dung is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Securities Joint Stock Co and witness the handover of overseas investment licences to Vietnamese businesses.
Around 100 Vietnamese businesses are slated to be represented at the second annual investment conference opening today, where both sides are also expected to sign a number of new deals, review investment co-operation results since the first conference, and discuss measures to boost co-operation in investment, trade and tourism.
Bilateral trade has increased from US$1.33 billion in 2009 to $1.8 billion in 2010. Viet Nam has almost 90 investment projects in Cambodia with a combined capital of more than $2 billion. These projects include rubber plantations, mining, oil and gas exploration, electrical development, telecommunications, and finance and banking. The two countries have also shown a keen interest in promoting bilateral ties in education and training, healthcare and transportation.
Leaders of both Viet Nam and Cambodia have also affirmed their determination to complete land border demarcation and border-marker erection in 2012 in order to build a common border of peace, stability and development in line with the traditions and customs of both peoples. The two nations have successfully held a conference on the development and co-operation of the Cambodia-Viet Nam border provinces at the deputy prime minister-level and a Viet Nam-Cambodia border trade development conference at the level of trade ministers.
Both countries have also stepped up bilateral co-operation between border provinces in education, healthcare, culture, and science and technology.
The relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia has developed in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1967. Bilateral co-operation mechanisms including the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Co-operation, the conference on the development and co-operation of border provinces and the joint border committee meet annually and have brought practical results.
The two nations have also worked closely within the framework of regional and international institutions such as the Mekong River Commission, the Greater Mekong Sub-region, the Ayeyawady-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy, and the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle.
Dung's visit to Cambodia aims to affirm Viet Nam's consistent policy of attaching importance to enhancing its relations with Cambodia and the determination of the Vietnamese Government and people to join the Cambodian Government and people in bringing bilateral ties to a new height for mutual interest.
The regular exchange of delegations between the two countries have helped secure a fine neighbour relationship and tradition of friendship, as well as long-term, sustainable and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries. — VNS
Thailand uses Muscle to get "arm-twisting" or bilateral talk with Cambodia
From the very beginning of the conflicts, Thai military did not want to have a third party involved with border issues between Thailand and Cambodia fearing that the world would know the truth about Thailand's naked aggression.
The meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, failed for Thailand refused to send its high officials to meet Gen. Tea Banh and Hor Nam Hong there. Mr. Tea and Hor went home empty-handed.
Since then Thailand has prepared for a bigger war with Cambodia by conducting military exercises instead. New additional war planes freshly purchased from Sweden had also arrived in Thailand.
Now to prove that Thailand means business, Abhisit is demanding again for the "bilateral talk" while Thailand is flexing its military muscle at the border. Thai military have warned that sophisticated weapons would be used. The CNN report below helps prove that Thailand would do whatever it takes to twist Cambodia's arm.
In addition, Thailand blamed Cambodia that it was Cambodian soldiers who started the fight. Perhaps Thai leaders think that they can fool the world again about their naked aggression.
The skirmish came a day after officials said three Thai soldiers and three Cambodian soldiers were killed in fighting there.
Each side blames the other for the violence, which erupted Friday near two temples in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin province.
Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from nearby villages.
Cambodian state-run media described the situation as a "Thai invasion."
In a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Cambodia's deputy prime minister said Thai troops had engaged in a "large-scale attack with many types of weapons," targeting areas around temples "deep inside Cambodian territory."
Thai army Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul accused Cambodia of violating an agreement not to bring weapons or post troops in the disputed area.
Cambodian Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat claimed Thai troops shelled and damaged temples, and flew over Cambodian territory with spy planes, Cambodia's state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse reported.
At least 10 people were killed when renewed fighting flared up in another disputed border area between the two nations in February, prompting the U.N. Security Council to issue a statement calling on both sides to implement a permanent cease-fire and "resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue."
Those clashes, which lasted four days, stemmed from a longstanding conflict related to the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to the temple, which sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side.
At the time, each nation accused the other of firing first, according to a statement from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Conflict over the site has taken place periodically for years. In 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled that the site was in Cambodia, adding that the structure was "an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture."
CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this repor
As of Saturday at 4:00 p.m., 1,420 families with 5,000 people have been evacuated to a safe shelter in Banteay Meanchey province' s Samrong district, some 30 kilometers from the fighting zone, Nhim Vanda, the first vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, said on Saturday.
The two straight days of armed clashes on Friday and Saturday broke out at the Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province, left troops on both sides killed and injured, the temples were in damage and villagers' properties were destroyed.
In the villages near the fighting areas, Cambodian soldiers have found shrapnel and craters resulted from the artillery shelling by Thai troops during the clashes.
Cambodia's Ministry of Defense on Saturday afternoon issued a statement to condemn Thailand for its "repeated deliberate acts of aggression against Cambodia."
"Thai side used DK 75 and 105 mm heavy guns loaded with poisonous gas in today's (April 23, 2011) assault," it said. "Thai military aircraft, including reconnaissance planes flew deep into Cambodia's airspace."
"Heavy weapons, including 130 mm, 105 mm and 155 mm artilleries have also been used during this latest military onslaught," the statement said.
The latest military clashes between the two countries'troops reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage Site.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had a border conflict 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.
Meanwhile, Indonesia, as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strongly called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand that recommenced since April 22, a press statement said on Saturday.
"Indonesia also calls for the two sides to continue to resolve their differences through peaceful means as has been reflected in addressing the border dispute between the two countries," said Kusuma Habir, a spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry.
She said that Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is in communication with his Cambodian and Thailand counterparts to address this latest development.
The meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, failed for Thailand refused to send its high officials to meet Gen. Tea Banh and Hor Nam Hong there. Mr. Tea and Hor went home empty-handed.
Since then Thailand has prepared for a bigger war with Cambodia by conducting military exercises instead. New additional war planes freshly purchased from Sweden had also arrived in Thailand.
Now to prove that Thailand means business, Abhisit is demanding again for the "bilateral talk" while Thailand is flexing its military muscle at the border. Thai military have warned that sophisticated weapons would be used. The CNN report below helps prove that Thailand would do whatever it takes to twist Cambodia's arm.
In addition, Thailand blamed Cambodia that it was Cambodian soldiers who started the fight. Perhaps Thai leaders think that they can fool the world again about their naked aggression.
================
Troops clash in disputed area along Thailand-Cambodia border
April 23, 2011 5:01 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Each side blames the other for the violence
- Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from nearby villages
- Cambodian officials accuse Thai troops of attacking
- Thai officials say Cambodia violated an agreement over weapons and troops
The skirmish came a day after officials said three Thai soldiers and three Cambodian soldiers were killed in fighting there.
Each side blames the other for the violence, which erupted Friday near two temples in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Thailand's Surin province.
Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from nearby villages.
Cambodian state-run media described the situation as a "Thai invasion."
In a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Cambodia's deputy prime minister said Thai troops had engaged in a "large-scale attack with many types of weapons," targeting areas around temples "deep inside Cambodian territory."
Thai army Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul accused Cambodia of violating an agreement not to bring weapons or post troops in the disputed area.
Cambodian Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat claimed Thai troops shelled and damaged temples, and flew over Cambodian territory with spy planes, Cambodia's state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse reported.
At least 10 people were killed when renewed fighting flared up in another disputed border area between the two nations in February, prompting the U.N. Security Council to issue a statement calling on both sides to implement a permanent cease-fire and "resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue."
Those clashes, which lasted four days, stemmed from a longstanding conflict related to the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim to the temple, which sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side.
At the time, each nation accused the other of firing first, according to a statement from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Conflict over the site has taken place periodically for years. In 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled that the site was in Cambodia, adding that the structure was "an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture."
But Thailand says the 1.8-square-mile (4.7-square-kilometer) area around Preah Vihear was never fully demarcated, and blames a map drawn at the beginning of the 20th-century during the French occupation of Cambodia.
====================
PHNOM PENH, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Two straight days of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the disputed border areas have forced 1,420 Cambodian families to flee their home for safe shelter, said a senior government official on Saturday.
As of Saturday at 4:00 p.m., 1,420 families with 5,000 people have been evacuated to a safe shelter in Banteay Meanchey province' s Samrong district, some 30 kilometers from the fighting zone, Nhim Vanda, the first vice-president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, said on Saturday.
The two straight days of armed clashes on Friday and Saturday broke out at the Ta Mon Thom temple and Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province, left troops on both sides killed and injured, the temples were in damage and villagers' properties were destroyed.
In the villages near the fighting areas, Cambodian soldiers have found shrapnel and craters resulted from the artillery shelling by Thai troops during the clashes.
Cambodia's Ministry of Defense on Saturday afternoon issued a statement to condemn Thailand for its "repeated deliberate acts of aggression against Cambodia."
"Thai side used DK 75 and 105 mm heavy guns loaded with poisonous gas in today's (April 23, 2011) assault," it said. "Thai military aircraft, including reconnaissance planes flew deep into Cambodia's airspace."
"Heavy weapons, including 130 mm, 105 mm and 155 mm artilleries have also been used during this latest military onslaught," the statement said.
The latest military clashes between the two countries'troops reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage Site.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had a border conflict 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.
Meanwhile, Indonesia, as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strongly called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand that recommenced since April 22, a press statement said on Saturday.
"Indonesia also calls for the two sides to continue to resolve their differences through peaceful means as has been reflected in addressing the border dispute between the two countries," said Kusuma Habir, a spokesperson at the Foreign Ministry.
She said that Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is in communication with his Cambodian and Thailand counterparts to address this latest development.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Like an ostrich, Thailand buries its head but the rest...
Original image at: thesingularityprinciple.blogspot.com/
May be it is better for Thailand to tell the truth and try to rebuild its reputation by helping to clean up those bombs to avoid fatalities and injuries to innocent Khmer civilians who have nothing to do with Thai warmongers.
With modern technology and up-to-date knowledge, people can learn fast and Thailand cannot hide the truth forever.
Fighting with a mall and weak neighboring country like Cambodia will not demonstrate that Thailand is strong, it only tell the world about its naked aggression toward Cambodia.
The uses of cluster bombs, regardless of what reasons, will further destroy Thailand’s integrity and will make Cambodia become more credible.
Cambodians are 100 percents behind Hun Sen when it comes to Preah Vihear issue and they believe him when he said that, “Thailand signs agreements with its hand and quickly erases them with its foot.”
By Luke HuntApril 13, 2011
StumbleUpon Digg Delicious Reddit Yahoo Buzz Mixx Google Buzz Plurk When the last round of fighting erupted between Cambodia and Thailand around Preah Vihear Temple earlier this year, vigilant journalists suspected cluster bombs were being used, putting civilian populations at great risk. Cluster munitions are explosives that contain smaller bomblets and are too often detonated by civilians long after battles have subsided.
They’re a favorite for children who unwittingly pick-up what they think are toys.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen initially claimed that Thai soldiers had used cluster bombs; a charge denied by Bangkok, which determined it was in fact the Cambodians who’d used the munitions.
Now, experts from the international group Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC), who visited the Thai-Cambodia border and interviewed people injured by the fighting near the Preah Vihear, have confirmed that almost half of the 12 border sites they recently toured were contaminated by unexploded cluster bombs. More importantly, they’ve pointed the finger of blame at Thailand.
Neither Cambodia nor Thailand has signed an international convention outlawing use of the weapons, which has been agreed to by 108 other countries. Perhaps they think technically, this means they stand on solid ground from an international legal standpoint.
But in a classic case of doublespeak Thailand admits that while it didn’t use actual cluster munitions, it did deploy the also-controversial Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM), in response to Cambodia's attacks with BM-21 rocket launcher systems, which struck at targets indiscriminately.
‘Such attacks had impacted Thai civilians. It was therefore necessary for Thai troops to act in self-defense against such military targets,’ the Thai foreign ministry stated last week. This admission was soon picked up by CMC Director Laura Cheeseman, who said a DPICM is in fact ‘a classic example’ of a cluster munition.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi responded, quickly dismissing CMC's claim by saying the group ‘misinterpreted’ the Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Sihasak Phuangketkeow who’d confirmed the use of DPICM.
According to latest reports, the Thai defense ministry continues to insist that clusters were not used and its sources are now saying that the weapon in question could be the Caesar self-propelled howitzer—whose artillery also bursts into bomblets. It added the army has suspended its use however, after the border clashes in February. Cheeseman says armies do categorize weapons differently, however, that no country besides Thailand has ever questioned the DPICM as a cluster munition.
CMC investigators are urging both Cambodia and Thailand to ban all cluster munitions by joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs—instead of muddying the waters with questions over definitions.
Importantly, it wants Thailand to release more information about the bombs it’s used so the mess can be cleaned-up and perhaps a few lives can be saved.
Less doublespeak would also be welcomed.
May be it is better for Thailand to tell the truth and try to rebuild its reputation by helping to clean up those bombs to avoid fatalities and injuries to innocent Khmer civilians who have nothing to do with Thai warmongers.
With modern technology and up-to-date knowledge, people can learn fast and Thailand cannot hide the truth forever.
Fighting with a mall and weak neighboring country like Cambodia will not demonstrate that Thailand is strong, it only tell the world about its naked aggression toward Cambodia.
The uses of cluster bombs, regardless of what reasons, will further destroy Thailand’s integrity and will make Cambodia become more credible.
Cambodians are 100 percents behind Hun Sen when it comes to Preah Vihear issue and they believe him when he said that, “Thailand signs agreements with its hand and quickly erases them with its foot.”
Timothy S. Chhim
========================================
StumbleUpon Digg Delicious Reddit Yahoo Buzz Mixx Google Buzz Plurk When the last round of fighting erupted between Cambodia and Thailand around Preah Vihear Temple earlier this year, vigilant journalists suspected cluster bombs were being used, putting civilian populations at great risk. Cluster munitions are explosives that contain smaller bomblets and are too often detonated by civilians long after battles have subsided.
They’re a favorite for children who unwittingly pick-up what they think are toys.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen initially claimed that Thai soldiers had used cluster bombs; a charge denied by Bangkok, which determined it was in fact the Cambodians who’d used the munitions.
Now, experts from the international group Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC), who visited the Thai-Cambodia border and interviewed people injured by the fighting near the Preah Vihear, have confirmed that almost half of the 12 border sites they recently toured were contaminated by unexploded cluster bombs. More importantly, they’ve pointed the finger of blame at Thailand.
Neither Cambodia nor Thailand has signed an international convention outlawing use of the weapons, which has been agreed to by 108 other countries. Perhaps they think technically, this means they stand on solid ground from an international legal standpoint.
But in a classic case of doublespeak Thailand admits that while it didn’t use actual cluster munitions, it did deploy the also-controversial Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM), in response to Cambodia's attacks with BM-21 rocket launcher systems, which struck at targets indiscriminately.
‘Such attacks had impacted Thai civilians. It was therefore necessary for Thai troops to act in self-defense against such military targets,’ the Thai foreign ministry stated last week. This admission was soon picked up by CMC Director Laura Cheeseman, who said a DPICM is in fact ‘a classic example’ of a cluster munition.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi responded, quickly dismissing CMC's claim by saying the group ‘misinterpreted’ the Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Sihasak Phuangketkeow who’d confirmed the use of DPICM.
According to latest reports, the Thai defense ministry continues to insist that clusters were not used and its sources are now saying that the weapon in question could be the Caesar self-propelled howitzer—whose artillery also bursts into bomblets. It added the army has suspended its use however, after the border clashes in February. Cheeseman says armies do categorize weapons differently, however, that no country besides Thailand has ever questioned the DPICM as a cluster munition.
CMC investigators are urging both Cambodia and Thailand to ban all cluster munitions by joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs—instead of muddying the waters with questions over definitions.
Importantly, it wants Thailand to release more information about the bombs it’s used so the mess can be cleaned-up and perhaps a few lives can be saved.
Less doublespeak would also be welcomed.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Military should not be allowed to interfere in foreign policy
Thank you Supalak Ganjanakhundee. The world have learned long ago who have controlled the Thai Government--the ones who possess cluster bombs.
The two cases in question--the Thai-Khmer border talk and the deployment of cluster bombs--show the world that Abhisit is just a figurehead, to put it lightly. However, some may say he is just a puppet.
The whole situation is an embarrassment to Thailand and makes the "bully boy next door" more mature.
Now what is the King of Thailand going to do?
====================
BURNING ISSUE
Military should not be allowed to interfere in foreign policy
The latest statement from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in relation to posting Indonesian observers at the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple clearly reflects that it is the military, not the government, that controls Thailand's foreign policy toward Cambodia.
On his weekly talk show, Abhisit said his government had taken the same stance as the military - to not allow Indonesian observers to be |stationed on the 4.6 square kilometres area near the temple, which |Thailand believes comes under its |sovereignty.Nobody should have a problem if the area in question really belongs to Thailand. If the area is truly under |Thai sovereignty, then it has the right to decide who does or does not enter it. In reality though, this piece of |land is being clamed by both |Thailand and Cambodia, and it |sits at the core of the conflict |between both neighbours.
The Thai military just raised the issue as a tactic to defer the observation. If the observers are kept out of the disputed area, they will have no knowledge of what really happens. This would make the Indonesia-proposed peace plan meaningless and allow the military to scrap it.
The government was wrong in believing that it has full mandate on the foreign policy involving Cambodia when it authorised the Foreign Ministry to make a deal with Indonesia and Cambodia in February, during which it was decided that observers would be stationed at Preah Vihear to monitor a permanent ceasefire.
Indonesia, as chair of Asean, has to lend a hand in resolving the conflict because Phnom Penh took the February border skirmish to the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council then asked Asean to implement a permanent ceasefire.
Initially, having unarmed Indonesian observers monitoring the border situation sounded fine. Many government officials even claimed |that this was a diplomatic victory to prevent aggressive acts from the |other side.
However, this sweet victory turned into a bitter pill a week later when the military disagreed with the idea of stationing observers, saying involving a third party was unnecessary.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who represents the military rather than the government, previously tried to use diplomatic means to defer the deal saying he needed to discuss the terms of reference (TOR) with his Cambodian counterpart in the General Border Commission (GBC). However, when Indonesia called a meeting of the GBC and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Bogor last week, the Thai military, in a |very undiplomatic response, simply refused to go.
The government pretended to honour the deal that it had already agreed upon and tried to explain that Thailand needed more time to study and negotiate the TOR, when in reality it already had more than a month to read and study the proposal.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should have been the one taking care of negotiations with Indonesia and the TOR on observers. Dealing with other countries is his job, not that of the military. As the foreign minister of an elected government, Kasit has the authority to make deals with other countries and honour them.
The Army should only be consulted on technical matters, such as the terrain in the area and whether it is safe from landmines. If the case of foreign observers is a policy matter, then it's the government's call to make the decision.
Gen Songkitti also said an agreement the Foreign Ministry had reached with Cambodia and Indonesia to send Indonesian observers to the disputed border area "has nothing to do with the military".
The deal was made on Feb 22 when Indonesia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Jakarta to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting ended with the two countries accepting an Indonesian observer team be stationed along their common border.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not directly respond to Gen Songkitti's comment but said Thailand is an open society and everybody is free to express their opinions.
Mr Kasit confirmed he held talks with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha over the Thai-Cambodian issue almost every week.
But he could not make public details of the discussion because some issues have not been finalised.
"Although we [the ministry and the army] have different opinions, we can still sit and talk with each other," Mr Kasit said.
Regarding the deployment of Indonesian observers, a ministry source said the only inconclusive section of the terms of reference was the "areas of coverage". This is an important point because it determines where the Indonesian observers team will be stationed.
In fact, the Foreign Ministry and the army have both agreed that the Indonesian observers should not be posted in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
The army also planned to inform the Cambodian military about the Thai stance regarding the Indonesian observers at the General Border Committee (GBC), which is led by defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia.
But the army changed its mind and refused to join the GBC meeting when Cambodia, the host of the next GBC meeting, insisted the talks must be held in a third country, which is Indonesia.
This has led to the impasse and prompted Mr Kasit to offer to clear the issue during a meeting with Gen Prawit last Wednesday. Although Mr Kasit has decided to take over from the Defence Ministry the task of defining the roles of Indonesian observers and the locations along the Thai-Cambodian border where they would be posted, it could not handle the matter alone, the source said.
The Thai military just raised the issue as a tactic to defer the observation. If the observers are kept out of the disputed area, they will have no knowledge of what really happens. This would make the Indonesia-proposed peace plan meaningless and allow the military to scrap it.
The government was wrong in believing that it has full mandate on the foreign policy involving Cambodia when it authorised the Foreign Ministry to make a deal with Indonesia and Cambodia in February, during which it was decided that observers would be stationed at Preah Vihear to monitor a permanent ceasefire.
Indonesia, as chair of Asean, has to lend a hand in resolving the conflict because Phnom Penh took the February border skirmish to the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council then asked Asean to implement a permanent ceasefire.
Initially, having unarmed Indonesian observers monitoring the border situation sounded fine. Many government officials even claimed |that this was a diplomatic victory to prevent aggressive acts from the |other side.
However, this sweet victory turned into a bitter pill a week later when the military disagreed with the idea of stationing observers, saying involving a third party was unnecessary.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who represents the military rather than the government, previously tried to use diplomatic means to defer the deal saying he needed to discuss the terms of reference (TOR) with his Cambodian counterpart in the General Border Commission (GBC). However, when Indonesia called a meeting of the GBC and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Bogor last week, the Thai military, in a |very undiplomatic response, simply refused to go.
The government pretended to honour the deal that it had already agreed upon and tried to explain that Thailand needed more time to study and negotiate the TOR, when in reality it already had more than a month to read and study the proposal.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should have been the one taking care of negotiations with Indonesia and the TOR on observers. Dealing with other countries is his job, not that of the military. As the foreign minister of an elected government, Kasit has the authority to make deals with other countries and honour them.
The Army should only be consulted on technical matters, such as the terrain in the area and whether it is safe from landmines. If the case of foreign observers is a policy matter, then it's the government's call to make the decision.
===============
Bangkok Post
Behind THE NEWS
Unrest stirs between ministry and army
- Published: 13/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Signs of conflict between the Foreign Ministry and the Thai Army emerged when Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara said last week that Indonesian observers would not be allowed to enter the disputed border area.
The deal was made on Feb 22 when Indonesia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Jakarta to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting ended with the two countries accepting an Indonesian observer team be stationed along their common border.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not directly respond to Gen Songkitti's comment but said Thailand is an open society and everybody is free to express their opinions.
Mr Kasit confirmed he held talks with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha over the Thai-Cambodian issue almost every week.
But he could not make public details of the discussion because some issues have not been finalised.
"Although we [the ministry and the army] have different opinions, we can still sit and talk with each other," Mr Kasit said.
Regarding the deployment of Indonesian observers, a ministry source said the only inconclusive section of the terms of reference was the "areas of coverage". This is an important point because it determines where the Indonesian observers team will be stationed.
In fact, the Foreign Ministry and the army have both agreed that the Indonesian observers should not be posted in the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
The army also planned to inform the Cambodian military about the Thai stance regarding the Indonesian observers at the General Border Committee (GBC), which is led by defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia.
But the army changed its mind and refused to join the GBC meeting when Cambodia, the host of the next GBC meeting, insisted the talks must be held in a third country, which is Indonesia.
This has led to the impasse and prompted Mr Kasit to offer to clear the issue during a meeting with Gen Prawit last Wednesday. Although Mr Kasit has decided to take over from the Defence Ministry the task of defining the roles of Indonesian observers and the locations along the Thai-Cambodian border where they would be posted, it could not handle the matter alone, the source said.
Citizen Jane of Bangkok: The military is in charge on the border [Really?]
Cambodian Premier Hun Sen usually says that the Thais signs agreements with their hand and quickly erases them with their foot!
The military is in charge on the border
Published on April 13, 2011
One does not have to be an apologist for the less-than-fragrant Phnom Penh regime to recognise the accuracy of the Cambodian foreign minister's complaint that Thailand's government and military speak with different tongues over the border dispute (The Nation news report, April 10).
Anybody with a modicum of experience of Thai affairs realises that ultimately it is the military that calls the shots (excuse the pun). This was shown during the domestic crackdown last May, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was a "house guest" at Army HQ, and earlier this year, when fighting broke out on the border unbeknown to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was in Phnom Penh ostensibly negotiating at the time.
Of course, persistent and credible accusations of the inexcusable use of cluster bombs by the Thai side at Preah Vihear in February may well reinforce the reluctance of the Thai authorities, and the Army in particular, to involve outside observers, facilitators or mediators. This topic is very well covered in your editorial of April 11.
It is all a far cry from one of the generally accepted tenets of a functioning democracy, that the military is subject to the authority of an elected executive and has a duty to protect civilians.
To adapt an old saying to the situation here: the government proposes; the army disposes.
Citizen Jane
Bangkok
=========================
The military is in charge on the border
Published on April 13, 2011
One does not have to be an apologist for the less-than-fragrant Phnom Penh regime to recognise the accuracy of the Cambodian foreign minister's complaint that Thailand's government and military speak with different tongues over the border dispute (The Nation news report, April 10).
Anybody with a modicum of experience of Thai affairs realises that ultimately it is the military that calls the shots (excuse the pun). This was shown during the domestic crackdown last May, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was a "house guest" at Army HQ, and earlier this year, when fighting broke out on the border unbeknown to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was in Phnom Penh ostensibly negotiating at the time.
Of course, persistent and credible accusations of the inexcusable use of cluster bombs by the Thai side at Preah Vihear in February may well reinforce the reluctance of the Thai authorities, and the Army in particular, to involve outside observers, facilitators or mediators. This topic is very well covered in your editorial of April 11.
It is all a far cry from one of the generally accepted tenets of a functioning democracy, that the military is subject to the authority of an elected executive and has a duty to protect civilians.
To adapt an old saying to the situation here: the government proposes; the army disposes.
Citizen Jane
Bangkok
=========================
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Show me your muscle, then probably I will talk
The absence of Thailand's high officials to the Bogor's meeting shows the world that Thailand does not give a damn about the so-called border dispute with Cambodia. It shows no respect neither to Cambodia, to ASEAN nor to the United Nations.
Thailand's military commanders as well as their government had succeeded in what they wanted to do regarding the border talk: nothing. They rather show and use their muscle by preparing their war against Cambodia.
The joint exercise between Thai’s Navy and Air Force preparing for “any maritime territorial conflict with Cambodia” using the newly acquired Gripen jet fighters and other sophisticated weapons indicates that Thailand prefers more fighting rather than talking. It's like saying: Show me your muscle, then probably I will talk.
http://www.aviationspectator.com/resources/aircraft-profiles/saab-jas-39-gripen-fighter-aircraft-profile
Nevertheless, Indonesia is trying to save its face by saying the JBC meeting (with lower level Thai officials) is a good start and that, "This matter [the border dispute] cannot be solved with one meeting."
Meanwhile, General Tea Banh and Mr. Hor Nam Hong were stood up and humiliated by their Thai counterparts and probably went home empty-handed regarding the GBC.
Cambodia however will try to capitalize on “Thailand’s snubbing” that Cambodia always has full intention to solve the conflicts peacefully but it is Thailand that thumbs its nose at the world; hence, Cambodia is a victim of a naked aggression.
It is a lesson for many of us to learn how the big boys like Thailand and others play their games against smaller and weaker nations.
Cambodia will be used as a political pawn by Thai’s politicians until a long-term stability happens in Thailand or until Cambodia can stand on its own feet.
For now Thailand continues to flex its military muscle, and Cambodia has nothing much to show.
Timothy Chhim
April 9, 2011
---------------------
From Bangkok Post
Thailand and Cambodia entered the talks in Indonesia to try to resolve their border spat.
"This matter [the border dispute] cannot be solved with one meeting," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper.
Mr Marty said he would have informal meetings with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts to discuss the problem, which he said was complex.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Navy will conduct an annual naval exercise as part of security preparations for any possible maritime disputes with Cambodia, with newly-acquired Gripen jet fighters taking part.
On April 21, Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara and navy chief Kamthorn Phumhiran will stay and spend a night on HTMS Chakri Naruebet to watch the naval exercises.
Gripen jet fighters and Saab 340 aircraft will also take part in fleet escort and air interception operations. This will be the first mission of Gripen jet fighters which the air force has bought from Sweden.
Thailand's military commanders as well as their government had succeeded in what they wanted to do regarding the border talk: nothing. They rather show and use their muscle by preparing their war against Cambodia.
The joint exercise between Thai’s Navy and Air Force preparing for “any maritime territorial conflict with Cambodia” using the newly acquired Gripen jet fighters and other sophisticated weapons indicates that Thailand prefers more fighting rather than talking. It's like saying: Show me your muscle, then probably I will talk.
http://www.aviationspectator.com/resources/aircraft-profiles/saab-jas-39-gripen-fighter-aircraft-profile
Meanwhile, General Tea Banh and Mr. Hor Nam Hong were stood up and humiliated by their Thai counterparts and probably went home empty-handed regarding the GBC.
Cambodia however will try to capitalize on “Thailand’s snubbing” that Cambodia always has full intention to solve the conflicts peacefully but it is Thailand that thumbs its nose at the world; hence, Cambodia is a victim of a naked aggression.
It is a lesson for many of us to learn how the big boys like Thailand and others play their games against smaller and weaker nations.
Cambodia will be used as a political pawn by Thai’s politicians until a long-term stability happens in Thailand or until Cambodia can stand on its own feet.
For now Thailand continues to flex its military muscle, and Cambodia has nothing much to show.
Timothy Chhim
April 9, 2011
---------------------
From Bangkok Post
The two-day Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting has ended at the Bogor Palace in West Java with nothing resolved.
"This matter [the border dispute] cannot be solved with one meeting," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper.
Mr Marty said he would have informal meetings with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts to discuss the problem, which he said was complex.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Navy will conduct an annual naval exercise as part of security preparations for any possible maritime disputes with Cambodia, with newly-acquired Gripen jet fighters taking part.
The navy will launch a joint naval exercise with the Royal Thai Air Force in the Gulf of Thailand near Sattahip in Chon Buri on April 21-22.
A military source said the exercise is part of measures to prepare for any maritime territorial conflict with Cambodia.
On April 21, Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara and navy chief Kamthorn Phumhiran will stay and spend a night on HTMS Chakri Naruebet to watch the naval exercises.
Gripen jet fighters and Saab 340 aircraft will also take part in fleet escort and air interception operations. This will be the first mission of Gripen jet fighters which the air force has bought from Sweden.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia youths boost cooperation
Another boost of the cooperation of the three countries is unfolded. This time they focus on youths--the younger generations. The event held by Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
This reminds us of the creation of the Indochinese Communist Party formed by the Vietnamese great man Ho Chi Minh back in 1930. Ho Chi Minh Youth Union was founded in 1931.
Some of us may want to learn why Cambodian youths are still interested in communism and what the future of Cambodia will look like.
Learn from them! Point your arrow on the above red and blue organization then click and learn.
====================
NATIONAL
Thursday ,Mar 24,2011, Posted at: 15:09(GMT+7)
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia youths boost cooperation | ||
Young people from regional countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia joined in a friendship meeting in Hanoi on March 23. The exchange, taking place on the occasion of the 80 th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh
In the framework of the event, participants will take part in a talk themed “Vietnam- Laos- Cambodia youths promote traditional solidarity and friendship for mutual peace, cooperation and development” to update each other on mobilising youth and promote youth’s roles in cooperation for socio-economic development of the three countries. During the event, which will last till March 30, Lao and Cambodian youths will meet with Vietnamese students and visit the country’s historical sites and landscapes. | ||
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Stop the fight among us: the Khmers
Stop fighting among ourselves
If the report in Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/224455/cambodian-move-raises-border-tension) is true—that Hun Sen is putting the Khmer Rouge soldiers to face the Thai forces around Preah Vihear—then it would mean that those poor Khmers, mostly the underprivileged ones, are being sent to the frontlines to face the almighty Thai army. Although the Khmer Rouge are considered battle hardened in the past, these soldiers are now older and have not been in combat for many years.
If the report in Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/224455/cambodian-move-raises-border-tension) is true—that Hun Sen is putting the Khmer Rouge soldiers to face the Thai forces around Preah Vihear—then it would mean that those poor Khmers, mostly the underprivileged ones, are being sent to the frontlines to face the almighty Thai army. Although the Khmer Rouge are considered battle hardened in the past, these soldiers are now older and have not been in combat for many years.
The Khmer Rouge soldiers are not equipped with proper protection and sophisticated weapons. They are not armed to the teeth. Their fighting ability is no match to Thailand’s military might, which is among the best in Asia, if not in the world. This comment should not be misconstrued as a submission to the Thai, but it is just the matter of fact. It has nothing to do with nationalism or patriotism.
It reminds me of the many events in the recent pasts, whereby the Khmers are being sacrificed for the livelihoods of others.
In the 1970’s, when Cambodia was invaded by the then North Vietnamese and Vietcong, thousands of young Khmer men were sent to combat against the more experienced Vietnamese armed forces and thousands of Khmers were killed. Many of my friends who went to fight in the battles--such as in Chenla I, Chenla II, just to name a few--had never returned from the battlefields. Those young men and women were the cream of the crops for the Khmer race. They could have been here with us and produced thousands more offsprings.
Needless to say, thousands of young Khmer men and women who went to join the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer Roumdos of Prince Sihanouk and the North Vietnamese/Vietcong to battle the Khmer Republican Army were also killed and maimed. Hundreds of thousands of Khmer lives were destroyed by the American air raids. Millions tons of bomb (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88jrZjsNHPc&feature=player_embedded) were used in a few short years. Many of my relatives and friends who went to join in the fight never came back. Those were the cream of the crops of Khmer blood. They could have been here with us and produced thousands more Khmer children.
Map showing 115,273 targets of U.S. secret bombing of Cambodia between October 1965 and August 1973. (Taylor Owen)
The remaining Khmer young men, women and their family members whom were left over from the 70-75 war--most of them sided with the American-backed government of Lon Nol--were savagely murdered during the Pol Pot rule of 75-79. Some two millions Khmer lives vanished in a few short years. Most of them were the cream of the crops of Khmer race. If they were here with us, they could have produced millions Khmer families.
From: https:/.../tag/vietnam-invaded-cambodia/
Then, the last waves of the killings were during and after the Vietnamese invasion of 1979. Countless of Pol Pot’s soldiers –all Khmer—were sacrificed to fight against the hundreds of thousands well armed Vietnamese invading forces. Can we imagine, how many Khmers were shot to death by the Vietnamese and how many were maimed and injured? At the same time, the Vietnamese also recruited thousands more of Khmer men and women to fight against the Khmer Rouge guerilla. Countless more Khmers on both sides died in the many battles during and after the Vietnamese invasion.
Then, the last waves of the killings were during and after the Vietnamese invasion of 1979. Countless of Pol Pot’s soldiers –all Khmer—were sacrificed to fight against the hundreds of thousands well armed Vietnamese invading forces. Can we imagine, how many Khmers were shot to death by the Vietnamese and how many were maimed and injured? At the same time, the Vietnamese also recruited thousands more of Khmer men and women to fight against the Khmer Rouge guerilla. Countless more Khmers on both sides died in the many battles during and after the Vietnamese invasion.
What about the K5 Plan? During my first visit to Cambodia in 1992, I learned a new “saying” by Cambodian people-Tov Chiss Laan, Mok Vinh Chiss Chaan—it meant when young Khmer men and women were sent to serve in the K5 Plan they went by the truckloads, but when they returned, they (their ashes) came back inside small urns. Thousands more of Khmers—the cream of the crops—were sacrificed. They could have produced thousands more Khmer families, if they were here with us.
Now, a decade later, the last cream of the crops of Khmer men and women—they are called the Khmer Rouge soldiers, along with the so-called Cambodian Royal Armed forces, who are mostly underprivileged--are about to be sacrificed against the almighty Thailand’s armed forces. Meanwhile, those children of the rich and powerful ones, many of whom are new comers (can't even enunciate Khmer words), enjoy their time singing in Karaoke bars, eating and drinking in fine restaurants and nightclubs, driving luxurious vehicles, etc…
My Khmer brothers and sisters: Whether you are in Vietnam, in Thailand and elsewhere in the world, let’s us stop fighting against each other. There are many Thai soldiers who are Khmer as well as there are many Vietnamese soldiers who are Khmer. Let’s furthermore remember that during Vietnam War, many of our Khmer brothers and sisters who lived in Kampuchea Krom were sent to fight into the fierce battlefields. We had killed each other in the battlegrounds throughout Vietnam as well as in Cambodia. The so-called Mike’s Forces army was nearly wiped out—many thousands of those fine young men and women were Khmer. They could have produced thousands Khmer families in that region if their lives were spared from the fighting.
Now this: By looking at the elements of Thai fighters, I see that many of them are the underprivileged ones. Many of whom are Khmer men and women who are of Thai nationals. They are being positioned to confront their brothers and sisters--Khmer men and women who are also poor and uneducated inside Cambodia. Shall we fight and kill each other again?
Source: Cambodian Newspaper Koh Santepheap
Source: Cambodian Newspaper Koh Santepheap
Wherever we are, we all are Khmer- Just Khmer—not Khmer Loeur, Khmer Kandal, Khmer Krom, Khmer Krao or Khmer Khnong. Our Khmer race is being wiped out. Whether we are being systematically eradicated by others, by our own past ignorance or both, we need to stop the annihilation right now.
Stop the Killing! One Khmer life is priceless.
Stop the Killing! One Khmer life is priceless.
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