Thailand set a ridiculous limitation on Cambodian villagers living near the Preah Vihear Temple: they are forced to carry goods purchased from Thailand by hand only, they are prohibited from using a yoke or carrying them on their head, or in a cart. This limitation was set to reduce the amount of goods imported into Cambodia. Such ridiculous limit was set because of the difference between the two countries on the Preah Vihear Temple. This is truly an underhanded and mean-spirited tactic used by the Thai authority. (Photo: Chamnab, Koh Santepheap)Villagers living near Preah Vihear Temple are allowed by Thailand to bring goods back to Cambodia by carrying them by hand only, carrying them on the head or using a yoke are not allowed
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Preah Vihear Province – Preah Vihear authority officials indicated, last week, that the 250 Cambodian families living in Prasat village – located next to the foothill of Drangrek mountain where the Preah Vihear Temple is, in Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province – and whose livelihood depends on importing goods from Thailand through the Thai-Cambodian border gate, have been ordered by the Thai border police to carry goods from Thailand into Cambodia by hand only, they are not allowed to carry them on their heads, nor using a yoke on their shoulders, nor using a cart.
Siv On, Prasat village chief told reporters that the villagers now depend on importing goods from the Thai market located next the border gate. He added that the Thai border authority limits them to carry the goods into Cambodia by hand only, and they are not allowed to carry them on their head, or in a cart, or using a yoke on the shoulder.
Kong, a 16-year-old girl who lives temporarily in Prasat village indicated: “Thailand does not allow us to bring large amount of merchandise back from the Thai market. I go to the Thai market, they allow me to buy enough so that I can carry them back by hand, I’m not allowed to carry them on my head or use a yoke to carry them back on my shoulder.” Kong said that Cambodian villagers are always faced with difficulties because they cannot buy goods from Cambodia.
Hang Soth, an official of the Preah Vinear National Authority (PVNA), said that Cambodian villagers living in Prasat village depend on goods bought in the Thai market because there is no transportation means to bring enough goods from Phnom Penh and other parts of the country to the Preah Vihear Temple yet.
Koeun, a Prasat villager who works as a tour guide in Preah Vihear Temple, said grudgingly: “I can see that the goods and materials here must be imported from Thailand by carrying them using human labor, now Thailand limits our ability to bring in goods in small quantities only. This is a too strict limitation.”
In the interviews conducted by Koh Santepheap among the workers who carry the goods from the Thai market, neat the border gate, they indicated that there are about 20 porters altogether, including 4 women. They are laborers transporting goods from the Thai market to the market in Cambodia. Thailand prevents them from using a yoke to carry the goods on their shoulders, nor are they allowed to carry them on their heads. They are forced to carry the goods in by hand only, and because of that, the maximum they can carry is one load on each hand.
An anonymous border police officer indicated that Thailand indeed set up this limit. He said: “We have no means to get an arrangement with them.” Nevertheless, the Preah Vihear border police declined to provide any comment on this limitation set by Thailand.
18-year-old Theary who lives in Prasat village, said: “We truly want a resolution for the Cambodian people living in the foothill of the Preah Vihear Temple, because all the materials, all the foods, they must be imported from Thailand by carrying them by hand, and now people are carrying them directly on their shoulders (i.e. without a yoke) everyday.” Theary added: “They don’t allow me or the villagers, or the porters to carry the goods on their head, or using a yoke, or in a cart.” The villagers, as well as the local authorities based in the Preah Vihear Temple told Koh Santepheap that it is very difficult for the Prasat villagers because they have no means to transport goods from inside Cambodia proper as the road leading the mountain is not easily accessible.
Cambodian villagers must carry the goods from the Thai market located about 3 kilometers from the border, among these goods are mechanical equipments, domestic animals, and merchandises needed by the market and by the local villagers. The majority of the porters come from various parts of Cambodia. In their interviews, they indicated that Cambodian leaders must pay a great deal of attention to develop this area, because to them, the dependence on a foreign country for their survival is not an acceptable situation.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Preah Vihear Province – Preah Vihear authority officials indicated, last week, that the 250 Cambodian families living in Prasat village – located next to the foothill of Drangrek mountain where the Preah Vihear Temple is, in Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province – and whose livelihood depends on importing goods from Thailand through the Thai-Cambodian border gate, have been ordered by the Thai border police to carry goods from Thailand into Cambodia by hand only, they are not allowed to carry them on their heads, nor using a yoke on their shoulders, nor using a cart.
Siv On, Prasat village chief told reporters that the villagers now depend on importing goods from the Thai market located next the border gate. He added that the Thai border authority limits them to carry the goods into Cambodia by hand only, and they are not allowed to carry them on their head, or in a cart, or using a yoke on the shoulder.
Kong, a 16-year-old girl who lives temporarily in Prasat village indicated: “Thailand does not allow us to bring large amount of merchandise back from the Thai market. I go to the Thai market, they allow me to buy enough so that I can carry them back by hand, I’m not allowed to carry them on my head or use a yoke to carry them back on my shoulder.” Kong said that Cambodian villagers are always faced with difficulties because they cannot buy goods from Cambodia.
Hang Soth, an official of the Preah Vinear National Authority (PVNA), said that Cambodian villagers living in Prasat village depend on goods bought in the Thai market because there is no transportation means to bring enough goods from Phnom Penh and other parts of the country to the Preah Vihear Temple yet.
Koeun, a Prasat villager who works as a tour guide in Preah Vihear Temple, said grudgingly: “I can see that the goods and materials here must be imported from Thailand by carrying them using human labor, now Thailand limits our ability to bring in goods in small quantities only. This is a too strict limitation.”
In the interviews conducted by Koh Santepheap among the workers who carry the goods from the Thai market, neat the border gate, they indicated that there are about 20 porters altogether, including 4 women. They are laborers transporting goods from the Thai market to the market in Cambodia. Thailand prevents them from using a yoke to carry the goods on their shoulders, nor are they allowed to carry them on their heads. They are forced to carry the goods in by hand only, and because of that, the maximum they can carry is one load on each hand.
An anonymous border police officer indicated that Thailand indeed set up this limit. He said: “We have no means to get an arrangement with them.” Nevertheless, the Preah Vihear border police declined to provide any comment on this limitation set by Thailand.
18-year-old Theary who lives in Prasat village, said: “We truly want a resolution for the Cambodian people living in the foothill of the Preah Vihear Temple, because all the materials, all the foods, they must be imported from Thailand by carrying them by hand, and now people are carrying them directly on their shoulders (i.e. without a yoke) everyday.” Theary added: “They don’t allow me or the villagers, or the porters to carry the goods on their head, or using a yoke, or in a cart.” The villagers, as well as the local authorities based in the Preah Vihear Temple told Koh Santepheap that it is very difficult for the Prasat villagers because they have no means to transport goods from inside Cambodia proper as the road leading the mountain is not easily accessible.
Cambodian villagers must carry the goods from the Thai market located about 3 kilometers from the border, among these goods are mechanical equipments, domestic animals, and merchandises needed by the market and by the local villagers. The majority of the porters come from various parts of Cambodia. In their interviews, they indicated that Cambodian leaders must pay a great deal of attention to develop this area, because to them, the dependence on a foreign country for their survival is not an acceptable situation.
13 comments:
This is a disgrace for the Thaicong to impose economic restriction on dirt poor Cambodian people and this is the sign of time that the Thaicong government never wants to cooperate with Cambodian government! If the Thaicong government wants to put road block on the free market system and that is their problem! I don’t mind if the fucken Thaicong government wants to close their economic door to Cambodia but as long as Cambodian people can protect their sovereignty over Preah Vihear!
Cambodia still have a choice in choosing who they want to do business with because this is such a big world and why would any Cambodian people still want to hang on to Thaicong! After 2008 election and Cambodia will be flooded with dirt cheap products to compete against the Thaicong and the Vietcong products!
I called for retaliation and put the same restriction on the Thaicong business in Cambodia!
After the official recognision of Preah Vihear into World Heritage, I wish Cambodia goverment to lock off Thai gate. If any Thaicong want to visit our Temple I must removed at shoes and hats at the gates.
Otherwise, Not allow.
All Siamese must remove their shoew and hats before climb to our temple. No more umbrella are allowed to Siamese arrrying aroun as now we just started from prohibiting their fucking black uniform army enter the temple. They dress in civilian in exchange to get in.
Labng Chouch
Attention to: Human Rights Watch
What is going on between Thailand villegers and Cambodian Villegers over at over Preah Vihear?
Is this mean Totur, abuse, or what else?
Please help Cambodian Vellegers. They are Naive.
Hey stop flipfloping, guys. Just the other day you were whining about excessive import from Thailand, remember?
Fucking evil thai basters
The solution is very simple: build a decent road to link Preah Vihear with the rest of the country.
But, this corrupt government allows Sok Kong to take a large chunk of the revenue from the entrance fees to the Khmer temples in Siem Reap (not to mention petrol and gas as well) for the benefits of his native country.
So, when the elected officials of the Cambodian administration are too lazy to do their jobs, the Thais and the Viets can screw Cambodia at will.
Well, the government don't expect investors to work for free. We want to encourage them to develop the country for Khmer people by offering reward and incentive that is second to none.
And so far, it work out great, and everyone love it.
So eat your heart out, gorilla!
Five more year!
Five more year!
Five more year!
Five more year!
Five more year!
Five more year!
Just say DEATH to the Viet/Yuon Trollers and intruders on Khmer site. It's that simple!
Those Yuon/Viet trollers and intruders are not here to debate. They are here to cover up, to sabotage and to ultimately exterminate Khmer and Laotian inhabitant in their respective own country and their land.
Death to the Yuon/Viet Trollers/Invaders/agressors!!!
Shut the fuck up, Maggot Feeder and get back into your Fucking Vietcong Shit Pit NOW!
remember buddhism karma, what goes around comes around, sooner or later! it is a two-way street, siem, remember that!
this won't last long. wait until cambodian finished building our roadway to preah vihear, these poor, abused villagers won't have to depend on imports from thailand anymore. it won't be long, my people! after that what else can the cruel thais come up with to abuse poor helpless cambodian villagers there. it'll come back to bite their dicks off!
Not in a million years.
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