Friday, June 20, 2008

MP Son Chhay asks the Council of Ministers to show Preah Vihear Map

19 June 2008
By Hul Rasmey
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Thursday, the MP in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation sent a letter to the Council of Ministers asking it to urgently provide a copy of the map that Cambodia provided to Thailand recently.

Son Chhay, the Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Committee No. 5, in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Information, indicated that there are accusations made that the Cambodian government did not use the decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice which decided that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia.

Son Chhay said that his committee needs to review the document and the new map for Preah Vihear Temple which the government agreed with Thailand, and that the map drawing may not abide by the decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice. Son Chhay is concerned that Cambodia could lose some lands in this matter.

Son Chhay said: “As (the chairman) of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs committee which is also in charge of the border issues, we want to obtain the documents and maps so that we can review them, to see if what the government did is right or wrong. This is done so that the NA, the legislative branch, has the ability to advise the government, as well as to confirm publicly the events that took place recently.”

Son Chhay said also that he will invite Sok An, the vice-prime minister and minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, and Var Kim Hong, the chairman of the government border committee, to discuss about the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site.

Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Coucil of Ministers, said that Cambodia and Thailand will not lose an inch of land from the listing of Preah Vihear Teample as a World Heritage site.

He said that Son Chhay’s concerns about the lost of land were due to the fact that Son Chhay was influenced by the newspapers only. He demanded that Son Chhay study the government work closely, and Phay Siphan said that the Council of Ministers sent a copy of the document about the progress of the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site to Son Chhay to review already.

Phay Siphan said: “Based on my interviews on radio and on all the newspapers, Cambodia does not want to lose one inch of land, and Thailand does not want to lose one inch of land either. We tried hard to explain that this map is not a demarcation map, it is an administrative map for the listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site, and this map shows the perimeter of the administrative area in terms of actual cultural area, this is not a border map.”

Son Chhay said that he did not receive this document yet, and he said that he will review these documents with experts in the field.

On Wednesday, several thousands of Thai people protested in front of the Thai ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand that the Thai government explains about the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site. This protest took place after the Thai government agreed to the new map of Preah Vihear submitted by Cambodia. Noppadon Pattama, the Thai Foreign Affairs minister, told reporters that Thailand is not losing any land.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can MP Son Chhay "study the government work closely" when he has not any document in hand to "STUDY"? The Government should handle this issue transparently, then no one will doubt about what the government is doing.

Anonymous said...

Well, what do want to see, the French's map? Then go to France.

Anonymous said...

If this guy saw the map, can he read it?

Why demand to have the map, if you can't read it?

Anonymous said...

Check and balance system.

Phay Siphan ,an unemployed Long Beach US citizen, needs to pipe down and have some respects for elected peer.

Soc Anh is a Yuon stooge only,what does he care?
Have own life, Siphan!

Anonymous said...

Of course this guy can read it. He is member National Assembly. Only CPP clowns can't read. Son Chhay probably then those bunch of idiots CPP that pretended to be Khmer. Go Son Chhay go!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

When people can write they can read, fools!
Not like the Fucking Hanoi PHD with no education that let people write for IT and can not reat and just back as Ah Youn Goat face tell IT too!

Anonymous said...

Where is transparency from the Cambodian government? How can we contributing to the benefit for the national interest when the Natinal Assembly and the people know nothing about the deal?

Anonymous said...

They should broadcast this news on National TV. HUN SEN owns alot of TV's channels. He should inform Cambodian people about this matter. Or is he doesn't care? Like someone just said about 90% of CPPs are really uneducated. That's why they didn't even speak up. Though, this is national interest regardless CPP or HRP or SRP this matter is really national interest. Not just individual party. HUN SEN must be serious about this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Khmer Government,
Please inform Thailand that,
Thank you very much, Thailand!
This is the result that you, Thailand, have been teaching your poeple improper ways.

This is not Samak Sundaravej's faults. This is the PM before him faults. Samak Sundaravej is scapgot only.

Anonymous said...

great job, mr. son chay. thank you for representing and calling the cambodian gov't to answer some of the questions as cambodian citizens do have the rights to inquire their gov't to be in tune with the rest of the nation. if the thai pad are doing it, cambodian people should stand up and do the same by demanding our gov't to answer some of our concern as to info the khmer people of the preah vihear issue.

i'm glad our lawmakers have different point of views; this is what makes our country great, for sure. someone has to steer gov't in the right direction. so, everybody in their right mind can help with this, don't have to wait for our prime minister or who else to take action. all it take is for a few of our legislatures to represent us and ask questions so cambodia can have justice for all. thank you for all you great works and god bless you and cambodia.

Anonymous said...

That is the right thing to do Mr. Son Chay. Has any of us seen the new map?