By Ed Cropley
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodians go to the polls on Sunday in an election overshadowed by a row with neighbouring Thailand over a 900-year-old temple that has inflamed nationalist passions and led to troop build-ups along the border.
Both the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) have jumped on the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment separating the two southeast Asian countries.
However, the nationalist fervour is unlikely to affect the outcome of a vote almost certain to hand another five years in power to Hun Sen, the one-eyed, 57-year-old ex-Khmer Rouge guerrilla and prime minister for the past 23 years.
"The result is not in doubt," said Kek Galabru, head of Phnom Penh-based human rights group LICADHO, adding that the formerly communist but now firmly free-market CPP would probably win an outright majority in the 123-seat parliament.
As well as Hun Sen's argument that he has brought peace and stability after decades of Cold War upheaval and the ravages of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, the CPP has presided over an economy that has enjoyed five years of near double-digit growth.
Another indicator of the improving lot of the country's 14 million people is a fall in political violence, although human rights groups say four CPP and two SRP activists -- including one opposition journalist -- were murdered in the month before polling.
"The number of cases of murder, intimidation, threats and irregularities in these elections is lower than in previous elections," local rights groups said in a joint statement.
TEMPLE TALKS
The CPP is so confident of victory it has scheduled talks over Preah Vihear with Thai officials in the tourist town of Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex, on Monday, the day after the election.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat described the scheduled meeting as a "good starting point" but said the chances of a breakthrough were slim "because of the complexity of the issue".
At the heart of the dispute is 1.8 square miles of scrubland near the temple, claimed by both countries but awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
Analysts say Thai domestic politics are mainly to blame for the dispute, which flared up after Cambodia's successful bid to have the ruins listed as a World Heritage site.
Bangkok's initial support for the heritage listing was seized on by anti-government groups in their long-running attempt to unseat the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. His foreign minister resigned over the issue.
There have been no major incidents so far, but both sides have sent troops and artillery to dig in near the temple and nearby Thai border villages are braced for conflict.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in Phnom Penh and Nopporn Wong-Anan in Bangkok)
Both the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) have jumped on the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment separating the two southeast Asian countries.
However, the nationalist fervour is unlikely to affect the outcome of a vote almost certain to hand another five years in power to Hun Sen, the one-eyed, 57-year-old ex-Khmer Rouge guerrilla and prime minister for the past 23 years.
"The result is not in doubt," said Kek Galabru, head of Phnom Penh-based human rights group LICADHO, adding that the formerly communist but now firmly free-market CPP would probably win an outright majority in the 123-seat parliament.
As well as Hun Sen's argument that he has brought peace and stability after decades of Cold War upheaval and the ravages of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, the CPP has presided over an economy that has enjoyed five years of near double-digit growth.
Another indicator of the improving lot of the country's 14 million people is a fall in political violence, although human rights groups say four CPP and two SRP activists -- including one opposition journalist -- were murdered in the month before polling.
"The number of cases of murder, intimidation, threats and irregularities in these elections is lower than in previous elections," local rights groups said in a joint statement.
TEMPLE TALKS
The CPP is so confident of victory it has scheduled talks over Preah Vihear with Thai officials in the tourist town of Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex, on Monday, the day after the election.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat described the scheduled meeting as a "good starting point" but said the chances of a breakthrough were slim "because of the complexity of the issue".
At the heart of the dispute is 1.8 square miles of scrubland near the temple, claimed by both countries but awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since.
Analysts say Thai domestic politics are mainly to blame for the dispute, which flared up after Cambodia's successful bid to have the ruins listed as a World Heritage site.
Bangkok's initial support for the heritage listing was seized on by anti-government groups in their long-running attempt to unseat the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. His foreign minister resigned over the issue.
There have been no major incidents so far, but both sides have sent troops and artillery to dig in near the temple and nearby Thai border villages are braced for conflict.
(Additional reporting by Ek Madra in Phnom Penh and Nopporn Wong-Anan in Bangkok)
12 comments:
I think all parties should not accuse each other. The poll should go smoothly. Solidarity is more important for Cambodia. We are on the same boat now. Do you all want the Thailand to win over Preah Vihear dispute or you want the Khmer to win. Democracy requires opposition party and if no opposition party, it is not a democracy. If the current government (almost all CPP) is a pro-democracy why try to make it a mess like Soy Sopheap on CTN? Why Son Chhay is trying to stop donation? Cambodian people know what they should do already. If we have problems after the poll, Oh my beloved Cambodians, we will lose our land to the Thai. Be all together.
Dear Compatriots and other foreign Friends,
I am afraid if after Election our government (Win) forget to talk with Siem/// and if talks continue it will slow down and become quiet.... and later on we will call Siems as OUR BROTHER THAI...
as of our BROTHER VIET... as an exchange to personal Benefits... Party Benefits ...
I am deeply afraid if we will be made to forget this Conflict and SIEM WILL BECOME OUR GREAT BROTHER......
We learned our history is something like this.....
In addition, If we continue to strugle against Siem we are still weak in term of Finances, Human resources, military Stength and Mentality/Morality due to some decades of civil wars...especially National Unity have been lost for long time and producing national unmoral.. evry body just thinks about himself this the behaviour from the Top.."Gestion viens de haut.." our top officials are so greed... the Gape between Poor and Rich is high... this mahes we lost nationalism...
WE USE MOSTLT ALL RESOURCES TO FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER(KHMERS) TO GAIN POWER WITHIN THE COUNTRY.... NOW WHEN THE ENNEMIES COME WE ARE WEAK...."
Our poor former Khmer Rouges soldiers and government soldiers mostly are confident that are still strong due to their experience in Fighting of Decates(civil wars)... BUT please note that we were strong with ours, with our Khmers...Civil Wars.. But in case the war happen this the WAR Between Country and Country...far different from the past...I think Siem has forecasted very clearly prior to fabricating this tense situation... he learaned alot about Khmers especially the Khmer Leaders.."
Briefly, I hope after Election when the onme is in full power we give up our strugle....
Excellency Achar Knoy= Phd Bandit General=
The damage is irrepable! And, of course, the ruling party will win the general election on Sunday -- perhaps at least by a landslide -- which propel them to expand their ruling power, inevetably.
We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) of Thailand. Again, thank you very much, without you -- we would not have achieved this unprecedented victory.
Now, we can begin our talks about the island that we left off.
To 4:04 Pk,
Frankly speaking, I very appreciate for your comment with high national ideal and I have to stand with your comment.
However, on the other hand, we have to provide jusitice and fair to Mr. Son Chhay. He's a victim from CTN attack. His concept is only to try stoping gift culture in our society. An official mechanism or system to support our couragous army protecting the sacred Preah Vihear. For exeple, Red Cross or other Gornement agency to be in charge of this work.So, we all will distribute to the appoited mechanism. If it does like this , how about state function regarding this matter ( Ministry of National Defence)?
You may know gift culture is rooted deeply in our society. It provide very impacts both in (-)and (+). That's why, some western schoolars are conducting a research to identify its impact on the human society. This culture support materielism than idealism. This phisophy, the poor will be less chance than the rich b/o the poor is undervalued. So, this is one of many reasons that push our society into the trap of other country. For exemple Lovek b/o greedy of Thai Duong.
Khmer
out-of-date Generation
I don't care whose party it is as long as that party can protect preas vihea and maintain our land.
7:30 PM
That is not enough. Corruption, land grabbing, justic system... are among important things you have to think seriousely. the problem above will happend to you one time the nearest.
Good luck to you
DEAR COMPATRIOTS,
AS I HAD GUESSED, HUN XEN HAS WAITED THE END OF THE ELECTION THAT HE IS SURE HE WILL WIN,TO RESTART THE NEGOCIATION WITH SAMAK THOUGH THE FUTURE NEGOCIATION IS BOUND TO FAIL IF KHMER GOVERNMENT DON'T MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS TO SIAM.
DEAR COMPATRIOTS, HE WILL SAY THAT THE AGREEMENT WOULD BRING US MORE LAND THAN BEFORE. (HE HAD CLAIMED THE SAME THING ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL TREATY WITH YUON IN 2006, AND PUT OUR PATRIOTS IN THE PRISON FOR PROTESTATION AGAINST).
THE PTRIOTS WHO WILL DARE TO PROTEST THE NEXT AGREEMENT MUST EXPECT TO BE IN PREY SAR AGAIN.
HE SOLD OUR LAND TO SIAM TO EXPLOIT OUR TEMPLE WITH THAKSIN, SAMAK FOR HIS OWN BUSINESS INTEREST and let us starve to death..
HIS FIRST BETRAYAL WAS ON 11th NOVEMBER 2006
IN SIGNING THE SUPPLEMENTAL TREATY, HE HAD PAID TRIBUTE TO HIS YUON MASTER, OUR LAND, OUR ISLE KOH TRAL, OUR SEA!
THIS MAN IS A TRAITOR TO OUR NATION! WE WILL BE SOON CHAM AND KAMPUCHEA KROM.
REMOVE HIM BY VOTING OUR HERO SAM RAINSY IN THE 26 JULY ELECTION!
http://www.samrainsyparty.org
PLEASE READ THIS BELOW ARTICLE
Tuesday July 01, 2008
Bangkok Post PostBag
PAD fooling the people
The line was drawn by the French in 1904, the International Court of Justice ruled on it in 1962,
“and the new line agreed by the Thai and Cambodian government actually brings more land into Thailand than the old map.
If the Cambodian government is happy to concede some land to the Thais while retaining the temple that is, and has always been, on Cambodian soil, then it is a win for the Thai government.”
Dear compatriots,
BRAINLESS RAVEN HUN XEN HAS FALLEN INTO THE FOX SIAM TRAP.
HE STARTS TO RENEGOCIATE WITH SAMAK.
WE MUST KNOW WHEN HUN XEN NEGOCIATES , HE ALWAYS NEGOCIATES FOR HIS OWN INTEREST BUSINESS, NEVER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
MORE HE NEGOCIATES, MORE WE LOSE OUR LAND.
KHMER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE COUNTRY MUST MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT THAT ANY NEW LINE DRAWING OF THE MAP BY ANY NEW GOVERNMENT WON'T BE ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A TREASON TO KHMER PEOPLE AND THAT GOVERNMENT MUST BE FORCED TO STEP DOWN.
STAND UP TOGETHER TO INVADER SIAM!
http://ka-set.info/analyses/derniere-analyse/cambodge-analyses-preah-vihear-thailande-frontieres-raoul-marc-jennar-080725.html
A propos des tensions entre le Cambodge et la Thaïlande
Par Raoul Marc Jennar, docteur en études khmères
25-07-2008
Le Dr Raoul Marc Jennar reprend la liste des accords, traités et autres conventions signés au cours du siècle dernier confirmant selon lui la souveraineté du Cambodge sur la zone de Preah Vihear aujourd'hui contestée par la Thaïlande.
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La crise profonde que connaît la vie politique thaïlandaise depuis plusieurs années, qui s'est accompagnée en septembre 2006 d'un coup d'État militaire et, récemment, de manifestations importantes contre le gouvernement civil qui a succédé au pouvoir de l'armée, vient de connaître un tournant, grâce à l'utilisation d'un sujet qui enflamme les passions nationalistes. L'Histoire l'enseigne : le recours au nationalisme est toujours une solution lorsqu'un pays est extrêmement divisé.
Ce recours a été possible suite à l'occasion fournie par l'inscription sur la liste du Patrimoine Mondial de l'Humanité de l'Unesco du temple cambodgien de Preah Vihear situé à la lisière de la frontière avec la Thaïlande, dans la chaîne des Monts Dangrek. Cette inscription a rouvert une vieille plaie sur laquelle les politiciens thaïlandais de tous bords, mais aussi les plus hautes autorités du pays, se sont précipités.
Il faut en effet savoir, comme on le lira ci-dessous, que le tracé de la frontière entre la Thaïlande et le Cambodge n'a jamais été vraiment accepté ni par la monarchie thaïlandaise, ni par l'armée, ni par la classe politique de ce pays. Chaque fois que la situation au Cambodge lui en a fourni l'occasion, la Thaïlande n'a pas manqué de contester cette frontière et même d'en violer le tracé. Pendant les années quatre-vingt, j'ai personnellement été le témoin de patrouilles de chars thaïlandais opérant en territoire cambodgien au nord de la ville d'Aranyaprathet. Pendant la mission des Nations Unies au Cambodge, les casques bleus ont observé à plusieurs reprises des déplacements de bornes frontalières vers l'intérieur du territoire cambodgien par des unités de l'armée thaïlandaise. Et aujourd'hui, on peut lire dans la presse de Bangkok comme on peut entendre chez les manifestants thaïlandais des revendications nationalistes et irrédentistes allant jusqu'à réclamer trois provinces cambodgiennes dont celle où se trouve le parc des temples d'Angkor.
Les informations partielles et partiales distillées par une presse internationale assez systématiquement hostile au Cambodge réclament un rappel des faits. Surtout au moment où, à l'instigation des Etats-Unis, éternels alliés de la Thaïlande - et complices historiques de ce pays chaque fois qu'il s'est agi d'affaiblir le Cambodge - le Conseil de Sécurité de l'ONU se voit empêcher de remplir son rôle et de mettre en œuvre une diplomatie préventive bien nécessaire alors que, sur le terrain, des milliers de soldats se font face.
Rappel historique
- En 1904, la France, puissance protectrice du Cambodge, et le Siam signent une Convention afin de pouvoir déterminer d'une manière définitive la frontière entre le Cambodge et le Siam.
- En 1904, une commission mixte franco-siamoise issue de cette Convention détermine la frontière dans le secteur de Dangrek et indique clairement que le temple de Preah Vihear et ses environs sont en terre cambodgienne.
- En 1925, la France et le Siam signent un traité d'amitié dont l'article 2 indique que "les hautes parties contractantes confirment, en s'en garantissant le respect réciproque, les frontières établies entre leurs territoires en vertu et en conformité des stipulations des accords antérieurs".
- En 1926, une Convention relative au Mékong confirme l'article 2 du traité de 1925.
- En 1937, un nouveau traité d'amitié reprend les dispositions du traité de 1925 relatives aux frontières.
- En 1946, après que la Thaïlande, alliée du Japon, eut occupé trois provinces cambodgiennes, l'Accord de règlement franco-siamois rétabli le traité de 1937. La Commission de conciliation franco-siamoise considère que les clauses du traité de 1907 au sujet de la frontière entre le Siam et le Cambodge ne doivent pas être révisées.
- En 1954, alors que le Cambodge a accédé à l'indépendance, en violation des traités signés, une force armée thaïlandaise occupe le temple de Preah Vihear et ses environs.
- En juin 1962, la Cour internationale de justice, à la demande du Cambodge, rend un arrêt confirmant la souveraineté du Cambodge sur le Temple de Preah Vihear et ses environs en vertu de la ligne frontière établie, laquelle a été confirmée par des traités successifs et n'a jamais fait, jusqu'alors, l'objet de contestation de la part de la Thaïlande. "La Cour s'estime donc tenue, du point de vue de l'interprétation des traités, de se prononcer en faveur de la frontière indiquée sur la carte pour la zone litigieuse." ( page 35 de l'arrêt). L'arrêt précise que "la Thaïlande est tenue de retirer tous les éléments de forces armées ou de police ou autres gardes ou gardiens qu'elle a installés dans le temple et ses environs situés en territoire cambodgien" (page 37).
- En juillet 1962, la Thaïlande accepte l'arrêt de la Cour internationale de justice et ne fait pas appel pendant les dix années qui suivent pendant lesquelles elle pouvait le faire.
- En 2000, le Cambodge et la Thaïlande signent un Memorandum of Understanding en vue de la démarcation et de l'abornement de la frontière entre les deux pays dans le respect des traités et conventions signés et des cartes établies en application de ces traités et conventions (Article 1c)
- En 2001, le Cambodge demande officiellement l'inscription du temple de Preah Vihear sur la liste du Patrimoine Mondial de l'Humanité de l'Unesco.
- Le 7 juillet 2008, le Comité du patrimoine mondial de l'humanité inscrit, à l'unanimité, le temple sur la liste du Patrimoine Mondial de l'Humanité.
- Le 15 juillet 2008, les forces armées thaïlandaises violent l'intégrité du territoire cambodgien dans le secteur de Preah Vihear et, de ce fait, les traités et conventions signés et ratifiés par la Thaïlande.
Tels sont les faits. Ils sont vérifiables et non contestables. Il résulte de ces faits qu'une frontière existe bel et bien entre le Cambodge et la Thaïlande dont le tracé a été confirmé à plusieurs reprises par les autorités thaïlandaises au cours du siècle écoulé, même si, aujourd'hui, pour des raisons de politique intérieure, elles en contestent la réalité. Il résulte de ces faits que le temple et son voisinage sont intégralement sous la souveraineté exclusive du Cambodge.
Les Etats-Unis, alliés inconditionnels de la Thaïlande, imposent leur médiation. Celle-ci ne peut en aucune façon remettre en cause la souveraineté du Cambodge sur le territoire déterminé par les cartes établies en fonction des traités et conventions signés et ratifiés par les deux pays depuis plus de cent ans. Cette médiation américaine ne peut remettre en cause les motivations et l'arrêt de la Cour internationale de justice. Ce serait nier l'autorité de la chose jugée. L'ordre international, déjà par trop précaire du fait des USA, impose le respect des règles que la communauté internationale s'est elle-même données.
Listen Bong P'houn Khmer folks.
Hun Sen and Samak made a fool of us Khmers.
Hun Sen ceded Khmer land 4.6KM (in old map) to Thai. We have only Preah Vihear but the land surrounding our Temple Hun Sen gave to Thai.
This standoff is just a show. Hun Sen wants to show Khmer people that he is a strong man daring to face Siam 65millions, but in facts he gave Khmer land to Thais already for the sake of his own family business interest.
As long as Hun Sen is in power, Khmer people will have no land left or future.
9:59 PM
wHERE IS EVIDENCE? SHOW ME
It is a good time and opportunity for Cambodia to change its ruler. No outside intervention then Cambodia cannot liberate from dictator. Thai doesn't stupid by using ground troop in order to invade Cambodia.....bug doesn't know fire. Most Cambodin people do anything base on their power of morale not material....
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