Cambodian soldiers walk through the site of a burned market in front of Preah Vihear temple on Saturday. Local residents fled the area when fighting broke out on Friday. Many have begun to return to the site to salvage whatever they can from the rubble. (Photo: AFP)
Thursday, 09 April 2009
Written by Thet Sambath and Michael Fox
The Phnom Penh Post
Preah Vihear
THAI MINISTER'S COMMENTS ‘FEARFUL'Three villagers tell how they hid in a trench with Cambodian soldiers while machine-gun fire and shells tore through the Preah Vihear market last Friday.
A Cambodian government official described as “panicky” the Thai foreign minister’s warning that former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was being allowed to launch political attacks from Cambodia. Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post Wednesday that Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s comment was made out of fear of Thaksin and were without foundation. “I wonder why [Kasit] says this again and again – we have already informed Thailand that Thaksin is not in Cambodia,” Koy Kuong said. Despite the outburst, Koy Kuong said relations between the two countries were good.
ON Monday, Siv Sophally came back to the remains of his house near the burned-out market at the base of Preah Vihear temple to see what was left. The market was rocketed by Thai forces during a firefight on Friday that left three Thai soldiers dead.
There wasn't much left. Among the burned remains he found a ruined generator, his son's bicycle and bottles of perfume. Everything had turned to ashes, he said.
"Along with the burned generator and bottles of perfume, my other possessions such as clothes, tables, chairs, pots and dishes were in ashes," he said. "I came back to find what was left, but there isn't anything - just the well."
Siv Sophally, 38, was looking for his well to give water to the soldiers. The fact that it was underground meant it was safe, but he worried the piping was damaged. He estimates that the loss of his cafe, shop, souvenirs, perfume and stock has cost him USD$20,000.
"I have lost everything - all of my property. It was destroyed by the fire from the Thai rockets. This had value and it's now just ashes," he said. "I am finished. My mother has cried every day since."
He said that a number of villagers want to file a claim against the Thai army for compensation and will ask Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene. He said 20 men who lost their properties now want to join the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and go to the front line.
"We will be grateful if Prime Minister Hun Sen rebuilds our houses. Everything we have built up for 10 years is gone," he said.
Siv Sophally's wife, children, parents and relatives are staying temporarily in flats at Sa Em village, which lies 25 kilometres from Preah Vihear.
CRC donates food, utensils
Long Sovann, deputy governor of Preah Vihear, said the Cambodian Red Cross had donated supplies to each of the more than 500 families that were moved from the market area. Among the goods they received were 25 kilograms of rice, canned fish, utensils and pots.
He said 277 families had lived around the market, and 183 houses were destroyed.
"We are looking for land for them to build their houses on at Sa Em village.""We are looking for land for them to build their houses on at Sa Em village," Long Sovann said. "They can live in the new village and go to sell their goods at the market once it is rebuilt."
‘I couldn't run anywhere'
During Friday's clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers, three villagers who had decided to remain in the area were hiding in trenches with RCAF troops. Prak Sam El, Try Pisith and Yim Pov were caught in the fighting with just the clothes they were wearing.
Yim Pov said his wife and children had been evacuated before the fighting to Sa Em village. Other villagers were sent to Ko Muoy behind a hill near the temple. He had remained behind to keep an eye on his house.
All three men said they were unable to leave the scene and save their property because machine-gun fire was coming through the rain and hitting their homes and the temple.
"I was stuck at the front line," said Yim Pov, a pork vendor. "I hid in the trench near the market with Cambodian soldiers. It was like being in the army at the front line, but I had no gun to shoot with."
"I couldn't run anywhere because of the bullets and shells. I wasn't afraid of the shooting, but I was sorry to see our properties burned," he continued. "The soldiers told me not to move or I might get shot."
Fellow villager Try Pisith also lost everything. RCAF soldiers gave him clothes and rice to eat. While explaining that he has no spare clothes, an RCAF officer told him he can go to the army store and pick up some military fatigues.
The third man, Prak Sam El, sold groceries at the market and ran a cafe. His house, grocery store and cafe were destroyed. He calculated his losses at $3,000 but said it could have been worse: Soldiers had helped him to save 3 million riels' worth of goods.
"Now I have reopened my cafe and am selling to soldiers and tourists coming here. But none of the villagers have returned - it's just us three," Prak Sam El said. "I wanted to leave the trench, but there were so many machine-gun bullets flying around near me. So I just watched the fire, crying as it destroyed my property."
13 comments:
Has Siamese accepted the facts that Siam existent came about the Collapse of the Khmer Empire circa. 7th through 12th century A.D?
The current Siam topography is resulted from Terrorist acts on the feebling Khmer villagers and government.
IT'S TIME FOR SIAMESE TO TEACH THEIR GENERATION ABOUT THE TRUTH BECAUSE THE IS NOT AS ASSININE AS THE SIAMESE THOUGHT OF. WORLD GEOGRAPHY IS THOUGHT BY FACT FINDINGS AND SCIENTIFIC SOUNDS.
ឃើញហើយឬនៅ នេះហើយជានយោបាយរបស់សៀម ដែលវាមិនចង់ ឲ្យមានខ្មែររស់នៅតាមជាយដែន ព្រោះវាពិបាកលួចដី។
យើងត្រូវជួយសង់ ជាផ្ទះថ្ម និងផ្សារថ្ម ឲ្យបងប្អូន ដែលរស់នៅជាយដែននេះ។
Dear Khmer compatriots,
Here is the most interesting MAP of the Khmer Empire 100 CE - 1550 CE made by the University of Sydney, Australia.
The rootless bandit Thais should learn their history properly
http://ecaimaps.berkeley.edu/animations/2003_03_khmer_animation.swf
http://angkor.me/
Khmer sralanh cheart
Spreading dharma to the masses
Written by Shannon Dunlap
Thursday, 09 April 2009
Vong Savuth's radio program makes Buddhist teaching more accessible to local communities.
Photo by: Peter Olszewski
Monk Vong Savuth seen in his studio at 106.25 FM, where he offers up daily life lessons to the masses.
THE recording studio of Wat Bo's official radio station, 106.25 FM, is air-conditioned, sound-insulated and full of gadgetry.
And manning the microphone is the Venerable Vong Savuth who, despite his traditional saffron robes, is comfortable in this cocoon of modern technology, from where he spreads dharma on the airwaves.
As he readies the bank of cell phones to receive incoming calls, his tone is as smooth as the most polished professional broadcaster.
"If generous laymen and women, Buddhists and monks want to join this program," he said in Khmer, "you can make a phone call. Our topic today is ‘Youth Addicted to Drugs'.
While the content can vary widely, from discussions of climate change to observations on what makes a good spouse, Vong Savuth's shows have a singular aim: to examine common Cambodian problems through the lens of Buddha's teachings and to make those lessons accessible to young people.
"Some parts of the dharma are so difficult," Vong Savuth told the Post.
"In Cambodia, 99 percent respect Buddhism, but most of them don't understand dharma - even me. Sometimes, I don't understand. But it is for everyone."
To illuminate obtuse Buddhist concepts, Vong Savuth has learned to make the most of a simple, plain-spoken teaching style and a very useful medium.
"Many people cannot read," he said, explaining the appeal of radio, which widens his potential audience from those able to read articles or make frequent trips to the pagoda to anyone with a radio.
This more egalitarian approach of passing on Buddhist wisdom is particularly important to Vong Savuth, given how difficult it was for him to obtain an education.
Raised on a pineapple farm in rural Stung Treng province, Vong Savuth had to travel 8 kilometres to school every day, fording several streams along the way.
At 17, he entered the monastery, as it was the only viable way to pursue higher learning.
These days, Vong Savuth has become a bonafide DJ, going live on the air every day from 11:45am to 12:30pm. The show was initially a project of Buddhism for Development, a local NGO, and Vong Savuth broadcast during rented time at a public station.
But the show became so popular that the abbot of the monastery, Pin-Sem, began a campaign to build the monastery's own radio station, which would be able to reserve the most coveted time slots for the broadcast of dharma rather than the news or government policy of the public stations.
Appeals for donations during Vong Savuth's show brought in enough funds to start construction on 106.25.
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yes, villages and towns can be rebuilt, but a person's life cannot. good thinking! god bless cambodia.
Hey 11:59PM,
It's a great Timemap site. It's so clear of how those neighboring countries evolved from Khmer Ancestor.
We (Khmers) can boldly boasted that we gave birth to Siamese, Laotian, Burmese, and the lower half of Dai Viets!
I, also, invite today Siamese students to learn the TRUTH. IF THE SIAMESE NATION CANNOT ACCEPT, THEN LIVE IN THE DEVIATED AND TWISTED FACTS THAT YOUR SCHOLARS MAKE ONE BELIEVES.
Mahasamuth Maykear
Wishes the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia provide scholarship to the Khmer students from Surin, Boreirom and other parts, to study in our Universities.
KADUEY MAY AH SIEM
Why should the government panicky for this accusation when it’s not true? The Cambodian government should know better of what to worry.
What a childish announcement of this guy Koy Kuong! Can you learn to handle the situation for your country in a better way?
Siam has been terrorized Khmer for century. They are a terrorist state.
Remember when they sacked Angkor Wat? They looting almost everything and you name them. They spec to build Angkor Wat. You know that they build the small replica of Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear Temple and Byon Temple inside Thailand? They want to tell the tourist that all these temples are belong to them. And they can make money from the tourist that they don't have to go to Cambodia to see them.
But right now Thai really mad because Cambodia is attracts more tourists then ever. Thanks to peace for Cambodia. Thailand kept loosing tourists because most tourists like to Cambodia now.
We got good beaches and sea fronts.
Khmer Pride,
2:20 AM:
where to find those students?
2:20am, i really like you suggestion. yes, gov't of cambodia should encourage all khmer overseas everywhere to come study the khmer language and literature, etc... at our universities in cambodia. god bless cambodia and all khmer people.
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