Monday, September 07, 2009

Cambodian-Thai border demarcation still at an impasse: Cambodian official

Var Kim Hong speaking to reporters (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

05 September 2009
By Savyuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Click here to read the article in Khmer

A Cambodian border official said that the demarcation of the priority zones along the Cambodian-Thai border is still at an impasse in spite of the fact that, recently, reports indicated that the Thai parliament met to approve the border negotiation meeting between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as with other Thai neighboring countries.

Var Kim Hong, chairman of the Cambodian government border resolution committee, said on Saturday 05 September that, right now, information published from Bangkok, Thailand, about the Cambodian-Thai border cannot be trusted.

Var Kim Hong added that, as for the step leading to the border demarcation along priority zones, Cambodia is already prepared for it, but obstacles prevent this issue from moving forward as Cambodia must wait for Thailand to obtain its parliament approval first.

Var Kim Hong said: “I did not receive the official confirmation as to whether they [Thai parliament] approved it or not, I did no see it yet. Now, information from Bangkok cannot be trusted anymore, their information is in shamble in the past few days and we know this already. They said they would review it yesterday, I don’t know if they reviewed it or not, we don’t know for sure. On Friday, they said they’d review or maybe Monday, we don’t know. Therefore, how can we ask about the border demarcation if there is no approval, we don’t have any plan to plant the border markers according to the Thai constitution.”

Var Kim Hong’s reaction took place after local Thai news media reported that Thai parliament met to approve the Thai government’s border negotiation with Cambodia, as well as with a number of other Thai neighboring countries.

Thailand’s The Nation reported on 02 September that Thailand’s parliament met to decide on the negotiations between the Cambodian-Thai Joint Border Committee, in order to provide security and order along the border. This decision took place following a request made by the Thai ministry of Defense based on Article 190 of Thailand’s constitution.

Cambodian troops who are confronting the Thai troops on top of the Chak Chreng hill, near Preah Vihear temple, said on Saturday morning also that the situation of the confrontation between troops of both countries in the past 10 days has improved, and troops can hold joint patrols and they also ate with each others. Nevertheless, concerns remain because the border dispute is not resolved yet.

Cambodian troops indicated: “The situation is calmer than before, i.e. we understand that the situation is moving well. A few days ago, they [troops] ate together, but, as far as our concerns, we still have them. It’s normal when countries have differences.”

The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand took place when Thailand sent in several hundreds of its troops to invade Cambodia’s Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak pagoda, as well as a number of other regions in July 2008. Government officials from both countries met to negotiate several times already, but there was no good outcome to these meetings.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This 4.6 sq. km. will never solve if Thai still claim it. Thai will never agree with us Khmer if so Thai govt. will be kick out by it people power on the street again.
But who care if we raise this issue to the UN.
But will our strongman bring it to the 3rd parties or not?
If no, it will never end.!!!

Anonymous said...

From Thana:

Dear, all local and oversea Cambodians,

As we are all Cambodians, pls do not waste our time anymore to criticise each other and fight only with our own people perself.
As Cambodians, we all must be proud and optimistic due to the fact that Camboida is one of the wonderful nation in the world in terms of culture, tradition, honest, patience, hard work, bravery, ....etc.
Therefore, if you agreed with me, pls let me say that from now on, we should put our interests in front firs and clearly classify them into priorities as best idea/suggestion/recommondation options for taking considerations as referent inputs in the agenda of current and future policy spaces:
1- As Khmer/Cambodians, we should unite as one voice to fight against foreign encrouchment/agression/interests;
2- As Khmer/Cambodians, we should stop criticise individual person, we should not name and colour each other;
3- As Khmer/Cambodians, we should express opinions in a manner of morality, respect to the press code. And judgement/assessment shoud be besed on data collection, survey, research, proof......etc.
Of course, even some circumstances, prerogative way of thinking may be used. However, sometime I would suggest that it should not be used and based too much on what we think perself rather than what we present as a majority/common think or perecption;

Anonymous said...

From Thana: Continue......

4- As Khmer/Cambodians, we should only publish or disseminate information that would deem to be not useful and valuable to the interests of public, local, oversea patriots, and foreingers. Information provided should not be a such of felse or exxagerated information that would lead to conflict of interests between supporters and oppositors. Aand especially; as the result, it also misleads to the public and perceptions of foreigners because such wrong news may turn out into foreiners's wrong judgements, then lead to exsposure of bad images about Cambodia (we made and created ourself). Consequency, we lose opportunities, chances, interests, and ......etc., and then foreign countries may look down us and take opportunities/chances from our weekness; and
5- As Khmer/Cambodians, we must commit ourself and ready to devote our resouces (capital, finance, material, intellecual/brain, encouragement, motivation....etc)., and sacrify of our lifes to our nation and people. Frankly speaking, I am very impressive as I seen some of friends have done very good comments and suggestion about how to improve domecracy, defend the country's interests, deal with poverty alliviation such as ideas of transfering money back home to help families, relatives or country, express opinions to defend our nation from foreign aggression, and advise the government,......etc. However, I am very sad, while I see only small number of people always have negative and black or dark views about Cambodia that those will never be helpful to our country and people at all.By the way, since I rarely seen, may I suggest and encourage all of u to provide or share your encoutered experience about how to improve economy, trade, negotiation skills, social issues....etc, in which those ideas,sugguestions/recommondations/inputs would help Cambodia alot in general.

In conlusion, as we are now living in this modernized society, hi-technololy, free and fair trade/competition,nondiscrimination,....etc., we should stop expessing unimportant, felse, exxagerated and useless news/information that would mislead and then indirect or direct impacts to people and society, in particularly; our current chilrend or next young generation or even our Cambodian people as a whole. Incorrect news/information leads to big misleadings or misunderstandings. Therefore, negative impacts will be as follows:
- Conflict of interests;
- Creating gap, diversion, then it becomes difficulty/burdensome to break difference;
- Less chance to achieve common interest/goal/vision, then hard to get win-win solution; and
- Increase expusure of bad images about our country, then our people and country is in the position of losing, not foreign countries.

From Thana
Sorry, due to the technical problem and time constraint, u may see one of my previous posting is missing some words. However, the above text is came with an edition.

Anonymous said...

5:48 PM you should first tell Hun Sen to united, because he always try to shut up all other Khmer politicians that try to help, to give ideas to build our country.
Like our border issue with both neighbors Viet and Siam, if you tell Hun Sen that Vietnam moved the border marked far inside our territory what will you get the answer?
All Khmer alway want to united but again tell Hun Sen first.

Anonymous said...

Without international involve, there's will be no progess, Thailand still taken advantage on cambodia, Thai win win...

Anonymous said...

correction = progress

Anonymous said...

11:38 PM,
You are wrong to say all Khmers want to unite.
Few of Khmer Rouge who live outside Cambodia like the midget Hin Sithan is vowing to fight Khmers.

Anonymous said...

To 11:38 PM:

I am not belonging to CPP or Hun Sen. However, if you named amd coloured me I must response as follows:

How about your Boss or Uncle SAM Ransy? Does he really love and protect Cambodia or does he want to become a Cambodian Prime Minister? Where is your Boss or Uncle Sam now? Why don't u and your Boss or Uncle Sam go to attack if you and your Boss or Uncle SAM are sure that there is foreign invassion??? Why are you and your Boss or Uncle SAM just barking? Is my above message is too bad to your group? Tell me, is your group losing someting? Pls be fair man.

Anonymous said...

To 11:38 PM:

I am not belonging to CPP or Hun Sen. However, if you named amd coloured me I must response as follows:

How about your Boss or Uncle SAM Ransy? Does he really love and protect Cambodia or does he want to become a Cambodian Prime Minister? Where is your Boss or Uncle Sam now? Why don't u and your Boss or Uncle Sam go to attack if you and your Boss or Uncle SAM are sure that there is foreign invassion??? Why are you and your Boss or Uncle SAM just barking? Is my above message is too bad to your group? Tell me, is your group losing someting? Pls be fair man.

From Thana

Anonymous said...

To 11:38 PM:

I am not belonging to CPP or Hun Sen. However, if you named amd coloured me I must response as follows:

How about your Boss or Uncle SAM Ransy? Does he really love and protect Cambodia or does he want to become a Cambodian Prime Minister? Where is your Boss or Uncle Sam now? Why don't u and your Boss or Uncle Sam go to attack if you and your Boss or Uncle SAM are sure that there is foreign invassion??? Why are you and your Boss or Uncle SAM just barking? Is my above message is too bad to your group? Tell me, is your group losing someting? Pls be fair man.

From Thana