By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 October 2009
“That with which we can win is through the International Court and international law, but until now [the government] has not filed, and that’s why it is continuing,” said Sean Pengse, head of an advocacy group called the Border Committee, in France.
Cambodia has insisted on solving its long-running border dispute bilaterally, but negotiations over contested areas near Preah Vihear temple have failed to bring a result, with troops on both sides amassed on each side of the frontier.
Hean Yuth, a Cambodian-American who closely follows Cambodia’s border issues, said Wednesday he did not understand why the government has not invoked the Paris Peace Accords, which its stipulations of sovereignty, and the International Court at the Hague to file a complaint.
Chanly Kuch, a Cambodian-American who also follows border issues, said Preah Vihear should not pose a problem, as the International Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.
However, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the government was seeking to resolve the border issues peacefully. Both countries are obliged to base talks on laws, and if there are points that can’t be agreed on, Cambodia could bring the issue to the Hague.
“Not to make a new judgment, but just to review,” he said, adding that Cambodia was being patient as Thailand struggles with internal political problems.
Cambodian and Thailand have had border problems for decades, with sections of the boundary going unmarked. Tensions rose sharply in July 2008, after Preah Vihear temple was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site under Cambodia. Skirmishes between troops from both sides have left at least seven people dead.
Cambodians living in France are planning a demonstration for Oct. 25, to press Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to follow the Paris Peace Accords on border issues. A petition will be submitted to the French president.
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 October 2009
Cambodians living in France are planning a demonstration for Oct. 25, to press Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to follow the Paris Peace Accords on border issues. A petition will be submitted to the French president.The border dispute between Cambodian and Thailand has gone on for more than a year, with the Cambodian government failing to adopt a “winning” method based on international law, border experts said Thursday.
“That with which we can win is through the International Court and international law, but until now [the government] has not filed, and that’s why it is continuing,” said Sean Pengse, head of an advocacy group called the Border Committee, in France.
Cambodia has insisted on solving its long-running border dispute bilaterally, but negotiations over contested areas near Preah Vihear temple have failed to bring a result, with troops on both sides amassed on each side of the frontier.
Hean Yuth, a Cambodian-American who closely follows Cambodia’s border issues, said Wednesday he did not understand why the government has not invoked the Paris Peace Accords, which its stipulations of sovereignty, and the International Court at the Hague to file a complaint.
Chanly Kuch, a Cambodian-American who also follows border issues, said Preah Vihear should not pose a problem, as the International Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.
However, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the government was seeking to resolve the border issues peacefully. Both countries are obliged to base talks on laws, and if there are points that can’t be agreed on, Cambodia could bring the issue to the Hague.
“Not to make a new judgment, but just to review,” he said, adding that Cambodia was being patient as Thailand struggles with internal political problems.
Cambodian and Thailand have had border problems for decades, with sections of the boundary going unmarked. Tensions rose sharply in July 2008, after Preah Vihear temple was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site under Cambodia. Skirmishes between troops from both sides have left at least seven people dead.
Cambodians living in France are planning a demonstration for Oct. 25, to press Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to follow the Paris Peace Accords on border issues. A petition will be submitted to the French president.
2 comments:
All Khmers,
Vietnam and especially Khmer government had violated the 1991 Paris Peace Accord first, and then Thailand stepped in it later because of the Additional Treaties signed by Khmer king in 2005 ceding khmer territories to Vietnam.
If no GREEN LIGHT from Vietnam, HUn Sen dare not to bring this matter to the Hague. Otherwise it will hurt Vietnam as being encraoching khmer lands from the est and south borders.
So all Khmers, outsiders, have to Unite and bring the matter to the World, and bring about the Vietnamisation of Cambodia. And the world organisation to come and check the presence of Viet troops occupying Cambodia until today.
I see only one way to force the UN's hands to intervene:
Take a military initiative to repel the thai soldiers by shooting and killing a few dozens of them while minimizing our losses. Then the UN Security Council will urgently convene to discuss the Preah Vihear issue.
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