Monday, December 07, 2009

Cambodia lacks the ability to administer its sea waters


06 December 2009
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale

Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
Click here to read the article in Khmer



PM Hun Xen asked the authority involved to make arrangement with Thailand about the fishing activities inside Cambodian waters. Hun Xen’s oder took place after the authority closed access to Cambodian waters to all Thai fishing boats for a period of time. The authorization to allow foreign boats to catch fish in Cambodian waters is under criticism by the opposition and civil society, however, to the government, this is the best choice to bring money to state coffer.
The administration of sea waters is a complicated issue for Cambodia. Hun Xen publicly recognized about this difficulty and, ultimately, the government allowed fishing boats from neighboring countries to come and catch fish in Cambodian waters in exchange for money paid to the state coffer.

At a speech given during the inauguration of a road construction site in Siem Reap province, next to the Thai border, on Saturday, Hun Xen explained that the administration of the vast sea waters is a difficult task. This is the reason why foreign boats are allowed to fish in Cambodian waters through mutual arrangements and understanding along with payment to Cambodian authority.

This policy came under intense criticisms from the opposition and civil society, as well as from a number of Cambodian fishermen. Critics said that the Cambodian government’s action is tantamount to allowing free reign to foreign fishermen to destroy Cambodian water resources.

According to Cambodian fishermen, Thai and Vietnamese fishing boats use modern and illegal equipments allowing them to catch huge amount fish and other sea products. These Cambodian fishermen are concerned about the destruction of fisheries in Cambodian waters, and they blame the government’s inability to administer its sea waters.

However, to Hun Xen, this is the only best possible administration because it allows the government to earn some income rather than allowing foreign boats to sneak in and fish illegally since the government cannot administer these waters.

Nevertheless, on 04 December, the Cambodian Council of Ministers recently approved a draft law to set up a national committee for open sea security. The explanation provided for the setup of this committee is to administer the sovereignty of Cambodian sea waters with the aim of protecting national resources.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

AH HUN SEN critical thinking skill always one step behind the opposition and civil society!

AH HUN SEN would rather destroying Cambodian natural resource just to have income for his government?

It seems that AH HUN SEN is willing sell his own daughter too just to make some money for his government!

Million and million of dirt poor Cambodian people depend on natural resources from the land or from the sea!

Anonymous said...

Almost everything is complicated for Hun Sen!

Anonymous said...

2:15 PM
Not just for Mr. Hun Sen, it will also be for all of us.

Anonymous said...

Hello KI,
Can you keep the original article as it is after it's been translated?
We the whole world already knew how much you all hate Hun Sen, but you edited the original article as it is not real, but your propagandas of hatred.

The original article wrote as Hun Sen not Hun Xen.

Reader

Anonymous said...

The best smile of the dictator of Cambodia, the Yuon slave, the nation's destroyer.

Anonymous said...

To 7:15PM

Hey...you have an option to go to another website and why bother what is going on in this website?

This is what you called creativity!ahahahh As for me I like the way it is!

From another Reader.

Anonymous said...

How much money will Cambodia loses if they don't regulate it? Wasn't Hun Sen boasting about the new coast guard boat a few years ago? where is it now? put it into use!!

Anonymous said...

aH NOROUK HUN XEN EAT ANY THING AND EVERY THING! EVEN SHIT!

Anonymous said...

These excuses by Hun Sen after 25+ years in the hot is full of hot air.

By all mean, Cambodia with all the support of the internation $$, can't afford to properly protect it boarder from it Neighbour. This policy of having neighboring countries like Thai & Vietnam to fish in Cambodian water is a BIG exposure to TERRORIST & illegal activities. As there is NO Cambodian policing and enfore in place to check and assess the situation.

This is a failure of the CPP government and Hun Sen as leader. As a former soldier, he should have know better. If you can't protect your own house most likely SOMEONE else will claimed them as there. This is another example of why Vietname is occupying Koh Trol until today.

So no more excuses Hun Sen please do the right thing by Cambodian people and fix this issue ASAP.