Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (left) held talks with Prime Minister Hun SenMonday, December 21, 2009
By Suy Se
AFP
PHNOM PENH — China signed pacts worth one billion dollars in aid to Cambodia Monday and thanked Phnom Penh for its controversial decision to deport a group of Uighurs seeking refuge back to Chinese soil.
The 20 Muslim Uighurs, who had fled the far western Xinjiang region after unrest erupted there in July, were expelled late Saturday as they were seeking asylum in the Cambodian capital, saying they risked torture in China.
Phnom Penh said the group, which Beijing had labelled as "criminals", was expelled in line with domestic law.
But the US, the European Union, the UN and rights groups deplored the move as an apparent breach of an international convention on refugees.
In a statement, the Swedish EU presidency said it was "deeply concerned" about Phnom Penh's action, adding that it showed "a worrying disregard for Cambodia's obligations under international law".
The decision came ahead of a three-day visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who held talks Monday with Prime Minister Hun Sen and witnessed the signing of 14 bilateral agreements.
The pacts were worth 1.2 billion dollars in aid and loans to Cambodia, according to government spokesman Khieu Kanharith, who said the two countries agreed to strengthen their relations in all fields.
China and Cambodia have long had close relations, with China previously giving 930 million dollars in aid and loans to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation since 1992, Khieu Kanharith said.
"China has thanked the government of Cambodia for assisting in sending back these people," he said of the Uighurs' deportation. "According to Chinese law, these people are criminals."
Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer said the deportation reflected Beijing's growing clout in the region, saying Phnom Penh's decision was "no doubt influenced by enormous Chinese pressure, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in aid".
"Governments of countries neighbouring China are reluctant to take any action that would displease Chinese authorities, leaving Uighurs nowhere to flee," Kadeer said.
Clashes between Xinjiang's Uighurs and China's majority Han ethnic group in July left nearly 200 dead and 1,600 injured, according to official tolls.
The violence erupted when Uighurs -- who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule -- attacked members of China's Han ethnic majority. In the days following, mobs of Han roamed the streets seeking revenge.
Last month, nine people were executed for their roles in the violence.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a fax sent to AFP that China had received the group of 20 from Cambodia "in accordance with routine practice".
"China resolutely opposes and cracks down hard on illegal border crossing activities and advocates greater cooperation among the international community to work together to combat crime," Jiang said.
Christophe Peschoux, a representative of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Monday he was "dismayed" by the deportation.
He said Cambodian authorities were "obviously under pressure" when they overturned initially strong assurances that they considered the Uighurs asylum seekers and would complete assessments to see if they were of refugee status.
"This deportation is all the more disturbing in a country that has known massive persecution during the wars and the Khmer rouge regime, and which knows all too well the price and value of refugee protection," he said.
The 20 Muslim Uighurs, who had fled the far western Xinjiang region after unrest erupted there in July, were expelled late Saturday as they were seeking asylum in the Cambodian capital, saying they risked torture in China.
Phnom Penh said the group, which Beijing had labelled as "criminals", was expelled in line with domestic law.
But the US, the European Union, the UN and rights groups deplored the move as an apparent breach of an international convention on refugees.
In a statement, the Swedish EU presidency said it was "deeply concerned" about Phnom Penh's action, adding that it showed "a worrying disregard for Cambodia's obligations under international law".
The decision came ahead of a three-day visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who held talks Monday with Prime Minister Hun Sen and witnessed the signing of 14 bilateral agreements.
The pacts were worth 1.2 billion dollars in aid and loans to Cambodia, according to government spokesman Khieu Kanharith, who said the two countries agreed to strengthen their relations in all fields.
China and Cambodia have long had close relations, with China previously giving 930 million dollars in aid and loans to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation since 1992, Khieu Kanharith said.
"China has thanked the government of Cambodia for assisting in sending back these people," he said of the Uighurs' deportation. "According to Chinese law, these people are criminals."
Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer said the deportation reflected Beijing's growing clout in the region, saying Phnom Penh's decision was "no doubt influenced by enormous Chinese pressure, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in aid".
"Governments of countries neighbouring China are reluctant to take any action that would displease Chinese authorities, leaving Uighurs nowhere to flee," Kadeer said.
Clashes between Xinjiang's Uighurs and China's majority Han ethnic group in July left nearly 200 dead and 1,600 injured, according to official tolls.
The violence erupted when Uighurs -- who have long complained of repression under Chinese rule -- attacked members of China's Han ethnic majority. In the days following, mobs of Han roamed the streets seeking revenge.
Last month, nine people were executed for their roles in the violence.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a fax sent to AFP that China had received the group of 20 from Cambodia "in accordance with routine practice".
"China resolutely opposes and cracks down hard on illegal border crossing activities and advocates greater cooperation among the international community to work together to combat crime," Jiang said.
Christophe Peschoux, a representative of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Monday he was "dismayed" by the deportation.
He said Cambodian authorities were "obviously under pressure" when they overturned initially strong assurances that they considered the Uighurs asylum seekers and would complete assessments to see if they were of refugee status.
"This deportation is all the more disturbing in a country that has known massive persecution during the wars and the Khmer rouge regime, and which knows all too well the price and value of refugee protection," he said.
10 comments:
The Chinese refugee entered Cambodia illegally, and thus it is lawfully to return them back to the country of origin. Even the US return thousands of Mexican who illegally enter the US. I never see any UNHCR office at the US border to screen Mexican illegal immigrants. The US border agents would only take photograph, finger print them and return them back to Mexico within hours.
Another question is, why are these people came all the way from China and stay in Cambodia. Why don't they stop in Vietnam, Lao, Thailand or even go to Muslim country like Malaysia or Indonesia, why stop in Cambodia!
So now Cambodia is to blame for this. This is unfair.
Why don't the US and the UN protest with China, why blame Cambodia. May be the US dare not challenge China because they are borrowing billions from China!!
As for refugee treaty, what treaty!?
When Thai dump Cambodian refugee into mine field at Phnom Dangrek, where are the International, where the UN, and the Human right group?!
Thousands of Cambodian refugees were massacred, machine gun by Thai soliders, thousands more died in mine field, and thousand more die of starvation in Phnom Dangrek. No one come to help us, none.
Later UN estimate 30,000 Cambodian refugee died at Phnom Dangrek alone, and that not counting Thai Shelling Cambodian refugee camps a long the border, Thai rape and murder thousands more who try to enter Khao I Dang camp.
Sure, it is good human nature that we want to help our fellow man, however, it is also human nature that we want to help ourselves first. In this case, Cambodia is in a very tight spot.
Even if the Cambodian government want to help these people, they are not in the position to do so. They cannot risk anger China, They cannot risk losing millions in financial assistance, loan, and investment from China. Not even the US dare to offend China, let alone a small poor country like Cambodia.
So be realistic. It is easy to be an idealist when you don't have responsibility. It is easy to point finger and lay blame, but if you are in position of Cambodia, sending those people back is the best thing for Cambodia.
Yes we have pity for those Chinese refugee, but in this case, nothing much we can do for them. Cambodia is also under the mercy of China.
Were those people qualified as refugees? Check International Refugee Law:
http://www.refugeecaselaw.org/guidelines.pdf
The UN, The US, EU and other big nations must also adress the issue with China--the source of problem. Cambodia will do any thing that the Chinese ask it to do, even if Hun Sen knows that it is against the law. Hun Sen needs to explain his reasons.
Money talks louder than the law.
The Yun Hanoi's dog Hun Xen with chinese tiger!!
CHINA and the USA do not now how to rescue Cambodia from Vietnamese jaws?
In relation to Cambodia, CHINA is Zero achievement, every time Chinese start to move their men or policies to influence Cambodia, the Vietcong/NVA punch in the Chinese nose first all the times.
Now the ECCC in Cambodia is indirectly control by Vietnamese government through their puppet Mr. Hun Sen/CPP government. The ECCC is charging former CHINA clients Mr. Khieu Samphan, Mr. Nuon Chea, Mr. Ieng Sary and his wife Mrs. Ieng Thirith as GENOCIDE crimes against the ethnic Vietnamese and the Cham in Cambodia. What is CHINA GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT?
BESIDE BRING MORE MONEY TO BUY Mr. Hun Sen/CPP government and perhaps to robe the whole of Cambodia through land development, ripping for Vietnam to take over again and again CHINA can not do anything to save Cambodia from Vietnam colonization.
CHINA WAS THE MAIN SUPPORTER OF KHMER ROUGE who is their clients now charging as genocide. Whereas the Vietnamese clients such as Hun Sen, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Hor Nam Hoang, Keat Chhon, Sam Kar, Sar Kheng, Men Sam An and much more who also GENOCIDED millions of Khmers are laughing at CHINA, USA, UN, EU, ECCC all the way to their own individual’s banks.
At this stage USA do not want to save Cambodia from Vietnam swallowing, so what CHINA must do is to wake up quickly by allying themselves with USA the same way as Mr. Deng Xao Ping did with Mr. Ronald Reagan in 1980’s and rearmed the ex- Khmer Rouge soldiers again to save Cambodia from extinction.
The condition must be attached onto those ex-Khmer Rouge troops, that those troops must be control and lead by ex-anti Vietnamese guerrilla’s leaders similar to the recipient of American Silver Cross Medal, Major Sergeant SARUN SAR of the American Special Force and many more of that types are waiting around the world and inside Cambodia to bring Vietnam and Hun Sen/CPP government to respect the 23rd October 1991 Paris Peace Agreement once more time.
Vietnamese government through their puppet HUN SEN had cheated the CHINESE GOVERNMENT, the UNTAC, the USA administrative and the whole Khmer Rouge organization by urging the Khmer Rouge to lay down their arm before 1993 and now control them like slave and master.
Now a day what CHINA hoping is to buy out HUN SEN and the whole CPP government with their money, so CHINA can have influence in Cambodia.
Vietnamese will not let HUN SEN go off their hooks so easily like CHINA wanted, if HUN SEN do want to escape from Vietnamese jaws, he will receive the same fate as his in-law former police crook-murderer Gen. HOK LUNDY.
Vietnam only allow Hun Sen as a bait to attract investment funds from China, so Vietnam who is Hun Sen master, can spare their own fund to buy 6 Sub-Marines and 12 Russian Airplanes to defeat CHINA once more time like in February 1979 from future China attack.
Vietnam at this moment will never let Chinese put a hand on Cambodia cake again, for inside Cambodia they had 100,000 NVA plus 5 million of Vietnamese illegal immigrants, and for augment sake who know how many Vietnamese militia in disguise among those 5 million illegal Vietnamese in Cambodia?
Therefore, the USA and the CHINA were manipulated by Vietnamese government again and again until they took all the South East Asian markets. Recently they took Laos, Cambodia and perhaps Thailand soon when the opportunity arises.
Vietnam smartly took Laos, Cambodia from CHINA and from the USA, and CHINA never dares to challenge Vietnam for CHINA and USA are always incapable to defeat Vietnamese hypocrisy in war or in politics, so CHINA and USA have no choice, but to unite like in 1980’s to stop Vietnam from swallowing Cambodia and to stop Vietnam expansionist strategy toward Thailand too.
CHINA CAN NOT BUY VIETNAMESE OR HUN SEN/CPP GOVERNMENT OUTRIGHT. CHINA and USA ARE THE LOOSERS TO VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST’S GOVERNMENT WITHOUT KNOWING IT, WHAT IS A SHAME!!!
perhaps china is smart to court cambodia while others in the west is playing waiting game. cambodia can't wait forever, you know. life goes on, really. there are more to cambodia than anyone can imagine, really! god bless cambodia.
This is an open letter to the visiting vice president of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and PM Hun Sen
While investment from the PRC is welcome, some investments have caused too much pains to the Cambodian people especially investments in land dealing. The Union Development Group Co. LTD, owned by investor from PRC, has been awarded an economic land concession to build cities in Kirisakor and Butumsakor districts, Koh Kong Province.
Unfortunately, the concessions above include people's villages and farm lands, and lands which have private ownership. Despite this, the Company still wants to have all the lands, including lands in the villages. The Company (through a mysterious local committee) are taking the people's land without proper compensations. An interministerial committee (comprising province officials, district officials) has been established to document and pay compensations to the affected people. However, while people are being called one by one to meet the Committee, they do not know what to expect: the prices, and terms of engagement... They were offered, if they are lucky, fixed rates which they are unable to negotiate. The rates are different from people to people...The rate is a s low as US$250 per hectar... If they refuse to accept these low rates, they are threatened with law suit, forced evictions, ..Many people have accepted with tears...
Yet, a family is only given 5 hectars of land... beyond this, the land is either taken away for free or given extremely low compensation...It is not sure based on what law that a family can only own 5 ha of land?...?
Also, the people are divided to local people and people from outside! It is said that people from outside the areas who own the land there would not be given compensation??? The taken away of people land and local people Vs. people from outside the areas reminds me of the Kher Rouge Era...
Now people at Preak Smach Village, Koh Sdach Commune, Koh Kong Province are subject to the above treatments. All a decision is said to be made by a representative of a powerful eleite in P. Penh..who is directly involved in deciding rates for the lands. If any people dare to ask fro sometime to think, the offered rates would be lowered...This is part of the threats to weakend people's spirits...(Is this kind of development that Cambodia wants ..if it is not for people's interest..?)
People who own the land in the above areas are not against the development project, but would like to have the followings:
1. There should be a transparent process on the committee decision and prices for different kinds of land. This should be made known to people and not depending on an arbitrary decision by a secret committee or an individual..
2. That the price should not be as low as $250 per hactar at the very least ..(after all, it is the Company that wants the lands to start with...)...People are asking for at least $2,000 per ha...for the lowest price for a certain kind of land...
3. That there should not be a limit of 5 ha per family...?
4. That people are compensated by the actual size of their land....and that the Company or people in the committee shall not be allowed to take away people lands for free...
5. That there should be a clear mechanism in case of disagreements... Now dealings are being carried out with threats...
6. That the government of PRC keeps an eye on the activities of their firms in Cambodia...no exploitations should be allowed...
Samdech Hun Sen, people at Preak Smach village, Koh Sdach Commune, Kirisakor district, Koh Kong are very loyal to Samdach... They have voted for Samdech... It is very difficult to come to see Samdech ..as it is only through boats they could come ....Samdech may not know what are happending in the on-going process to take lands for the Union Development Group, Co, Ltd... Samdech is the people's only hope for fair compensation....
The above story is told to the author of the above message...
a ha look,who visited hun sen the one eye Khmer rouge fist master, youn,very good at systematic killing innocent Khmer
second,china was known to the world as a killing field.
what did they tell hun kvac to do in Cambodia? respect human right
sincerely prey sar village
E
The weak and uneducated Cambodian government will bow down to anyone who will gave them money. Do I make myself clear?
China will expand their territory like lotus blooming, cambodia is rice storehouse for China...
Better than US B-52, Bombs storehouse right?
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