Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Vietnam’s irrefutable encroachments

Op-Ed by Khmerization
26th January, 2010

"One more complicated issue is Vietnam's decision to dig a canal along the borders in 1979 that did not respect the real borderlines drawn on the maps. (Now), the local people who live on both sides of the canal must consider the dike and the canal as the real borderline between the two countries", said Mr. Var Kimhong, chairman of the Cambodian Border Commission.”


The explosive evidences of Vietnam’s irrefutable encroachments on Cambodian borders exposed by Mr. Sam Rainsy should be a wake up call to all Khmer politicians, in particular political leaders from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

The ruling CPP, instead of cracking down on critics and opposition politicians who had exposed border encroachments by Vietnam, should instead be working with them to brainstorm the means and measures to resolve the issues with Vietnam diplomatically and peacefully. Cracking down on critics of the government’s failed border policies is not going to help resolving the issues and does not reflect well on the reputation of the government in the eyes of the international community. On the contrary, it will complicate the issues further and lead to more exposures of the government’s inability or unwillingness to resolve the issues.

Deep down, the government, especially the CPP leaders, knew that the border encroachments by Vietnam are real. Their draconian measures against border critics are designed to silence dissenting voices and to whitewash its failed border policies. Here is the government’s admission made by Mr. Var Kimhong, chairman of the Cambodian Border Commission, in a meeting recently who said that Vietnam's unilateral decision to dig a canal to use as a borderline in 1979 has violated the real locations of the borderlines between the two countries. "One more complicated issue is Vietnam's decision to dig a canal along the borders in 1979 that did not respect the real borderlines drawn on the maps. (Now), the local people who live on both sides of the canal must consider the dike and the canal as the real borderline between the two countries", said Mr. Var Kimhong.

If the government frankly admitted that the border encroachments by Vietnam are facts and not fiction, why then there is a need to crack down on border critics and Mr. Sam Rainsy? The obvious explanations would be that the government is trying to whitewash its failed border protections and it intends to end Mr. Rainsy’s political life. Here is what one of the CPP stalwarts, Mr. Cheam Yiep, said recently in the Phnom Penh Post about a court case against Mr. Rainsy: “If the upcoming trial at the provincial court issues a guilty verdict, he (Rainsy) will have to respect the law … and his political life will end in the country,”. Mr. Cheam Yiep’s comments show that the court case against Mr. Rainsy is not about finding justice and the truth, but about the assassination of Sam Rainsy politically. Here, Mr Cheam Yiep is pre-emptively trying to influence the court’s decision, which will undoubtedly be a guilty verdict.

Some people say that Mr. Rainsy’s case is not a political case, but it is a judicial matter. Many long term observers of the Cambodian legal and judicial affairs, including the UN Human Rights Envoy, Prof. Surya Subedi, doubt the fairness and the independence of the Cambodian court. Here was what he said on 23rd January while visiting Cambodia. “I am coming here to evaluate the independence and justice in the Cambodian judicial system and other issues.” Here, the UN Envoy has put the Cambodian court on notice that it is on trial, at the same as when it is trying Mr. Rainsy and the two villagers.

Mr. Sam Rainsy has now released what he called irrefutable evidences of Vietnam’s encroachments, including pictures and maps drawn by independent cartographical experts. Mr. Rainsy’s evidences, including Cambodian official map deposited at the UN by the Royal Government of Cambodia in 1964, Google Earth map, U.S Army map, French-drawn map and even maps/sketches drawn by the Svay Rieng local authority, have all shown that border markers uprooted by Mr. Sam Rainsy and the villagers are well located inside Cambodian territory.

Critics of the government failed border policies supported Mr. Rainsy’s action in uprooting the borer posts because the posts were planted well within Cambodian territory. They said that evidences show that border violations by Vietnam are real and therefore Mr. Rainsy has not committed any crimes when he uprooted the posts.

Mr. Rainsy’s action of uprooting the border posts had garnered supports from many political circles, including from Cambodian Watchdog Council (CWC) and Democratic Movement for Change. Mr. Rong Chhun’s CWC has released a statement saying "Mr. Sam Rainsy's action in uprooting the border markers was an action for the protection of Cambodian territorial integrity in fulfilling his duty as a member of parliament. Charges levelled against Mr. Sam Rainsy and the arrests and jailing of two villagers was politically-charged and an injustice".

Democratic Movement for Change has also issued a statement saying that "all actions that protect Cambodian territorial integrity, including actions of MP Sam Rainsy in the uprooting of border markers from Border Pillar number 185, were not illegal actions. On the contrary, they were not only actions that protect farmers' lands, but they were actions of the highest patriotism in the defence of Cambodian territorial integrity which is facing encroachments/violations through border demarcations."

The government said Mr. Sam Rainsy's actions were wrong and inappropriate. Mr. Tith Sothea, a government advisor, suggested that Mr. Rainsy should bring the alleged border encroachments to the attention of the parliament, instead of uprooting the posts. He said: "If Mr. Sam Rainsy was not happy with the demarcation posts, he should make a request to the chairman of the National assembly to summon the government to explain the issues", he said.

Parliamentary debates in a fully functional democracy is very effective in bringing the government to account. However, parliamentary debates in Cambodia have never in the past resulted in any concrete steps taken by the government to remedy the opposition’s concerns. Mr. Rainsy, out of frustration perhaps, in a spontaneous response to villagers’ outcry, reacted out of an instinct by uprooting border markers. This resulted in the lifting of his parliamentary immunity that will see the potential end of his political career as predicted by the ruling CPP stalwart Mr Cheam Yiep. Some people called Mr. Rainsy’s action short-sighted and politically immature. However, he has resurrected with a vengeance by presenting irrefutable evidences of Vietnam’s encroachments.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do ma ah Ho Nam Hong!!!!!!! ah Kit Chong too!

Do ma ah Hun Xen motherfucker!

say Hi said...

ho nam hong &hun xxen are (kbott cheit) .they gave land to foreigner and punished their own people. This is the history of hun xxen .

Anonymous said...

GOOGLE MAP IS NOT 100% ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT WITH ACTUAL LEGAL BOUNDARY OF CAMBODIA DEPOSITED WITH THE UN. JUST CHECK AT GOOGLE MAP ON POIPET...YOU CAN SEE THE THAIS ENCROACH ON POIPET ALREADY...THE ACTUAL BORDER OF POIPET IS AT THE BRIDGE NOT 300m INSIDE CAMBODIA OVERLAPPING CAMBODIAN CASINOS, ANGKOR WAT ENTRY GATE AND VISA CHECKPOINTS!!!! CAMBODIAN POLITICIANS SHOULD PROTEST GOOGLE MAP AND EXAMINE THE BOUNDARY LINE CAREFULLY AROUND CAMBODIA.

PM HUN SEN, SAM RAINGSY, KHMERS PLEASE CHECK POIPET AND PREAH VIHEAR AND OTHER UNSUSPECTED AREAS CAREFULLY AND DEMAND GOOGLE MAP TO CORRECT THE LEGAL BORDER LINES...

Anonymous said...

The maps Rainsy used are U.S military maps, French-made maps, Google Earth maps and official maps deposited at UN in 1964. Too many maps can't be wrong, especially the 1964 official maps kept at the UN.

Poipet border is at the O'Chrov river. If the borderline is moved 300 metres beyond the O'Chrov River deeper inside Khmer territory, then Thailand has encroached 300 metres deeper inside Khmer territory. This borderline must be closely monitored as well.

But Vietnam's side of the borders is a big concern. Vietnam has encroached on a large scale. Rainsy has successfully publicized the Viet encroachments, despite a huge cost to him personally. Now, the CPP and government can't deny the encroachments anymore. They must act, not cracking down on oppositions and critics who had alerted the encroachments, but try to address the encroachments.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Hun Xen should bark at the Viets as well...not just stay silent and bark at the Thais only!

We don't care if you steal Cambodian natural resource to be a billionaire...but staying silent and allowing Viets to encroach on Khmer land is a major crime and a disgrace Khmer history and legacy...

I suggest Mr. Hun Xen should apply for Viet citizenship and move to Hanoi if he does not care about Khmer nation and people.

Anonymous said...

I ve been using google Map at all the times it is accurate except The Thai made Google that not consideration. If you are not believe in Google Map and take Viet Map there won't be any more Cambodia land.
Google Map is the best Map ever

Anonymous said...

We look back, Viets and Khmers have had a very good relationship with each other until the white colonial took place, e.g like the Franch,the Pro US, Pro Chiness or Pro USSR came in and it stired up and in which it tried to break our relationship apart. Like now the majority of the population are half either vietkhmers,chinkhmer, Thaikhmer or Loakhmer we have had multiculture of indochina in everyone of us. So, we need to go back to that history, that is to work with our neighbour in the most effective way because after all we are brothers and sisters. we neighbours must learn to respect each other's boundaries. The power of peace is love, respect and do the right thing for the righteous will live forever and the wicked will be terminated. One answer for all is earth is a no man's land, we belong to the earth and the earth does not belong to us. So, be true to each other before our short lives finished before our eyes. Aust

Anonymous said...

Some of my friends and relatives told me that "Sam Rainsy is not a good listener and acts whatever he thinks without consulting anyone" Or "Every time there's a problem; he always jumps the ship and escape."

These people are either Hun Sen supporters, Sihanouk's supporters or Khmer Rouge supporters.

How many times that Hun Sen's court find justice for Hun Sen's opponent? None,

If Sam Rainsy didn't escape from Cambodia, Hun Sen will eliminate him in politically by jailing him. So SR is smart to get out of the country and seeks help. He is not stupid as my friends or relatives accused him so. They're stupid themselves. Who dare to risk his life like Sam Rainsy?,

Not even Sihanouk or Sihamony. Both of them run away all the time. So why those critic friends don't mention it.

Majority of Khmer people support Mr. Sam Rainsy; only minority who don't have brain support Hun Sen and Sihanouk.

Let's crush Vietcong encroachment and Siem encroachment. Bring them to International Court if they want to talk about border line. Don't talk with them directly. It's just the waste of time.

Khmer Young said...

Psychologically, Sam Rainsy as well as those farmers are in the disappointing situation because they don't have hope of bringing those issues to the government peacefully. Sam Rainsy has always claimed that farmers informed all those enchroachment to their ancestral land but the Cambodian authority has never paid attention to that plea.

Now, it comes to the legal correction that who violate whom?
- When the markers illegally posted inside the farmers'land, according to the land entitlement and land rights, the farmers have full rights to take out all those illegal markers.
- Sam Rainsy cannot take that issue to the government as he has no hope on that processing.
- The act of Sam Rainsy and the farmers should be appreciated by the government, not jail them because of their effort to protect their border land and nation.

The trial of Sam Rainsy will take away all confidence of Cambodian people who have given to the CPP.

KY

Anonymous said...

Border encroachment is not an issue since Cambodia became a province of Vietnam in 1979.
Let's focus our energy on something else more useful rather than stirring up some old news.

Anonymous said...

Sam Rainsy is fucker of whores in France.

Anonymous said...

8:01
Thank you, well said!
Mr. Sam Rainsy is a Khmer Patriot and all Khmer should wake up and see the truth. Hun Sen and CPP only works in the interest of Vietnam, they care nothing about the welfare of Khmer people. They have committed so many unspeakable deeds against Khmer people and Srok Khmer. What's more despicable is that Hun Sen and CPP, are always willing to aid Vietnam in the destruction of Khmer people and Khmer resources. This traitorous Dictator must be removed and all branch of government, must be dismantled and rebuilt.

Anonymous said...

You can not find any governments in the world that will jail their own people, abuse its own elected MP in order to give away lands to foreign aggressor. Cambodia is very peculiar.

Anonymous said...

8:24
Your comment speaks a thousand words, it tells the whole world that you are an ignorant, low life scum!
Boy, you sound so uneducated and low class!

Anonymous said...

8:23
I love your sarcasm! With that said, it is such a sad fact, they invaded in 1979 and never left! Hun Sen is the # 1 Tea Boy, he is such an obedient servant to Vietnam!

Anonymous said...

Sam Rainsy is an ignorant, low life scum.
He's been to whore houses in France while villagers rot in jail because of his actions.

Anonymous said...

I think it is the cpp ruling government is immature term of their reaction to border posts removal and governing Cambodia for the interest of the nation. There are so so many wrong doings by the government and yet no one can say anything about it or you'll be arrested, jailed or punished. I don't know what kind of government is it? It is definitely one of the kind in this world to punish its own people for protecting its own territories.

Anonymous said...

9:15 am

Hun Sen has to sell Cambodia to Viets because he owed them for his current job.

Anonymous said...

We look back, Viets and Khmers have had a very good relationship with each other until the white colonial took place, e.g like the Franch,the Pro US, Pro Chiness or Pro USSR came in and it stired up and in which it tried to break our relationship apart.

7:18 AM


Yeah you wish! Who are you? Another Yuon Hanoi propaganda at revision history.

First they say Khmer Kampuchea Krom never existed, now based on that they say Khmer and Vietnam were traditional friends before colonialism.

How Vietnamese can twist anything and literally make black into white!

If not for the French colonialism, Cambodia would be either dead through genocide by Vietnam and Thailand or dead through politically erased off map


Cambodia had wars with Vietnam constantly to protect whatever small land it had left, it is the arrival of a more powerful force like the french that slowed down this Viet encroachment and saved Cambodia from permanently staying new Kampuchea Krom! Remember Nam Giang! That was the Phnom Penh named vietnamized when Youn came in the 18th century!

Now ask yourself, did those thing happen,( the lost of Kampuchea Krom and Surin to Viet and Thai) came before or after French and "colonial" power came to region?

This wishy washy all was good argument is argument to allow millions of Vietnam illegal in Cambodia today by Hun Xen, it is that we "are friends" should have a "big heart". Pen Sovan was aware of the danger of this boundless "big heartedness" that was why he was jailed for a decade in Hanoi prison! Can anyone deny that fact?!

How big is Youn heart when it comes to welcoming Cambodians into Vietnam? They kill with impunity and they don't even respect the Khmer that is already inside Vietnam!

That's frienship for you!
We are such best friend, we are really one nation one people right!
It is so easy to a Viet Cong to twist truth and smile a twisted shameless ambition!

Anonymous said...

7:18 AM

You don't read and understand the history of the relation of Cambodia and its neighbors well. Cambodian back in the past, 15-20centrury were actually living in fears. They were fearfull of encroachment and annexation of Cambodia land from either VN and TH. The idea of Indochina (federation) was initiated by Vietnam Hochiminh who wanted to annex Cambodia and Lao to the VN and under their close control. The Khmer people and Nationalists never like this idea, of getting under somebody's else control.

Ok you may say people in Cambodia, including you, are hybrids, Vietkhmers, LaoKhmer, Thaikmers or SinoKhmers, and we all can live together happily and in harmony. You may also back up your fancy opinion with the concept of globalization or even take the US, where lots of ethnicities live together peacefully as an example. If so you are wrong. You should treat the case differently. Start reading or re-reading the history, you will see how bitter and sour when these people interact or live together. Even present time, most khmer people would find it hard living next to Viet neighbors, who speak very louder as if they were having a real argument. Khmers sometimes become victims of the viet neighbors' conflicts. They burned the houses... Correct me if i am wrong about this.

What I have said doesn't neccessarily meant that I am too nationalistic or narrow-nationalistic. Of course in this global world, we should live together peacefully. But we just can't, particularly when we have fears of these greedy neighbors. Though the US welcome all immigrants around the world, yet they have certain policy on migration. Do we have one? If so, is it properly reinforced?

Also though there is an ideal phrase that we live together peacefully in the world, don't need to care about the territory, have you ever seen any countries on earth letting their land for their neighbors? None, one can still see tension over territory between China-VN, China-Japan, Japan-Russia, India-Pakistan. Why can't they just let their people cross the border freely and live together peacefully? Are Indian and Pakistans Brothers and sisters and you refered to Khmer and Vietnamese or laotians or thais? Japan and china, are they have similar common culture or Multi-cultures of east asia, as you refered to multiculture of indochian????

Again, I don't mean to speak against you or other day-dreaming ideas of ideal world. But one should be very careful of any measurements on territory and immigarion policy.

ithecommentator

Anonymous said...

Very well said 10:36 AM.

I am not surprised to see idiotic comment made by 7:18 AM who is deliberately twist the history to suit his/her idealistic day dreaming. This person is suffering a severe illusion of globalization's concept. What a waste of an intellectual brain.

Anonymous said...

to be fair to gov't, there are proper way or protocol to make complain, etc, however, taking own action is not one of them. i think they are talking about gov't complain procedure that sam rainsy seemed not to follow the rule. there ought to be a civilized or proper protocol of complain in khmer gov't. people can't just take law into their own hand, you know!

Anonymous said...

1:41PM, it's easy for you to say but I am pretty sure Mr. Rainsy have done counless time but the government never care.

Tell me, do the government ever listen to the opposition suggestions in the National Assembly meeting? If you said "yes" you lied. Because they never do.

Anonymous said...

1:41PM. To be fair to the government? You are an idiot! Open your eyes and ears! You must just born yesterday not to realize what's really going on in Cambodia.

What it is the government should be fair to the people and all citizens.

Anonymous said...

here is DAP news, Var Kim Hong speaks out:

http://www.dap-news.com/typography/the-news/6225-saladmbug-exttsvayerog-kmbugebiksvnakar-katetaselak-sm-rgsui.html

Anonymous said...

Khmer government are youns. they work for youns, that include; Robbed, killed and they are trying so hard to hide from the world.
We Khmers must unmast these thieves to the world so they can halp us.

Anonymous said...

7:18 am said "We look back, Viets and Khmers have had a very good relationship with each other until the white colonial took place".

7:18am, do you remember the "kompoup te ong" incident in which the Viets used Khmer heads as tripod to cook their master's tea? Vietnam invaded 18 Khmer provinces known as Kampuchea Krom and controlled it until today. is this what you called "Khmers and Viets have good relations" with each other?

It was the French who reconciled Khmers and Viets. Without the French, the Viets and Khmers would have eaten each other alive already. And without the French, the whole of Cambodia (Kampuchea Kandal)would have been annexed by Vietnam already. So you can't call this a good relation, can you?

Anonymous said...

i don't what the brain of people like 7:18AM. I am not sure if they know the history of Cambodian and neighboring countries. I am not sure if they are working for the Khmer.

I would argue that they know, but choose not to know. They see, but choose to be blind. Why? I think they are maintaining their interest out of the relationship with the gov't and their parties. There are quite a number of people like 7:18AM in the gov't who doing the same thing, exploiting the national interest for their own.

If I am not wrong, they are like frog in a burning pot. If a frog jump into a burning pot with 100 degree celcious water, they quickly jump out. In contrast, if the temperature of the water is not yet reached at 100C, let say, at a comfortable level, they would happily stay there. Suddenly when it reaches 100C, they'll no way out- too late to jump out, but die there.

Now these people in Cambodia are acting like the frog in the latter pot- a comfortable one. They now live in big mansionS, luxery carS, ... millions of $. They live happily while most of Cambodians live in a miserable and poorest condition. But be careful, one day it's too late for them...

Still unfortunately for the poor and small, now miserable and later still miserable, at least the frog can enjoy the happy moment now though they later face the death. poor us...

So what should we do??? We are in the middle of nowhere? or else? suggestion?

thanks some of our good fellows here...

ithecommentator

Anonymous said...

In Cambodian history from past to present...we continually have Cambodians who collaborated with the enenemies which resulted in the losses of Cambodian land. King Chey Chetta II allowed Vietnamese to live in Kampuchea Krom which resulted in the loss of the entire Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam. During the colonial era we had Aphaiwong family and Dap Chuon who joined Thailand which resulted in the losses of Battambang and Siem Reap to Thailand and were later returned to Cambodia in 1904-07 under French-Siamese treaty. Now we have M'siah Hyunh Xen allowing massive illegal Vietnamese immigrants to come and go as they please and allowing Vietnamese encroachments on Cambodian land. How can Khmer people allow Moronic idiots run the country??!! They must be brought to trial for treason and go to prison!! Based on history...one can say that King Sihanouk, Lon Nol and Pol Pot are patriotic, they safeguard Khmer land! King Sihanouk said that 'Yuon' are ingrateful alligators. Lon Nol and Pol Pot certainly did not like 'Yuon' as much as Huynh Xen!!

Anonymous said...

Save Residential Plot