Saturday, February 12, 2011

People before politics

Thousands of displaced Cambodians receive government-supported aid at a temporary shelter after fleeing their villages. Photo by: REUTERS
Friday, 11 February 2011
Ou Virak
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

The cessation of fighting at the border along Preah Vihear since Monday raises hopes of an end to violence in the region. As the Thai and Cambodian governments point the finger of blame at each other and bicker over whether the dispute ought to be resolved bilaterally or with the assistance of an international body, both governments must give immediate attention to the plight of the people who have been displaced by the fighting.

On the Cambodian side of the border, it is reported that as many as 4,100 people have been evacuated from their homes. A previous clash at Preah Vihear in April 2009 resulted in the evacuation of three Cambodian villages and the creation of an internally displaced persons’ camp – Sa Em IDP Camp – which struggled to accommodate and provide for the 1,660 evacuees who were reported to have been housed there.

Despite support from the Cambodian Red Cross and other humanitarian aid agencies as well as the local authorities, shortages of food, a lack of adequate shelter, unsafe drinking water, complications relating to human waste management and a lack of medical provisions and practitioners rendered the camp uninhabitable.


The humanitarian challenge now facing the Cambodian authorities – with the number of displaced persons two and a half times greater than in 2009 – is on a scale not previously encountered throughout the course of this conflict. Conditions in camps that have been set up in Koulen district are said to be cramped, and while the Red Cross has said that there are no major concerns regarding health or disease, the situation could change quickly.

The clashes of the last week are reported to have reached new levels of intensity and have affected a much larger geographical area than in 2009; while the 2009 clash was limited to the immediate area surrounding Preah Vihear temple, it is reported in this instance that Thai shells landed as far as 27 kilometres inside Cambodian territory.

The tense stand-off, with no real resolution in sight, and the damage that has likely resulted from the clashes, may keep evacuated persons from their homes for a much more prolonged period than in 2009, making adequate humanitarian efforts all the more vital.

The reported use of cluster munitions by the Thai military further complicates matters as it will demand a survey and clearance operation to guarantee the physical safety of these people when they do return to their homes.

In a press release dated February 8, 2011, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights called on the Thai and Cambodian governments to put people before politics and to ensure an immediate end to hostilities.
As the Cambodian government appeals to the international community to intervene to resolve the issue of ownership of the disputed territory surrounding the temple, it must ensure that any request for assistance is not limited to the political side of this conflict, but also addresses the humanitarian situation that the conflict has created, so that the dignity and well-being of the displaced people is guaranteed.

Ou Virak,
President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

How come only real Khmer with dark skin, skinny with no big land and property willing to go to the frontline to defiance Cambodia land but Chinese Cambodians are hiding and waiting to take the lands and benefit after war, Is that fair to real dark skin Khmer, Dr. Hun Sen???? When the country in trouble only Khmer with dark skin willing to die to protect Cambodian nation but rich fat Chinese Cambodian abuse dark skin Khmer as stupid after the war over, why Dr. Hun Sen??? Why??? Most Chinese Cambodians are prejudice toward dark skin Khmer and they always look down to real Khmer as stupid. They are very hardly let’s dark skin Khmer married their children. Can Dr. Hun Sen please explain to all dark skin military of Cambodia? Where is the Chinese Cambodians at frontline? Is it really unfair to Khmer army?

Anonymous said...

don't trust abhisit and yellow group. Thay are bad. 20,000 fresh troops were sent to the border to prepare the invasion.

Cambodia must prepare to defend.

Anonymous said...

What are you trying to say?
Are you saying that the soldiers should be selling BBQ porks instead of fighting? and the Viet and Chines do the fighting with Taing Tor?

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,

Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?

Why do you and all of your relatives involve a lot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?

Why do you murder Cambodian K5, 1997 events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?

If you are so good why do you and your families murder Cambodians? Why? And Why?

If you are so good, why do above 90% Cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionaires and millionaires? Why? Why?

Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?

What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?

If you are so good why do you block KI from Cambodians?

If you are so good, why do you steal all Cambodian life such as well being, health, cut down Cambodians life expectancy as well? But you and your small group are eat well, sleep well, exercise well, have oversea doctors and best medical treatment from high class private doctors from oversea. Most Cambodians that have no money, your healthcare system left Cambodians patients to die in front of your hospital. Why? Why?

If you are so good why more than 6 millions Vietnamese are living permanently in Cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? And Why

Everywhere, I walk in Cambodia I see Vietnamese speak Vietnamese every where, why? Why?

Don't you and your families scare of hell for eternity?

When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?

How come only real Khmer with dark skin, skinny with no big land and property willing to go to the frontline to defiance Cambodia land but Chinese Cambodians are hiding and waiting to take the lands and benefit after war, Is that fair to real dark skin Khmer, Dr. Hun Sen???? When the country in trouble only Khmer with dark skin willing to die to protect Cambodian nation but rich fat Chinese Cambodian abuse dark skin Khmer as stupid after the war over, why Dr. Hun Sen??? Why??? Most Chinese Cambodians are prejudice toward dark skin Khmer and they always look down to real Khmer as stupid. They are very hardly let’s dark skin Khmer married their children. Can Dr. Hun Sen please explain to all dark skin military of Cambodia? Where is the Chinese Cambodians at frontline? Is it really unfair to Khmer army?

Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his beloved Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!

Khmers victim of 1997 and K5, Khmer Girl Ms. Rattana Keo

PS

If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent Cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying Cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.

CPP are not just corrupted, CPP are extremely corrupt. They are even sell the country such as Kos Trol, Seas, lands, Cambodian people, Cambodian health and well being, all resources in the Cambodia…with lost count. You name it!

Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent? The country is getting smaller and smaller and shame by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet and his families, his relatives and friends.

Anonymous said...

1"03PM! why are you asking like that, stupid?!

They are stupid like you so they can not do any thing but killing for a living!

Anonymous said...

So let's dark skin khmer kill all chinese cambodians because they are traitors and abuse dark skin khmer for many generation.

Anonymous said...

some light white yellow skin cambodians always say they are chinese but when they go to real chinese community the real chinese are prejudice and discriminate to them beacsue the real chinese from china think that chinese cambodians are real traitor of Khmer, dark skin khmer must stand up for our nation!

Chinese cambodians always look down on real dark skin khmer and they always say dark skin khmer are stupid and poor. They abuse dark skin khmer for too long!

When the country in war they are hiding their children but after war they like to take advantage over dark skin khmer. That isn't fair. Only dark skin khmer are at the frontline protect khmer nation, chinese cambodians like to hide and abuse dark skin khmer after the war.

Anonymous said...

i feel so sad for my people KHMER that is. We been through so much and i just can't believe that my people have to go through it again. I pray and hope that all the hatred and war will end. Everyone live happily and move forward in life. Thai people should never start any conflict..we might not be as rich as the THAIS but we are rich in PRIDE. we will stand up and raise the flag up high...KAMPUCHEA i love you!!!!!!!!!!!...bless my people, for we have suffer so much. Now it's time to heal ourselves and love another.

Anonymous said...

Hey come out and we will send you to court Pol Pot!!!!! or stay in the jungle coward! Try to dom it and you will end up in Prey Sar!

Anonymous said...

1:53! Hey come out and we will send you to court for Pol Pot group!!!!! or stay in the jungle coward! Try to do it and you will end up in Prey Sar!

Anonymous said...

Leftover Khmerrouge? Forget it you by yourself 1:53! Write more boy so you can joint ah Kwack to protect the leftover evil!

Anonymous said...

Shame to see peopl would claped their hands for a small gift when motherfucker action great war that destroy their houses!

Anonymous said...

1:03 PM

Why only dark skin Thai without any big land and property are willing to go to the frontline to defend Thailand but the Chinese Thai are hiding and waiting to take the lands and they will benefit after the war. This is not fair to the real dark skin Thai.
When the country is in trouble only the Thai with dark skin are willing to die to protect the nation, but meanwhile the rich fat Chinese Thai abuse the dark skin Thai.
Most Chinese Thai are prejudice toward the dark skin Thai and they always look down at the real Thai. They seldom allow the dark skin Thai marry with their children. It is not fair to the real Thai army. Dark skin Thai are mostly the descendants of the ancient Khmer empire. The light skin Thai like Thaksin Shinawatra, Sondhi Limthongkul and more are of Chinese descent. You can google to double check.

Anonymous said...

There are no juctice have been given to cambodians that Hun Sen murdered at 1997 and so on. Where are UN and Human Right Groups?

Kos Trol, seas and alot of land have been given to Vietnam and Thail by Hun sen. Where is justice for Cambodians?

Anonymous said...

3:21PM! face the real world calmly, boy!

Anonymous said...

Chinese cambodians try so hard to be chinese but the real chinese from Hong Kong and china don't reconized them at all. That is real shame! They can't even mix in real chinese community at China Town. They go to Hong Kong \, Hongy people can't even understand their chinese and they racist to chinese cambodian very badly.

At frontline there is no china cambodian born at all. They are real traitor! Dark skin khmer will fight to death to defence Khmer Nation!

Anonymous said...

Thanks you but if you are real chinese why don't you live at China big super power country? Why Cambodia??? Why? Does China reconized you as chinese citizenship and protect you? You eat Cambodians rice and you grow fat than you thanks China and abuse dark skin khmer as stupid.

Anonymous said...

Never trust Thai or
any nations,even Khmer groups still do
not trust each other.
Thai is unhappy with
Hun Sen because Viet
get more land than
her along Viet-Khmer
border and some islands or coast line along Thai,Viet
,and Cambodia border
.
For this cause,Thai
want to get Battambang,Siem Reap
,and one part of Purast back to Thai.
So,both Thai and Khmer displaced people got hurt.
The people in both
side are Khmer.

Anonymous said...

Shame to see peopl would claped their hands for a small gift when motherfucker action great war that destroy their houses!

Anonymous said...

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AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

AH HUN SEN AH KBORT JEAT KAGN JAEH YOUN

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