Friday, February 11, 2011

Thailand, Cambodia Border Fight Moves to UN

Ron Corben, Voice of America
Bangkok February 11, 2011

Thailand and Cambodia plan to present their positions next week to the United Nations Security Council over recent fighting on their border.

A ceasefire held Friday along the Cambodian-Thai border, though the armies of both governments remain on alert.

Latest fight

A week ago, fighting erupted near a 900-year-old Hindu Khmer temple on the border. Several died before fighting halted Tuesday, and thousands on both sides were forced to flee their homes.

On Monday, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Thailand’s Kasit Piromya appear before the United Nations Security Council to set out their respective positions. Each country blames the other for starting the battle.


In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled the temple was in Cambodia, but a main access route is on the Thai side. The two sides have disputed the exact border in places around the temple, known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.

Possible rights violations

Sunai Pasuk, a representative for Human Rights Watch in Thailand, says the U.N. will provide a forum for debate over the clashes, and could help determine human rights violations.

"But the basis for conflict resolution is still within bilateral process," noted Sunai. "A presentation at the U.N. Security Council will be an opportunity to both Thailand and Cambodia to [outline] further allegations of human rights violations to international laws as the use of cluster ammunitions can only be resolved with independent observation of the affected area."

Both countries have accused the other of using banned cluster bombs in the fighting.

ASEAN presence at meeting

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa, whose country is currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also will attend the U.N. meeting. ASEAN officials have offered to mediate negotiations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

In Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the temple should be de-listed as a United Nations Scientific and Educations Organization World Heritage site.

Mr. Abhisit says doing so and scrapping a proposed Cambodian management plan would defuse the border conflict. However, Cambodia is expected to oppose the idea.

Interior pressure

The border dispute first flared up in 2008, after Cambodia received World Heritage status for Preah Vihear. Thai nationalists, many of whom say the temple belongs to Thailand, protested, and both governments reinforced troops along the border.

The Thai government is facing pressure from the nationalists, who demand that Bangkok revoke a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on resolving border disputes. Nationalist groups want their government to push for Cambodians off disputed lands. The government has rejected these calls.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

De-listing the temple would likely intensify the conflict, and I think the two countries will be at war.

Anonymous said...

AH HUN XEN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF RUNNING TO THE UN ASKING FOR HELP. AH SISSY PRIME MINISTER

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...

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...

Hun Sen and CPP are
corrupting.They are
evil leaders and
traitors.they sold
their heads, souls,
and Cambodia to be
as Viet province.
The constitution of
Cambodia now is not
a democratic one.
Khmer constitution
must be changed.
Khmer govt must be
changed into real
democracy.
after Thai and Khmer
border being done,
both must respect
each other rights
and live in peace
with each other.
Khmer people lost
their hearts with
Hun Sen.
Hun Sen called Khmer people "dogs".
How rude he is!
How cruel he is!
How evil he is!
Khmer people must
drag him down from power.