The Nation
Editorial
Thailand, Cambodia have not signed convention banning these munitions
The UK-based Cluster Munition Coalition claimed that it had evidence and confirmation from the Thai representative in Geneva, Sihasak Puangketkaeo, showing that Thailand had used cluster bombs in the border skirmish with Cambodia.
Sihasak, Thailand's ambassador to the UN, said he had been misquoted.
"Unfortunately, I was misquoted in the press release. I never used the term 'cluster munitions' at any point in the meeting when referring to the 'dual-purpose improved conventional munitions' type of weapon we used," Sihasak told The Nation.
The ambassador said he had double-checked with Thai top brass on the types of weapons that had been used in the border clash.
CMC director Laura Cheeseman insisted that two separate, onsite investigations had proved that 155mm Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) were used by the Thai military during the exchange. "These are cluster munitions," she told The Nation.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said the Thai side had used DPICM, which could not be considered "cluster munitions".
Cluster munitions are defined as projectiles that are either dropped from the air or launched on the ground before they separate into smaller explosive fragments that cover a wide area. This sort of weapon was widely used in the Vietnam War, and people are still facing the risk of unexploded ordnance.
"The main purpose for using this weapon was to retaliate against the Russian-made BM21 multi-rocket launchers that were used indiscriminately by Cambodia," Thani said. The weapon was used in "self-defence", under the principles of "necessity, proportionality and in compliance with the military code of conduct", he said.
To begin with, war is hell and the weapons we human beings use to kill one another are horrible. That's probably the reason why the international community came up with these concepts of proportionality and rules of engagement.
And so when one side accuses the other of violating these rules, it's a serious matter.
Cambodia and Thailand are not among the 108 countries that have signed the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs.
However, Thailand, and Cambodia for that matter, should not hide behind technicalities, about whether we are signatories to the convention or not. We have a moral obligation to one another to resolve our differences peacefully.
CMC condemns Thailand's use of DPICM but says nothing about the use of BM21, which were fired indiscriminately against Thai targets.
But let's hope we're not just splitting words here. Victims on both sides of the border don't give a hoot about international conventions. For them, a loss is a loss, whether it's life or property.
But if we want to get technical about it, BM21 doesn't discriminate against its target or the collateral damage either.
In this respect, it is important to heed the advice of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which pointed out that cluster bombs should be understood in the context of humanitarian principles and that the convention is an important addition to the body of international humanitarian law.
The convention establishes new rules to ensure that cluster munitions are no longer used and that the existing humanitarian problems associated with these weapons are addressed. Importantly, the convention has specific provisions that aim to meet the needs of victims and affected communities, ICRC said.
To date 38 former users, producers and stockpilers of cluster munitions have joined the treaty, leaving some 73 countries continuing to stockpile the explosives.
5 comments:
I don't know who you are Ms. Rattana Keo but I really appreciate your patriotism to Khmers. In Cambodia under Hun Sen regime, Khmer kids don't know anything about Koh Tral and Real Khmer History because CPP fully cooperates with Viet to brain washes Khmer kids after 1979 until present’s day.
The teachers at Cambodia can’t tell Khmer kids the true about their true history because they are being blackmail by the Hun Sen government. (“You want to be missing” that is the phrase CPP Viet spies’ tactic using every day at Cambodia school)
I would like Ki media educate Khmer people more about their own true history because majority of Khmer kids educated from 1979 till present day are big missing link to Cambodia real history.
We Khmers around the world must not accept the way CPP government brain wash Khmer kids today.
Maxx Blonde Low Carb,
Norwegian foreign minister condemned the use of cluster munition by Thailand against Cambodia:
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2011/klase_thailand.html?id=639681
Listen to Honorable Sam Rainsy at Radio Khmer Post dated April-10-2011. Very glad that SRP won't merge to HRP which is a party bought by CPP. Bravo Honorble Sam Rainsy, All Khmer love you!
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By itchy and big hole Widow Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 10,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 10,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 10,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 10,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Khmer widow Rattana Keo,
Is Ms. Rattana Keo real widow? Can we apply for the position vacancy ?
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