April 9, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Thailand's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said yesterdaythat activists had misquoted him about the use of cluster bombs in the military skirmish with Cambodia in February.
Members of the UK-based Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) claimed that they had evidence and confirmation from the Thai representative in Geneva that Thailand had used cluster bombs in the border skirmish.
CMC representatives met Sihasak on Monday to discuss the issue, and then issued a statement condemning Thailand for using cluster bombs in the military showdown.
"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.
Before meeting CMC representatives, the ambassador said he had double-checked with Thai top brass on the type of weapons that had been used in the border skirmish.
CMC director, Laura Cheeseman, meanwhile, insisted that two separate on-site investigations had proved that 155mm Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) were used by the Thai military during the border clash.
"These are cluster munitions," she told The Nation.
Though the Thai military has denied using cluster munitions, it has never really disclosed the exact sort of weapon they used during the February skirmish. However, Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said the Thai side had used DPICM, which could not be considered "cluster munitions".
"The main purpose of using this weapon was to retaliate against the Russian-made BM21 multi-rocket launcher that was used indiscriminately by Cambodia," he said.
He added that the weapon was used in "self-defence", under the principles of "necessity, proportionality and in compliance with the military code of conduct".
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 stockpile of cluster bombs.
By definition, cluster munitions are 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 during the Vietnam War, and people are still facing the risk of unexploded ordnance.
A diplomatic observer said it was clear that the CMC wished to play up this incident to put more pressure on Thailand to join the convention. Thailand had sent a delegation to attend the first CMC forum in Vientiane last November, but decided not to become a signatory.
12 comments:
well, evidence don't lie, really! the international community should demand siem held responsible for violating many international law, etc with cambodia! cambodia should sue thailand for their violation, etc, really!
Siem thuggish leaders are war criminals and want to do harm to world peace! Bring these Siem thugs to international court of justice!
YOU-MOTHER-FUCKER Thais have not implement over the new law yet in the congress to MOTHER-FUCKER change the MOTHER-FUCKING name Chid Chib Chob. The is bullshit---YOU-FUCKER-THIAs: I don't need to remind YOU-MOTHER-FUCKER anymore, but will definitely FUCK-UP a bullshit Chid Chib MOTHER-FUCKER...Chop soon in your MOTHER-FUCKER BANGkok. The reason I urge YOU-MOTHER-FUCKER to change the MOTHER-FUCKER Chid Chib Chob was I have intention to see his MOTHER-FUCKER name looks and sounds good, but the THAI king die in a few day. By given a name from his MOTHER-FUCKER biological mother, it sounds nasty than my shit, and underprivileged than my cat's name:Lily. I'm looking forward to hearing from YOU-MOTHER-FUCKER Thais soon, or its MOTHER-FUCKER king----Fuck YOU ALL MOTHER-FUCKER THais--jESUS WILL VANISH ALL OF YOUR-MOTHER-FUCKER THAIs soon.
Sincerely,
God bless yours MOTHER-FUCKER THAis
Thailand still denial not use cluster bombs?
Stupid Thai army chief can't fight straight, they have to cheat and use dirty trick against poor cambodian army...Shamed Shamed Shamed!
Siem nation now look like a child spoil. Both govt and military are regarded int'l community blind and int'l law under their feed. if who support dog Siem? Child if it lost, it will cry for using criminal weapon ban. Cambodia has to build Air-surface-missile and air defense welcome all aircraft and submarine. Siem now is so much lost face and creditability in Asean and world.
KAMPUCHEA KROM AT A GLANCE
Kampuchea Krom is composed of 68,965 square kilometers, 21 provinces and municipalities, two large islands - Koh Tral and Koh Tralach, 171 districts, 1,368 communes, 14,778 villages, more than 13 million Khmers, more than 567 Buddhist pagodas and more than 20,000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
99% of populations are Theravada Buddhists.
The Khmer kings, governments, regimes and citizens have never relinquish (give up) this part of their country to foreigners.
Kampuchea Krom has been under an ongoing colonial control since her division from motherland, Cambodia.
June 4, 1949 is the date that the Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens grieve. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have organized Buddhist Service annually to honor the fallen Khmer Buddhist monks and heroes, who sacrificed their lives for Kampuchea Krom and Theravada Buddhism.
Colonial France divided, ceded and transferred Kampuchea Krom to colonial Vietnam on this date. The freedom of Khmer Kampuchea Krom has been mostly stripped by the Vietnamese ruling regimes and governments since. The French colonial administration committed injustice upon the more than 13 million Khmers of this beautiful fertile land.
Justice remains elusive for Cambodia, Kampuchea Krom and her citizens.
And...The struggle to regain freedom and human rights by the Khmers in Kampuchea Krom continues as long as injustice commits by the ruling Vietnamese regime(s) has not produced a fruitful result.
Koh Tral (Tral Island)
in Vietnamese - Phu Quoc island
circa 1939 Vietnamese encroached and conquered
Koh Tral Island has an area of 567 square kilometers; about 62 kilometers long and between 3 kilometers and 28 kilometers wide. The island physically is located closest to Cambodia's Kep seaside city. Visitors can see Koh Tral Island from the coastline of Kep. It is about a 30-minute motorized boat ride.
By Smart Khmer Girl, Ms. Rattana Keo
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. 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?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
If you're really so Smart Khmer Girl, you don't ask your question in the wrong article...change your name to NOT SO Smart Khmer Girl will suite you more.
to 9:21 Am, Ms. Rattana Keo is CEO of the Biggest Bank! That is why she so smart. Even her young Husband is living off her. His job just to fuck her as she needs that how smart she is...so Are you CEO like her 9:21 AM?
Koh Tral will not be forgotten!
12.54PM
"Koh Tral will not be forgotten!"
is not the right words for it.
The right words for it is...
Cambodia wants Koh Tral back!!!
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