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| Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, left, President of the court Japan's Judge Owada, second right, Vice-President of the Court Slovakia's Judge Peter Tomka, second left, and Judge Koroma from Sierra Leone, right, are seen at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday May 30, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia will face off at the United Nations' highest court Monday, in the latest move to settle a decades-old battle for control of a disputed border region that has erupted into deadly military clashes. Cambodia is asking the court to order Thailand to withdraw troops and halt military activity around a temple at the center of the dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) |
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| Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong is seen at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday,May 30, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia will face off at the United Nations' highest court Monday, in the latest move to settle a decades-old battle for control of a disputed border region that has erupted into deadly military clashes. Cambodia is asking the court to order Thailand to withdraw troops and halt military activity around a temple at the center of the dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) |
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| Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong, right, Sir Franklin Berman, member of the English Bar, center, and Jean-MarcSorel, Professor of International Law at the University of Paris, left, are seen at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, May 30, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia will face off at the United Nations' highest court Monday, in the latest move to settle a decades-old battle for control of a disputed border region that has erupted into deadly military clashes. Cambodia is asking the court to order Thailand to withdraw troops and halt military activity around a temple at the center of the dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) |
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| Thailand's Ambassador to the Netherlands Virachai Plasai, left, Thailand's Director-General, Department of Treaties and Legal affairs, Ittiporn Boonpracong,center, and Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya, right, attend the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, May 30, 2011. Thailand and Cambodia will face off at the United Nations' highest court Monday, in the latest move to settle a decades-old battle for control of a disputed border region that has erupted into deadly military clashes. Cambodia is asking the court to order Thailand to withdraw troops and halt military activity around a temple at the center of the dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) |
Monday, May 30, 2011
AP
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — “Murderous armed incursions” by the Thai military around a historic temple in a disputed border region form a “grave threat” to regional peace and security, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told the U.N.’s highest court Monday.
Fighting between the two nations has cost some 20 lives, wounded dozens and sent tens of thousands fleeing since 2008, when the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status, overriding Thailand’s objections.
In a fresh attempt to settle a dispute that has simmered for decades between the Southeast Asian neighbors, Cambodia is asking the International Court of Justice for a new interpretation of its 1962 judgment that gave Cambodia control of the temple.
Hor Namhong said Thailand is basing its recent military action on an interpretation of the 1962 judgment that is “both erroneous and unacceptable.”
Thailand, he said, is using its reading of the ruling “to provide legal cover for armed incursions into Cambodian territory.”
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said his nation does not dispute Cambodian ownership of the temple, but said the two countries are still involved in talks to settle a border dispute in the region, which he argued was not covered by the court’s 1962 decision.
“We do not understand why we have to come here when there is already an existing mechanism” for negotiating a border, Kasit told reporters outside the courtroom.
Monday’s hearing was focused on Cambodia’s request for the court to issue an emergency order to Thailand to withdraw its troops from the disputed region. The court could make a decision on the request within weeks, but will likely take years to settle the underlying border dispute.
Tensions along the border have been exacerbated in recent months in part by pressure from influential Thai nationalist groups that have protested in Bangkok, urging the government to take back disputed border territory. Hardcore nationalists insist a 1962 World Court ruling awarding the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia was unfair.
The flare-up also comes as the Thai military raises its profile in domestic politics ahead of a general election scheduled for July 3.
“Thailand does not merely challenge Cambodia’s sovereignty in this region, but is imposing its own interpretation by occupying this zone by murderous armed incursions,” Hor Namhong said.
According to its World Heritage listing, the temple dedicated to Shiva “is exceptional for the quality of its architecture, which is adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple, as well as for the exceptional quality of its carved stone ornamentation.”
Talks mediated by Indonesia’s president in early May between the two countries’ prime ministers failed to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.
“The two armies confront one another on a daily basis and new Thai aggression could arise at any moment,” Hor Namhong told the judges. “It is time for international law to speak loudly.”
20 comments:
The story of Preah Vihear temple disputed is no different then that of King Solomon and the baby story.
King Solomon wants to split the baby between two mothers to find the real mother! Of course most real mothers would never agree to split or kill their own baby! The real mother will show unconditional love and will not allow any harm to the baby and willing to give up everything for the sake of the baby!
As for Preah Vihear temple both Cambodia and Thailand claimed as their temple and both countries are willing to do anything to have the temple under their sovereignty.
But one thing is crystal clear is that Thailand is willing to destroy the Preah Vihear temple and there is evidence of Thailand shooting at least 400 artillery shells at the temple. If Thailand care so much about the Preah Vihear temple and why would Thailand want to destroy the temple in the first place? This is to show that Thailand is not a true guardian of the Preah Vihear temple!
As for Cambodia and Cambodian leadership have taken all necessary steps within their power to protect Preah Vihear temple and willing to accepting USNC recommendation and ASEAN leadership to solve the Preah Vihear temple issue! Cambodia is the true guardian of Preah Vihear temple!
cambodia should also point out to the court once and for all that thailand or siem must respect the international treaty map of 1907, period! no siem's unilateral map is allowed with cambodia, ok!
obviously, by siem thugs' claimed to the so-called 4.6 sq. km or 1.8 sq mile area adjacent to the cambodia's preah vihear temple without respect to the 1907 map, it is tryin to steal the accessway to our preah vihear temple by blocking its cambodia's entrance. how dumb and stupid can siem thugs be, really, for thinking cambodia is dumb and stupid and for thinking the world cannot see that! how obvious is that, really! again, according to the internationally agreed upon map of 1907, that so-called 1.8 sq mile areas was inside cambodia's territory along with our preah vihear temple, etc, you know! cambodia must emphasize that to the icj once and for all, really! siem has no right to violate the international treaty that both countries signed and agreed upon since 1907, according to that map, really! enough of siem stealing and violation already! otherwise, don't expect to be have bilateral talk or trade or whatever with cambodia, ok!
these thug-like neighboring countries of cambodia always steal from cambodia by taking advantage of cambodia at our weakest moment in history. if you study the pattern, you will see it clearly since historical time! they always took advantage of cambodia by steal khmer land from cambodia! that must be stop now! enough already! who cares about population as it comes and go, it's the legality and ownership that counts, to hell with using population to steal from cambodia illegally like this, really!
talking about population, if china and india to use population to justify their conquer of the world, than the entire world would belong to china and india for that matter, you see! siem shouldn't be allowed to use their larger population or whatever to bully and steal and violate khmer territory, etc, etc, you know!
siem thugs act dumb by saying they don't know why they are here! that so-called existing mechanism isn't working, ok! the problem dragged on and on for decades already, ah idiot siem thugs! the court should tell siem to stop violate the international treaty map of 1907, you know! we know siem's lame excuses, really! thank god, in the court of law, siem violation won't be supported or tolerated for sure! this case is very specific!
God brings calamity upon the world for sole sake of Israel!
Why are stupid Hor Namhong, who doesn't speak english here????Does he know and make them understanding what we want?
Cambodia must make point by point and make everything very simple. Please do not try to over due it; start slow and gradually bring point by point. We have all the grounding but we just know how to talk and relate to all those judges. Thailand is to be innocent yet very evil in intention.
why are people ignore the important map of 1907? this map is the internatiionally agreed upon map and was used in court during the ruling of 1962. why is siem thugs still say the adjacent area was not ruled! based on what evidence? siem must stop taking advantage of cambodia, period!
EVIDENCE OF POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS AND KILLINGS OF FUNCINPEC LOYALISTS.
LIST OF INSTANCES OF EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS during 1997 coup by PM Hun Sen. These people with their name list below were murdered by PM Hun Sen.
• Ho Sok, 45, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and second ranking FUNCINPEC official in the Ministry of Interior.
• 2-3. Gen Chao Sambath, alias Ngov, Deputy-Chief of the Intelligence and Espionage Department, RCAF Supreme Command since 1993
• 4 and 5. Maj. Gen. Ly Seng Hong, Deputy-Chief of Staff, RCAF General Staff (second highest-ranking FUNCINPEC official in the RCAF General
• 6. Colonel Sok Vireak, Chief, Transmission Bureau, Army General Staff. A former KPNLF General Staff officer in charge of military training who joined Nhek Bun Chhay after the Paris Agreements. Status
• 7. Colonel Thlang Chang Sovannarith, Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Fifth Military Region, RCAF General Staff
• 8. Colonel Hov Sambath, Deputy-chief of Military Training Bureau, RCAF General Staff
• 9. Lietenant Colonel Sao Sophal, 42, an officer of the First Bureau of the RCAF General Staff.
• 10. Navy First Lt. Thach Soeung, aged about 30, an ethnic Khmer from southern Vietnam, stationed at Dang Kaum Navy base on the eastern bank of the Tonle Sap.
• 11 to 14. Seng Phally, Lt. Col. Chao Keang, Chao Tea and Thong Vickika - security officers working under Gen. Chao Sambath.
• Seng Phally, alias Huot Phally, aged 25, single, a gendarme who worked as chief of the security team at the Pipoplok 2 Hotel/Casino
• Lt. Col. Chao Keang, aged about 25. He was an officer in the Research and Intelligence Bureau of Chao Sambath
• Chao Tea, 29, brother of Chao Keang, a security guard at the Regal Hotel/Casino. His body bore a bullet hole in the left side of the chest and in the right side of the stomach. He was also handcuffed and blindfolded
• Thong Vicchika, aged about 27-28, a body-guard of Chao Sambath and a security staff at the Regal Hotel/Casino.
• Dr. Seng Kim Ly, a military medical doctor
• Major Lak Ki, Head of Operations, Research and Intelligence, RCAF High Command
• Four unnamed body-guards of Nhek Bun Chhay were summarily executed after his office-cum-house in Somnang
• Major Lak Ki, Head of Operations, Research and Intelligence, RCAF High Command
• Pheap, a body-guard of Major Lak Ki, in his late twenties
• Dok Rany, 27, an officer and body-guard of Gen. Chao Sambath who worked at the Research and Intelligence Bureau
• Ros Huon, aged 23, Sopheap, aged 25, two alleged members of the Gendarmerie
• Dok Sokhun, alias Michael Senior, a Khmer-Canadian journalist who taught English at ACE Language School in Phnom Penh
• Major Aek Eng (CPP), Head of Administration of Phnom Penh Thmei police station
• At least four, and possibly up to 22 persons described as FUNCINPEC soldiers executed and cremated in Pich Nil on 9, 10 and 11 July 1997 by Military Region 3 soldiers. Status: Confirmed executions in at least 4 cases
• 34 to 36 (and possibly 45). On 17 July, at about noon time, the body of a soldier was witnessed floating near the bank of the Tone Bassac near the Watt Chum Leap, in the village of the same name, Rokakpong commune, Saang district, Kandal province. The body was headless and both hands were tied up behind the back with a kramma. It was dressed in dark olive military uniform
• 37 and 38. Two unidentified men, blindfolded and with their hands tied behind the back. Status: Confirmed executions
• Pheap, aged 33, a bodyguard of the First Prime Minister. Status: Confirmed execution.
• Sok Vanthorn, 21 and Sou Sal, two villagers from Ampeov village, Kompong Speu province. Status: Confirmed execution.
• Brig. Gen. Chea Rittichutt, a founding member of the Moulinaka movement and the Governor of Kep-Bokor
• Navy officer Meas Sarou, Deputy-director, First Bureau, Navy, based in Chrouy Changvar, and one of his body-guards, and a third person, a woman named Luch.
• Ung Sim, Second Deputy Governor, Kompong Speu province - missing since his arrest, reportedly near Pich Nil by CPP soldiers on 7 or 8 July 1997.
• Col. Sam Sarath, Deputy Chief-of-Staff, Third Military Region
• Put Som Ang, male, aged 42, a KNP activisit in Siem Reap province, and Sam Sophan, 38, an activist in Takeo province
• Major So Lay Sak and Major Chin Vannak, officers working in the Logisitics department of the RCAF General Staff
• Som Taing, Deputy Chief, Inspection Office, Provincial Governor's Office, Kompong Speu
• Chum Sarith, Chief, Criminal Bureau, Provincial Police, Sihanoukville
Forty-six bodies were brought in and dumped at the crematorium of a Phnom Penh pagoda between 5 and 9 July
In the case of Ho Sok (executed on 7 July, brought to Watt Lanka on 8 July); of Seng Phally, Chao Keang, Chao Tea and Thong Viccheka (executed on 5-6 July and brought by the police to Wat Unalom on the morning of 7 July - see cases number 13-16 above) and in the case of a fifth corpse which was brought to the same pagoda on the same morning, but which could not be identified, the police ordered that cremation of the bodies be conducted without question and without proper cremation permit.
Between 9 and 11 July, according to a variety of reliable corroborating accounts, the bodies of 4 and probably up to 22 soldiers were alleged to have been executed in Pich Nil and burned
Plus many and many more names with lose count that order and executed by Hun Sen and CPP.
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 30 000 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 30 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 30 000 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 30,000 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,
Var Kim Hong does recognize that Cambodia, if compared to the colonial Service Geographique de l’Indochine scale map 1/100,000 and the 1985 delimitation treaty, will loses 9,000 hectares; and compared to U.S Army Mapping Service scale map 1/50,000 with the 1985 Treaty, would lose about 7,900 hectares to Vietnam. This statement was confirmed by Var Kim Hong to Mr. Touch Bora Esq through a telephone conversation on 30 August 2002 at 4:30 p.m. (Sydney time), which Mr. Touch Bora Esq wrote in his letter dated on 9 September 2002 sent to Sam Dach Ta Noroudom Sihanouk concerning over border affairs.
In fact, the loss is absolutely more than the 1000 square kilometers stated by MP Sam Rainsy in his statement, if we add the size of the historical water of 30000 square kilometers awarded to Vietnam under the 1982 Agreement which has been into affect and now already become under the full control of Vietnam. And this would not be the last if the equidistance principle be used to delimit the maritime boundary, Cambodia will lose an additional area of sea and seabed measuring at least 860 square nautical miles from the Brevie Line to the north, analyzed by Mr. Touch Bora Esq or another 10000 square kilometers confirmed by Mr. Sean Pengse, the President of the Cambodian Border Committee Worldwide, which exclusively include another Koh Poula Wai to Vietnam added to the previous lost islands- Koh Tral (Dao Phu Quoc) and Koh Poulo Panjang (Dao Thu Chu).
This is why sVar Kim Hong said in front of Students´s Movement for Democracy (SMD), and Sam Dach Ta Norodom Sihanouk on 22 Janaury 2000 during our audience with him concerning the border resolution with Vietnam that; “If we want peace, we must sacrifice our flesh to the tiger.” The truth is discovered now that, “Sacrifice the flesh to tiger actually means cutting our land to the Viet.” This word was clearly spoken out from his mouth and there were Sam Dach Ta as witness and 31 members.
We must condemn this Var Kim Hong for his role in helping the traitorous regime of Hun Sen.
Smart Khmer Girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
4:00 AM,
How'a about the thousands kilometer squarres at Khmer eastern borders encroached by Vietnam with the complicity of Hun Sen, Khmer kings, father and son alike ???
Why are you blind about that??
If Khmer leaders ceded Khmer territories to Vietnam in violation of the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991, signed by both Vietnam and Thailand, Khmer leaders have to cede Khmer territories to Thailand too.
So it is logical enough!
THIS IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF KHMER-THAILAND WARS!
ICJ should solve this root cause first before moving on to solve Thai-Khmer borders' conflict.
Thailand is just a threat to Cambodia, but Vietnam is a real slave master of Cambodia.
Come on guys! over 30 000 khm2 of Cambodia given to Vietnam as personal gift by PhD Dr. Hun Sen.
Can any khmer people imagine over 30 000km2 look like? It must be really big part of Cambodia that Vietnam take from Cambodia aginst peace agreement Paris.
Vietnam invades Cambodia is so crystal clear but why does Prime Minister Hun Sen allow it to happen and do nothing about these issues ?
Over 5 000 000 millions vietnameses are living inside Cambodia and they have right to votes but true khmer people are banned from vote freely. Why Hun Sen ?
Khmer talk one voice but Vietnamese talk 100 voices.
Khmer vote one but Vietnamese vote 100 voice.
The United Nations' highest court please tell Thailand and Vietnam to leave my Country alone! As the world known part or whole of both Country is part of Khmer empire! Millions of Thai people speak Cambodia and Vietnam too! Why?
Because This is a timeline of Cambodian history. See also History of Cambodia and the list of Cambodian rulers. 9th – 10th – 11th – 12th – 13th – 14th – 15th – 16th. Please leave my people and My Country alone! Thank you!!!
Me again from 7:10am. I am not a politician! Just a simple Khmer person that love my people and Country! Thank you!!!
I agree with the person above. We have a dream that Cambodia is free from outside interference.
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