Only a neo-Khmer Rouge and Viet puppet believes that the Paris Peace agreement cannot resolve border problems

Hun Xen: Paris Peace Agreements cannot resolve border problems

18 May 2011
By Keo Nimol
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the article in Khmer

AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE SOVEREIGNTY, INDEPENDENCE, TERRITORAL INTEGRITY AND INVIOLABILITY, NEUTRALITY AND NATIONAL UNITY OF CAMBODIA 


Article 2:

1: The other parties tot his Agreement hereby solemnly undertake to recognize and to respect in every way the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodian.

2: To this end, they undertake:

a) To refrain from entering into any military alliances or other military agreements with Cambodia that would be inconsistent with Cambodia’s neutrality, without prejudice to Cambodia’s right to acquire the necessary military equipment, arms, munitions and assistance to enable it to exercise its inherent right of self-defence and to maintain law and order;
b) To refrain from interference in any form whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, in the internal affairs of Cambodia;
c) To refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Cambodia, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations;
d) To settle all disputes with Cambodia by peaceful means;
e) To refrain from using their territories or the territories of other States to impair the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia;
f) To refrain from using the introduction or stationing of foreign forces, including military personnel, in any form whatsoever, in Cambodia and from establishing or maintaining military bases, strong points or facilities in Cambodia, except pursuant to United Nations authorization for the implementation of the comprehensive political settlement.

On 18 May 2011, Hun Xen said that the resolution to the Khmer-Thai border dispute can only depends on Cambodia’s sole effort, i.e. by going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) because no friendly countries can help resolve this problem.

On 18 May, Hun Xen declared that it’s an issue that cannot happen and there is not a single sentence in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia that can be used to resolve the Khmer-Thai border dispute in the Preah Vihear temple zone.

Hun Xen said that the border dispute in the Preah Vihear temple zone can only rely on the request to the ICJ to clarify its decision in order to end the border dispute.

Regarding the border dispute in the Ta Krabei and Ta Moan temples zone, Hun Xen said that only negotiations can resolve this problem and if there is no agreement, representatives from both countries will have to take their case to the ICJ to help decide this issue.

Hun Xen added that the resolution of the Khmer-Thai border dispute cannot depend on interventions from any friendly countries because each country has their own interest vested with each of the 2 countries in the dispute (i.e. Cambodia and Thailand).

In reaction to Hun Xen’s statement, Yim Sovann, spokesman for the SRP, said that the SRP studied this case and found that in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia (1991 PPA), there are some points that can be used to force Thailand and Vietnam to respect Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yim Sovann added that in the 1991 PPA, the signatories also included a number of superpowers. Therefore, these countries have the duty to help Cambodia, to protect Cambodia’s territorial integrity and to allow Cambodia to escape from the invasion of its neighbors.

Yim Sovann, who is both SRP MP and SRP spokesman, said that Hun Xen’s statement saying that the 1991 PPA cannot be used to resolve the border dispute with Thailand stems from the fact that Hun Xen is scared.

Pol Horm, the vice-president of the HRP leadership and HRP spokesman, said that the 1991 PPA can be used as a support to resolve the border disputes between Cambodia and its neighbors.

Pol Horm added that in order to defend Cambodia’s territorial integrity, Cambodian leaders must use all means to resolve issues related to border problems.

On 27 April, Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy, who is currently living in self-exile in France, issued a letter demanding that Hun Xen resign from his position so that Cambodia can avoid war and loss of territories along both its eastern and western borders.

In his open letter, Sam Rainsy indicated that, Cambodia has only one right and efficient mean to prevent foreign aggression of its territories: Cambodia must demand for the application of the 1991 PPA. Through this application, Thailand and Vietnam will be forced to end their aggression on Cambodia and Hun Xen’s government does not dare raise the 1991 PPA issue because it is scared of opposition from Vietnam.

It should be noted that Thailand was also a signatory of the 1991 PPA. This agreement is divided into 2 detailed agreements and 1 statement. The first agreement discussed about the Cambodian disputes. The 2nd agreement discussed about the respect of the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and neutrality of Cambodia. This agreement also stipulates about the reconstruction of Cambodia as well.