Foreign Ministry Spokesperson responds to questions about the military’s role in Thai-Cambodian relations
April 30, 2011, 12:06 pm
In response to questions regarding recent media reports alleging that the Thai side may have initiated recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia due to domestic politics, criticizing the role of the Thai military in Thai-Cambodian relations, as well as alleging lack of coordination between the Thai Foreign Ministry and the military, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that clarifications have already been sent to the news agencies concerned, which can be summarized as follows:
First, Thailand did not start recent clashes with Cambodia because it simply has no reason to do so and no benefit to gain therefrom. Any such adverse action would only harm Thai civilians living along the border and undo what Thailand has long been working for in promoting relations with Cambodia and advancing ASEAN on its road towards becoming an ASEAN Community. Besides trade and investment, Thailand has pursued various forms of cooperation with Cambodia, many aimed at bettering the well-being of its people. It therefore makes no sense for the Thai side to undo all this hard work.
Second, since the clashes in February 2011, there has been progress in bilateral talks. The Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission met in Bogor, Indonesia, on 7-8 April. In addition, as the UNSC and ASEAN have urged both countries to resolve the border problem bilaterally, there is no reason for Thailand to take any action to derail these processes.
Third, rather than resisting observers, it must also be recalled that it was Thailand who had invited the dispatch of Indonesian observers, the terms of reference for which is close to being finalized. The decision to invite the Indonesia observers to Thailand was also made jointly at a meeting on 20 February 2011, chaired by the Prime Minister and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence and the Army Commander-in-Chief taking part. Since then, there have been close consultations between all the relevant government agencies concerned. It is therefore not true that the Foreign Ministry and the military are in disagreement on this issue and other issues regarding Cambodia.
Lastly, if one is to insist on analyzing the Thai-Cambodian issue from the perspective of domestic politics, it would only be fair to look at the situation on the other side of the border as well. The question that ought to be asked is who stands to gain the most from having the border issue escalate and internationalized. On our part, Thailand has always sought to contain the situation and address it with Cambodia through dialogue and negotiations, as other countries have done in resolving such issues.
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29 April 2011
13 comments:
The Thais have a tradition and history of DENIAL. If history went a different course, the Thais would be nothing more than animist mountain people living in a much larger Cambodia just like the Hmong people of Laos and the Montagnards of Vietnam. Thais owe A LOT to the Khmer people. Never forget that us Khmers gave you civilization, culture, royal court customs, writing system and identity when you Thais were nothing.
Your King Bhumibol Adulyadej bends the knee and pays homage to his Khmer ancestors and lineage....why can't you Thais all be good and do the same?
Thailand is rapidly becoming a failed state. This is one of their last efforts in saving face.
In a few months, Thailand will descend into chaos when its military generals take control of the government, bloody uprisings roar throughout Bangkok and southern Thailand becoming 100% controlled by Muslim insurgents.
Thailand wanted to kicks Hun sen ass,because Hun sen is a monster dictators who always threaten and betrayed his own people.
Thailand government are full of educated thieves. One even graduate from Oxford university. They get D for degree of stealing and lying in their government. The chaos Thais never can sleep at knight. The ant never
Can let the elepant to sleep
Thailand's lies are enough for Khmer and foreigners, all things blame to Cambodia. In fact, Thai's internal policy hasa gig problem, even are splitting into 2 part, red and yellow.
it useless to speak with Siam, stop talking,, wasted time., let takes the case to the world court body in Hollands, let them decide 1 for all
ពួកអាប្រឆាំងវាមិនដែលនិយាយសោកស្តាយអំពី
កងយុទ្ធពលខេមរភូមិន្ទខ្មែរនោះទេពីព្រោះអាពួក
ទាំងនេះពិតជាបំរើការឲ្យអាពួកសៀមចោរឈ្លាន
ពានដីខ្មែរពិតប្រកដមែន។
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,
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,
Dear Keo Rattana
I am really sick of your comment again and again all the same.
It is good to critizise the gov't but you need to prioritize them. you never win to fight all of enemies at one time. I hope you will understand what I mean.
You're doing great Ms. Keo. The truth hurts, your supposed friend, Hanoi, is the one that is eating up Khmer country right now. Good government will be able to deal with the Preha Vihear issue without causing such a mess of today. It's a game Hun Sen loves to play for the pleasure of Youn, fools.
10:27 AM - You are the one who supports Vietnamese CPP members and Hun Sen and wants to fight with Thai.
I am very sick of CPP Yuon members and Hun Sen who are the ones who pushed the war with Thailand and who do have enough the international supports because CPP and Hun Sen are communist coming from Communist Hanoi, Vietnam.
If Mr. Sam Rainsy or other Democratic opposition front-runner is the leader of Cambodia, the Country of Cambodian would be better off peaceful without Vietnamese Communist involvement in Cambodia, close Vietnamese Communist relationship and friendship with Cambodia.
Right now, Cambodia is not peaceful with Thailand because of Communist CPP Yuon from Communist Hanoi operating illegally in Cambodia.
The other thing is that Thailand is insecure when Vietnamese CPP officials along with their puppet Hun Sen are playing the games and interfere with Thailand.
For example, Hor Nam Hong is not a good fit for a position as a Foreign Minister to negotiate with Thailand. Hor Nam Hong is Yuon or Vietnamese, and he is not influential in Khmer language and lack of Khmer Empire history. He is so much in favor of his country of Vietnam when he has a good job in Cambodia as a Foreign Minister. Also, Hor Nam Hong is a former Khmer Rouges at Boeung Trabeak Prison Camp because King Sihanouk mentioned before and after Khmer Rouges Regime (1975 - 1979)
Siem and Viet are the same. They always want to take advantage over Cambodia in anyway they possibly could. Viet is known as the thief of the east, and siem is the thief of the west. Khmer has to be united and stay firm.
We must stop the internal conflict and focus on solving the external issue first. Then we will take care of the internal affair later.
"The virus becomes strong and attacks our body when our immune system is getting weak."
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