[Thai] Press briefing on the current Thai-Cambodian issues
April 30, 2011, 9:00 am
On 28 April 2011, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, together with Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Spokesperson of the Army, gave a press briefing to the media on the current Thai-Cambodian border situation. Gist as follow:
1. Historical records have shown that Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples, situated around 140 kilometers from the Phra Viharn Temple, are in Thailand, and that they have both been listed as Thailand’s national heritage sites since 1935. Also, since the early 1990s, the Thai authorities have been renovating the Temples complex. Cambodian reports that Thailand has been shelling these temples therefore make no sense.
2. The fact is that Thailand has never initiated clashes with Cambodia. The country has no reason or rationale to do so, considering its trade with and investment in Cambodia as well as what the country has been doing to enhance cooperation, to assist and to promote the creation of an ASEAN Community.
3. Be that as it may, if attacked, Thailand has to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law and proportionately, directing fire only at military targets and taking great care to avoid civilian areas. In this regard, it should be noted that Cambodia had occasionally fired artillery from populated areas into Thailand, and that Thailand had refrained from retaliating into those areas for fear of causing civilian casualties. This practice of using civilians as a “human shield” is of great concern and the international community should look into it.
4. Prior to the 22 April incident, satisfactory progress had been made, notably with regard to the meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission in Bogor, Indonesia on 7-8 April 2011 and the discussions of the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the dispatch of the Indonesian observers to the Thai and Cambodian sides of the border. The attacks on 22 April therefore came as a surprise, and Thailand has since called on Cambodia to return to the negotiating table to end the dispute through peaceful dialogue.
5. Regarding the meeting between the Thai and Cambodian Defence Ministers, although Thailand had wanted this to take place, the Cambodian side had failed to show its sincerity by ceasing hostilities. While the Cambodian side said they were ready to talk, attacks continued on the ground. Furthermore, the proposed visit was distorted and played up in Cambodia, which portrayed that the Thai side was going to Cambodia to seek a halt of hostilities given the casualties suffered by the Thai side. Thailand, nevertheless, hopes that this meeting between the two Defence Ministers will take place in the near future when conditions are conducive.
6. Regarding the issue of Indonesian observers, it should be recalled that it was at Thailand’s initiative and invitation that the observers would be sent to the area near the Phra Viharn Temple. This decision was made at the meeting between the Thai prime minister, defence minister, foreign minister and army commander-in-chief, held two days before the Informal ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting on 22 February 2011 in Jakarta. Since then, discussions on the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Indonesia observers have been on-going. Being an open society, Thailand’s consultation process may take time. At present, most part of the TOR has been agreed upon with only a few technical points remaining, such as the issue of privileges and immunities for the Indonesian observers.
7. It is regrettable that the Thai cabinet decision of 26 April 2011 has been distorted by press announcements by Cambodia as being a declaration of war. In fact, the said cabinet decision made three points, namely that: (1) if attacked, Thailand would respond in self-defence to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law as appropriate; (2) Thailand would undertake diplomatic efforts to seek the support of friendly countries to urge Cambodia to return to the negotiating table as border issues should be addressed and resolved peacefully through negotiations; and (3) relevant government agencies have been asked to review the status of their relationship with Cambodia, so that the Government could have a clear picture of the current state of the relations between the two countries.
8. Regarding talks between the 2nd Army Regional Commander of Thailand and the 4th Regional Commander of Cambodia on 28 April 2011, this took place after the Ministers of Defence of the two countries spoke on the phone. Both sides would propose to their respective superiors that any hostilities should end, and that for areas where there continues to be some shooting, local commanders should talk to end hostilities as soon as possible. Another issue raised is the reopening of international border passes which, due to the present situation, had to be closed temporarily. While there is yet no official confirmation, the statement made by the Cambodian side is a positive step forward.
9. As for the question whether the latest border incidents would affect the election date, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has stated that he will continue with his schedule for the dissolution of the House of Representatives, which is early May.
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29 April 2011
7 comments:
All CPP members and Hun Sen regime don't dare to take back 30 000km2 from Vietnam because they are working for Vietnam goverment to kill all Cambodia and convert Cambodia to Nambodia.
CPP and Hun Sen regime keep give more Cambodia lands and resources to Vietnam.
KI, please do a report on those mentioned temple. We know they are Khmer heritage, that is not what we want to know, but we would like to know if those [Ta Moan, and Ta Krabei] temple truly situated in Thai territory.
Bora Touch and other Khmer scholars can clarify for us?
Thank you,
Keo Cham
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,
The last 2 posters (same person?) remind me about a year ago a poster who was always the first to post on any subject by starting out:
I just googled…….
We got your messages ok, can you cut down your copy and paste to about 1 post for every 20 subjects since nobody is going to read the same old stupid shit anyway.
That was one of reasons why KI wanted your login so they can block people like you who pollute their posting board with garbages.
IT SILLY ARTICLES BY SIAM, VERY GOOD FLIP FLOP..
I do not get it. How the world let the fuc*ing Thai get away with the agression. For any sake, blood already has been spilled and none come forth to condamn the idiot Thai. It remind me that the world-UN, USA, European countries know about about killinf field but none come forth to help... Same shit.
Where are the human right? Why are they so quiet about Thai keeping shelling artilaries round that killed Khmer innocent? Ugh!!! I am mad like hell!
Khmer has to wake up that one to relies on is us. Stop bickering, stop serve the foreiner and think about make self stronger to fight a Thai or a Youn for that mater.
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