No support from opposition parties in the exchange of border villagers with Vietnam

គណបក្សប្រឆាំង មិន​គាំទ្រ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ជាមួយ​វៀតណាម ដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​ខ្មែរ នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​ទេ​

ថ្ងៃទី 20 មិថុនា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

"The SRP is totally opposed to this, we are totally opposed to the giving away of Khmer land to Vietnam because this amounts to national treason. There is no exchange to be made with all Cambodian lands. 21 of Cambodian provinces prior to 1949 are inside Vietnam right now, they are part of Kampuchea Krom. Therefore, don’t tell us that this village or that land belong to Vietnam anymore. There is no such thing, they are all Cambodian territories." - Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman

ភ្នំពេញ: មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​ជំទាស់​ចំនួន ២ ដែល​មាន​អាសនៈ នៅក្នុង​សភាជាតិ មិន​បាន​សម្តែង​នូវ​ការគាំទ្រ​ដល់​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​ទទួលបន្ទុក​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន នៃ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ដែល​បាន​ចុះ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ជាមួយ​នឹង​គណៈកម្មាធិកា​រ​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​ក្នុង​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​មួយចំនួន នៃ​ខេត្ត ដែល​ស្តិត នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ឡើយ​។​

​ក្រុម​សមាជិក​សភា​បក្សប្រឆាំង បាន​អះអាង​ថា នឹង​ធ្វើ​លិខិត​កោះហៅ​ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​កិច្ច​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា មក​ឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺ​នៅក្នុង​សភាជាតិ នាពេលខាងមុខ​។​

​លោក អ៊ូ ច័ន្ទ​ឫទ្ធិ សមាជិក​សភា​មណ្ឌល​ព្រៃវែង នៃ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា "​ខ្ញុំ​យល់​ថា មិនគួរ​មាន​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ទេ បើសិន​ដី​ខ្មែរ គឺជា​ដី​ខ្មែរ ជា​របស់​ខ្មែរ បើ​ដី​វៀតណាម ជា​របស់​វៀតណាម​។ មិន​អាច​ថា ដី​របស់​ខ្មែរ ដូរ​ឲ្យទៅ​វៀតណាម ហើយ​វៀតណាម ដូរ​ដី​ឲ្យ​ខ្មែរ​វិញ​នោះទេ​។ មិន​ដែល​ប្រទេស​ណាមួយ គេ​ធ្វើ​ការដោះដូរ​ដី​ទេ​។ ដូច្នេះ​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​នោះ វា​ជា​រឿង​មួយ​មិន​សមរម្យ​ទេ​"​។​

​ចំណែក​លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី អត់​គាំទ្រ​នៅ​លើ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង នៃ​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំ​ដែល​ជាមួយ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​នោះ​ទេ​។​

​លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ បានបញ្ជាក់​ថា "​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី សូម​ប្រឆាំង​ដាច់ខាត ហើយ​សូម​ប្រឆាំង​ដាច់ខាត ចំពោះ​ការ​កាត់​ដី​ខ្មែរ ទៅ​ឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​ព្រោះនេះជាអំពើក្បត់ជាតិ។ ដី​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងអស់​អត់​មាន​ការដោះដូរ​អ្វី​ទេ​។ ដី​ខ្មែរ​កាលពីមុន​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៤៩ គឺ​២១ ខេត្ត​ក្រុង​ឯណោះ នៅ​វៀតណាម​សព្វថ្ងៃ ដែល​ជា​ទឹកដី​កម្ពុជា​ក្រោម​។ ដូច្នេះ​កុំមក​និយាយថា ដី​នៅ​ភូមិ​នេះ ដី​នៅ​កន្លែង​នោះ សុទ្ធតែ​ជា​របស់​វៀតណាម​។ អត់​មាន​ទេ គឺជា​ដី​របស់​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងអស់​”​។​

Opportunities lost at ASEAN summit - Op-Ed by Chhaya Khemarak

Interview with Sam Rainsy; SRP summons Hun Xen to clarify the NA about land exchange with Vietnam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vggk1mc60s8

The opposition asks Hun Xen to clarify on the border issue with Vietnam

SRP MP Son Chhay (L) held a press conference on 23 March 2012 (Photo: Den Ayuthyea, RFA)

23 March 2012
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

SRP MPs and civil society officials plan to send a letter to the National Assembly on 26 March 2012 to ask Hun Xen and sVar Kim Hong, the chairman of the government border committee, to come and clarify the National Assembly.

The aim is to have Hun Xen and sVar Kim Hong clarify about the signing on the agreement for the exchange of villages along the Cambodian-Viet border.

Additional information are forthcoming…

SRP: Border issues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3oN3PxQIY

Mr. Mam Yin's reply to Soy Sopheap and Chum Kosal, two of Hun Xen's sycophants

ជំរាបជូន លោក សយ សុភាព និង ជុំ កុសល

លោកទាំងពីរនាក់ បានកំពុងជំរុញ​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ធ្លាក់ក្នុងជ្រោៈមរណានៅថ្ងៃខាងនេះហើយ ដោយសារ លោកទាំងពីរនាក់ និយាយPro-ហ៊ុន សែន ខុសការពិត និងកាឡៃប្រវត្តិខ្មែរទៀតផង ។ លោកទាំងពីរ នាក់ មានអ្វី បកស្រាយ ចំពោៈអត្តបទ របស់ លោក ម៉ម យិន បាននិយាយថា លោកទាំងពីរនាក់ និយាយការពារ ហ៊ុន សែន គឺដើម្បីដូរបាយ តែប៉ុណ្ណោៈ ? បើសិន លោកទាំងពីរនាក់ ខ្វៈបាយញុំនិយាយ បា្រប់យើងខ្ញុំមក ហើយយើងខ្ញុំ នឹងជួយ ឧបត្ថម្ភដល់ លោកទាំងពីរ?

សូមអរគុណ

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Hero of Khmer Border

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loeOto2RKHQ

GPS survey to settle Vietnamese-Cambodian border [-Will it follow exactly the 1964 Cambodia maps or will it just follow the Viet-imposed maps?]

22/12/2010
Geoff Norris
SurveyEquipment.com

An extensive GPS survey has been commissioned to define the highly-sensitive shared border between Cambodia and Vietnam.

The governments of the two South East Asian nations have announced a joint project - to be carried out by a specialist Danish team of surveyors - that will update the current maps of the border, which are more than 60 years old.

Due to the advanced, satellite-based surveying equipment available for the project, what would have once been a very time and personnel-intensive mission, will now be carried out in less than two years, with a budget of under £1 million (approximately US$1.5 million).

Nguyen Hong Thao, deputy director of the border committee of Vietnam, said the topographic map was an important step in fully realising a border treaty signed between the two nations in 2005.

"Producing a border land map of both countries will help transform the borderlines to become cooperative, peaceful and friendly," he said.

The Cambodian government has come under fire recently from one opposition party, which has claimed that Cambodia has ceded certain tracts of territory to Vietnam at a number of points along the border. Government officials have said the new maps will meet stringent international standards, and allow the two countries to moderate any potential border conflicts.

Fuzzy on the Sketchy Borders

12/01/10
Op-Ed by Justin Sok

Var Kim Hong shaking hand with Nguyen Tan Dung, the Viet PM

On December 01, 2010, His Excellency Var Kim Hong held a press conference to inform and update the nation the border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam. His Excellency discussed about the bidding for the printing of border maps between Cambodia and Vietnam, estimated to cost between $1.5 to $4.5 million. Cambodia and Vietnam would like to use companies from the U.S.A., France, Japan, and Korea to assist in drawing the new map.

The public is appreciative and thankful for having shed light on the border issues. However, there are some important political issues that need to be clarified. Although the public has come to understand that the work is a joint venture between Cambodia and Vietnam, we are less interested in the Vietnamese government has to say. It is in our national interest to know which company (French, Japanese, Korean, and American) His Excellency and your committee will choose for drawing the new map. We would like to know why Vietnam had encroached 15 kilometers into Cambodian territory. If the printing of border maps between Cambodia and Vietnam was finalized, and had revealed that Cambodia had actually gained ground, would it be more logical to agree that the money we had spent was worth it with this new map to replace the old map of 1964? Why would we spend the money if we knew about the Vietnamese encroachment and to replace the new map with the old map, which former King Norodom Sihanouk and His Royal Administration had done excellent work on to put Cambodia on the map on at the UN in 1964?

This border issue is very critical to our national security. It should take as much time as we would possibly need, to meticulously accomplish the work properly. It requires a collaborative effort and collection of scholars and experts on the field to magnify the precise points and lines before it can be finalized. In addition, there are many Khmer intellectuals, inside and abroad, whose expertise is on political and border issues. The public encourages His Excellency Var Kim Hong to look for to them for assistance.

Furthermore, I would like to assert my arguments based on the important political and legal cases, which have also been implicated with the movement of border posts and encroachment into Cambodian territory by Vietnam. On October 25, 2009, MP Sam Rainsy was invited by our Cambodian farmers to Chantrea District, Svay Rieng Province to witness the illegal movement of border posts that were covertly planted inside our Cambodian territory. MP Sam Rainsy and our Khmer farmers made a formal request to the government to intervene and to defend our homeland, but it was denied. MP Sam Rainsy led the Khmer farmers and took the matters into their own hands and went ahead and uprooted illegal movement border posts. Despite all the legal evidence and documentations that MP Sam Rainsy had produced and presented to the government, the two innocent Khmer farmers were convicted and sent to serve a 12-month sentence in jail, and MP Sam Rainsy was convicted of having “instigated, disturbed the peace, and destroyed public property,” and he was sentenced to jail in absentia for 13 years. At your press conference, His Excellency Var Kim Hong, with your own “confession,” stated, “The planting of border posts at certain locations had encroached into Cambodian territories. These encroachments could be as much and deep as 15 kilometers into Cambodia.” Evidently, the cases against the two Khmer farmers and MP Sam Rainsy had never had any legal merits. The public would like to file a motion to request that His Excellency Var Kim Hong, the court, and the government to expunge criminal charges against our two Khmer farmers and drop all charges against MP Sam Rainsy. Since the border issues that they had raised were rightfully in question, and since our two Khmer farmers were wrongly convicted and had already served their 12-month sentence, the public would also like to request that the government should offer redress and/or restitution damages to them. As for the case against MP Sam Rainsy, the public would like the government to reconsider the decision made, and to honor and restore his immunity and rightfully allow MP Sam Rainsy to return back to Cambodia to resume his bipartisan work and serve his countrymen.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Justin C. Sok

Phnom Penh court summons Sam Rainsy for 08 September in a 2nd lawsuit case against him

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Free Press Magazine Online)

17 August 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The Phnom Penh municipal court issued a summons against opposition leader Sam Rainsy, ordering him to show up in court on 08 September in the lawsuit case in which he was accused of falsifying public documents and distribution of false information.

According to the summons dated 05 August and signed by Sok Roeun, the court prosecutor, that FPM received on Tuesday, it ordered 60-year-old MP Sam Rainsy to show up in court (2nd hearing) on 08 September 2010 at 8AM so that he can answer to the accusations leveled against him for falsifying public documents and distribution of false information. The alleged charges against Sam Rainsy took place in February 2010, and the charges against him were brought up according to Articles 49 and 62 of the UN-era criminal code.

The current summons was issued after opposition leader Sam Rainsy publicly said on 12 August 2010 that the goal to protect maps, and to provide proofs on the Khmer-Viet border that he published on his website are not complicated, nor do they contain any mystery. He said that all Cambodian citizens can learn where the Cambodian borders are simply by placing GPS border post recordings on Cambodian maps prepared by the French SGI (Service Géographique de l’Indochine) organization in 1953 and on the US army maps prepared in the 60s, then they would know where Cambodian territories lie. It should be noted that the exact border locations is an issue that the Hun Xen’s regime keeps as a secret.

Sam Rainsy said that the Cambodian regime should stop painting nationalist Cambodian citizens in a corner, and it should try to reach unity among all Cambodians in order to protect Cambodia’s integrity and sovereignty instead, this is a better way to proceed.

Nevertheless, Sam Rainsy said that he will not show up to court as ordered by the Phnom Penh court which lacks independence and which acts as a puppet for the rulers. He also cited, as an example, the case of the current government leaders who used to oppose the KR regime and fled to seek help from the Yuon, later on, these leaders do not have the courage to show up to the KR Tribunal to be sentenced [for their past involvement with the KR regime].

Sam Rainsy to all Cambodians: The major national issues are borders and Yuon immigrants

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

27 July 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

In response to questions asked by Cambodians living throughout the world, including those who live in the American continent and in Europe (Austria, Finland, France, Norway), opposition leader Sam Rainsy – who is currently living in self-exile – told them that Cambodia is currently at the edge of a dangerous abyss due to border problems with Vietnam, as well as due to the illegal Viet immigrants.

You Saravuth, the former editor-in-chief of the pro-opposition Sralanh Khmer newspaper who had to flee Cambodia in 2006 stemming from a lawsuit initiated by Hun Xen’s nephew and who is currently living in Norway, indicated that during the video-conference meeting with Sam Rainsy on 25 July, the latter responded to numerous questions filed by overseas Cambodians on his personal situation, as well as the situation faced by Cambodia vis-à-vis her neighbors.

According to You Saravuth, Sam Rainsy discussed about his personal situation with the audience, including the restriction of freedom rights on regular citizens and opposition MPs by the government, the use of the court system to serve the interest of the rich and powerful so that these people can violate human rights and democracy. Sam Rainsy said that he is struggling to resolve these hot issues with the International communities, in particular with countries that are signatories to the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia.

Regarding the border issue, the situation is tense due to the encroachments from neighboring countries, in particular along the eastern borders with Vietnam. Because the Yuon government knows that the Phnom Penh regime is its puppet, the encroachments are still taking place. Cambodian territories where blatant encroachments can be observed are found in Svay Rieng, Takeo and Kanpong Cham provinces. Because the villagers dare to rise up to protest against the loss of their rice fields, Hun Xen’s regime went on to send them to jail, such was the case of Mr. Prum Chea and Mrs. Meas Srey. This situation creates fear among several Cambodian villagers living along the border who no longer dare to protest even though they know that the Yuons are encroaching on their rice fields, their only source of income. Sam Rainsy said that, up to now, he collected numerous map documents and testimonials which indicated that the Yuon indeed encroached on Cambodian territories through a blind eye by the Phnom Penh regime.

Regarding the illegal flow of Yuon immigrants to Cambodia, this is also a dangerous problem for Cambodia. Currently, there are more than 3 million Yuons living illegally in Cambodia. These Yuon communities receive close attention and support from the Yuon leaders, and they also being spoiled by the Phnom Penh regime as well.

This situation brings shame and major losses to the Cambodian interest, it is an act of national treason, of betrayal of the Cambodian people by the ruling CPP party. According to Sam Rainsy, the resolution of these problems can only be done through unity of the Cambodian people, the rightful owners of the country, and through an election change to salvage the country.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy left Cambodia in 2009 following the uprooting of border stakes along the Yuon border. These stakes were planted as part of Yuon encroachments on rice fields belonging to Cambodian farmers in Koh Kban Kandal village, Samrong commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province. Because of this case, Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia by the Svay Rieng provincial court to 2-year of jail time in January 2010.

Regarding his return to Cambodia, opposition leader Sam Rainsy told overseas Cambodians that it will depend on the resolution from the International community and he hoped that democratic countries in the world will not allow Hun Xen to go on with his misdeeds.

Border debates

Originally posted at: http://www.equitycam.tv

Special coverage on the recent border debates with the official response of the government to the questions of the opposition.

"What can the Cambodian gov't produce to provide confidence in its border delimation with Vietnam?": Op-Ed by Ven. Hok Savann

Click on the article in Khmer to zoom in

SRP postpones trip to Svay Rieng prison

Chhoeung Sarin, the wife of imprisoned villager Prom Chea, appears at a recent protest against the jailing of her husband and another villager for uprooting border posts in Svay Rieng province. (Photo by: Heng Chivoan)

Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

THE Sam Rainsy Party has postponed a trip to Svay Rieng province, scheduled for today, to visit two villagers sentenced to prison earlier this year for their participation in an SRP-led protest in October, opposition officials said Monday.

The SRP delivered a request earlier this month to Kaen Savoeun, chief of the Svay Rieng provincial prison, asking for permission to send a delegation to visit the pair, Meas Srey and Prum Chea, both residents of Svay Rieng’s Chantrea district. SRP spokesman Yim Sovann said that Kaen Savoeun had passed the request to the Court of Appeal, which had then passed it to the Department of Prisons at the Interior Ministry.

Yim Sovann said the SRP was frustrated by the bureaucratic hurdles it was being forced to negotiate as it seeks to visit the villagers. “I feel so sorry to see the weak administration system in our country. The system is not clear,” Yim Sovann said. “Do they intend to allow us to visit the prisoners or not?”

Heng Hak, director of the Department of Prisons, could not be reached for comment Monday, though he said last week that he would consider the SRP request whenever he received it.

Yim Sovann said that the SRP plans to send a letter to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng today, asking him to grant permission for the visit.

In January, Svay Rieng provincial court sentenced Meas Srey, 39, and Prum Chea, 41, to one year in prison after they joined opposition leader Sam Rainsy in uprooting six temporary border posts in Chantrea district in October. Villagers say the posts were placed in their rice fields illegally by Vietnamese officials.

Sam Rainsy, who was sentenced to two years prison in the same case, is currently living in self-exile in France.

A group of SRP parliamentarians and doctors visited the villagers in March, accusing prison workers of providing the pair with inadequate health care.

Chhoeung Sarin, Prum Chea’s wife, said Monday that she was happy to hear of the SRP delegation’s plans to visit her husband. “I still support the SRP for its efforts to help my family get our rice fields back, and for not abandoning us when we have a problem,” she said.

Invitation to meet Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy in Philadelphia on 23 May 2010

Click on the flyer to zoom in

Sam Rainsy announces a good news for Cambodia to the King Father

Click on the letter in Khmer to zoom in

Click on the letter in French to zoom in

Official translation

TO THE ATTENTION OF HIS MAJESTY SAMDECH PREAH NORODOM SIHANOUK OF CAMBODIA
The Royal Residence in Beijing
The People’s Republic of China

Paris, March 16, 2010

Your Majesty,

I have the honour of informing you about the following good news: Top leading experts who I have consulted in Europe (top research authorities and professors from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – CNRS -, from the Institut Géographique National – IGN – and from the Federal Polytechnique School of Lausanne) confirm the validity of what we all know and of what I recently denounced, namely the displacing of the border posts by Vietnam to the detriment of Cambodia.

In spite of the denial of the current Cambodian governmental authorities, and in spite of their acts of repression towards Khmer patriots who dare to denounce the infringement of the territorial integrity of Cambodia by our powerful Eastern neighbours, no one can contest the reality of the facts any longer.

In the difficult circumstances which prevail currently in Cambodia, I remind myself of the following words by Emile Zola, “The truth is coming to light. Nothing can stop it (…). Justice can only be in the truth.”

The scientific truth has now shined forth in the eyes of the whole world. This truth has put a stop to biased political talk and propaganda around the border issue. This truth is based on the examination of all the geographical maps which are available and which show the real delineation of the frontier between Cambodia and Vietnam – notably the official maps of Cambodia that You had deposited at the United Nations in March 1964 and which are universally recognized. The truth is also based on the most modern investigation methods which did not exist in the 1980s when our neighbouring country forced the puppet Khmer authorities to sign illegal and unjust border treaties.

Thanks to the analysis of the maps, the use of which has been recently facilitated by their digitization, thanks to the record of the precise geographical coordinates of all the important points of the territory through the means of GPS, thanks to very clear satellite images which are accessible to everyone and enable the visualization of the frontier markings in any zone, thanks to the use of specific software programs which allow instant highly complicated geodesy and mapping calculations, and thanks to communication and exchange possibilities on the Internet network, we can at last render justice to our Homeland and to the Khmer people.

We will now be able to have the Khmer peasants freed, those who were put into prison because they dared protest again the confiscation of their rice-fields by the neighbouring country with the complicity of the local Cambodian authorities. We will be able to give back the ancestral land to our peasants so that they can live with dignity on legal Cambodian territory.

In my quality of an elected representative of the Khmer people and in my personal name, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to You as well as my boundless admiration for Your clear-sighted initiative which consisted in depositing the official Cambodian maps at the United Nations at the glorious time of Sangkum Reastr Niyum : This has allowed our country to obtain international recognition of its boundaries as inherited from the French colonization.

Since then You have never stopped defending the principle of the inviolability of our terrestrial and maritime frontiers by many other initiatives. This has led the Khmer people to love You and to respect You as the Father of Cambodia’s Territorial Integrity, in parallel to Your other titles as Father of National Independence and Father of the Nation.

Exactly five years ago, day for day, You declared from Beijing :

«The SRV (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) has “created” new frontiers (to its own benefit) by building, in the decades of 1980 and 1990-2000, “gates” and canals which are well inside our frontiers of 1963-1969.

Our (present) Cambodia, represented by H.E. Var Kim Hong’s team (the chief negotiator for frontier issues nominated by Prime Minister Hun Sen), accepts to commit suicide by recognizing, even in the eyes of International law, that Cambodia has no precise frontiers.

The word “suicide” is not an exaggeration. A country which recognizes that it has no legal and precise frontiers is a dead country. »

It is high time that our present rulers in Phnom Penh should remember your noble warning or that the Khmer nation should wake up and react to ensure its survival.

I beg your Majesty to accept the expression of my highest respect and unwavering loyalty.

[signature]
Sam Rainsy

Border: Lesson Learned from PM Chan Sy Khmer-Yuon Border Survey Team

24/2/2010
By Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com

However, he confirmed the eastern border demarcation was much more beneficial to Yuon than Khmer in big picture. He said, Yuon always uses the 7 January Day as a bargain point that Cambodia couldn’t have been theirs until now if they wanted it too. That hurt his conscience too much to bear. He conveys that no matter what, Khmer always tolerate own kind and can build trust among one another but we shall never be too trusting and submissive to Yuon because they see Khmer as inferior,weak and manipulatable.

In July 2007 in Phnom Penh, I had a rare opportunity to converse on border issues with one of the Khmer -Yuon Border Survey team leaders under late Comrade PM Chan Sy government. He had revealed his sadness over Cambodia maritime and land border survey back then. He said the entire episode was dominated by Yuon gains. Then the Government wasn’t strong and couldn’t have much to counter Yuon demands anyway. He was a former secondary level education professor of Mathematic and Khmer literature at Tuol Svay Prey Lycee prior to 17 April day, the Sihanouk revolution victorious day.

Under PM Chan Sy, because of his educational background and skills, he was elevated to high position in the government and charged with Khmer-Yuon border survey. Back then the western border was occupied by the resistance and yet surveyed. In this writing, he’s in his late 70 in age and has asked to be anonymous due to sensitivity and his safety.

During his two year tenure as a co-leader of border survey team, he said there was so much money to be made if his survey team would ignore the original demarcation line. Yuon would give money ($$$) to Khmer team in exchange if no protest made over their markers relocating deep in Khmer side . By then food provided by government was not plentiful yet but his commission could have plenty plus dollars to enjoy daily if they just let Yuon did whatever they wanted on the map survey. He bitterly said to his fellows and subordinates, please watch Yuon closely as they had never changed and had always been conniving.

On several instances, he was enraged when Yuon categorically forbade his team from surveying Koh Tral and nearby questioned zones. He argued the isle was Khmer territory as he could remember reading colonial French administrative memoirs. Then he was steamed up when Yuon barred his team from surveying Dak Dam and nearby points. He said it was his duty to see Cambodia border properly respected. But later time, he was warned by his superior from Phnom Penh over the radio call that he would receive serious consequences if he disobeyed Yuon’s wishes. That motivated his departure sooner from that job as his superior seemed to be more preoccupied with Yuon agendas.

With his honest nature and love for his native land, at old age, he forced himself to learn Yuon dialect on his own time using French-Yuon dictionary so that he would have some understanding on what Yuon team leader was up to. Meanwhile Yuon team was unaware of the old man tenacity and linguistic gift to comprehend their conversations. Pretty much throughout the entire survey time, the old man grew bitter as his team was not supported by the government as it let Yuon had say so all the times.

In that mission, Cambodia lacked the up to date survey equipments and reliable vessels. Other hand, Yuon had much superior equipments with well trained technicians to do the work with better transportation. In knowing Yuon nature, the old man told his team member not to accept any monetary gift or food from Yuon while doing the task under his supervision .

Soon PM Chan Sy fell to his secret death in Moscow hospital, the old man was reassigned by Hun Sen, the new Hanoi designated PM, to desk job in charge of procedural and administrative codes translation at the Council of Ministry until his retirement. He said he was very proud of and grateful to his colleagues who would listen to and side with to him.

However, he confirmed the eastern border demarcation was much more beneficial to Yuon than Khmer in big picture. He said, Yuon always uses the 7 January Day as a bargain point that Cambodia couldn’t have been theirs until now if they wanted it too. That hurt his conscience too much to bear. He conveys that no matter what, Khmer always tolerate own kind and can build trust among one another but we shall never be too trusting and submissive to Yuon because they see Khmer as inferior,weak and manipulatable.

Presently, the old man as guest lecturer teaches part-time at Phnom Penh Royal University-School of Administration and Public Policy.

Réunion d'Information avec Sam Rainsy and Sean Péngsè - Meeting with Sam Rainsy and Sean Pengse in Paris

What: Information Meeting with Sam Rainsy and Sean Pengse
When: Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 2PM
Where: Saint Hyppolite Church, 75013 Paris

Listen to Radio Call-in Show on Border Issue

January 26, 2009

LISTEN TO RADIO CALL-IN SHOW ON BORDER ISSUE

On January 25, opposition leader Sam Rainsy took part in a radio call-in show on the border issue. He elaborated on the latest evidence contained in a 15-sheet file (available at http://tinyurl.com/y9d7qho) exposing border encroachment in the commune of Samraong, in Svay Rieng province where he recently pulled out a fake border post that was illegally planted on a Khmer farmer’s rice field, well within Cambodia’s territory.

Many questions were answered as you can hear by clicking at http://tinyurl.com/yce9zoj

SRP Cabinet

King-Father denies help to Sam Rainsy: Lawsuit case is a “political” case … and the court is independent (sic!)

Click on the letter in Khmer to zoom in

20 January 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

King-Father rejected the request made by Sam Rainsy to intervene in the charges brought against him regarding the uprooting of border stakes in Svay Rieng. The rejection was announced in a letter signed and sent by Prince Thomico to Kong Korm, the SRP party vice-president. Thomico informed Kong Korm that the ex-monarch cannot intervene on behalf of Sam Rainsy. He indicated that the reason behind this rejection is because the ex-monarch has already retired since 16 October 2004. Furthermore, Sam Rainsy’s lawsuit case is a political matter, and he cannot interfere in political issues. Thomico added that Sam Rainsy’s case has already reached the judicial system already, and according to the Cambodian Constitution, the court system is an independent institution (sic!). Therefore, nobody can interfere in the court system (sic!).