Eath Daravuth & Sam Campbell
The Mekong Times
Exasperated Cambodians led by the Kingdom’s largest union are to march down the capital’s thoroughfares Sunday to demand that Thailand halt its “invasion” of Cambodian territory and withdraw troops immediately, union officials said yesterday.
The Cambodia Union Federation (CUF), comprised of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTU) and the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA), notified Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema that it will lead 300 people from the former National Assembly down Norodom and Monivong Boulevards before disbursing at the Independence Monument, the CUF said.
Slogans urging Thailand to stop its “invasion” and pull its troops out of Cambodia will apparently be prominent, alongside patriotic messages of unity.
Cambodia has reiterated that Thailand must withdraw from areas it has encroached upon adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple and Ta Moan temples. The two neighbors are currently locked in a tense military standoff at both sites.
Accidents involving landmines and cases of malaria have been reported though the situation has yet to escalate into armed conflict.
CUF President Rong Chhun said that his federation will tell media about its protest against the Thai “invasion” this morning.
Sunday’s march will send “a message to the world about Khmer citizens’ patriotic will, and are not to serve the interest of a particular group or politician,” he said.
“Competent authorities must ensure that Sunday’s peaceful march is held or they will be called opponents of Khmer citizens’ patriotic will regarding Siam [Thailand] invading Cambodia.”
Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun referred questions over permission for the protest to Municipal Cabinet Chief Nuon Samet, who could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, Mann Chhoeun implied the protest might go ahead.
“It is just my request. If he [Rong Chhun] protested at Preah Vihear temple, it would be better, but for the march in Phnom Penh, it is his right. I don’t know what to say,” Mann Chhoeun said.
Sunday’s march would come just a day before Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart are to meet in Thailand to discuss the spat. Several other similar high-level negations have produced few concrete results.
Numerous NGOs have jumped on the nationalist bandwagon, urging a tougher Cambodian stance. Many Cambodians have suggested Cambodia seek international intervention, particularly from the UN Security Council, a move US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli hoped would prove unnecessary.
“We remain hopeful that next week when the [Cambodian and Thai] foreign ministers meet they will resolve this in a sensible, mature, collegial way because it’s not good for either country,” he said yesterday.
So far, the dispute “thankfully has had very little impact [on business],” he added, “though if it continues it may have an impact on tourism and may have an impact on trade between Cambodia and Thailand.”
The Cambodia Union Federation (CUF), comprised of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTU) and the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA), notified Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema that it will lead 300 people from the former National Assembly down Norodom and Monivong Boulevards before disbursing at the Independence Monument, the CUF said.
Slogans urging Thailand to stop its “invasion” and pull its troops out of Cambodia will apparently be prominent, alongside patriotic messages of unity.
Cambodia has reiterated that Thailand must withdraw from areas it has encroached upon adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple and Ta Moan temples. The two neighbors are currently locked in a tense military standoff at both sites.
Accidents involving landmines and cases of malaria have been reported though the situation has yet to escalate into armed conflict.
CUF President Rong Chhun said that his federation will tell media about its protest against the Thai “invasion” this morning.
Sunday’s march will send “a message to the world about Khmer citizens’ patriotic will, and are not to serve the interest of a particular group or politician,” he said.
“Competent authorities must ensure that Sunday’s peaceful march is held or they will be called opponents of Khmer citizens’ patriotic will regarding Siam [Thailand] invading Cambodia.”
Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun referred questions over permission for the protest to Municipal Cabinet Chief Nuon Samet, who could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, Mann Chhoeun implied the protest might go ahead.
“It is just my request. If he [Rong Chhun] protested at Preah Vihear temple, it would be better, but for the march in Phnom Penh, it is his right. I don’t know what to say,” Mann Chhoeun said.
Sunday’s march would come just a day before Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart are to meet in Thailand to discuss the spat. Several other similar high-level negations have produced few concrete results.
Numerous NGOs have jumped on the nationalist bandwagon, urging a tougher Cambodian stance. Many Cambodians have suggested Cambodia seek international intervention, particularly from the UN Security Council, a move US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli hoped would prove unnecessary.
“We remain hopeful that next week when the [Cambodian and Thai] foreign ministers meet they will resolve this in a sensible, mature, collegial way because it’s not good for either country,” he said yesterday.
So far, the dispute “thankfully has had very little impact [on business],” he added, “though if it continues it may have an impact on tourism and may have an impact on trade between Cambodia and Thailand.”
