Patriotism vs. Dictatorship fear of political unrest: Dictatorship “unfairly” wins ... for now

Rong Chhun not authorized to hold a march procession on 15 July

12 July 2010
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated form Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The Phnom Penh city authority met to decide on 11 July to reject the Cambodian Confederation of Unions’ plan to hold a march procession to protest the invasion of Thai troops inside Cambodia. The Phnom Penh city hall advised the union to organize the event inside its party headquarters. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, indicated that he still maintains his stance of holding a march procession.

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions sent a letter to the Phnom Penh city hall last week to inform the latter about its plan to hold a march procession in the morning of 15 July to protest against the invasion of Thai troops on Cambodia.

On Sunday 11 July, authority of the Phnom Penh city hall held a meeting to discuss how to reply to the union. A representative of the union was also present during the meeting. The city only allows the union led by Rong Chhun to hold the event inside its headquarters only. City officials explained that the march procession was not authorized in order not to affect the safety, security and public order. However, because the union still insists on holding its march, the city will turn the decision to the ministry of Interior.

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions sent a letter to the Phnom Penh city hall to inform the latter that it plans to hold a gathering by an undetermined number of participants in the public park located in front of the Supreme Court building, and a march procession will bring a flower wreath to the Monument of Independence.

Rong Chhun said that he is displeased with the city hall’s decision, and he said that the concerns over the public order and social security are nothing more than a ploy by the city hall. Rong Chhun added that he hopes the ministry of Interior (MoI) will decide to allow him to hold the march procession. On the other hand, should the MoI reject the request, Rong Chhun said he will still hold the procession march.

Procession for the anniversary of the Thai invasion to be held on 15 July

Rong Chhun (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Monday 12 July 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions distributed a letter about the anger day and to express patriotism on the anniversary of the Thai invasion in Cambodia which will be held on 15 July 2010 at 08AM. The meeting will gather in front of the old National Assembly building, near the royal palace. Next, the crowd will march to deposit a flower wreath at the Monument of Independence to pay respect to the soldiers and the heroes who dedicated their lives to defend Cambodia’s territorial integrity. The letter called on all government workers, teachers, workers, employees and the general public to participate in this event in large number to demand that the Thai government accepts and respects the following:

1. The Thai government must pull out all of its armed forces which invaded and are still invading Cambodian territories, and to bring back the situation which existed prior to 15 July 2008.
2. The Thai government must respect the conventions and agreements it signed on.

It is not yet known if the Phnom Penh city hall will authorize such procession march or not.

The unionist who leads the resistance against “Thai invasion”

Rong Chhhun (Photo: DR, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
By P.B.
Cambodge Soir Info
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) plans to organize a demonstration for the protection of the national territory on 15 July. For now, the authority had not made any decision on this issue yet.

Rong Chhun, the CCU President, announced that the gathering in which more than 100 persons will be joining in, aims at expressing the patriotism of Cambodians against their neighbors who are considered “invaders.” “We want to express our anger against the Thai soldiers who invaded our territory and we are asking them to withdraw immediately,” Rong Chhun wrote in a letter issued on Monday 13 July.

Last June, during the visit of Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s PM, to Cambodia, Rong Chhun then tried to organize a demonstration in Phnom Penh. Ignoring the authorization refusal by the Phnom Penh city hall, he forced the police to intervene to prevent his demonstration.

For now, the authority did not react to his request yet. At the same time, the Cambodian government is also studying on the follow up to give to a document broadcasted by a Thai government website. This video claims that Thailand neighbors, including Cambodia, had invaded its territory. Phnom Penh is firmly contesting this vision of history.

Rong Chhun: Authorization or not, the demonstration against Abhisit will go on

11 June 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, declared that the meeting for the march starting from in front of the old National Assembly building to be held on Friday, the day when Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand PM, will visit Cambodia, will take place even if the city hall does not authorize it. Rong Chhun said that he sent a letter to inform the Phnom Penh city hall already about the planned meeting to express the people’s opinion and the ensuing march. He said that even without the authorization from the city hall, “we must hold [this demonstration against Abhisit] because this is an issue that affects the nation as a whole, and this no longer an individual issue.” Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), also declared that he will join the demonstration. He said that this is an occasion for Cambodian people to express their opinion about Thailand’s aggression on Cambodian territories, as well a show of the expression of opinion to the Thai authority. He said that, even with the prevention from the city hall, “we will hold [this demonstration] because this is our national interest, and the city hall should protect those who come to express their opinion on 12 June.”

Group to Protest Thai Premier’s Visit

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 June 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will make an official visit to Cambodia Friday, but he won’t receive a warm reception from everyone.

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions plans to hold a protest of Thai incursions into Cambodia along the disputed border, following nearly a yearlong military standoff near Preah Vihear temple.

“We want the Thai prime minister to remove troops from Cambodia and keep the situation the same as it was on July 15, 2008,” said Rong Chhun, head of the confederation.

Phnom Penh authorities say they will not allow a protest.

“Such a demonstration cannot resolve a border dispute,” Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema said.

Thai Embassy officials declined to comment on the protest. Abhisit is scheduled to visit senior leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni.

Thailand and Cambodia are in a standoff over a small stretch of disputed border that was sparked by the inclusion of Preah Vihear temple as a Unesco World Heritage site under Cambodia in July 2008.

At least three soldiers on each side have died in ensuing skirmishes, with hundreds of troops entrenched along the border.

Thai-Cambodian relations are particularly volatile. Cambodian mobs looted and burned the Thai Embassy and Thai businesses in 2003, following unconfirmed rumors a Thai actress had said Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand.

Mass demo planned in Phnom Penh ahead of Preah Vihear meeting

August 16, 2008
By Supalak Ganjanakhunde
The Nation

Hundreds of Cambodians plan to protest in Phnom Penh tomorrow to demand the withdrawal of Thai troops from the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple in an attempt to influence a ministerial meeting next week.

Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong will meet on Monday and Tuesday at the beach resort of Cha-am to follow up the redeployment of troops in the area, which was agreed at a meeting in Siem Reap last month.

Military commanders on the ground agreed this week to reduce the number of soldiers on both sides in the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple to only ten.

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions said it had asked Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema for permission to hold a gathering of at least 300 people and then parade around the capital, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association, said the purpose of the demonstration was to bring Cambodians together to show their desire for the withdrawal of Thai forces and to urge the government to seek the intervention of the UN Security Council to resolve the dispute.

The military stand-off began on July 15 after Preah Vihear was made a world heritage site. Thailand feared a loss of territory after Cambodia built community housing, a road and a temple in the disputed temple periphery, over which both sides claim sovereignty.

Both countries called a meeting of the General Border Committee and a ministerial conference last month but have yet to find a way of ending the dispute.

Meanwhile Cambodia has raised questions on the presence of Thai troops at other temple ruins at Ta Muen Thom and Ta Muen Touch which, it claims, are on Cambodian territory.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry, however, wants next week's meeting to focus on the dispute over Preah Vihear.

Many issues related to Preah Vihear, including the establishment of a Cambodian community in the disputed area, need to be cleared up first, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.