Hanoi's marching order to Tea Banh

Neighbours pledge border co-operation

March, 14 2012
VNS

DA NANG — Viet Nam and Cambodia vowed to increase co-operation in border security and delegation exchanges during talks between the two defence ministers on Monday.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and his Cambodian counterpart General Tea Banh, who doubles as Cambodian deputy Prime Minister, agreed to boost the training of army officers, joint patrols of territorial waters and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteers and soldiers who died during Cambodia's wars.

General Tea Banh, heading a delegation from the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, left central Da Nang City yesterday, wrapping up his official visit to the country.

Hanoi's marching order to the CPP on trade and border markets: $5 billion trade in 2 years, and 2010-2020 master plan for border markets

At the seventh meeting between Cambodia and Vietnam on cooperation and development of border provinces ( photo CPV website)

Viet troops crossing into Cambodia to prevent SRP MPs from visiting border post (Photo: Uon Chhin, RFA)

Cambodia, Vietnam agree to enhance border cooperation 

Saturday, Mar 10, 2012
Saigon Giai Phong (Vietcong Commie Party)

The two countries pledged not to allow any of their forces to invade or violate the other's territory. (sic!)

Cambodia and Vietnam held their seventh meeting on cooperation and development of border provinces on March 8 and 9 in Ho Chi Minh City, co-chaired by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister cum Interior Minister Sar Kheng.

At the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the bilateral cooperation between ministries and local authorities in the border provinces, particularly in implementing safety and security in the region, developing socio-economic activities and maintaining a good relationship amongst the provinces.

The two countries also pledged to create more favourable conditions in promoting cooperation and friendship among localities.

Despite the serious effects of the global downturn, trade relations between Vietnam and Cambodia showed growth with turnover of US$2.8 billion last year, an increase of nearly 55 per cent compared to 2010.

Cooperation in agriculture, forestry and the marine sectors would be promoted by exchanging experiences, techniques and information, and providing high-yield animal breed and plant seeds.

CPP Chheang Vun's kowtow trip to Hanoi toreceive his marching order

Nguyen Sinh Hung (R) issues marching order to CPP Chheang Vun (L)

Vietnam, Cambodia strengthen legislative ties

VietNamNet Bridge (22/02/2012) – Vietnam always gives priority to consolidating neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and multifaceted cooperation with Cambodia.

This was affirmed by Head of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Foreign Affairs Tran Van Hang while receiving a delegation from the Cambodian NA Committee for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Information and Media, led by its Chairman, Chheang Vun.

Hang said bilateral relationship is an invaluable asset of the two countries and urged both sides to nurture it for development and prosperity in both countries, as well as for peace, democracy, and social advancement in the world.

A make-believe History

31 December 2011
Op-Ed by Anonymous

History is not fiction. But Cambodia history after 1979 has been mixed with fictional exaggerations for the purpose of fooling the younger generations into believing them as facts. Modern Khmer historians, having been bought off by money and power, have spun the facts of history, and as a result, now young Cambodians, some of whom are half-blood Khmer Yuons have believed wholeheartedly, since they have been taught so.

What is the 7 Makara? It is no doubt marked the day when Vietnam invasion won over the Khmer Rouge regime and installed a big herd of its puppets to carry on Ho Chi Minh’s plan to engulf Cambodia.

Was there really such a thing called the Liberation Movement formed by Hun Sen and his clique? Of course Vietnamese are smart in playing their game; they had an empty shell of Viet Minh’s in which they needed to fill with some Khmers, whom they trusted, could serve them well. They disguised their invasion as a Liberation Movement for the sole purpose of fooling Khmer younger generations and the world into believing that it was Khmers themselves who saved their compatriots from the Khmer Rouge’s massacre. This herd of brutal barbarians, without shame, claimed their merit and faked it real. By signing many deals before and after the invasion, the puppets, to fulfill the deals, have given parts of our farmers’ land along the border to Vietnam, and have allowed many millions Vietnamese to flow into Cambodia freely. Most of them now become legal citizens of Cambodia, who can vote for the CPP. These Vietnamese have hurt and harmed Khmer people in their own homeland so much, and destroyed Cambodia natural resources recklessly.

Xee-PP comrade Pal Xam Oeun on kowtow trip to Hanoi to receive Hanoi's marching order

VN, Cambodia share legislative experience

December, 31 2011
VNS

HA NOI -- The legislative bodies of Vietnam and Cambodia should increase bilateral cooperation and share experience in law-making, said a top Vietnamese legislator.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son made the statement during his meeting in Hanoi on Dec. 30 with a delegation of the Cambodian National Assembly's Commission on Interior, National Defence, Investigation, Anti-Corruption and Public Function, led by its deputy head Pal Sam Oeurn.

Son expressed his wish that the two legislatures would continue to take measures and effectively promote cooperation mechanisms, thus boosting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia .

CLV triangle seeks closer internal cooperation [-Hanoi's marching order to Phnom Penh and Vientiane]

11/12/2011
VietnamNetBridge

Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam (CLV) will increase cooperation to address challenges in the region.

The agreement was reached at the seventh meeting of their CLV Joint Coordinating Committee in Attapeu town, Laos, on December 9.

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing called for internal cooperation as well as international support for the development triangle region.

Participants acknowledged the progress made within the CLV cooperation framework and expressed their thanks to Japan for its assistance to the region’s socio-economic development.

Sacrava's Political Carton: Strengthening Relationships

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Cambodian parliament expels opposition leader

Mar 16, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's parliament has expelled the leader of the opposition, Sam Rainsy, two weeks after the Supreme Court upheld a jail term against him for uprooting markers along the Vietnamese border.

Veteran opposition politician Son Chhay said parliament's permanent standing committee, which is comprised of lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), had issued the decision.

Son Chhay said previous expulsions of parliamentarians who fell foul of the ruling party had been resolved through political compromise.

'But the situation today is different - the CPP controls all state institutions and it seems they are moving the country back to the authoritarian system which requires no need to compromise,' he said.

Vietnam, Cambodia enhance cooperation in legislature [-Hanoi's marching order for border demarcation]

12/28/2010
VOVNews (Hanoi)

Vietnam and Cambodia wish to promote cooperation legislatures to fulfill their tasks.

This was stressed by Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen Duc Kien and Vice President of the Cambodian National Assembly Nguol Nhel during their talks in Phnom Penh on December 27.

They informed each other of their respective parliaments’ operations in 2010 and expressed their desire to enhance and strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

They said more efforts should be made by the two governments to complete land border demarcation and landmark planting by late 2012 and build a sustainable peaceful borderline between the two countries.

After the talks, the Vietnam National Assembly’s decision to ratify a project on information technology infrastructure worth VND23 billion (over US$1 million) was handed over to the Cambodian National Assembly’s Secretariat.

The project, which will be carried out in 2011, is expected to equip the Cambodian parliament with an electronic information system linking the NA to provincial NA deputy delegations nationwide.

The Vietnamese legislature presented its Cambodian counterpart with a security scanner and an electricity generator.

During his stay in Cambodia from Dec. 26-29, NA Deputy Chairman Kien paid a courtesy visit to NA President Heng Samrin and Vice President of the Senate Tep Ngorn and met with the Phnom Penh authorities.

Kien and his entourage are scheduled to visit several localities to meet with parliamentarians and inquire into Cambodia’s economic development.

CPP Ang Vong Vathana's kowtow visit to Hanoi to receive Dung's marching order

PM welcomes Cambodian Justice Minister

08/31/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting Cambodian Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana in Hanoi on August 30.

At the reception, PM Dung said he was pleased with the fine judiciary cooperation between the two countries’ Ministries of Justice and affirmed that Vietnam wants to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all aspects, especially in politics-diplomacy, economics, socio-culture and justice.

The Government leader suggested both sides make greater efforts to sign an agreement on judicial assistance which helps boost the economic-commercial cooperation between the two countries.

The signing of the agreement would create a legal foundation for Vietnamese and Cambodian people and businesses to exchange cooperative programmes and projects and strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the two nations, he noted.

For his part, Minister Ang Vong Vathana emphasised that Vietnam-Cambodia relations have constantly been consolidated over the years.

He added that during their talks, his ministry and the Vietnamese counterpart agreed on necessary contents for the signing of the judicial assistance agreement between the two countries.

Dung's order to Hun Phany, the new Xmer ambassador to Hanoi: Complete border demarcation by 2012

Prime Minister meets Cambodian new ambassador

07/09/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Cambodia’s newly-accredited Ambassador Hunn Phany in Hanoi on July 8.

PM Dung praised Cambodia’s achievements over the recent past, which have helped raise the country’s position in the international arena, and boost relations between the two countries.

He asked the ambassador to contribute to boosting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and investment. He mentioned Vietnam’s investment projects in aviation, telecom, mining and rubber in Cambodia, which bring practical benefits to both sides.

The PM also asked for the completion of border demarcation between the two countries in 2012 as agreed by the two countries’ leaders and make good preparations for conferences of Vietnamese and Cambodian provinces sharing common borders to be held in Cambodia.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies will create favourable conditions for the ambassador to fulfil his term of office.

The Cambodian Ambassador expressed thanks to Vietnam for its valuable assistance over the past years and affirmed that he will try his best to contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.

Hanoi's marching order for Hun Xen: Complete border issues by 2012

Vietnam, Cambodia to complete border issues in 2012

06/08/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)

Vietnam and Cambodia have vowed to complete border demarcation and landmark planting along their common border by late 2012 as agreed previously by their top leaders.

The agreement was reached during a special session in Phnom Penh on June 8 between the chairmen of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on land border demarcation and landmark planting.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Ho Xuan Son, Deputy Foreign Minister, Chairman of the National Border Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on land border demarcation and landmark planting.

The Cambodian delegation was led by Var Kim Hong, Senior Minister in charge of border affairs, Chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Committee on land border demarcation and landmark planting.

Both parties reviewed and discussed measures to speed up the work on land. Accordingly, a workshop will be held in Vietnam’s Can Tho City in mid July 2010 to draw experience and complete the procedure for border demarcation and landmark planting. They also agreed to hold a meeting of a mapping group in Phnom Penh in late June 2010.

The two chairmen agreed to convene their upcoming meeting in Vietnam this September.

A peaceful border with Vietnam means accepting Viet encroachments?

sVar Kim Hong is all smile after meeting with his progenitor, the communist Yuon Nguyen Tan Dung

Vietnam, Cambodia vow to build peaceful border

01/15/2010
VOVNews/VNA

Vietnam will join efforts with Cambodia to build the common borderline into one of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

The Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while receiving the Cambodian Senior Minister Var Kim Hong, who is Chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Border Commission, in Hanoi on January 14.

PM Dung stressed that the demarcation and planting of border markers on the common borderline should be conducted in line with the principle of equity and rationality, for mutual benefit. He urged the two sides to early finalise on spot demarcation work with a view to promoting cooperation between the two countries.

He also welcomed and highly valued the results of the recent joint border commission meeting at which the two sides agreed to plant a number of markers this year and discussed measures to settle several difficulties.

Minister Var Kim Hong pledged that Cambodia will closely work with Vietnam in demarcating the borderline and planting border markers in line with the spirit of cooperation and friendship, listen to each other’s views and jointly solve any emerging in due time issues.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Minister Var Kim Hong expressed their belief that land demarcation between Vietnam and Cambodia will be completed by 2012 as agreed by leaders of the two countries.

Up security ties with Vietnam: Nguyen Tan Dung's marching order for Sar Kheng

Nation ups security ties with Cambodia

13-01-2010
VNS

HA NOI—Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday stressed that Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security and Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior needed to boost their co-operation to benefit people in both countries.

He made this statement while receiving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.

Dung expressed his pleasure with the great achievements in the traditional and friendly relations between the two countries, as well as with the results of meetings between Sar Kheng and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh.

He said he hoped that in the future, the two ministries would actively implement their agreements.

Dung said that the good relationship between the two ministries would create favourable conditions for the two countries, especially for their border-sharing provinces.

The leader said that the two ministries needed to develop their mutual support and co-operation in training and the exchange of professional skills to ensure security and social order.

For his part, Sar Kheng said that the co-operation between the two ministries had contributed to boosting the development of the two countries’ relations across all fields.

He affirmed that the Cambodian Government was ready to co-operate with Viet Nam in implementing the agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, including the co-operation agreement between the Cambodian Ministry of Interior and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security.

Earlier yesterday, Sar Kheng held talks with Anh about the two ministries’ co-operation last year, and on the co-operation between the two ministries this year.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Professor Joseph Nye of Harvard University, the author of the theory of soft power.

Dung said that Viet Nam always appreciated its co-operation with the United States in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education and training.

He said that the relations between Viet Nam and the US on politics and diplomacy in bilateral and multilateral forums had become stronger.

The leader affirmed that the country was always consistent with building its market economy, integrating into the world economy, ensuring the social welfare system and environmental protection and developing friendship with other countries for mutual benefits.

Professor Nye affirmed that Viet Nam had been forecast to make impressive progress like Singapore and South Korea in the future.

He said that trade liberalisation and globalisation were still going on, giving the country a good chance to boost its exports and attract foreign direct investments.

Dung said he hoped that with his prestige, Professor Nye would make contributions to the co-operative and equal relationship between Viet Nam and the US, as well as between Viet Nam’s universities and Harvard University.

Nye affirmed that Harvard University always paid close attention to Viet Nam.

Delight at receiving Hanoi's marching order?

Border provinces exchange work experience

12/29/2009
VOVNews/VNA

A delegation from the Cambodian province of Kratie on December 28 held talks with leaders of the Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Council, highlighting developments and cooperation in the region.

During the meeting, leaders from the border provinces expressed delight at the growing friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in general and between Kratie and the southern province of Binh Phuoc in particular.

They agreed that authorities of both provinces have incessantly strengthened bilateral relations by exchanging delegations on a regular basis, signing cooperation agreements and working together for the implementation of border landmark plantation as agreed by the governments of both countries.

They have also facilitated entry and exit procedures for people from Binh Phuoc and Kratie to travel across the shared border.

Kratie is a north-eastern province of Cambodia that borders Vietnam to the south.

Five additional suspects in the uprooting of border stakes summoned by the Svay Rieng court this morning

Sam Rainsy wants to be tried by Hanoi rather than by the puppet court

23 December 2009
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Five individuals who were accused of involvement in the uprooting of border stakes along the Cambodian-Viet border were summoned to the Svay Rieng court to provide clarifications on Wednesday 23 December 2009.

Even though last week, the Svay Rieng court accused opposition leader Sam Rainsy and his accomplices of destroying public properties, racial discrimination, and ordered them to be detained, the individuals who are summoned by the court to show up this morning, indicated that they are not scared at all.

A woman who was summoned by the court said: “There is nothing to fear about, I did nothing wrong because the border post was planted right on top of my rice field … I want the court to summon me immediately.”

Nget Chandara, a representativeof the Adhoc human rights organization in Svay Rieng province, indicated that the 5 villagers summoned by the court for clarification this morning do not belong to any political party. However, they all lost their lands in the area where the border posts were planted.

Border post no. 185 that the Cambodian villagers from Koh Kban Kandal village, Samrong commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, claimed that it was planted in the middle of their rice fields, were uprooted by opposition leader Sam Rainsy during a Kathen procession led to Wat Ang Romdenh pagoda on 25 October 2009.

Subsequently, a report indicated that border posts no. 184, 186 and 187 that are suspected of being planted inside Cambodian territories, were secretly removed by the Viet authority to erase proofs of Viet encroachments.

The uprooting of the border stakes by Sam Rainsy led to an angry outburst by Nguyen Tan Dung, the Yuon prime minister. He demanded that the Cambodian government takes appropriate measures against opposition leader Sam Rainsy and those who were involved.

SRP MP Son Chhay, the parliament opposition whip, led a group of SRP MPs to visit the actual border situation on 14 December 2009. Son Chhay told reporters that the planting of border posts led to the loss of large chunks of Cambodian territories to the hand of Hanoi.

On Monday, Sam Rainsy issued an email indicating that he is ready to clarify the Svay Rieng court on Monday [28 December] morning, however, Sam Rainsy said that the Svay Rieng court is merely a puppet of Hanoi.

Sam Rainsy said: “It’s useless and meaningless to defend yourself before a servant. You’d better address the master. Therefore, I am willing to show up and to be prosecuted in person in Hanoi because my trial is a political one first ordered by Vietnam’s government.”

In his statement, opposition leader Sam Rainsy also quoted the 04 November 2009 report published by the Voice of Vietnam whereby Nguyen Tan Dung, the Yuon PM, told Men Sam An, the visiting Cambodian deputy-PM, that: “Regarding acts and statements made by Sam Rainsy - President of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), who recently uprooted six temporary poles for Marker 185 between Vietnam’s southern province of Long An and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province – [Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung] proposed that the Cambodian government take due measures to deal with Rainsy’s acts of sabotage and not permit similar cases to occur, as they negatively affect the fine relations between the two nations.”

Meanwhile, Yim Sovann, SRP MP and party spokesman, indicated that the SRP is protesting the addition of more suspects into the lawsuit against Sam Rainsy. Yim Sovann added that Sam Rainsy takes responsibility for the incident, therefore there is no need to charge other individuals.

Comrade Nong Duc Manh bringing marching order to Hun Xen and the CPP?

The puppet (L) and the puppet master (R)

Strengthening Vietnam-Cambodia relations

12/15/2009
VOV News (Hanoi)

"In 2010 Vietnam is expected to grant 550 scholarships to Cambodian students. In turn, Cambodia will also grant scholarships to Vietnamese officials studying the Khmer language."

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh will pay an official visit to Cambodia on December 17-19 at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni. This is Mr Manh’s second visit to Cambodia after his first in March 2005.

The visit aims to strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and to elevate Vietnam’s position in the region, especially as the country will assume the chair of ASEAN in 2010.

Vietnam and Cambodia share a 1,000km long border and both use the Mekong River. They stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against colonialism and the Pol Pot genocidal regime and have continued with mutual support and assistance during the current process of national construction and defence. Both countries have an open foreign policy of diversifying and multilateralising their international relations.

Over the past years, bilateral relations have developed well with an emphasis on ‘good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability. A regular exchange of high-level visits has been maintained to promote mutual trust and understanding. Relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the two Cambodian parties in the ruling coalition have also fared well.

Economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Cambodia have grown and flourished constantly on a par with their political ties. Two-way trade has increased by 40 percent annually, reaching US$1.7 billion in 2008 and US$945 million in the past three quarters of this year.

Both countries have worked out measures to expand economic and trade cooperation, to raise bilateral trade to US$2 billion in 2010. They have also opened and upgraded a number of economic zones and markets along the border.

Vietnam’s investment in Cambodia has increased considerably, with 50 projects licensed and valued at US$640 million. These projects mainly focus on the exploration and exploitation of minerals, oil & gas, the construction of hydro-power electric plants and power transmission lines, rubber plantations and developing transport infrastructure.

Progress has been made in several joint projects such as health care, education-training and science-technology. Since 1995, Vietnam has trained thousands of Cambodian officials, university graduates and post-graduates in economics, culture and science-technology. In 2010 Vietnam is expected to grant 550 scholarships to Cambodian students. In turn, Cambodia will also grant scholarships to Vietnamese officials studying the Khmer language.

Cambodia has appreciated Vietnam’s humanitarian programmes to provide medical check-ups and restore the eyesight of visually-impaired people in border provinces.

The two countries have also worked closely in regional and international forums, thereby elevating their status globally.

Dung thanks Xen for giving free rein of Cambodia to the Yuons

Vietnam PM meets with Lao, Cambodian leaders

Thursday ,Dec 10,2009
Source: Vietnam News Agency

PM Dung thanked the Cambodian government for its creation of favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to make successful investments in aviation, banking, telecoms and agriculture.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with leaders of Laos and Cambodia in Vientiane on Dec. 9 before he attended the opening ceremony of the 25th Southeast Asian Games there.

During a meeting with the Lao Party General Secretary and State President, Choummaly Sayasone, PM Dung wished SEA Games 25 a success and said Vietnam already did and will do its utmost to help Laos successfully host the sporting event.

Vietnam attaches great importance and gives priority to developing special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, said PM Dung, who has been in Laos as a guest of his Lao counterpart, Bouasone Bouphavanh.

He proposed the Lao government to continue creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese companies to invest in the fields of transport, energy, finance and banking on the basis of mutual benefit.

The PM congratulated Laos on its 34th National Day as well as achievements it reaped in recent years, especially in 2009 when the country maintained political stability, high economic growth, expanding foreign relations and improved its position in the region and the international arena.

Party General Secretary Sayasone thanked Vietnam for assisting Laos in hosting SEA Games 25, describing it as evidence of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and between Southeast Asian nations.

The Laos leader said he was delighted at the progress in bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, and stressed that the flow of Vietnamese investment created a momentum to foster Laos’s economic development.

At the talks with Lao PM Bouphavanh, the two prime ministers agreed that their respective countries hold huge potentials for further cooperation, particularly in hydroelectricity, mining, transport, industrial crops growing and processing.

Despite the impacts of the global financial-economic crisis, this year’s two-way trade forecasts to be kept at the same level of 423 million USD as last year.

Vietnam has emerged as one of the largest foreign investors in Laos with 48 projects totaling 1.4 billion USD licensed in 2009 alone, the prime ministers noted.

PM Dung thanked the Lao government for 1,000 cu.m of wood it granted to residents in Vietnam’s central region, who were heavily affected by typhoon Ketsana.

For his part, PM Bouphavanh affirmed that the Lao government will try its best to step up cooperative relations between the two nations.

PM Bouphavanh thanked Vietnam for its support during the SEA Games 25 and expressed his belief that the Vietnamese athletes will bring home many medals from the event.

While receiving President of the Lao Front for National Construction Sisavat Keobounphan, PM Dung spoke highly of Keobounphan’s role in developing the Laos front and believed that Laos will fulfill this year’s socio-economic targets.

Keobounphan said exchanges and seminars held in recent years contributed greatly to improving public awareness of the valuable heritage of the loyal relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Also on Dec. 9, PM Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to discuss ways of further promoting bilateral ties, especially in the areas of economics, trade and investment.

PM Dung thanked the Cambodian government for its creation of favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to make successful investments in aviation, banking, telecoms and agriculture.

He applauded progress in the two countries’ border demarcation and marker planting towards the completion of the job in 2012 as agreed upon by senior leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia.

As neighbors and Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) members, Vietnam wants to join hands with Cambodia to enhance cooperation in all spheres, especially in economics, trade and investment for development in each country and the whole region, PM Dung said.

PM Hun Sen noted with pleasure promising results in bilateral cooperation as well as the increasing flow of Vietnamese investment in Cambodia.

The Cambodian leader lauded effective cooperation in aviation, telecoms and energy and pledged to continue facilitating Vietnamese firms’ business activities in Cambodia.

Cambodian opposition leader loses immunity again

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy

Nov 16, 2009
DPA

"This case is related to Cambodian sovereignty and the border issue. I don't think it will benefit the CPP if they continue to punish Rainsy for fighting for Cambodian sovereignty" - SRP MP Son Chhay

Phnom Penh - The leader of Cambodia's main opposition party lost his legal immunity for the second time this year following a vote Monday in parliament that was boycotted by the opposition.

Sam Rainsy, who leads the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), is accused of involvement in uprooting boundary markers along the country's eastern border with Vietnam. A provincial court had requested that his immunity be stripped so it could investigate the alleged offence.

The vote was boycotted by the SRP and its ally, the Human Rights Party, which together hold 29 seats in the 123-seat assembly. The vote required two-thirds of the legislators vote in favour, an easy task for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which holds more than two-thirds of the seats.

Opposition legislator Son Chhay, who stayed away from the vote, told the German Press Agency dpa that 87 lawmakers had attended the vote, and that all had voted in favour.

'When it comes to the opposition, the government will (remove immunity) straight away,' he said. 'I wrote a letter to the speaker when I heard what they intended to do and said we should have a high-level multiparty committee set up to investigate the case, but they refused.'

However CPP legislator Hou Sry said the vote to suspend Sam Rainsy's immunity was simply following the law.

'It was a request from the court, so we have to do it,' he said. 'We can't judge whether his actions were right or wrong, that's for the court.'

Sam Rainsy stands accused of overseeing the removal of wooden posts that mark the border with Vietnam in Svay Rieng province in eastern Cambodia. The opposition leader said he was standing up for villagers in the area who claim Vietnamese authorities are moving the border posts onto their land.

Sam Rainsy is currently in Europe. Son Chhay said the party leader was determined to return to Cambodia, adding that the case is 'very sensitive.'

'This case is related to Cambodian sovereignty and the border issue,' he said. 'I don't think it will benefit the CPP if they continue to punish Rainsy for fighting for Cambodian sovereignty.'

The vote marks the fourth time this year that MPs from his party have been stripped of their immunity. Critics charge that the ruling party is using the courts to move against opponents in politics, the media and civil society. The government has won a string of legal cases this year.

Sam Rainsy sued for pulling out border stakes

Click on the article in Khmer to zoom in