From cursing Abhisit ... to having to shake his hand

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, greets his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during their meeting in Thailand's southern resort town of Hua Hin Sunday, April 4, 2010. Hun Sen is in Thailand to attend the 1st Mekong River Commission Summit to be concluded Monday. (AP Photo)
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) shakes hands with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during the Mekong River summit in Hua Hin April 4, 2010. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) comprising of leaders of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, attend a summit in Thai resort town of Hua Hin to discuss falling water levels in the mighty Mekong river. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (2R) welcomes his counterparts from Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung (L), Cambodia Hun Sen (2L) and Laos Bouasone Bouphavanh during the Mekong River summit in Hua Hin April 4, 2010.The Mekong River Commission (MRC) comprising of leaders from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, attend a summit in Thai resort town of Hua Hin to discuss falling water levels in the mighty Mekong river. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (2L) is accompanied by his counterparts from Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung (L), Cambodia Hun Sen (R) and Laos Bouasone Bouphavanh during the Mekong River summit in Hua Hin April 4, 2010. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) comprising of leaders from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, attend a summit in Thai resort town of Hua Hin to discuss falling water levels in the mighty Mekong river. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Hun Sen won't let Thaksin visit while reds protest: Suthep

April 5, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Hua Hin

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had vowed not to allow former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Cambodia during the red shirt protest, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

Hun Sen, whose country downgraded relations with Thailand since the appointment of Thaksin as his economic adviser in October last year, is in Thailand for the mekong River Commission summit in Hua Hin.

Suthep made a courtesy call on Hun Sen on the sidelines of the summit yesterday, to wish him a happy birthday and discuss bilateral relations.

Relations between Hun Sen and Thaksin were personal, he said later, and the Cambodian premier would not allow them to jeopardise mutual interests of the two countries.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen told me to let bygones be bygones and move forward to the future to restore relations of the two countries," Suthep told reporters.

"Our countries are neighbors which cannot move away from each other. The border will be no problem and relations of people along the border will improve," he said.

Hun Sen's latest message was contrary to his previous stance, which was strongly opposed the current government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been downgraded as both sides recalled their respective ambassadors after the Cambodian PM appointed the fugitive former Thai PM.

The appointment of Thaksin created a bilateral crisis for the the two countries. But relations had already soured due to the border conflict over land near the historic Hindu temple at Preah Vihear.

Thaksin visited Cambodia twice since Hun Sen made him an economic adviser. The Thai government responded by reviewing cooperation projects, including maritime deals and financial assistance for a road upgrade after Phnom Penh rejected a Thai request to extradite Thaksin.

Thaksin's visit to Cambodia had political implications for Thailand due to his proximity to the red shirt group and possible moves to try to oust Abhisit's administration.

Suthep said that Hun Sen understood the implications of Thaksin visiting his country and would not allow him in while the red shirts protest, as some Thais may "misunderstand" that Hun Sen was letting Thaksin use Cambodia as a base for moves against the Thai government.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen told me that Cambodian constitution also bars anybody from using the country as a political base against other countries," Suthep said.

Asked if Prime Minister Hun Sen was sincere, given the verbal attack he launched against the Thai government recently, Suthep said the mood of the Cambodian leader had changed and he now he insisted that Thaksin was a normal economic adviser, with no political agenda in his appointment.

Suthep is one of just a few senior Thai officials among the Abhisit government on good terms with Hun Sen.

The Cambodian PM had no formal bilateral meeting with Abhisit on this two-day stay for the MRC summit but met with Suthep in a private capacity.

"He invited me to have a meal at his residence in Phnom Penh whenever I am free from the red shirt protest at home," Suthep said.

Hun Sen says Thaksin barred

No entry for ex-PM during political strife

5/04/2010
Pradit Ruangdit
Bangkok Post

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says he will not allow ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to use his country as a political base to attack the government, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says.

Mr Suthep met Hun Sen in Hua Hin yesterday where the Cambodian leader was attending the opening of the Mekong River Commission summit.

The pair met for 40 minutes. Hun Sen said he would not allow his personal ties with Thaksin affect relations with Thailand.

"He told me that he could distinguish between personal relations [with Thaksin] and national interests," Mr Suthep said.

The deputy prime minister quoted Hun Sen as saying Cambodia would not allow Thaksin to use Cambodia as a base for attacks on Thailand since such activities were banned by the Cambodian constitution.

Hun Sen has criticised Thailand's stance towards Thaksin.

Asked about those criticisms, Mr Suthep said: "That's a different situation, different feeling."

Hun Sen wanted Thailand and Cambodia to put their problems behind them, and said he had instructed military officers along the border to refrain from taking any action that would cause resentment among Thais.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia deteriorated after Bangkok last year opposed Phnom Penh's move to list the Preah Vihear temple ruins as a Unesco World Heritage site.

The situation worsened after Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser, and refused to extradite him to Thailand when Thaksin paid a four-day visit to Cambodia in mid-November last year.

Both sides recalled their ambassadors.

Mr Suthep said he did not discuss with Hun Sen the matter of when the ambassadors could resume their offices.

"Mr Hun Sen told me that Thaksin is just an economic adviser to Cambodia, but that during times such as these when Thailand is facing political strife, he would not allow Thaksin to enter Cambodia," Mr Suthep said.

"I have asked him [Hun Sen] permission to convey his messages to the Thai people and he agreed."

Hun Xen contrite and accomodating toward Thailand?

Deputy PM Suthep: PM Hun Sen pledges to bar Thaksin's entry

HUA HIN, April 4 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Sunday said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen assured him he would not allow ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to enter Cambodia and use it as a base to launch political attacks against Thailand.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with the Cambodian Prime Minister who arrived in this Thai resort town to attend the two-day Mekong Summit, Mr Suthep disclosed that Mr Hun Sen assured him during the 40-minute discussion that he would not let his personal relations with Mr Thaksin affect bilateral relations with Thailand.

“Mr Hun Sen gave assurances to me that he would not allow Mr Thaksin to enter Cambodia so long as current problem regarding the anti-Thai government red-shirted protest continues,” Mr Suthep said.

The Cambodian prime minister also stated that he did not want Thai people to think that Mr Thaksin used Cambodia as a base for political movements against the Thai government as Cambodian constitution prohibits such activities, Mr Suthep said.

The Cambodian prime minister also urged Thailand to help Cambodia restore normal relations and said he had instructed Cambodian military officers along the border to refrain from taking any action that will cause resentment by Thai people, according to the Thai deputy prime minister.

However, Mr Suthep said he did not discuss with Mr Hun Sen regarding when the ambassadors of the two countries will return to their offices.

Cambodia and Thailand have had a longstanding conflict over the disputed overlapping area near the 11th century Preah Vihear as border demarcation is still unclear, leading to sporadic clashes between soldiers of the two countries.

Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been strained after Phnom Penh rejected a formal request from Thailand to extradite Mr Thaksin and appointed him as an economic advisor to Cambodia last year.

The situation further deteriorated when the two kingdoms recalled their respective ambassadors in retaliatory actions.

Hun Xen accomodating Thailand? Where's Chea Dara to denounce this nonsense?

Where's Hun Xen's loudmouth minion - the 4-star general Chea Dara - when his boss is accommodating Thailand?

Cambodia will not invite Thaksin to the country during red shirts' protests : Hun Sen

Sunday, April 04, 2010
The Nation

Cambodia will not invite ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra to the country during the period that the red shirts hold mass rally in Thailand, Khmer PM Hun Sen said.

Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban quoted Hun Sen as saying that the move will aim at preventing Thaksin from using Cambodia as a stage to criticise the Thai government.

Suthep on Sunday met Hun Sen on the sideline of mekong Summit.

This surprised many as Hun Sen himself criticised Abhisit government and angered the government by appointing Thaksin as his economic adviser.

Hun Sen arrives in Hua Hin

4/04/2010
Bangkok Post

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in Hua Hin on Sunday morning to participate in the first Mekong River Commission summit. The event is being held at the Hyatt Regency hotel, from April 2 to 5.

The Cambodian premier and his entourage arrived at Bo Fai airport at 10.15am amid tight security. He was greeted by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon before heading to the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel.

Seven companies of police and soldiers have been deployed to oversee the security of those attending the summit and to prevent anti-government protesters from causing disruption.

During the Asean summit in Hua Hin last year, Hun Sen openly criticised the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and said he would appoint fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the Cambodia government's economic adviser.

PAD protesters tell Cambodia's Hun Sen he's not welcome in Hua Hin

VOICING THEIR OPINION: Members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy show their opposition to Cambodian Prime Minsiter Hun Sen yesterday.

4/04/2010
Chaiwat Satyaeman
Bangkok Post

PHETCHABURI : More than 100 activists arrived in Cha-am on Saturday to deliver a letter protesting against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to Thailand.

Key People's Alliance for Democracy figure Veera Somkwamkid led the group and handed the letter of protest to Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister.

Hun Sen is due to attend the Mekong River Commission summit in Hua Hin tomorrow.

Mr Veera said the Cambodian prime minister is "persona non grata" in Thailand and accused Hun Sen of having tried to interfere in Thailand's domestic affairs.

He said Hun Sen showed a disregard of the Thai judicial system when he criticised it over its handling of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's legal cases.

Mr Veera said Hun Sen offended Thais by appointing Thaksin as an economic adviser and his own personal adviser.

Mr Veera attacked Hun Sen for putting personal relationships and individual interests above relations between Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr Veera accused the Cambodian prime minister of trying to infringe on Thailand's sovereignty by sending troops to invade the 4.6-square-kilometre area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. He also alleged Hun Sen was trying to take control of other disputed areas along the Thai-Cambodian border and the overlapping areas in the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Veera said he and other Thais would fight to protect the country's territorial integrity.

He said Thais would not be bound by any agreements and actions by past and present governments that violate the constitution and hurt the country's interests.

Fishermen left high and dry fear for Mekong's future

Cambodian workers transport sand along the Mekong river (AFP)

Sunday, April 04, 2010
By Rachel O'Brien (AFP)

VIENTIANE — Mekong River levels in parts of Laos have hit their lowest in 50 years.

The situation has alarmed the millions who depend on what is the world's largest inland fishery with an estimated annual catch of about 3.9 million tonnes, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

Fisherman Phimmalang Sengphet paddles his boat to the sandy banks of the Mekong River in Laos and inspects his meagre haul. "We can't even catch enough to feed ourselves," he says wearily.

The 38-year-old was able to net more than 10 kilos (22 pounds) of fish a day this time last year, but now he is lucky to bring home just half that. He blames the unusually low water levels -- the most extreme he has ever seen.

"We want to know why. This is our life, catching fish to sell at the market. This is our business to provide for our families," he says as he wanders back to his village on the outskirts of the capital Vientiane.

"In Laos we don't have the sea, we only have the Mekong for water and for food, so it's very important to us," said another villager, 63-year-old Som Sirivath, as she waded waist-deep into the river in search of some supper.

The ebbing flows are not confined to land-locked Laos, one of Asia's poorest nations.

In the upper Mekong basin in China's southwest, more than 24 million people are short of drinking water as a result of the worst drought in a century. Downstream, the north of Thailand has also suffered five-decade river lows.

"Many people I know have changed to agricultural work because they can't live on income from the fishing industry," said Niwat Roykaew, head of a local conservation group in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai.

The cause of the dwindling waterway is a matter of fierce debate, with activists pointing the finger upstream to China's hydropower dams, which they believe channel water away from the upper reaches of the Mekong.

Pianporn Deetes, of campaign group International Rivers, said water levels were not just dropping but "fluctuating unnaturally", and that disruption to the ecosystem began after China built its first dam more than a decade ago.

"Local people experienced the loss of fish catch, the destruction of aquatic resources," the Thai environmentalist told a recent forum in Bangkok.

With a dozen dams proposed downstream as well as in China, she said locals were "worrying about the threats to the ecosystem, the livelihoods and food security. Definitely the impact on fisheries is our main concern".

China, which has eight existing or planned dams on the mainstream river, insists that extreme dry weather conditions are to blame for the current shortage -- a claim backed up by findings of the intergovernmental MRC.

Whatever the reason, the problem concerns more than 60 million people who live in the lower Mekong basin and normally each eat 30 to 40 kilograms of fish every year, according to an MRC report released on Saturday.

People in southern Laos, for example, have relied "for generations" on diverse aquatic life for high-protein diets and have livelihoods "closely entwined with the seasonal rhythm of the river", the report said.

The abnormally low levels are disrupting the vast fishery, raising fears over already endangered species such as the Mekong giant catfish that can weigh up to 350 kilograms, said MRC spokesman Damian Kean.

A shallower river can affect breeding and migration patterns, as well as the waterway's general ecological health, he said.

The MRC report urged caution over future developments in the basin, warning of dangers posed by both proposed dams and expanding populations.

"Over the past five years, significant changes have taken place in water-related resources and this is likely to continue, which may put livelihoods under threat," said commission adviser Hanne Bach.

The drought and dam debate were set to dominate an MRC summit in Thailand on management of the river starting Sunday attended by the leaders of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, along with ministers from China and Myanmar.

Urgent action is needed to protect the Mekong basin "before it's too late," said campaigner Pianporn.

Experts Say Cooperation Needed on Mekong River Resources

The Mekong River runs more than 4,000 kilometers through six countries, vital to large populations for farming, fishing, drinking water, industry and power generation

Thailand 03 April 2010
Daniel Schearf, VOA
Hua Hin

Experts meeting to discuss Mekong River resources have urged countries along the Southeast Asian river to improve cooperation in developing hydropower. Delegates also urged China to share more information about its dam building on the Mekong.

After two days of discussions, some 200 experts on water, environmental protection, and finance concluded there is not enough cooperation on developing the Mekong River's resources.

They urged Mekong countries to find a balanced approach to harness the river's economic benefits such as hydropower without causing too much social and environmental damage.

Ian Matthews, who is with the ANZ Bank in Singapore, says international standards for environmental protection are not being met on Mekong dam projects when international banks are not involved.

"As a country, as a government, there's a clear desire to have hydropower finance because it is an increasingly valuable resource in places like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. If the international bank is not going to finance it, and they're not going to apply World Bank standards, IFC standards, to these projects, what you get are banks coming in who have much lower standards. Now, that will lead to much greater degradation of the environment, it will lead to the exclusion of other stakeholders," said Matthews.

China is the only country with hydropower dams on the Mekong and along with Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand is also planning to build more.

Until recently China provided very little information from its dams to its downstream neighbors.

And when the river flooded in 2008 and this year dropped to a 50-year low, many along the Mekong blamed China.

However, the Mekong River Commission, the organization coordinating cooperation on the river, says drought was the real culprit.

But the MRC says dams on the Mekong are likely to have adverse effects on fish migration and sediment flows.

Pham Thi Thanh Hang is coordinator of the MRC's Basin Development Program. She noted China was giving more data on its dams but said even more was needed.

"We have been benefiting from the sharing of informations, from the sharing of the borders used, with our Chinese colleagues, and comparing the model results. But, we will also benefit if further, extensive information will be shared. For example, on the operations of the dams. So that the countries down here can really plan and work according to a good understanding of what are the opportunities and risks," she said.

MRC member countries are Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Their prime ministers are to meet Monday to discuss for the first time efforts to improve transparency and cooperation on the river.

They will be joined by dialogue partners from upstream countries Burma and China.

Thai activists oppose Cambodian PM presence at Mekong Summit in Thailand

PHETCHABURI, April 3 (TNA) - More than 200 Thai nationalist activists Saturday issued a statement opposing the participation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in the Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit at Hua Hin, charging that he is an "enemy of Thailand. .. "

Led by Veera Somkwamkid, the radical nationalist activists said in a statement to be given to the MRC secretariat that they opposed the planned visit by Mr Hun Sen who is scheduled to arrive at Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province Saturday evening.

Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend the first two-day MRC summit which opens Sunday.

Charging Mr Hun Sen with being an "enemy of Thailand", the activists denounced the Khmer government leader of having overly close relations with fugitive, ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, interfering in the Thai judicial system as well as violating Thailand's sovereignty by "trying to seize Thailand's territory along the common border as well as those in the Gulf of Thailand" by sharing benefits from oil and natural gas deposits in the Gulf with Mr Thaksin.

The statement, submitted to Chavanont Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thai foreign affairs minister, further said that the activists do not welcome "the enemy of Thailand who has no honour.".

After reading the statement, Mr Veera charged that Cambodian military units had allegedly intruded into Thai territory by posting boundary markers deep inside this country and he and his colleagues would pull them out as activists would "not lose even an inch of territory to Cambodia.".

Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya told journalists that the activists could express their displeasure against the Cambodian government leader as they wished, but that it would not be discussed during the MRC summit.

Mr Kasit said he would find other channel to inform the Phnom Penh government.

Mekong People's Network submits letter to Chinese Embassy

BANGKOK, April 3 (TNA) - Over 250 members of a nature and cultural conservation NGO on the Mekong River region submitted a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok seeking its action and acceptance of responsibility for the ongoing record-low Mekong water level.

Network representatives, including the Khmer Lake and Vietnam River Network, joined a public forum Friday on fair distribution on Mekong River water usage, in parallel with the now proceeding Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit at Hua Hin, in order to jointly deal with the current Mekong region water shortgages.

Niwat Roykaew, a top member of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai, said the letter to the embassy included their request that China must stop building all dams and exploding islets along Mekong River. The network also asked for China’s support in setting up a Mekong committee run by a civil society group, and it must lead cooperation with other nations to solve problems after its four dams have affected the ecological system and lives dependent on the river.

According to Mr Niwat, the record-low Mekong water level has greatly affected those living along the river in terms of economy, culture, tourism and especially agriculture.

A Chinese embassy official receiving the letter affirmed he would take the network’s proposal to the MRC Summit and would also discuss the matter with his government to find a means for further negotiations among Thailand, China and the civil network.

Mr Niwat said China showing its willingness to take part in tackling the Mekong problems is a good sign, and adding the group’s demand is considered a signal to political leaders at the MRC Summit of the truth and troubles local residents are facing.

He said the negative impacts were from climate change and China’s big projects, particularly explosions on islets along Mekong, causing the river to run more quickly and thus break the river banks, which finally and quickly leads to droughts.

Mr Niwat stated that China’s four large dams were obvious concerns, for they caused a fluctuation in the river's water level, as well as floods and droughts in the short term.

He hoped participating countries in the Summit would give more importance to the Mekong conservation and the river as a way of life that supercedes any economic benefits.

Asian Countries Blame Chinese Dams for Drought

A severe drought in Southeast Asia and southern China has caused the Mekong River to drop to a 50-year low. Here, a farmer's son sits on a drought-hit rice field in the suburbs of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, last month. (Hoang Dinh Nam, AFP / Getty Images)

Dave Thier

AOL News (April 2) -- International tensions are heightening as five provinces in Southwestern China as well as a number of countries in Southeast Asia are experiencing a crippling drought.

The drought has left 18.05 million people and 10.17 million livestock short of drinking water, according to China Daily. In an affected area that contains about 7.73 million hectares of arable land, the crisis has also led to a severe food shortage as crops go unwatered and fishing streams run dry.

Still, while Chinese officials attribute the drought to a shortage of rainfall, a group of other affected countries are more inclined to place the blame on China. Some are saying that China's construction of several dams along the Mekong River, a crucial water source for the entire region, is the reason why the crisis has escalated so severely.

According to Thailand's Bangkok Post, erratic water-level changes and ecosystem disruption in the Mekong can be traced back to the early 1990s -- around the time China completed its first dam on the river, in 1992. The author also suggests that the Manwan dam could have played a role in another drought that occurred from 1992 to 1993.

This weekend, representatives of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam will meet to discuss the drought. Some have said China's characteristic unwillingness to divulge information has hampered other countries' ability to understand the situation. According to The New York Times, a Thai representative will request "more information, more cooperation and more coordination" from China.

Rivers that flow through multiple countries are often flash points for international tension, and an editorial in The Nation suggests that it might not be the biggest country in the region that's to blame.

"For instance, a dozen new dams are planned for construction in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Who is acting as watchdog over these projects?" ask the editors. While pouring billions of yuans and man-hours into drought relief, the Chinese government has stepped up media relations to emphasize that the drought is only a natural phenomenon.

"China will never do things that harm the interests of [lower Mekong] countries," Chinese Embassy representative Yao Wen said at a forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

China is expected to defend its dams at the summit, arguing that they actually help by releasing water during the dry season and help to control floods. Vice Minister of Water Resources Liu Ning said at a press briefing that more dams, not fewer, would be the answer to guaranteeing water security.

Despite recent investment in renewable energy and other green technologies, food supply and environmental degradation have plagued the rapidly expanding country since the late '50s, when Mao Zedong's infamous "Great Leap Forward" led to a famine that some believe killed as many as 38 million people. In recent years, China has struggled with widespread desertification and water quality and air quality problems.

Dam debate looms large over Mekong summit

4/2/2010
Agence France-Presse

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations straddling the shrinking lower Mekong River are set to lean on China at talks Sunday as controversy builds over the cause of the waterway's lowest levels in decades.

Beijing's Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao will join the premiers of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin to discuss management of the vast river, on which more than 60 million people depend.

A crippling drought in the region and the much-debated role of hydropower dams are due to dominate the two-day summit of the inter-governmental Mekong River Commission (MRC) -- the first in its 15-year history.

China, a "dialogue partner" of the MRC, is expected to staunchly defend its dams, which activists downstream blame for water shortages, after the Mekong shrivelled to its lowest level in 50 years in Laos and Thailand's north.

Nations in the lower Mekong basin may press China to share more information on the river, said Anond Snidvongs, director of the Southeast Asia START Regional Centre, which researches environmental change.

In addition, "they will request resources from China, ie, more money. I don't think there will be confrontation, at least from official appearances, but behind closed doors there will be strong debate," he told AFP.

China -- itself suffering the worst drought in a century in its southwest, with more than 24 million people short of drinking water -- says the reason for water shortages is unusually low rainfall rather than man-made infrastructure.

It says the dams, built to meet soaring demand for water and hydro-generated electricity, have been effective in releasing water during dry seasons and preventing flooding in rainy months.

"China will never do things that harm the interests of (lower Mekong) countries," Yao Wen, a spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, said at a recent forum in the Thai capital.

The crisis has grounded cargo and tour boats on the so-called "mighty Mekong" and alarmed communities along what is the world's largest inland fishery.

The chief of the MRC's secretariat, Jeremy Bird, last week hailed Beijing's agreement to share water level data from two dams during this dry season, saying it "shows that China is willing to engage with lower basin countries".

Yet questions remain over the impact of the eight planned or existing dams on the mainstream river in China. Vice Minister of Water Resources Liu Ning said Wednesday more were needed to guarantee water and food security.

China should continue to share information on the river, said Carl Middleton, Mekong programme coordinator at the campaign group International Rivers.

"The drought is obviously important but the real question is: what relationship will China have with the MRC in the future?"

Campaigners fear that the settling of political scores could block co-operation over the Mekong -- especially the current animosity between Cambodian premier Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Hun Sen has not visited neighbouring Thailand since the two countries became embroiled in a row late last year over Cambodia's appointment of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economics adviser.

"That's what worries me quite a lot, that the debate will be more political, and not even related to water," said Anond.

Thailand has invoked a tough security law and will deploy more than 8,000 troops in Hua Hin to ensure protesters do not disrupt the summit, in light of mass anti-government "Red Shirt" rallies in Bangkok since mid-March.

A year ago, regional leaders were forced to abandon a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after demonstrators from the same movement stormed the Thai venue.

For the first time, China will provide details of dams

April 1, 2010
The Nation

Brainstorm session ahead of MRC Summit

Before the Mekong River Commission summit opens, local and foreign NGOs will hold a brainstorming session on the subject at Chulalongkorn University today and tomorrow.

Ideas resulting from this session would then be given to the government to raise during the MRC summit, which runs from tomorrow to Monday in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district.

Suwit Kularbwong, an activist, said he disagreed with Natural Resources Minister Suwit Khun-kitti's proposal to build seven dams in four member countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The activist said he regarded the 15 years of MRC's existence a failure because most of the projects were aimed at improving the economy, but failed to recognise development in cultural and social terms. He added he hoped the issue of setting up an NGO panel in the MRC would be brought up at the summit.

Thailand, currently chairing the MRC, should formally ask China to provide details about four more dams planned in addition to the four already built, the activist added.

Another activist, Phianphorn Deethes, said building a dam along the Thai-Lao border might cause massive flooding in Chiang Rai province's Wieng Kaen and Chiang Khong districts.

She said she expected the current drying up of the Mekong along the Thai-Lao border would be brought up with China at the summit. China is not a member of the MRC but has agreed to attend the summit as an observer.

Somkiat Khuenchiangsa, also an activist, said the construction of dams in China caused massive flooding in Thailand in 2008 and dried up the river this year.

Responding to the red-shirt protesters' vow to stage a rally at the seminar venue, Suwit said he hoped a pleasant atmosphere was maintained because this was the first time in 15 years that China had agreed to release details about its dam projects. He added that Thailand was also hoping to lure China and Burma into joining the MRC during the summit. "This is a key issue, because MRC has been wishing to have more members all along," he said.

Groups Urge Meeting of Thai, Cambodian Premiers

By Chun Sakada and Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 March 2010

Local rights groups and the opposition on Wednesday encouraged Prime Minister Hun Sen to meet with his Thai counterpart over ongoing border and diplomatic disputes when the two attend a regional meeting in Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Hun Sen and other leaders with meet at the first Mekong River Commission summit early next month.

Diplomatic relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh have progressively soured, following the appointment last year of ousted Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Hun Sen.

No bilateral meetings are scheduled between the two neighbors, who are also engaged in a military standoff over disputed border territory.

The Mekong River summit, to be held in April, “is a very good opportunity for [Hun Sen and Abhisit] to hold bilateral talks for the solution of the border dispute, the diplomatic row and the verbal war,” said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc.

Talks could also solve “small problems,” such as the incidents of shooting deaths allegedly perpetrated by Thai border forces against illegal Cambodian immigrants, he said.

Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said bilateral talks must be held to solve border tensions and to avoid paying more money from national coffers for the military build-up.

“Cambodia needs to use its potential in foreign policy to defend Cambodian territory and boost its economic activity,” he said.

Meanwhile, A senior military leader on Wednesday said Cambodia has enough troops and arms on the border to defend the frontier against a Thai incursion, as a military standoff over disputed land near Preah Vihear temple continues.

Troops on both sides have amassed on the border since July 2008.

Less Tension, No Solution in Temple Talks

Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, right, shakes hands with Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong before a Preah Vihear meeting in Hua Hin, Phetchburi Province, Thailand, Tuesday. (Photo: AFP)

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 August 2008

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Extensive bilateral talks between the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers failed to produce a full solution to the Preah Vihear crisis, with both sides welcoming the recent "reduction of tensions" but neither declaring a full withdrawal of troops from the area.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong arrived in Cambodia early Wednesday, addressing reporters following discussions with his Thai counterpart, Tej Bunnag, that lasted until Tuesday night.

Representatives from both countries will meet again at the end of August to discuss a second phase of redeployment, following the partial reduction of troops in a pagoda and areas surround Preah Vihear temple this weekend, according to a joint statement released following Monday's meeting.

The two sides also hoped to have a meeting between committees again in October to discuss broader border issues, which stem from longstanding conflicts of the early 1900s.

Cambodian and Thailand have had hundreds of troops on the border at Preah Vihear since the occupation of Thai soldiers of the Keo Sikha Kirii Svara pagoda, which is claimed by both sides, on July 15.

The issue was further complicated by the fortification of a second set of temples, the Ta Moan complex in Oddar Meanchey province, in early August, by Thai soldiers.

Both sides agreed Monday to discuss the issue of the Ta Moan temples in a later meeting between foreign ministers.

Thai-Cambodian border talks agree on full troop redeployment

HUA HIN, Aug 20 (TNA) -Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on Tuesday agreed to adopt a provisional arrangement over the disputed Preah Vihear temple pending the survey and demarcation of the area in question.

In a joint press conference after a full day of talks in this Thai resort town, Mr. Tej announced both parties have agreed on a full redeployment of troops in the area, among other measures.

Mr. Hor said Cambodia would pull out its troops from the temple area, but would maintain only some police there for security.

Both agreed to adopt a provisional arrangement pending the survey and demarcation work to be carried out by the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which is expected to be convened in October.

Asked whether Phnom Penh would withdraw its written request for the United Nations Security Council to deal with the dispute, the Cambodian foreign minister said he personally wanted to do so soon, but that the matter is up to the Cambodian government's decision.

Likewise, the Thai foreign minister reaffirmed that the arrangement must comply with the Thai constitution.

It is expected that the next round of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting will take place after the Joint Boundary Commission is convened in October.

Asked when Cambodia would allow tourists to visit the Preah Vihear temple, the Cambodian foreign minister said Phnom Penh would consider it when troops of both sides are pulled out of the temple area.

Thai Foreign Minister Tej said he could not give details regarding the troop withdrawal because it is a duty of military officers of both countries to further negotiate the matter.

Second Thai-Cambodian foreign ministers' meeting on border dispute ends without breakthrough

CHA-AM (PHETCHBURI), Thailand, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- No substantial agreement has been reached after a one-day verbal tug-of-war between Thai and Cambodian delegations led by respective foreign ministers over the disputed border around the Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday at Thailand's central resort town Cha-am, Phetchburi province.

At a news conference after the talks on Tuesday evening, both Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong called the meeting a success, or a bis step forward since the long-lingering dispute re-captured national attention last month.

The Thai foreign minister read out a five-point statement which has basically set a rough timetable for next round of military and diplomatic negotiations in the near future.

The statement said both sides "welcomed the first-phase redeployment of their respective troops out of the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda, the area surrounding the Pagoda and then Temple of Preah Vihear temple," and agreed to convene a second meeting between the Head of the Cambodian Temporary Coordinating Task Force and the Head of the Thai Regional Border Committee on Aug. 29 in Cambodia to discuss the "second phase of redeployment."

It was also agreed that the next meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) will be convened in early October this year to discuss issues regarding survey and demarcation of the disputed border.

The third Foreign Ministers' meeting will be held after the JBC meeting, whose schedule has yet to be set.

The first JBC meeting was held in Thailand early July, followed by the first bilateral ministerial meeting on July 28. Both meetings produced no big breakthrough on border demarcation.

As their first-round talks in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the two foreign ministers have brought with them diplomatic, legal, military and border affairs officials to join in Tuesday's meeting, which opened after 9 a.m. (0200GMT) at a hotel in Cha-am, some 220 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, and lasted eight hours until 8 p.m. (1300GMT).

The ministerial meeting mechanism was aimed to find a peaceful solution to a long border dispute regarding a 4.6-sq-kilometer area around the 11th- century ruins of the Khmer-style Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, listed recently by UNESCO as a World Heritage, and to lay down foundations for future cooperation on demarcation and demining work along the disputed border.

The two sides have settled for now on a bilateral mechanism to solve their problems, after the Cambodia withdrew its earlier efforts to draw help from the United Nations Security Council amid voices of disapproval from Thailand and other ASEAN members.

The anticipation for any real breakthrough in foreseeable future talks had been low, though, as both sides had strong claims regarding the sovereignty over the disputed area, including the Preah Vihear temple environs and another ancient ruins -- the Ta Moan temple, critics said.

The Ta Moan temples issue, another topic of wrangle following the Preah Vihear debate, will be discussed during next foreign ministers meeting.

On Tuesday afternoon, outside the hotel, a dozen Thais had a quiet protest against Cambodia's "occupation" of Preah Vihear site and surrounding border areas, by raising banners which reads "Cambodia get out."

Earlier before the meeting started, Tharit Charungvat, spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said the atmosphere between the two ministers was good on Monday when they met and joined in a dinner, and that the situation has been improving a lot, as the tensions at the border have been eased as a result of the military "redeployment" following previous talks under bilateral mechanism.

Tharit reiterated that territorial dispute is normal for any two neighboring countries, and that the situation for Thailand and Cambodia has now cooled down.

The "first phase of redeployment" has seen that, before Tuesday's talks opened, only about 10 soldiers from each side remain at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda on the access to the Preah Vihear temple, which sits at the border between Thai northeastern province of Si Sa Ket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, following a respective "redeployment" since Saturday, and some 20 others from each side at areas nearby for patrol.

The military stand-off had started after three Thais, including a monk, were briefly detained by Cambodian authorities on July 15 for "intruding Cambodian territory" by breaking into the Preah Vihear temple compound to declare Thai sovereignty over the temple.

The temple was awarded to Cambodia in a 1962 verdict of the International Court of Justice, which some Thais have been reluctant to accept. The dispute became a hot issue when Cambodia launched efforts to bid for the listing of the temple as a World Heritage Site last year.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia's application early last month, triggering a wave of national sentiment in Thailand urging the Thai government to take counter actions in defense of territorial sovereignty.

Thailand and Cambodia share a nearly 800-kilometer long common border. Cambodia has based its claim over the Preah Vihear areas on a map drawn by the French before it ended the colonization history half a century ago, but Thailand has refused to recognized the map and called for joint re-demarcation.

No agreement yet for Thai-Cambodian foreign ministers' border dispute meeting

CHA-AM, Thailand, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- No new agreement has been reached yet after hours of negotiations between Thai and Cambodian delegations led by respective foreign ministers over the disputed border around the Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday at Thailand's central resort town Cha-am, Phetchburi province.

The meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong and a parallel study group by military and related border affairs officials opened on the morning at a hotel in Cha-am, some 220 kilometers southwest of Bangkok and near the beach resort town Hua Hin.

The meeting is aimed to find a peaceful solution to a long border dispute regarding a 4.6-sq-kilometer area around the 11th-century ruins of the Khmer-style Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, listed recently by UNESCO as a World Heritage, and to lay down foundations for future cooperation on demarcation and demining work along the disputed border.

The meeting lasted some six hours with a short lunch break before the two ministers left for a scheduled audience to the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the royal summer palace at nearby Hua Hin, where the King now resides, at around 4:30 p.m. (0930 GMT).

They will return to the hotel in the evening to continue the meeting, which was supposed to end within the day. However, the anticipation for a conclusion of success or breakthrough was low, as both sides had strong claims over some points that made the negotiation hard to pass through, sources said.

This is the second-round talks on a ministerial level. The two foreign minister had their first talks on July 28 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which produced no big breakthrough.

As a result of the talks and a good gesture before the second meeting, however, the two sides did remove most of their military personnel, which have been quickly strengthened since mid-July to an estimated 1,000 more from each side, along the disputed border around the temple since Saturday.

On Tuesday afternoon, outside the hotel, a number of Thais had a quiet protest against Cambodia's "occupation" of Preah Vihear site and surrounding border areas, by raising banners which reads "Cambodia get out."

Earlier before the meeting started, Tharit Charungvat, spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said the atmosphere between the two ministers was good on Monday when they met and joined in a dinner, and that the situation has been improving a lot, as the tensions at the border have been eased as a result of the military "redeployment" following previous talks under bilateral mechanism including the General Border Committee which started early July and the Foreign Ministers' first meeting.

Tharit reiterated that territorial dispute is normal for any two neighboring countries, and that the situation for Thailand and Cambodia has now cooled down.

Thailand hopes that Tuesday's meeting would turn out positive results, and "the situation will go back to normal as soon as possible", but he could not give the timetable for when the planned border demarcation work and complete military retreatment from the zone in question would start or finish.

Before Tuesday's talks, only about 10 soldiers from each side remain at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda on the access to the Preah Vihear temple, which sits at the border between Thai northeastern province of Si Sa Ket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, following a respective "redeployment" since Saturday, and some 20 others from each side at areas nearby for patrol.

The military stand-off, which has seen a quick increase of military personnel along the disputed border zone by each side, started after three Thais, including a monk, were briefly detained by Cambodian authorities on July 15 for "intruding Cambodian territory" by breaking into the Preah Vihear temple compound to declare Thai sovereignty over the temple.

The temple was awarded to Cambodia in a 1962 verdict of the International Court of Justice, which some Thais have been reluctant to accept. The dispute became a hot issue when Cambodia launched efforts to bid for the listing of the temple as a World Heritage Site last year.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia's application early last month, triggering a wave of national sentiment in Thailand urging the Thai government to take counter actions in defense of territorial sovereignty.

Then Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama was forced to resign last month for signing a joint communique to endorse Thai support for Cambodia's World Heritage bid without prior parliament approval, which was later held unconstitutional. Veteran diplomat Tej Bunnag was appointed as the successor just in time for the first ministerial talks on July 28 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which produced no breakthrough but an agreement on "military redeployment" along the disputed border.

Earlier Reports from Phnom Penh quoted Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong as saying before leaving for Thailand on Monday that he was optimistic about the second bilateral meeting "to seek peaceful resolution to withdraw the troops totally from the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda and the surrounding areas of the Preah Vihear Temple."

Temple peace

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
BangkokPost.com, Agencies

Cha-am - Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong agreed on Tuesday to settle the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple peacefully, but made no specific progress.

"This is the 21st century. We are beyond the stage of resorting to military confrontation," Hor Namhong told a joint press conference.

The ministers met for hours at Cha-am in two separate sessions. Their final decisions:

• Talks rather than military might must be used
• Border disputes will be discussed and finally settled by existing commissions
• A parallel argument over ownership and care of the 13th century Ta Moan temple would be submitted to a future bilateral meeting

"Both sides agreed to consider raising the issue of Ta Moan at the next foreign ministers' meeting," said Mr Tej, reading a joint statement.

Hor Namhong said that Cambodia would remove all its troops from the disputed area around the temple, leaving only police to guard the temple. The Thai side said it would need to consult the military about a similar complete withdrawal.

"If we can solve this problem the temple will be reopened to tourists soon," he said. It has been closed to the public since mid-July.

The two sides agreed to hold further border committee-level meetings on the Preah Vihear on August 29 and in early October, after which there will be another foreign ministers meeting.
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Earlier report:

Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong met for hours at Cha-am on Tuesday but failed to reach any new agreement on the disputes concerning the Preah Vihear temple.

The Phetchburi province meeting and a parallel study group by military and related border affairs officials took place in a resort hotel.

The meeting lasted some six hours with a short lunch break before the two ministers left for a scheduled audience with His Majesty the King in nearby Hua Hin.

A Cambodian spokesman said in Phnom Penh Tuesday evening the government was pleased with progress of talks, but he cautioned that talks would have resume later over a second disputed temple complex.

"The two governments have already discussed withdrawing remaining troops from Preah Vihear temple and the talks are cordial," Phay Siphan said.

The ministers are trying to find a peaceful solution to a dispute regarding a 4.6-sq-kilometre overlapping area around the 11th-century ruins of the Khmer-style Hindu temple.

They seek to lay down foundations for future cooperation on demarcation and demining work along the disputed border.

They will return to the hotel in the evening to continue the meeting, which was supposed to end within the day.

However, the anticipation for a conclusion of success or breakthrough was low, as both sides had strong claims over some points that made the negotiation hard to pass through, sources said.

This is the second-round talks on a ministerial level. The two foreign minister had their first talks on July 28 in Siem Reap.

As a result of the talks and a good gesture before the second meeting, however, the two sides did remove most of their military personnel, which have been quickly strengthened since mid-July to an estimated 1,000 more from each side, along the disputed border around the temple since Saturday.
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Earlier report:

Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong met in Hua Hin on Tuesday, following informal talks on Monday evening on border dispute over Preah Vihear temple.

Director of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the meeting will continue discussion from the previous Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting in Cambodia’s Siem Reap on July 28 regarding possible reduction of troops from both sides at the disputed border area.

He said the two neighbouring countries hope the meeting can prevent confrontation and restore normalcy.

According to Mr Tharit, the bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia are moving in a positive direction, but the problem takes time and patience from both sides.

Relative calm and normalcy have returned to the ill-defined Thai-Cambodian border as the foreign ministers of the two neighbours welcomed one another to a new round of discussions aimed to put to rest differences that have contributed to bad feeling on both sides of the border.

While both countries retain small token military forces in some of the ancient Preah Vihear temple along the border, the large numbers of combat-ready troops who crowded the ancient temple environs a few weeks ago have since been pulled back, and those who remain are 'friends' again.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that the Preah Vihear temple is part to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.

Landmines from several wars still produce casualties among Cambodian and Thai farmers and anyone attempting to cross the border. The landmines are seen as part of the reason that the border has never been fully demarcated.

Mr Tharit said that the situation had improved greatly and that the tensions that were previously clearly apparent have largely eased.

The Thai foreign ministry spokesman said he expected the situation to return to normalcy soon.