A MUST READ: PAD and Prasat Preah Vihear Khmer

Saturday, August 28, 2010
Opinion by Pang Sokhoeun
Originally posted at The Son of the Khmer Empire blog

It´s very interesting to know how the extremist PAD think about us Khmer people, Khmer legacies in Thailand and Prasat Preah Vihear Khmer. So we Khmer people don´t think it lightly with these thief-born people.

Through my brief reading of their ideas posted in the extremist PAD website, I can sum up as the following:

1. They accepted that they lost the case of Prasat Preah Vihear but accused the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as ignorance and bias for favoring Cambodia.
2. They said if the ICJ accepted the Parent Treaty which recognizes the watershed as the borderlines of the two countries while it accepted the annex 1 map which is not following the watershed principle, so why should Thais respect the ICJ´s decision?
3. Thai must take for granted the initiative ideas of Princes Diana of landmine issues to the world’s attention as new findings for an objection in order to stop Cambodian move for further development of Prasat Preah Vihear.
4. Thai must reclaim Prasat Preah Vihear no matter what happens this temple must be returned to Thailand as the future owner.
5. Thai must stop saying that Khmer are the builders of these temples -Khmer temples in Thailand today and Prasat Preah Vihear, but must say other thing around and stop calling them as Khmer temples. Thai must call them Hindu temples and rewrite new findings (history) about South East Asian for the benefits of Thailand. Thai must say that this temple belongs to them even it is not, and say it with will but not with emotion to the world.
6. Thai must form Prasat Preah Vihear committee combining of intellectuals from within and with-out the country in order to study and counter Cambodian plan and especially establish strategy to reclaim Prasat Preah Vihear.

I recommend our people to read these stuff as a MUST in order to understand the extremist PAD´s views on how they think and plan to rob our property. Please read it Here. Below are some pics from the shameless extremist PAD the Thief.

My Brief Rebuttal to Abhisit’s Letter to UN

Abhisit Vejajiva and Pang Sokheoun

MY BRIEF REBUTTAL TO ABHISIT’S LETTER TO UN

Wednesday, August 11, 2010
By Pang Sokhoeun
On the web at The Son of the Khmer Empire

Below is my brief rebuttal to Abhisit’ letter countering Hun Sen sent’s letter to UN complaint on Thailand’s threat of war which will be rebutted from point to point. So please follow me:

• Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva tells the United Nations that letter of Cambodia’ Prime Minister Hun Sen to the UN concerning Preah Vihear controversy is “misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood.”

Doesn’t Thailand have any law to guarantee press, media in order to secure freedom of press, expression and at the same time to secure social and political order, reliable information, reputation, and culture? Hun Sen often quoted his sources from the Nation and Bangkok Post which are the pro-Abhisit’s media and Abhisit always accuses him of being misinformed and misunderstood. So if it is misquoted, it is not Hun Sen’s mistake, but it must be the media that disseminate the wrong information with purposes and they must be held responsible for their crimes as stated by Thailand’s Constitution, Article III pertaining to the Rights and Liberties of the Thai People in Section 36. Or Abhisit must ask them to publish correction for it is a very sensitive issue. But he always fails to do so.

• Abhisit said in his letter signed on August 10 to Vitaly Churkin, President of the United Nations Security Council, that the current border problem between both countries arises from Cambodia’s encroachment of Thailand’s territory in violation of international law.

Please tell us which international law have we violated? Which map is used to prove that we are encroaching thailand’s territory? Please send the evidence, but not just bla bla bla. For Cambodians we make clear that Thailand is the one that encroaches on Cambodian territory by adopting only its unilateral drawn map ( here) after the 1962 verdict of ICJ 1962 and ignoring the Annex I Map ( here) of the 1908 Siamese-French map signed by Thailand and used by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 1962.

• Cambodia’s intrusion also violated the Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding on boundary demarcation signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 which states: “To facilitate the effective survey along the entire stretch of the common land boundary, authorities of either Government and their agents shall not carry out any work resulting in changes of environment of the frontier zone, except that which is carried out by the Joint Technical Sub-Commission in the interest of the survey and demarcation.”

Here Abhisit is right to mention the article five, but he forgets to mention the article I of the 2000 MoU which in its spirit states that all the border surveys and demarcations on land boundary must be done basing on Siamese-French 1904 and 1907 treaties. Therefore, there must not be those so-called 4.5 disputed areas for those lands are geographically located in the Annex I map signed in 1908 basing on these treaties. And to commit so, he is clearly held responsible for encroaching Cambodian territory.

• “I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that my remarks as appeared in the said letter were misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood,” according to the letter.

Again we want to ask everybody who loves the truth and feel shame that how many more times he is going to use these alibis to counter his opponent when his words inflame the conflicts and he is held responsible for? He irresponsibly uses these words again and again as proved here. And those publishers are still free and not held responsible for their crime against the law if they have misquoted him and disseminated the misinformation. So how can Thailand preach laws to other nation while it doesn’t even practice or respect its own laws?

• It has been Thai government’s intention to solve the land boundary problem with Cambodia through the implementation of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (MOU) between Thai and Cambodia.”The MOU serves as a framework for negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia in relation to the land boundary. Thailand therefore expects strict adherence to the MOU.”

In this case, Thailand itself illegitimately violates the 2000 MoU. As we still remember, the cause root of sending troop to invade Prasat Preah Vihear stemmed from: (1) Thailand’s failure to object Cambodia’s application for Prasat Preah Vihear’s inscription as World Heritage Site which officially listed on 8 July 2008 and (2) Thailand’s claim that it sent its troops into the areas in order to protect its sovereignty and the three arrested Thai protesters from extremist PAD who slipped through hundreds of Thai border soldiers and policemen into Cambodian territory near Prasat Preah Vihear on 15 July 2008 . However, if Abhisit of Thailand is committed to solving the border conflicts through the spirit of MoU, Thailand would have not sent its troops to encroach Cambodian territory around Prasat Preah Vihear, or Thailand would have withdrawn its troops after the three arrested Thai nationals released by the Cambodian authority three hours after the arrest. Or to be inline with the neighborly and diplomatically friendship, cooperation, respect, and the principles of the 2000 MoU, Thailand would have sent its delegates/official representatives to diplomatically negotiate with Cambodian authority in order to secure the arrested Thai nationals released, but not by sending troops to take the negotiation role which is in fact a threat of invasion and war which is clearly violating articles 2.3 and 2.4 of the UN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on Charter I : Purpose and Principles on article I and II and Chart IV: Pacific Settlement of Disputes.

• “Therefore, I instructed both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to closely coordinate with one another and with their Cambodian counterparts, including through the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC),” he said in the letter.

This is just a trick , to save face, and it never works because the Thai Cabinet and Parliament are all the obstacles to these ministries and institution to fulfill their tasks by delaying debate and endorsement. Actually, the Joint Border Committees (JBC) of the two countries were created under the spirit of the 2000 MoU in order to conduct border survey and demarcation, but so far how many documents of border agreements prepared by the JBC of the two countries received the endorsements from those troubled Thai Cabinet and Parliament? None!

• Thailand also adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN’s Charter and the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 concerning the Temple Case.

What is the UN’ charter/article he is referring to? Please make us clear. We also would like to ask him to explain us how he is adhered to the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 1962 concerning the Prasat Preah Vihear case. Legally, if he is to adhered to the verdict of IJC 1962, he must not say that those 4.5 sq km are disputed areas or Thai territory, because the decision of IJC 1962 clearly places them under Cambodian sovereignty under the Annex I map.

• “It is Thailand’s conviction that any differences between countries shall be settled by peaceful means,” according to the letter.

It is clearly wrong because the troops on both sides are confronting each other days and nights, and have already had some armed clashes led to some dead and injured from both sides since Thailand has sent its troops to invade Cambodian on 15 July 2008. So how can he call this as the PEACEFUL MEANS? He is just flip-flopping to save his face again.

• Abhisit said in the letter; “I also informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2009 about the problem that occurred because of the inscription by Cambodia of the Temple on the World Heritage List in 2008, while the surrounding area is in Thailand’s territory.”

Why is the problem caused by the inscription of Prasat Preah Vihear? It has nothing to do with Thailand because the temple belongs to Cambodia. Why does he again claim that the surrounding lands are in Thailand’s territory while he reassures that he accepts the verdict of IJC 1962 and the 2000 MoU? It is ridiculous and so self-contradicted.

• Despite the ongoing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the temple, they maintained close relationship under many bilateral and regional frameworks.

Cambodia just follows/ responses to the Thai side and in fact Thailand will never dare to threat border closure or cut other diplomatic cooperations for it will cost Thai interest in Cambodia. With this, Abhisit must thank Hun Sen for his patience towards Thailand’s aggression because Cambodian people are not in the good term with the present relation regarding to Thai interference and encroachment and the border resolutions with Thailand. And for sure we Cambodians need multilateral party resolution on the border conflicts.

NOTE: I also sent this to UN Security Council, Thai MFA, Cambodian govt and other related orgs.

Hun Xen and His Comrades infected by A/H1N1

CPP ministers cursed blessed with Swine flu: Hun Xen, Tao Xeng Huor, Chhay Than

June 30, 2010
Written by Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

There are many news reported about Hun Xen included his comrades infected by swine flu. You can read some of them here: Sacrava, Xinhua, and AP.

NOTE: I just wonder how these stooges get infected by the swine flu for they always stay in the safe places in both priavte and public affairs. As we know no ordinary people, journalists, etc., are allowed to approach them before getting through their thousands of personal bodyguards.

Pls figure it out whether it is a lie to draw media and public attention away from the present hot issues like the injustice of the defamation case brought by him (Hun Xen) against MP Mu Sochua, the border issues in Takeo and Kampong Cham which recently brought to the front page again by the SRP´s MPs. Or they get infected because they had sneaked away from their surrounding sycophants during their missions to have fun around somewhere?

Cambodian and Burmese accused of involving in Bangkok bloodshed and arson

An army soldier stands guard over anti-government "red shirt" supporters detained at a Buddhist temple in central Bangkok May 21, 2010. Troops manned razor-wire roadblocks and searched vehicles for weapons in Bangkok on Friday, two days after they ended anti-government protests that descended into the worst violence in modern Thai history. They also swept through the capital's posh central shopping area, searching for weapons and explosives in the now-deserted battleground. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

By Sokhoeun Pang
Originally posted at The Son of The Khmer Empire

The war between the Redd shirts and the elite Bangkok last week did not paint only a bad picture of Thailand itself, but it even dragged Cambodia and Burma to the same level of negative image. The rumours are palying now in both sites of the Thai factions: The Red accuse the Thai elite govt of having Cambodian mercenaries in the Thai military troops for crashing and killing them and yet the Thai elite govt accuses the Red of having Cambodian mercenaries among them for Bangkok arson. You can read them here, here, here, and here. Below I just extract from Thailand’s Trouble:

Cambodian mercenaries were manning army positions protesters told me at Bon Kai and Din Daeng during the afternoon on 18 May. The only evidence they could offer was that some of the troops they had tried to talk to could not speak Thai. A young woman, who was still selling drinks outside the Erawan Hotel while her baby perhaps just a year old lay sleeping on the ground as the army was advancing up Ratchaprasong, called from within the refuge of Wat Pathumwanaram to tell me it was too dangerous to outside as there were Burmese troops. Later when I reached Siam Square, where there had apparently been fighting between armed civilians and troops I only met Thai infantry.

Thailand’s Trouble also gives analytic questions below regarding to the allegation of the RED.

Could the government find enough Burmese or Cambodian mercenaries, put them in Thai uniforms and train them with Thai weapons at short notice? What benefits might there be other than increasing numbers of dependable troops in light of rumours of many junior soldiers being red?

Or might it be that these rumors are without substance but spread and are believed because they relieve people of having to accept that they are facing, and being shot by, soldiers who like themselves are Thai? Some may be comforted if it is Burmese or Cambodians who are there to impose the state’s will and defend its interests because of the generally negative stereotypes attached to these nationalities?

NOTE: I don’t want to add any more idea related to this post since I just reacted in my previous post: Thais spread rumors that Khmer mercenaries among the red shirt, regarding to this issue.

Thai spread rumours that Khmer mercenaries among the red shirts

A Thai shows Khmer Sak (Khmer Tattoo) on his back during Thai Tattoo Festival

By Sokhoeun Pang
Originally posted at The Son of The Khmer Empire

The Irish Time published an article on Siamese recent bloodhed titled :Mop-up operation in Bangkok under way, which described the situation in Bangkok during the past, present, the damage, the rebuilding Siamese society, etc., and especially about the RED shirts violence which has again something related to Khmer. Read the article below.

Rumours swirl in the capital. Many say the Black Shirt hardcore rioters were made up of Khmer mercenaries from Cambodia. I witnessed one fighter with elaborate Khmer style tattoos on his neck and arms, but these are also popular in Thailand.

With this rummour Khmerization has reasonably reacted that:

Many red shirt protesters were mainly made up of ethnic Khmers and Laotians living in the northeastern provinces of Thailand who are Thai citizens. We need to remember also that the Thai media owned by the Red Shirt Movement also accused the Abhisit government of dressing up Khmer prisoners in military uniform and sent them to crackdown on the red shirt recently. How true are these rumours? Nobody knows.

Then followed by some anynomous commentators in Khmerization:

Anonymous said...

This is a ridiculous accusation. Such rumor are a bunch made up lies trying to point fingers at Cambodia for Thailand’s own embarrassing uncontrollable political bloodshed. Keep your own fight and your own problems in your own country. Keep your fights to yourself. Don’t try to incite and inflame Cambodia into involving in your bullshit chaotic political madness.

Anonymous said…

It is ridiculous that Khmers have become convenient scapegoats for all the Thai political problems. Khmers have gone through enough suffering and bloodshed so they would be scared to get into such dangerous game. If they found some Khmer-speaking protesters among the red shirts, they must be ethnic Khmers living in Thailand called Khmer Surin. These claims are total lies to try to sow hatred among the Thais against Cambodia and the Khmers people. The yellow shirts who brought Abhisit into powers have caused border conflict with Cambodia when they stir up trouble along the border that saw Thai troops occupying a strip of lands in Preah Vihear temple in 2008 that caused armed clashes and tensions until today. Stop blaming Khmers for all your problems. Enough is enough!

NOTE: If such a rumour is true then I can say that most Thais are born to be arrogant , insincere, and the enemy of the Khmers. They should understand that not only the million Khmer ethnics who live in Thailand are fond of Khmer Sak/Chak Sak/Khmer Yant/Sak Yant (Khmer tattoo), but even the pure Thais, they do love it for they believe Khmer tattoo is not only just an art like any other tattoo in the world, but it has the magical power for protection, luck and success. For example Khmer geometric tattoos, meant to protect the wearer, originally as protection during war/fighting times. Visibly, Khmer tattoo is popular throughtout Thailand and even foriegners. You can see such Khmer tattoo everywhere like on the human body, in the shops, in the houses, in the taxi, in the bus, in the train in Thailand and even with Thai overseas. Please see some of the beautiful Khmer tattoos in Thailand are being used by boxer, taxi drivers, and businessmen: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here.

I believe the rumour is true and circulated intentionally and politically in order to:

• tell the world that Thai people are nice people, gentle people, peace-loving people, and non-violent people.
• make the Khmer as scapegoat to appease Thai anger against each other and turn the revenge/hatred towards Khmers and esp. the bloody Thai elite and royal family will not be held responsible for the bloodshed.
• to save the good face of Thailand because Thai people are known for face-saving people and coward to accept their own shame as a real human being. Generally, when it comes to a good thing Thais like to say it is Thai and yet when it comes to a bad thing the Thais like to say it is Khmer. For instance, please observe the tattoos in the links provided above if the Thais say a word that these tattoos are Khmer tattoos and those who have those tattoos claim that they are Khmers. They proudly say those are Thai tattoos and they are Thais to show the world. But when it comes to a bad thing happened in the last week the Thais jump up and twisted that those who were violent were Khmers because they had Khmer tattoos.

It also seems that the Thai ultra-nationalism propaganda since 1850s to treat Khmer as “Khmamen padong” - the jungle and uncivilized people, still lives on today, or it reflectively seems that Thai people are still ignorant despite technology, communication, knowledge in the world are widely developed and accessible.

Lastly, I’d like to advise Thais people that they should be brave enough to recognize their bad deed and nature just like other human being, because no one is perfect even our worshiping Buddha. My last word:

If You Thai people don’t know how to pay back your gratitude towards Khmer who once sheltered you and enlightened you architecture, art, dance, writing, and political organization, please stop painting us bad or making us your scapegoat through your arrogant attitude, hatred, ignorance, brutality, shame, irresponsibility, cowardice, jealousy, and inhuman manner.

Cambodia: Reviewing the anti-corruption law

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
By Sopheap Chak
Global Voices Online

While there is a signal that anti-corruption law is likely to be passed this April, followed the long-awaited approval of the draft by the Council of Minister last December 2009, the anti-corruption theme gained momentum of discussion in the blogosphere by inquiring to walk the talk of anti-corruption.

Just recently Prime Minister Hun Sen, in his speech at a conference on military reform, warned of harsh sanctions for soldiers and military commanders involved in corruption. Reported in the Phnom Penh Post, the Prime Minister identified the names of several officials found to be guilty of illegal activities ranging from logging, land grabbing, smuggling and illegal fishing. With his acknowledgment, the Prime Minister firmly denounced:

“It is time to stop every activity involving illegal business or the support of illegal business. [I] don’t care how many stars or moons you have – I will fire you, and nobody will keep corrupt commanders in their seats[…] I declare my absolute order [to stop illegal businesses] — otherwise military reform will not move forward,” said Hun Sen.

This report was circulated among bloggers like Morn Vutha, the Cambodia Tonight, and the Son of Khmer Empire who regularly bring up corruption cases and updates on the anti-corruption campaign.

In his previous blog entries, Vutha has raised many relevant corruption issues in various sectors including education and traffic police. He also brought the current debate of the anti-corruption law that not only requires the disclosure of assets from government officials but also NGO workers.

“Why does the anti-corruption law require NGO workers to declare their assets?” asked Vutha.

The explanation by the spokesman of the Council of Ministers who argued that the provision is applied to NGO workers because they serve as public servants has not convinced to Vutha who insisted that these two agencies have different powers and responsibilities.

“Although NGO staff serve the public, they cannot be categorized in the same level with government officials because NGO workers have no power and authority. They are working to help the poor and vulnerable people who are living under the exploitation of the rich and the powerful. By the way, the government officials get paid from the government which has high responsibility for the people because all officials’ salaries are money collected from people through tax. In addition, the NGO workers also have no power to control or manage the national budget or make policy”

Vutha further pointed out that the NGOs already have their external audit authority namely their donors:

“NGO workers’ salaries are funded by charity donors so that all financial budgets have been or controlled and audited by donors carefully. If donors found irregularity or corruption in organizations, they really determine or withdraw their funding. Therefore, NGO staff salaries are not related to government’s budget. Why does the government demand NGO workers to declare their property?”

Similarly, in the blog post on “Fight against corruption, not anti-government” by the Son of Khmer Empire, expressed his support to the anti-corruption advocacy who urged that the issue of anti-corruption effort should not be confused with the anti-government campaign. Interestingly, this blogger pointed out four factors leading to the spread of corruption:

“(1) a weak political will of the government officials in eradicating corruption, (2) a weak and incompetent head of the government in implementing the good governance, (3) the weak law enforcement, and (4) low salary.”

Unable to access the draft of the anti-corruption law, the Son of Khmer Empire suggests some lessons learned from Singapore by raising the role of anti-corruption legislative and executive bodies as well as the participation of the public in curbing corruption incidents.

More than this, a catchy article by Pou Sovachana, the Corruption Behind the Black Economy in Cambodia, also published on Cambodia Daily (February 02, 2010) and widely circulated among networks by e-mail, explicit many elements of old discussion but also a very comprehensive solution by stressing the role of qualified education, freedom of expression, and effective law enforcement. From his background as a vonlunteer teacher, he highlights that education is the medicine to the cycle of poverty and corruption:

“Schools, fire services, hospitals, the police, the army, the government officials, media reporters, the judiciary all began to demand bribes for their “supposed to be free” services. One can argue that poverty is the root cause of corruption while others say corruption the root cause of poverty. However one thing is certain that lack of education is the main cause of poverty. And quality education for ALL and the development of wisdom (law of karma) have been diagnosed as the best medicine of breaking the cycle of poverty and corruption.”

He adds that the zero tolerance through anti-corruption law enforcement is necessary:

“To become aid-independent and move the country forward in hope of beating the black economy to an open society of equality, justice, freedom, dignity, and progress, all kinds of corruption must be stopped and should be eliminated by adopting, implementing, and enforcing the anti-corruption law as soon as possible and to the fullest with zero tolerance from the highest to the lowest ranking.”

By conclusion, he insisted that the change can only take place when “people get more educated and learn to speak their own mind without fear of oppression. When the power of love (metta) overcomes the love of power, then real development will grow and last.”

Sam Rainsy´s condition for his return to jail​លក្ខខ័ណ្ឌលោកប្រធានសមរង្ស៊ីចូលគុក

January 30, 2010
Written by Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at THE SON OF THE KHMER EMPIRE កុលបុត្រមហានគរខ្មែរ

In his interview with RFA MP ​​​Sam Rainsy said that he would return to Cambodia to serve the 2-year jail term sentenced by the Svay Rieng kangaroo court of the puppet govt if his condition met.

"I will not return back to Cambodia yet. I wish to request for the release of the two who have been jailed, namely Mr. Prom Chea and Mrs. Meas Srey, from the prison first. If I return now I will be arrested (and jailed) as well, so what is the point if all of us are in jail. Who will help whom if all of us are in jail? Now I demand for the release of the two first. After that I will return to let them arrest me", he said.

I think this only condition is not just and it seems that MP Sam Rainsy forgets his other condition which he used to raise along with it, ie., the return of the lost rice fields to the farmers.

To my concern is that other conditions must be demanded and practically met besides the above two conditions:

1. The Svay Rieng court must evidently and technically prove that those rice fields are in Vietnam because if those border posts were installed in Cambodian rice fields, MP Sam Rainsy is absolutely right (he explained it here). The court must also prove which racial comment or act has MP Sam Rainsy made then? And bring those who uprooted the rest border posts namely border posts #184, #186, and#187 to trail as well.
2. Var Kim Hong or Hun Xen must unconditionally cooperate with MP Sam Rainsy in order to verify the alleged border posts together by using the documents that MP Sam Rainsy and Hun Xen´s government use as evidences according to our constitution. Then the loser, regardless who he is, must be brought to justice accordingly after the verification.

Otherwise, MP Sam Rainsy must be trapped by the CPP again. I means the CPP can release the jailed farmers with some secret conditions/threats and then MP Sam Rainsy would be jailed, if he really returned. Then, the new play would be arranged. The jailed farmers would join the puppet govt and push all the crimes onto MP Sam Rainsy. But if he would not return to serve his jail term as promised, then MP Sam Rainsy would be called by the CPP and viewed by other Cambodians as the “COWARD”, the “IRRESPONSIBLE”, the “CRIMINAL”, and his political life would be ended. Or maybe many other plot would be conspired to weight more crime on MP Sam Rainsy! So watch out MP Sam Rainsy!

MP Sam Rainsy should remember that, “It is most importantly not about his serving jail term under the kangaroo court, but it is about the protection of Cambodia and Cambodians.” Therefore, please don´t take it so easy with the puppet CPP.

Take due measure to deal with Sam Rainsy´s act of sabotage: Yuon PM Nguyen Tan Dung

Nguyen Tan Dung

Saturday, November 21, 2009
By Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at: http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

Nhan Dan News [recently reported] about Yuon PM Dung´s reaction to MP Sam Rainsy:

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 – he 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

The Son of the Empire: What do you mean by fine relation? You mean by invading Cambodia?

PM Dung, you should know that in March 1964, Cambodia established diplomatic relations with North Vietnam and it recognized Cambodian border existence, but concerning the Cambodian border with the South Vietnam, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NFLSVN), Cambodia should negotiate a border settlement directly with it. Then NFLSVN´s Central Committee’s Declaration dated on 13 May 1967 , confirmed by Letter dated on 6 June 1967 of Mr Nguyen Huu Tho, the President of the Presidium of the Central Committee, officially recognized Cambodian border which in its declaration also recognized the so-called 1939 Brevie Line as maritime border of the two states.

But why now your government refuse to accept the Brevie Line and demand for the equidistance principle? And why do you keep demanding Cambodia to accept the unequal treaties as a negotiation tool like the treaties of 1979, 1982, 1983, and 1985, which signed during your occupation in Cambodia?

In fact, the two countries don´t need those international law violated treaties because the two countries have already had enough treaties, decrees, and conventions added to the 1964 and 1987 Vietnmese declarations to solve the border disputes as long as Vietnam want to be a good neighbors, respect the law, but not a continuing invader. We have like the Boundary Decision dated on 9 July 1870, Convention dated on 15 July 1873, Decree on the Creation Can-Le District dated on 26 July 1893, the Royal Ordinance Regarding Boundary Changes between Cambodia and Vietnam dated on 12 March 1914, Decree Governing the Boundary Between Vietnam and Cambodia dated on 31 July 1914, Decree Reinstating the Province of Darlac in Annam, dated on 30 April 1929, and Decree dated 1935. All of them still have the binding effect today.

So please tell us, PM Dung the invader, is that your fine relationship with Cambodia? Or do you mean your continuing invasion on Cambodian territorial integrity without repecting for her boundary existence which your previous government as well as UN have recognized as a fine relation?

And clearly the border post installation in Chantrea district uprooted by MP Sam Rainsy were completely imposed by Vietnam basing on the illegal 1985 treaty.

With this regard, MP Sam Rainsy doesn’t sabotage the fine relation of the two countries, insteadd his action if you and Hun Sen take it into consideration will be able to stop the already broken fine relations of the two countries that you and Hun Sen have already sabotaged which will continue to affect for the long term until the nex next generation that we the peace lovers reciprocally, reasonably and respectfully don´t want to see it happen.

Now we would like to warn you that such a fine relation that you have claimed and imposed will not be sustainable for a long run, because Hun Sen´s government, your puppet, will not last forever, and we the new generation of Cambodia will surely nullify all those illegal treaties and then we will propose the co-President of the 1991 Paris Conference – France and Indonesia, to create the ad hoc committee in charge of the control and application of the provision of the article 5, subparagraph 1,2,3 and 4 of the Paris Agreement on the protecting the land and the maritime integrity of Cambodia and as the last resort the UN Security Council.

Reminder: PM Dung as a neighbor and in this 21th century you should honour this slogan raised against the war in your country, “Make love not war.”

Cambodia does lose land to Vietnam: Confirmed traitorous sVar Kim Hong

Saturday, November 21, 2009
By Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at: http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

After the his immunity lift, MP Sam Rainsy, released a statement Thursday which stated that Cambodia has lost over 1,000 square kilometers to Vietnam within the past 30 years negatively received a strong reaction from sVar Kim Hong, head of the government Border Committee, who said that the accusation was baseless and exaggerated.

“I wonder where Sam Rainsy got this information from. Cambodia never loses such a whole lot of land to Vietnam,” he said.

However, sVar Kim Hong does recognize that Cambodia, if compared to the colonial Service Geographique de l’Indochine scale map 1/100,000 and the 1985 delimitation treaty, will loses 9,000 hectares; and compared to U.S Army Mapping Service scale map 1/50,000 with the 1985 Treaty, would lose about 7,900 hectares to Vietnam. This statement was confirmed by sVar Kim Hong to Mr. Touch Bora Esq through a telephone conversation on 30 August 2002 at 4:30 p.m. (Sydney time), which Mr. Touch Bora Esq wrote in his letter dated on 9 September 2002 sent to Sam Dach Ta Noroudom Sihanouk concerning over border affairs.

In fact, the loss is absolutely more than the 1000 square kilometers stated by MP Sam Rainsy in his statement, if we add the size of the historical water of 30000 square kilometers awarded to Vietnam under the 1982 Agreement which has been into affect and now already become under the full control of Vietnam. And this would not be the last if the equidistance principle be used to delimit the maritime boundary. Cambodia will lose an additional area of sea and seabed measuring at least 860 square nautical miles from the Brevie Line to the north, analyzed by Mr. Touch Bora Esq or another 10000 square kilometers confirmed by Mr. Sean Pengse, the President of the Cambodian Border Committee Worldwide, which exclusively include another Koh Poula Wai to Vietnam added to the previous invaded islands- Koh Tral (Dao Phu Quoc) and Koh Poulo Panjang (Dao Thu Chu).

Please click here or the map above to view the animation of Historical Water (CBC)

This is why sVar Kim Hong said in front of us, Students´s Movement for Democracy (SMD), and Sam Dach Ta Norodom Sihanouk on 22 Janaury 2000 during our audience with him concerning the border resolution with Vietnam that; “If we want peace, we must sacrifice our flesh to the tiger.” The truth is discovered now that “Sacrifice the flesh to tiger actually means cutting our land to the Viet.” This word was clearly spoken out from his mouth and there were Sam Dach Ta as witness and 31 members of SMD attended where I was also present at the event.

We must condemn this sVar KimHong for his role in helping the traitorous regime of Hun Sen.

Sam Rainsy Trapped for Helping other Nation: Soy Sopheap

Look who is helping people from another nation?
... and look, who is embracing a Thai criminal?

Op-Ed By Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

This is a shame for such a publication of Soy Sopheap´s news published today which accused MP Sam Rainsy like an opportunist and a fake nationalist.

I just think if Soy Sopheap doesn´t go to the border and ask the people who live there directly, he should have paid his attention and listened to what the people who live there along the border have talked which published on RFA or VOA or other media.

It is even more dangerous for Cambodia if he just published it blindly and biasly for his personal gain without considering the invasion of Youn on Cambodia as priority. He should take into account about the nature of the border demarcation between Cambodia and Youn because Cambodia is always at the disadvantage when Hun Sen is still a ruler who has to pay a big gratitute to Youn Hanoi as his installer or master and by using the unconstitutional treaties of 1979-1982, 1983, and 1985, as well as the newly signed 2005-supplemental treaty (documents related to all treaties can be found here), signed under the Youn control as a tool for negotiation.

I wonder what is Soy Sopheap going explain about these treaties and the lost of Koh Tral and the 3000o square kilometers historical sea water as a result of these treaties? For the knowledge, I think Soy Sopheap can read Mr. Bora Touch´s explaination here and here.

Actually, the act of MP Sam Rainsy should be admired and the government should cooperate with him in solving the issues. He should not be punished and accused of trying to sabotage Hun Sen government by helping the Abhisit of Thailand, because he is clearly stated in his reaction to the Abhisit´s govrnment about his would-be-oppointment that he would never serve any country which is at odd with his country. With this, the Cambodian leaders should not behave so selfish against MP Sam Rainsy and act like a real puppet towards Youn government.

On the other hand, if Hun Sen is really a good leader and loves the country he should not push our country to war and conflict by allowing the west to invade our nation at will either. He can stop it by rejecting the cheap bilateral talk and pushing it for the intervention from UN or Asean basing on only 1904 and 1907 Siamese-French treaties, the 1962 verdict, and the 1991 Paris Peace Accord.

In contrast, it seems that MP Sam Rainsy is not trapped by his genuine act, instead it shows that Hun Sen, his cronies, and his mouthpiece servant like Soy Sopheap are being revealed as a true slave or puppet to Youn Hanoi. Openly, they dare bark with the west, but they act like a puppet or slave to the east.

The Majority Traitors

MP Sam Rainsy pulled out the invaded border posts installed by Viet soldiers

Monday, November 16, 2009
Op-Ed by Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

It has become the fourth time this year that the useless parliamentarians under the armpit of CPP have voted to lift the Opposition´s immunity by ignoring the priceless role and commitment of the Opposition to serving the country as stipulated in the constitution.

Below is the statement of one of those traitors claimed regarding his views in the lifting of the immunity of MP Sam Rainsy:

‘It was a request from the court, so we have to do it. ‘We can’t judge whether his actions were right or wrong, that’s for the court”, said traitor legislaor CPP Hou Sry.

Why can´t he judge according to law as a legislator and know the action course of MP Sam Rainsy right or wrong? Or is he just an elementary kid like Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, and Chea Sim who fortunatedly installed to the posts?

As the Opposition, MP Sam Rainsy has to fulfill his duty in such a way which guarantteed by our constitution. In that sense, the National Assembly (NA) should ask Mr Va Kimhong, the President of Cambodian National Border Committee (CNBC), to investigate the incident and explain it to the NA and the nation.

In the investigation, to be sure, NA must make clear that Mr Va Kimhong not use the unconstitutional treaties with Vietnam when Cambodia was under its control such as the treaties of 1979, 1982, 1983 and 1985, and as well as the newly signed 2005-supplemental treaty.

Whether the investigation would have made and found that the border posts were correctly or incorrectly installed, the CNBC just reinstall them and clear all the minsunderstandings to the nation in solidarity and for national interest because it is in its capacity and responsibility in making the people understand about the process, negotiating with neighbouring countries, and installing the border posts. And MP Sam Rainsy must be free in performing his duty as usual.

In short, according to Hou Sry´s claim and the action of the lifting immunity of the Opposittion committed by the CPP´s majority in the NA, we Cambodians should clearly have understood that those CPP majority are the REAL MAJORITY TRAITORS against our country.

Who Will Be Struck by Lightning?

Hun and Hok

September 13, 2009
Op-Ed by Sokheoun Pang
On the web at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

Cambodian people were shot, wounded and burned alive by Siam brutal soldiers after they entered Thailand for logging for their survival because of poverty. The news really shocks my heart.

If we remember this month about the curse of the gangster leader Hun Sen who warned his critics that they would be struck by lightning if they dared to suggest his leadership was plunging the country into poverty.

“ [They] say Cambodia is getting poorer and poorer, but aren’t they afraid of being struck by lightning?” he said and adding that, “ If you dare to say it and be struck by lightning, go ahead.”

The news of Siam soldiers shot our poor people is posted in the Dap-news. So can we believe the news posted in Dap-news, which belongs to Soy Sopheap who is Hun Sen´s crony, be true that the people who live there along the border are poor? If the news is not true, then Soy Sopheap will be struck by lightning, and yet if the news is true then who will be struck by lighting? Of course, Hun Sen himself. Another Hok Longdy?
However, I do believe Soy Sopheap about this news of the poverty of our people which forces them to risk their life by entering Thailand illegally for logging because they just can´t die by waiting for help from the ganster leader like Hun Sen who has no competence, morality, and responsibility. And we all have already heard such a news many times published and yet it is still happening because we have such an incompetent and irresponsible leader like Hun Sen.

Notice: Hun Sen dares to compare Cambodian development only with the Pol Pot regime but not with other countries or the current of the world.

Hun Sen´s Son Really Gets Scholarship?

September 13, 2009
Op-Ed by Sokheoun Pang
On the web at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

It is another cheating news posted by Dap News which aimed to boost Hun Sen´s credit by his sycophant – Soy Sopheap. I think Hun Sen´s son ís not that smart. I mean he is not receiving a scholarship from the USA military university, but instead he gets the FS -Family Scholarship, to study at that university. Well, Hun Sen can send his sons or daughters to study anywhere on earth if he wants, as we know about his richness.

That university is glad to accept Hun Sen´s son because of profit making, but not the qualification or free education offered to Hun Sen´s son.

Why I said so, because we have already checked for the information. And what Soy Sopheap posted in his site is truly lying.

Note: Why have Hun Sen´s sons received only scholarship for military university? Please think about it. Well, it is not the sons´ scholarship offered by the university, but the sons´s scholarship offered by Hun Sen for his political purpose.

Kasit Wants to Use Hun Sen´s Blood to Wash His Feet

January 13, 2009 by sokheounpang

Kasit Piromya, Thai Foreign Minister, is a long- time foreign experienced high raking official of Thailand working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1968 to 2005 respectively as Thai Ambassador to some countries in European Union, USA, Moscow, Tokyo, Jakarta.

He is also one of the core supporter and leader of the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which led demonstration again and again for years to oust the elected- government under Thaksin Sinawatra.

Recently, during the last campaign held by PAD which was called the “Nakasaki or Hiroshima War” in order to topple the pro-Thaksin government which led to siege Thai two main airports- Daunmoung and Suvannaphumi, Kasit played as one of the PAD core leaders. He actively participated in the demonstration and gave the speeches to the demonstrators.

His speeches were not only about attacking Thaksin and Thaksinists, but also about attacking Cambodian intregrity, regarding to our Preah Vihear Temple. Most importantly, his speech attacking against Hun Sen, which has been criticized and concerned by some real Thai intellectuals and politicians as well as some ordinary Thai who love respect, morality and dignity, can jeopardize his role for the foreign mission or relation.

Regarding to his speech attacking Hun Sen, I tried to search for it , but I failed to get it. Fortunately, I found it in Bangkok post forum posted on 10-01-2009 at 06:27 PM24, Discussion 24, which one of the commentators with ID Charlotte translated and wrote :

“ Kasit announced loudly that he will use Hun Sen’s blood to wash his feet” during his speech given at the Suvannaphumi airport.

I think it is reliable. Personally, Kasit is one of the ultra-nationalists (PAD), the extremist group which has instigated the Preah Vihear invasion since July 2008. Such a Nazi word is not new to the Thais because it is clearly written and taught in Thai history, describing how Thais treated Cambodians especially during the 16th century by King Naresaun who claimed to use King Setha´s blood to wash his feet, too, at school in order to motivate the nationalist sentiment among Thais to feel superior to Cambodia and not to be afraid of confronting the Cambodians at any cost. And it is believed that Kasit speech aimed at reminding of this history for the same political purpose. Kasit´s speech is not published publicly in media or translated; instead he is criticized and warned for such an uneducated speech.

To my question, how can a man with high education with much national and international work experience and held a high position in the Cabinet gave such a barbarian speech against a leader of another nation without respect? Is this called the educated Thai? Or Is this the real color of most Thai people towards its neighbors?

I am just wondering what Hun Sen think about Kasit´ evil speech and how his reaction responses towards Kasit if he knows about it when they meet in the future talk during Kasit´s visit to Cambodia in coming late January, 2009.
Politically, “Kasit´s speech doesn´t only show his hatred towards and the look-down on Hun Sen alone, but also the Cambodians in general as a NATION.”

Personally, I never like Hun Sen but as a Cambodian or as a man who lives in this century of the civilized world, Kasit´s behavior is considered as the barbarian, the uncivilized, the ignorant, the stupid, the beast, the Nazi which is unacceptable and unforgivable. And he doesn’t deserve to put his feet on Cambodia no matter what position and mission he is responsible for Thailand in cooperation with Cambodia.

Cambodia-Thai War and the Hidden Agenda

October 15, 2008
Op-Ed by Sokheoun Pang
Originally posted at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

The recent conflict between Cambodia and Thailand did pose serious concerns over our country´s stability and security. We really don´t know to what extent the war will become in the future. And we are asking if there would be any hidden agenda in the conflict, and if not, what is the resolution to stop this unnecessary war?

The possible hidden agenda:

Cambodia

• Hun Sen may want to help his close and shared-interest personal friend, Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by the military coup last year, by helping his in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, to stay in power. The PPP governement has always been troubled by the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the extremist Thais, who, with their daily mass protests, deepens Thai internal conflict day after day. This act of declaring war of Hun Sen can divert the PAD´s attention from protest against its own government to look at the external issues and calm down or become united with the government.
• It can also be a political strategy of Hun Sen. This is the only alternative to finish the conflict through the help of the third parties - UN, ICJ, and Asean - as Cambodian people wanted. Unfortunately, this resolution is not welcomed by the UN and Asean body as long as the situation is not seriously concerned. So this might make Hun Sen government to have patience for the right time to come.
• If Hun Sen government is really protecting the sovereignty of Cambodia, Hun Sen's government must understand that to pursue bilateral negotiation is not at all to Cambodia's advantage and she might lose her territorial integrity to Thailand. Therefore only a third party´s intervention may help and protect the nation from loss, so the third party is needed and the resolution is to react militarily against the endless invasion by Thailand.
• It can also be a boost for political support for Hun Sen's government and divert the Cambodian people´s attention from the quiet protest of the opposition against the disturbing results of the recent unfair national election, and more importantly, to divert Cambodians from launching another protest against the third anniversary of the 15 October 2005 Supplemental Treaty which validated the 1985 treaty of the Vietnamese invasion back to life - a treaty which he himself personally signed it.
• Hun Sen may be pushed to war by Vietnam for Vietnam will not want to see Cambodia at peace for this will cause the loss of its future political control over Cambodia. And Hun Sen may get any secret agenda with Vietnam as well.

Will Cambodia lose the war? It could be said that Cambodia won´t lose it, but Cambodia will take advantage by asking for international intervention if Cambodian government truly serves the country. If the war is just conducted to help Thaksin´s crony to stay in power, then Cambodia will be absolutely at a big loss.

Thailand

• It can also be Thailand hidden politics to bring its unity by provoking an outrage against Cambodian leaders by keeping its invasion until Cambodia loses its patience in order to wage war against Cambodia. The reason is that the weak Thai government can divert the PAD to become its alliance and be united as a nation to move against an external country: Cambodia.
• It´s about superiority. Thailand and Cambodia keep claiming superiority over each other. We are seeing the rivalry between the two neighbors throughout history. This act means that Thailand wants to take pride over Cambodia that they will not submit to Cambodia.
• It actually about increasing nationalism among the Thais and with this, the PPP government will be able to collect political sympathy among the Thais.
• This will play as a military show-off to its neighbors because Thai military is known as weak and inexperienced, even though they are equipped with modern weapons, they will have a hard time dealing with poorly equipped but better experienced Cambodian soldiers. If they can bug down Cambodia soldiers, it will bring more confidence among their soldiers for future military operations against other neighbors. With this, they will not let the opportunity goes away easily.
• It could also be the case of taking revenge over the lost of Khmer Preah Vihear temple.
• Thai politics is always about saving face. This operation actually may save its losing face from the last few months´ invasion acts as the international community views it, and it also allows Thailand to become righteous by not being the one who declares war first. But it also takes this advantage to ignite war.

All these hidden agenda can be called the strategy of “Uniting one´s Country on the expense of the other nation.” Cambodian leaders must be aware of this inhuman strategy.

Will Thailand win the war? Thailand will not win the war. But Thailand may win over its people´s heart for unity. With this war, Thailand could just regain national unity for a while if possible and save its face but it will then have to confront the international judgment and lastly it will lose its greed and alibi forever to invade Cambodia in the future.

Can we solve the conflict peacefully? Yes!

The resolution is easy as everyone must say:

• The two countries must bring the case to credible third parties: UN Security Council, International Court of Justice or at least Asean.
• It also can be solved through bilateral resolution.

The two countries must stick to a truly honest neighborhood principle and the resolutions stated above must be solved based on recognized legal international documents and treaties, such as the 1904 and 1907 Siam-French Treaty, the 1962 ICJ verdict and the 1935 Siam-French border resolution treaty.

But this has not happened because Thailand has claimed that it needs bilateral resolution rather than the international intervention or it keeps claiming that its country is having internal problems and asks Cambodia to wait. Furthermore, it always flip-flops by claiming it has the will to solve the issues peacefully. Cambodia cannot wait: the longer the issue is prolonged, the more the Cambodian advantage will be lost. Therefore, pushing for a third party´s intervention to stop the war must be the last choice.

However, we doubt Thailand's political attitude because of its dishonesty and treachery, as observed in the following cases:

• If Thailand is truly honest in its national and international politics and is a true friendly neighbor, Thailand should be the one who takes a lead in bringing the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nation Security Council, and Asean, because Thailand always keeps claiming that Cambodia invades its territory and that the ICJ is unfair. But why does it deny Cambodia challenge at the international level and yet keeps demanding the bilateral resolution? Thai diplomacy can reach the rest of the world at any time it wants, so why does it refuse to openly fight peacefully for its justice in the international arena with Cambodia through court and dialogue?
• If Thailand is truly a good neighbor, Thailand must not have sent its troop to station on Cambodian land. If Thailand also claims for the land and have materials in hand recognized by the international body, why it doesn´t use the existing Joint Committee for Border Resolution that the two countries have established to solve the issue instead of sending troop to provoke war?
• If Thailand itself acknowledges its internal political trouble and have often asked Cambodian to be patient and understanding, why does the Thai government allow its troops to encroach on Cambodia day after day? Why it doesn't use the spare time allotted to them by the Cambodian government to strengthen Thailand's internal stability and its nation in order to regain its reputation within the international community?

These are truly unacceptable political games undertaken by Thailand towards its neighbor. The world must see understand this and push for a peaceful resolution as soon as possible in order to avoid any unpredictable casualty from conflicts.

Conflicts casualties as of today

Cambodia:

• Two Cambodian soldiers died.
• Three Cambodian soldiers slightly wounded.

Thailand:

• Three Thai soldiers lost their legs by stepping on landmine.
• Seven Thai soldiers seriously wounded.
• Ten Thai soldiers captured.

Thailand, the Nation of Dishonesty!

Sunday, July 20, 2008
Opinion by Pang Sokhoeun
On the web at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

“It is Cambodian troops who invade in our soil”, said Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Friday 18 July 2008.

If we observe the processes of the conflict we can judge who the righteous is and who the provoker and the invader is.

Legally and internationally, the sacred Khmer Preah Vihear temple was undisputedly recognized as Cambodian property and geographically, it is located in Cambodia soil both in the past and the present.

Historically, the sacred Khmer Preah Vihear temple was built in the 10th and 11th century by the august kings of former Cambodian Empire- Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II when the Tai tribe (present Thai) were still in Nan Jao southern of China who later moved southwards to resettle in the then Khmer Empire in the wake of the Mongol invasion of China and this tribe was forgiven and kindly allowed to live in our Empire by our benevolent kings.

However, our great Empire was weakened by the in-fighting politics and the war with other neighboring states. Taking this chance; the Tai built up its state, attacked and sacked us in the 1431. From then on we have been under the consistent attack and invasions by these neighbors for centuries.

Our country was able to survive under the French protectorate. Some provinces, Battambang, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap, were given back by the Siam even though many are still under its occupation today, and the new borderline demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia was carried out drawn by the French. Thailand accepted the map and signed the treaties-1904 and 1907 which also used as the foundation for International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague in 1962 over the Preah Vihear case which favor Cambodia in the suit.

However, the Thai never give up their greed and honestly accept the loss proudly boasting that they are the superior people to all nations in South East Asia and why must they subject to the Khmer? The war continues. They rewrite their ultra-nationalist history, reject the existence of the Khmer political, cultural, and architectural influences in their society, create hatred and the look down on Khmer, Laos as well as Burma, and keep invading Khmer border both land and sea, and treat and kill Khmer like animal.

Now the wound becomes painful again to the Thai when it comes to Khmer Preah Vihear temple seek for World heritage status submitted since 2002 and finally granted its listing in 7 July 2008.

The Thai consider the loss of Preah Vihear as the unforgivable shame. They always think they are superior to Khmer. So how can they give it up easily and accept the loss? Then the frame over the border invasion and Preah Vihear control started. How could this have happened? The Thai know that it would be the loss again if they would contest with Cambodia honestly over the Preah Vihear unless they stage a long-term strategy and carefully frame over Cambodian weakness and the world’s soft politics toward them. Let’s observe the below process of the political frame of the Thai.

Firstly, they persuaded Cambodia to sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) over border demarcation, esp., the 2000 MOU. Why do we need MOU? Why don’t we use GPS basing on the existing map of Siam-Franco treaty to demarcate the borderline?

Then, they published the fake protests, to Cambodia, published widely in media, sent them to international communities, that Cambodia is invading Thai territorial sovereignty, esp., the protests in 2004, 2005, 2007, and April 2008. Why are they the fake protests? Because have Cambodia ever invaded any country for these centuries? Is Cambodia capable to invade Thailand while she is trying to survive herself from poverty of decades of war and the internal conflicts? Thailand is a forever peaceful country and has its soldiers stationing everywhere along the border and how can the unarmed Cambodian civilian invade Thailand? We hardly believe this accusation of the Thai.

By using the 2000 MOU, the fake protests, and through its soft persuasion and the fake smile, the international communities listened to the Thai and asked Cambodia to negotiate with the Thai for their support in order to list the Preah Vihear temple. They successfully blocked Cambodia from listing the temple as World Heritage site two times 2006 and 2007 and hoped to achieve their greed, i.e., the Joint Management as they proposed. Their often and basic arguments raised as an objection to the listing of the Khmer Preah Vihear temple is that the borderline is not known, the stair of the temple is in Thailand, the temple is easily accessible only from Thailand, some important sites subordinates to the temple are in Thailand, etc., so we must have the Joint Management. How can these people claim that the borderline is not known? Do they lose their mind and forget the Siam-Franco treaty in 1904 and 1907 and the verdict of ICJ 1962 which they themselves signed and recognized? Basing on the ICJ 1962, geographically the borderline is clear and the demarcated distance from the temple stair to the Cambodian-Thai border is as far as 2.6km away. But why the stair is in Thailand now? Did the Khmer build the temple without its subordinate elements and the stairs? So who invades whom?

Boring with the Thai objection and the easy-tricked international community, motivated by the political interest, the Cambodian leaders fell into the Thai trap by redrawing the new map proposed by the Thai. Why is it the trap? Because with the new map redrawn, the Thai will have privilege to lay claim for the 4.6 km2 land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple which is the long planned strategy to get rid of taking over the temple or achieving the Joint Management plan.

We can see it clearly that it is really the bad frame of the Thai. After endorsing the Joint Communiqué, they then rejected it. They are playing with two faces flip-flopping daily over the Khmer Preah Vihear temple issues in order to provoke the conflicts and they will take the opportunity to invade Cambodia. With this, they intentionally ignore the daily protestors who claim over Khmer Preah Vihear temple. And they even allowed these protestors to go into Cambodia illegally and protest inside Cambodia. Who believe that dozens of Thai border soldiers can’t prevent these three protestors from entering Cambodia? Where on earth one can enter into another country freely, illegally and protest against it? Cambodia detained them only four hours and then released without harm. Do we believe the Thai would treat us the same as we did to the three Thais if we entered into Thailand in the same situation? The answer is absolutely “NO”, because we have seen and witnessed so much Cambodian civilian blood covering the ground along the Cambodian-Thai border inhumanly committed by these brutal Thai.

Now it is almost their last step. After having achieved their strategical frames-the 2000 MOU, the Joint Communiqué, and the latest bait of three Thai protestors, they (Thai soldiers) entered into Cambodia freely by claiming that they come to protect their people who were arrested by the Cambodian soldiers. If the Thai are really honest neighbor why didn’t they send their delegates to negotiate for the release? Why soldiers? And it is absurd for the claim because the arrested people were already released and why don’t they withdraw?

With the pressure of Cambodia side and the international eyes, they later on claimed differently as Thai army Colonel Chay Huay Soongnern said, “We all love peace. We are here, we don’t want anything. We came to offer protection in case Thai protestors come here … We came to help Cambodian troops and their people. I don’t think that we will stay here much longer.” Why don’t they station in their country to prevent their Thai extreme protestors? Does Cambodia ask for their help? Do they think Cambodia is incapable for such a protection? I think Hun Sen government is even more capable in prevention than the Thai for such a protest.

Now the Thai trick is clearly revealedwhen Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, on Friday 18 July 2008, said that, “It is Cambodian troops who invade in Thai soil”. He claimed this after his country has built up solid military base inside Cambodia and have observed the silence of international communities´s reaction against its invasion over Cambodia. Now they don’t withdraw as they said before but they keep building up their forces and at the same time they start to play diplomacy with the international communities in order to paint the bad image of Cambodia by summoning Cambodian ambassador to Bangkok to accept their protest against Cambodian invasion and inviting eight Asean members to receive their protests signed by PM Samak on 18 July 2008 and some others framed documents, 2000 MOU, the Thai protests against Cambodia invasion 2004, 2005, 2007 and April 2008.

It is even more clearly explained the dirtiness of the Thai if we reflect on the statement of the Thai Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Neimpradit who indicated that “Thailand could propose Phnom Penh withdraw about 500 Cambodian villagers from the disputed area as a condition for a Thai military withdrawal.” This statement is clearly referred to Sumak’s latest statement and the new redrawn map –the Joint Communiqué. It means that now they officially claim for the land and greedily want to completely control it.

They do know that if they don’t use forces to pressure Cambodia, the 500 villagers will not be removed and their dream to rob those surrounding lands of Khmer Preah Vihear temple will be failed and the seek for future Joint Management will be completely nonnegotiable and this will put the Thai for another shame.

What will happen if Cambodia doesn’t agree with the condition? I think the Thai will resort to other tricks. They might allow other Thai protesters enter into Cambodia and then provoke the war allegedly protecting their civilians. They might at night use Thai soldiers disguising as Cambodian soldiers and wage the war first against the Thai themselves and then accuse Cambodia as the first to wage war and then invade Cambodia. Or there might be more invisible tricks. So watch out!

They do hope they will win the war because they think they are always superior to us. Then the villagers will flee from their homes if the war would be erupted. They will control the land and pressure for the last bargain in exchange for the peace, i.e., the rightful control of the land surrounding the temple and it may be even the Joint Management of the Preah Vihear temple.

Do we hope the conflict will be solved easily? I do hope so only if Thailand can become the nation of honesty. For now I see that, “the conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand will not be easily solved if without international intervention, because Cambodia is trying to solve the conflicts basing on its honest, respectful, and friendly relationship with the Thai while the Thai is trying hard to solve it through its dirty political trick for long-term invading and dominant political strategy over Cambodia”.

My observation is that the Thai trick is easily revealed if we listen to their languages carefully. They always speak their languages flexibly according to the step of the situation development they have planned and achieved.

In Solidarity!

Pang Sokheoun
19 July 2008

Victory or Loss on Preah Vihear Listing?

Op-Ed by Pang Sokhouen
On the web at http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com

On Monday, 7 July 2008, in Quebec, Canada, the World Heritage Committee (WHC) unanimously agreed to add Khmer Preah Vihear temple as new world heritage site. The adding launched a prompt positive reaction from Phnom Penh. Public officials joined residents in impromptu celebrations in Phnom Penh. Monks in pagodas rang bells, as people went into the streets, shouting, clapping, singing and dancing to drums, students assembling at school field, waving Cambodian flags throughout the country. Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an immediate statement congratulating Cambodia on the inscription, especially noting efforts of diplomats and the negotiating team.

Now the listing is considered as the clear and priceless victory of Hun Sen government by most of the Cambodians and they are overjoyed.

However, I personally see it as a loss and feel so much pain in my heart without proper words to express.

The effort of listing Cambodian temples or other natural and cultural properties as World Heritage Site is the duty of all Cambodian leaders in all generations and the listing of the Preah Vihear temple therefore is absolutely the duty of Hun Sen government to be fulfilled. Yet, this listing should have done better and considered as the true success only if the listing is done in accordance with the verdict of 1962 ruled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague. The rule used the 1904 and 1907 maps of Siamese-Franco treaty which included the 4.6km2 belonged to Cambodia.

In contrast, Hun Sen government excluded it in the new drawn map as proposed by Thailand and submitted to WHC as the official application which deputy Prime Minister Sok An and the Thai counterpart Foreign Minister Nappadon Pattama signed it as the Joint Communiqué in Paris on 22 May 2008.

This application means that Cambodia has recognized the unilateral map drawn by Thailand and make Cambodia to lose sovereignty over the 4.6km2 to Thailand.

After the listing, everybody knows that the stairs is in Thailand now which before the border was beyond the stair of the temple as long as 2.6km away according to the ICJ rule in 1962.

Actually, if we see the first map recognized by the ICJ rule, we Cambodia do not need to ask for support from Thailand. We can go alone because the temple was and is legally always ours and the boundary need not to redraw. So, is this a victory as claimed by Hun Sen government? Is it acceptable as a Cambodian and as nation? Please everyone tells me!

After our sacred temple is listed as the third World Heritage Site after Angkor Wat in 1993 and Apsara Dance in 2002, the issue will not be ended. This will make the Thai people create more hatred towards Cambodians because they still think that Cambodia was able to win the listing by means of its dirty deal for personal interests involving with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra and the incumbent Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. As we know, the process of the endorsement of the Joint Communiqué was done in an immediate manner which put deep suspicion by the Thai people leading to mass demonstration against the endorsement from ordinary people to higher political institutes, People Alliance for Democracy, Senate Committee, and the Thai Administrative Court.

Furthermore, it is not the end because the Cambodian government seems to have hidden agenda with Thailand towards its people as Ambassador Francesco Caruso, special adviser to the director general of Unesco, told AFP in Quebec that, “the listing was not meant to prejudice settlement of the border dispute. It could be amended in the future to a bi-national listing of the temple and its contested landscape. It could become a mixed natural and architectural site, the door is open. The Cambodians negotiated a listing that opens the door to such future harmony.” So what is the meaning of victory for the listing of Preah Vihear temple as the World Heritage Site comparing with those of the listings of Angkor Wat temple and Apsara Dance for all Cambodians? Is Angkor Wat shared shared? Why should Preah Vihear be open for the share with Thailand in the future? Isn’t Preah Vihear temple the exclusive property of Cambodia like Angkor Wat?

The listing is carried out, out of personal and political group interest i.e., the Hun Sen`s group or his CPP but not out of the national interest as a whole. The effort is committed in haste by accepting the Thai unilateral map so that the application will be supported by the Thai counterpart and the sacred temple will be listed by the WHC on time before the national election on 27 July 2008.

I really doubt that the Joint Communiqué is the international treaty. If so, it must be sent to the National Assembly for consent first according to our Constitution on article 90 point 4th which states that, “The assembly shall approve or annul treaties or international conventions”. It is logically proved because the Thai Constitutional Court also ruled on Tuesday 8 July 2008 that the Joint Communiqué is clearly the international treaty which also required the consent of Thai Parliament before it is being officially promulgated. So should Hun Sen government be impeached as in the case of Thailand now because Hun Sen himself and his government did completely commit the unforgivable crime?

We are not sure if Hun Sen government will commit to protect our territorial integrity of the 4.6km2 which claimed by Thailand. I personally never trust Hun Sen leadership because he is so weak, incompetent, instable, external influenced, self-centered, surrounded by sycophants and without due respect to national consiousness.

The last is my unpredictable worry about the future of Cambodian democracy, independence, and economy influenced by this treacherous victory of the listing of Preah Vihear temple because this victory has changed the bad image of Hun Sen government to be the good one among many Cambodians which can maximize the support for the CPP towards the majority victory in the upcoming election. Then our beloved country and people will be consecutively remained under suffering economically and democratically and invasion by neighboring countries for another fiver years.

Anyway, please stay united and keep our close observation on Hun Sen government if he would be elected again on the issue of the Preah Vihear temple negotiation with Thailand especially, regarding to the 4.6 km2 overlapping area. Yet, we will try him if he is voted out for this treason.

There is no pain as deep as the lost of our beloved national territorial integrity!

Pang Sokheoun
9 July 2008