Thai soldiers forbid Khmer villagers from growing vegetable in their backyards

In January 2009, 35 heavily-armed Thai soldiers crossed 50 metres deep into Khmer territory at O'Smach to prevent Khmer workers from building a fence near the borders.

Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper
7th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Six Cambodian families living in the border village of O'Smach in Ouddor Meanchey province opposite Thailand's Kap Cherng district of Surin province were prevented by black-clad Thai Royal Guards from growing vegetable aroud their houses.

The Thai border guards said that the village where the Cambodian villagers are living are disputes areas, but the Cambodian border guards said that the areas are Cambodian territories and the Cambodian villagers have been living there since 2000, but only got the problems with the Thai soldiers after the Thais invaded Preah Vihear areas in July 2008.

Mr. Phorn Thol, Deputy Chief of Border Police gurading the O'Smach areas, told Reaksmei Kampuchea on 4th March that the six Cambodian families had been living there since the year 2000 and they had grown their vegetable around their houses since then. But later, Thai soldiers came to forbid them not to grow vegetable, not to clear the lands or make extensions to their houses because they said that the areas are in disputed territories.

Mr. Phorn Thol also said that Thai soldiers forbid the villagers from fishing in the natural pond or not to use the pond named Ang Dop Pram (Fifteen Reservoir) located on the border on top of the Dangrek Mountains.

Before the 1997 coup, Ang Dop Pram was a Khmer territory and Cambodian villagers as welll as Khmer border guard soldiers can use the pond and fish from the pond.

Mrs. Singh Hort who live in Phum Dey Pram Mett (Five Metres Village) in O'Smach district, told Reaksmei Kampuchea that the disputes happened after Thai soldiers invaded the Preah Vihear areas in July, 2008 and since then the villagers in her areas are living in double-hardship. In the areas, villagers are foraging for wild mushrooms, wild plants, tree tars, wild flowers and wild fruit to sell to Thai people across the borders, but after the Thai invasion of the Preah Vihear areas in mid 2008, they have difficulty selling those products to Thai people.

They said that in the past they can grow vegetable around their houses and can use the water from Lake Ang Dop Pram, but now they are prevented from growing the vegetable around their houses and are not allowed to use the water in that pond. Now, they have to buy foods and all consumer goods and everything from Thailand.

The six Cambodian families are families of Cambodian border guards who are protecting the borders in the areas. Their livelihood worsened due to global economic crisis and due to Thai soldiers not allowing them to grow food around their houses.

Thai people urged Sisaket residents to demand the re-opening of the gate to Preah Vihear temple

The monks marching toward the gate of Preah Vihear temple.

Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper
18th December, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

Because the gate to Preah Vihear temple has been closed for a few months which has caused disruptions to the livelihood of traders in Sisaket, the Thai foreign Ministry has organised a meeting to push for the quick re-opening of the Preah Vihear temple.

According to the reports by the Thai media on the 17th of December, the meeting took place in Sisaket province on the 16th of December. The meeting’s participants include Thai officials, Sisaket traders, experts as well as many Sisaket residents have expressed their concerns about the impacts on the livelihood of the local residents after the gate to Preah Vihear temple was closed after the Thai invasion of Preah Vihear areas on the 15th of July, 2008.

According to the above source, the Thai Foreign Ministry officials urged the Sisaket residents to push the new government for a quick re-opening of the Preah Vihear gate.

In the past, the Sisaket traders and tourist operators have urged the Thai government to help push for the quick re-opening of the Preah Vihear gate. They said that since the closure of the gate, their livelihood has been greatly impacted. Sisaket governor has also pushed for the re-opening of the Preah Vihear gate.

The same source said that the chairman of the Sisaket Development Coordination Committee has urged the Thai government to continue to maintain Thai troops in the Preah Vihear areas until the border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand have been resolved. Officials from Sisaket province said that Thailand must maintain Thai troops their until they are able to evict the Khmer people from the staircase of the Preah Vihear temple as they have demanded.

The officials from the Thai foreign Ministry said that they will convey the messages of the Sisaket people to the meeting of the Foreign Ministry and compile a report to submit to the new prime minister and the cabinet to make the decision.

On the same day, there were about 44 Buddhist monks holding a Dharmayietra march to the gate of the Preah Vihear temple. Among the 44 Buddhist monks, there were 8 foreign monks who have been canvassed to join the march.

Sisaket authority said that the Thai monks as well as the foreign monks have presented the image of the Buddha to the Thai troops based around the Preah Vihear areas.

After the Dharmayietra, those monks will travel to Bangkok to urge the Thai government to resolve the Preah Vihear issues.

Hor Namhong’s law suit against Sam Rainsy in a Cambodian court has been temporarily shelved awaiting the verdict of the French court

Mr. Hor Namhong (L) and Mr. Sam Rainsy (R).

Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper
18th November, 2008
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

The seven month-old defamation and disinformation law suit, derived from an article published by the opposition newspaper the Khmer Conscience and which was lodged by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong against Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy, has been temporarily shelved by a prosecutor attached to the court, awaiting for the verdict of the French court first which will be decided on the 9th of December, 2008.

Please note that on the 22nd of April, 2008, Mr. Ka Savuth, lawyer representing Mr. Hor Namhong, lodged a defamation and disinformation law suit with the prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Magistrate Court due attached with the article published in the Khmer Conscience on 18th of April, 2008.

Mr. Ek Chheng Huort, deputy prosecutor attached to the court, has followed the judicial procedures regarding the case. But Mr. Sam Rainsy has always asked for a delay whenever the court summons him to appear. So, due to Mr. Sam Rainsy has parliamentary immunity, the court cannot proceed with this case.

In the meantime, the court has separated the suit against editor of the Khmer Conscience newspaper, Mr. Dam Sith (from Mr. Sam Rainsy‘s case), and Mr. Dam Sith’s case was sent to the investigating judge to proceed with the court case.

In June, 2008, Mr. Dam Sith was ordered by the court to be detained in Preysor Prison, awaiting for the results of the investigations. Shortly after, the court has decided to set Mr. Dam Sith free.

Afterward, the court, through the Ministry of Justice, has written a letter to President of the National Assembly requesting the suspension of Mr. Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity in order to make ways for the court to proceed with the suit. But up until now, even after the third parliamentary term has ended, there is no sign of the National Assembly debating this (the suspension of Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity) issue.

Afterward, in order to provide full justice to Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mr. Hor Namhong has decided to lodge another law suit in the French court because Mr. Sam Rainsy is a French citizen.

According to a reliable source, this new suit will be heard in the French court on the 9th of December, 2008. So, Mr. Hor Namhong’s suit in the Cambodia court has to be temporarily shelved, awaiting for the verdict of the French court first before it can proceed.