Cambodians living under the poverty line is at 27.3%, not around 30%: PQRU's Tith Sothea's dichotomy

Tith Sothea in his "black" jacket (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Government pooh-poohs poverty stats

Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Khouth Sophakchakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

THE government has rejected a recent media report stating that around 30 percent of the Kingdom’s 14 million people are currently living below the poverty line.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit took exception to a Radio Free Asia report, aired on Sunday, that quoted a spokesman from the United Nations Population Fund offering the figure.

“We entirely reject the information,” said Tith Sothea, a spokesman for the PQRU.

“We do not know for sure whether Radio Free Asia quoted incorrectly or if the [UNFPA] official spoke incorrectly, but we reject the information.”

According to yesterday’s statement, the percentage of Cambodians living in poverty fell from 50 percent in 1993 to 30 percent in 2007 and 27.4 percent in 2009.

“Even though Cambodia suffered from the global downturn, the latest figures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Planning show that Cambodians living under the poverty line dropped to 27.3 percent in 2010,” the statement said.

It added that the Cambodian government expected to reach the country’s Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty to 19.5 percent by 2015.

Pen Sophanara, the UNFPA communications officer quoted by RFA, said the figure she cited was based on a report released by the agency in 2008.

Men in black

Also yesterday, the PQRU moved to quash a Thai media report that a group of “men in black” – Cambodian-trained special forces of Vietnamese origin – was “staking out” the home of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The report, carried in The Nation newspaper last week, was based on comments from a Thai government spokesman, who said police were maintaining a close watch on the men.

The PQRU denounced the report as an attempt “to link Thai unending squabbles with Cambodia” and “fan acts of hostility towards the Kingdom of Cambodia”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also rejected the reports Sunday.

MIH see red on MIB claim by Bangkok

Acronyms:

MIH: Men Installed by Hanoi
MIB: Men In Black invented by Thailand (?)
DIB: Dumb In Bangkok
PQRU: Our Qru (crew) is here to sQRU (screw) you (?)

Click on the release to zoom in

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Men In Black

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

Secret training video for Thai security force: How to recognize the MIB "Men In Black"

In case the Thai security force does not know what the MIB look like, here is a secret training video for them:

Cambodia rejects Thai information on plan by Cambodian "MIB (Man In Black)" of Viet origin to assassinate Thai PM

Club of MIB (Men In Black)?

18 Sept 2010
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy

A high-ranking Cambodian official categorically denied information published by a group of Thai officials indicating that there are men in black trained in Cambodia to create turmoil in Bangkok. This alleged group of men is composed of Cambodians fighters of Vietnamese origin who are classified as “Dac Cong” or the group of cross border suicide attackers from Cambodia traveling to Bangkok to attempt to assassinate Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai PM.

On 17 September 2010, Tith Sothea, a government advisor and mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU) of the Council of Ministers, considered this news as baseless fabrication which Thai officials use in an attempt to link unrest in Thailand to Cambodia.

Tith Sothea added that there is no reason for Cambodia to provide training ground to oppose other countries and Cambodia does not hide any force inside its territories with the aim of conducting assassination attempt on the Thai PM as claimed by this group of Thai officials. Furthermore, due to this baseless accusation leveled by the Thai officials, Cambodia must demand that the Thai government brings out an urgent correction to this issue because it could affect the planned meeting between the PMs from the two countries during the US-ASEAN meeting which will be held on 24 September 2010 in the US.

Nevertheless, Tith Sothea pointed out that Cambodia never authorized any foreign military presence on its territories, nor does it allow any Cambodian military bases overseas with the exception of peacekeeping missions requested by the UN. However, Cambodia still reserves the right to accept military aid and training in order to protect its territorial integrity.

Tith Sothea’s reaction came immediately Panitan Wattanayagorn, the deputy secretary of the Thai PM cabinet, said on Thursday that there is a group of men reportedly living in a building near Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house and who are being closely watched by the Thai police.

At the same time, Suthep Thaugsuban, the Thai deputy-PM, also said that these men could be linked to the “men in black” behind the April 10 clashes in Bangkok.

Click here to read The Nation’s report on this issue of “Men In Black”

[Thai] Security tightened over rumours of assassination plots [on Abishit by assasins trained in Cambodia]

September 17, 2010
The Nation

A group of men, reportedly living in a condominium near the prime minister's home, are being watched closely, deputy secretarygeneral to the PM Panitan Wattanayagorn said yesterday. Meanwhile, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, suggested that these men might be linked to the "men in black" behind the April 10 clashes.

Police are also keeping a close eye on a weapons expert from Cambodia, who might instigate violence during the redshirt rally on Sunday.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Santhan Chayanont had previously claimed that a group of "men in black", trained for combat in Cambodia, were staking out Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's residence from a condominium nearby. This has prompted the beefing up of security for the PM as well as 50 VIPs, as police monitor people coming in and out of highrises, he said.

While telling the public not to panic, Panitan said yesterday that the police had been watching the PM's house for a few months now and noticed dubious men taking turns entering a condominium nearby. However, the police have not taken any action because the men had not done anything wrong so far. Also, they have not checked the condominium because it is private property, he said.

Admitting that reports claim this group was comprised of "experts" reportedly preparing for something, he said whether or not they are successful would depend wholly on security measures taken. However, he wouldn't say if there were any plans to relocate Abhisit.

Meanwhile, Abhisit said yesterday that he was being careful but added he was not that worried about being "watched" by the so-called "men in black". He said such reports came up occasionally, but the police provided him with good security.

In related news, Suthep told the press yesterday that Bangkok police was ready for the red shirt rally from Friday to Sunday, adding protesters were not allowed to block roads or use amplifiers.

Asked whether VIPs, including Abhisit and Suthep himself, should be moving to safe houses amid rumours of assassination plans, the deputy PM said there was no need.

As for the "men in black", he said, they first emerged on the night of April 10 and became known as an armed group that killed the general public and officials. He said that though the media called this group that allegedly carried out terrorist attacks and plotted assassinations the "men in black", nobody knew what colour they were wearing this time.

He added that following claims of there being plots to assassinate the PM, he had told security officials to check the neighbourhood for spots where the attacks might be launched. However, he said the officials must have moved so loudly that the suspects have already fled.

Meanwhile, former deputy permanent secretary for Defence, Admiral Bannawit Kengrien said he too had heard about the so-called assassination plot and that a large number of Cambodian warriors of Vietnamese descent, who had undergone military training and were great snipers, had been brought in to do the job.

He said this was in line with news about the chaos that is expected to bubble up by the end of this month. However, Bannawit said he didn't think this rumour had anything to do with the socalled "men in black" renting a condominium near Abhisit's home because these imported warriors keep moving around to avoid detection.

"Although I often criticise this government, I must warn the premier about the reports of an assassination plot against him. If he were harmed, the country's image would be ruined," he said.

Bannawit also said he did not know if former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was linked to this plot and that it was the government's job to investigate.

Meanwhile, emergency police chief Pol Maj General Thanapol Sonthes said reports about "men in black" plotting the assassination of VIPs had been filed since April, when the red shirts were rallying at the Rajprasong intersection. He added that all VIPs, especially the premier, were being provided with maximum security. He said a "trainer" from Cambodia was keeping a low profile in Thailand but the police knew his name and whereabouts, and were keeping an eye on him.

A team of 450 police officers had been given the job of guarding the upcoming rally, and initial investigation has not revealed any signs of the protest being prolonged or becoming violent, Metropolitan Police Area 5 chief Pol MajGeneral Anuchai Lekbumrung said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul yesterday presided over the launch of the "citizens' watch for danger" campaign, which runs until Monday. The campaign urges Bangkok residents to keep an eye out for signs of crime, terrorism and other disasters, and is handing out handbooks at Pathum Wan intersection as well as at Siam and National Stadium Skytrain stations.

Theerachon said city officials were also working with police to guard 40 key locations, especially VIP residences as well as subway and Skytrain stations.

Corrections Department chief Chatchai Suthiklom said yesterday that he had notified the directors of some 100 prisons nationwide to be on alert because from 10am today, the red shirts were going to lay roses in front of prisons holding their comrades. "Though we believe that there will be no violence, we have to be prepared," he said.

Currently, 252 redshirt protesters are being detained in 17 prisons across the country, Chatchai said.

Thailand implicates Cambodian Muslims of having links with Thai insurgents in the far South

PM: Rebels hold talks in Geneva
Insurgents hope to gain international attention

Wednesday March 19, 2008
Bangkok Post REPORTERS

At least two insurgent groups have been holding discussions in Geneva with the aim of bringing the southern unrest to international attention, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said yesterday.

Mr Samak's statement came after the cabinet held talks on the situation in the far South, amid increasing concern about the scale of the violence following a car bomb attack at the CS Pattani hotel on Sunday.

Mr Samak told a press conference after the cabinet meeting that there are six active insurgent groups, and two of them have tried to internationalise the southern issue.

''They are having a discussion in Geneva. I have read a report on the discussion,'' Mr Samak said.

''The government hasn't recognised the negotiations. Many concerned parties disapprove of negotiating with the insurgents. That's all I can say.''

Mr Samak said the government was working out careful measures to deal with the southern conflict and try to stop it becoming an international issue.

The stance remains unchanged since the violence flared up in 2004, when Thaksin Shinawatra was prime minister.

Mr Samak said some of the explosive devices used in bomb attacks in Pattani were from the eastern province of Trat. He cited evidence from a bomb near the hotel which did not go off.

Trat borders Cambodia, where some Muslims are believed to have links to the rebel groups in the far South.

With the situation appearing to intensify, attention has turned to Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung.

He admitted the southern problem is too much for him to handle alone.

''I admit it is too big an issue. It is not that I don't pay enough attention to it, but I'm trying to find a way to solve the problem. This time, the opposition has to help the government out. I cannot handle it alone,'' said Mr Chalerm. He is expected to visit the far South tomorrow, ahead of a meeting on Friday of all relevant agencies to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, an army source said the meeting in Geneva may have been held by members of the the Pattani United Liberation Organisation and the Barisan Nasional Pembedasan Pattani.

They had used foreign bases such as Switzerland and Sweden to propagate their activities to the international community, the source said. The two groups demand better living conditions for people in the Muslim-dominated southern border provinces. They have called for a special administration zone but they did not press for the secession of the region, the source said.

The same source said Gen Vaipot Srinual, former chief of the Armed Forces Security Centre, had met and talked with leaders of insurgent groups in Yala on Sept 16, 2006 - only three days before the coup took place on Sept 19.

At the talks, some insurgent leaders tabled their demands for fair treatment of Muslim people. But they did not call for the secession of the southern region, the source said.

Details of the negotiations were compiled into a report for presentation to relevant agencies. However, the report had not been put into practice so far. Negotiations were often held at the personal level and did not gain recognition from governments. the source added.

However, the new generation of hardline rebel groups such as the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate and the Gerakan Mujahidin Islam Pattani had denied the peace efforts all along.

The bomb attack on the CS Pattani, viewed by some security experts as one of the safest hotels in the far South, was an indication the hardline groups were bent on derailing the peace efforts at all costs to establish an independent Pattani state, the source said.

''These groups are aware that they could not defeat the state forces. They have tried to create violence and take the issue to the international level so that the UN would interfere,'' the source said.

Meanwhile, signs of trouble continued in Yala's Muang district as a group of rebels in a pick-up truck hurled a grenade into a mosque in the early hours of yesterday.

Two people were injured and taken to hospital. The bombing caused partial damage to the mosque.