Who push the Siamese' aggression on Cambodia? Op-Ed by Khem Khieu

http://www.box.net/shared/ohe4pi6je2

Som Niyeay Phorng - Op-Ed by Angkor Borey News

Click on the article in Khmer to zoom in

Rong Chhun: Authorization or not, the demonstration against Abhisit will go on

11 June 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, declared that the meeting for the march starting from in front of the old National Assembly building to be held on Friday, the day when Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand PM, will visit Cambodia, will take place even if the city hall does not authorize it. Rong Chhun said that he sent a letter to inform the Phnom Penh city hall already about the planned meeting to express the people’s opinion and the ensuing march. He said that even without the authorization from the city hall, “we must hold [this demonstration against Abhisit] because this is an issue that affects the nation as a whole, and this no longer an individual issue.” Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), also declared that he will join the demonstration. He said that this is an occasion for Cambodian people to express their opinion about Thailand’s aggression on Cambodian territories, as well a show of the expression of opinion to the Thai authority. He said that, even with the prevention from the city hall, “we will hold [this demonstration] because this is our national interest, and the city hall should protect those who come to express their opinion on 12 June.”

In some areas, Cambodian civilians are chasing away Thai aggressors?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper quoted General Kuy Sopheap, the commander of the Cambodia army unit 2, as telling a delegation in the house of former KR leader, Ta Mok, in Anlong Veng on 17 August, that Thai soldiers have violated Cambodian territorial integrity in several locations following the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site. Thai aggression did not just occur in Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak in Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temple alone, but Thai soldiers also encroached along other border areas, sometimes about 100-meter, 200-meter, 500-meter and up to 1 or 2-kilometer inside Cambodia. However, he said that Cambodian troops posted along the border did not use their weapons to chase Thai soldiers, instead, Cambodian civilians used their knives and axes to chase after them. The general declined to say where the aggressions by Thai soldiers along the border took place.

Thailand worst nightmare scenario: If the 1904-07 Franco-Siam treaties prevail, Thailand would lose its offshore claim on Cambodia seas

Senate panels outline temple stance

July 25, 2008
THE NATION

The Senate's six committees yesterday issued a five-point statement outlining its stance on the Preah Vihear temple issue.

The statement said:

1. The six committees are of the opinion that there is no overlapping border in the area adjacent to the temple. The area is completely Thai territory as per the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Thai Treaty to demarcate the border.

2. The government must proceed to nullify the June 18 joint communique with Cambodia on grounds that the document was deemed unconstitutional. Otherwise Cambodian authorities might cite the document to claim sovereignty over the temple and its adjacent 4.6-square-kilometre area should the case be argued in the International Court of Justice.

3. The 1964 ruling by the International Court of Justice addressed only Cambodian sovereignty over the temple and did not touch on border demarcation.

4. Since Cambodia proceeded unilaterally to register the temple as a World Heritage site which did not cover the adjacent area, the six committees deem it unjustified for the formation of a six-nation committee to manage the area.

5. Thai authorities should expedite to evict buildings encroached in the 4.6-square-kilometre area.

Senator Rosana Tositrakul said that after Parliament reconvenes, the six committees will push for the formation of an extraordinary Senate panel on the temple.

She voiced suspicion that certain elements within Unesco might have an ulterior motive on the sovereignty issue relating to the temple.

Thailand has accepted the watershed for border demarcation while Cambodia has used the French-drawn map to claim the temple and its adjacent area, she said.

The listing of the temple by the World Heritage Committee is very suspicious because this has happened as if some elements want to force the Thai-Cambodia borders to be redrawn, she added.

Should the French-drawn map be accepted a basis for demarcation, the entire border would shift to impact on the overlapping offshore area in the Gulf of Thailand, she said. The area is a potential site for natural-gas exploration.