Politiktoons No. 193: UNSC

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

Justice delayed may be justice denied for Minnesota Cambodians

27 March 2012
By Jennifer Prestholdt and Amy Bergquist
MinnPost

Minnesota’s lawmakers should join California Rep. Ed Royce in calling for more trials and an end to the Cambodian government’s culture of impunity. The United States, which has contributed more than $6.7 million to the ECCC, should demand that the Cambodian government cease its interference in the proceedings. Unless the meddling ends, Cambodia has no place at the table on the Security Council.

Monoram Hang was just 9 years old in April 1975, when Khmer Rouge soldiers forced his family from their home in Phnom Penh. His mother, weak from giving birth two days earlier, fell to her knees and begged for permission to wait for her husband to return from work so their family could leave together. The soldiers kicked her to the ground and ordered them out at gunpoint, forcing them to join the swollen river of people leaving Cambodia’s capital. As Hang related, “At that time we walk, we don’t know where we are going, we don’t know where we end up. We just walk and walk. ... And Khmer Rouge soldiers behind us and shoot from behind and force us to go.”

Hang was lucky to survive; as many as 2 million Cambodians died in the “killing fields” of the Khmer Rouge regime. He found refuge in the United States, one of nearly 10,000 Cambodians now living in Minnesota — the country’s sixth-largest home to Cambodians. Like Hang, most witnessed genocide and endured forced migration and labor camps under the Khmer Rouge.

1990: Minnesota puts the Khmer Rouge on trial

In 1990, Hang and other survivors testified at a mock trial of the Khmer Rouge leadership that was held at the State Capitol in St. Paul. The Advocates for Human Rights organized the mock trial with Minnesota’s Cambodian community to give voice to the victims of Khmer Rouge atrocities. The panel of public officials serving as judges at the mock trial found the Khmer Rouge leaders guilty of genocide. The entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation issued a statement formally recognizing members of Minnesota’s Cambodian community for their testimony and joined “the appeal to establish an international inquiry into crimes of genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge between 1975-79. Well-established principles of international law require accountability and punishment for those responsible for genocide, the Khmer Rouge being no exception.”

For Prestige, Look To the South China Sea: Analysts [-Hun Xen is too tied up with China]

China claims the highlighted portion of the South China Sea. Many other governments also claim all or part of the South China Sea. (Photo: Courtesy of University of Southern California)

Monday, 26 March 2012
Say Mony, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“If you become a leader, or a member of the [Security Council], what would you do, because when you had the chair of Asean, you didn’t do anything."

Political analysts say Cambodia should take advantage of its chairmanship of Asean this year in disputes over the South China Sea, but the country is reluctant to do so for fear of a damaging its relationship with China.

Arata Mahapatra, the director of the Center for Asian Strategic Studies in India, told VOA Khmer Thursday that playing the role of neutral mediator would help raise Cambodia’s international prestige at a time when it is seeking a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

“Half of Asean’s members are involved in the South China Sea conflict,” he said. “If Cambodia wants to ignore that, OK,” he said, but “it’s not good for Cambodia’s interests because other members will not be happy.”

Does Cambodia deserve to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council?

Security Council bid shameful

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

Thursday, 26 January 2012
Tony Guterres
The Phnom Penh Post

Dear Editor,

I read in yesterday’s Phnom Penh Post that Prime Minister Hun Sen is still working hard on winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2013-2014.

The Prime Minister talks about more than 100 countries apparently supporting such a bid.

· Those countries should be ashamed of themselves, given this government's actions over the past two years, which include:

• threatening to expel the highest-ranking United Nations official in the country (resident co-ordinator Douglas Broderick);
• threatening to close down the UN Human Rights office in this country;
• requesting the removal of the UN Human Rights country director in Cambodia;
• interfering in the proceedings of the UN-sponsored Khmer Rouge tribunal (the latest example being the saga regarding the appointment of Judge Kasper-Ansermet);
• unlawfully incarcerating a UN employee for six months in a clear case of intimidation against the UN;
• violating the UN convention on the protection of refugees by deporting Uighur and Montagnard asylum-seekers;
• maintaining Cambodia among the most corrupt countries in the world (according to a Transparency International survey);
• maintaining Cambodia as the worst country on the rule-of-law index (as ranked by the World Justice Project);
• continuing a systematic campaign of unlawful evictions, land grabs and human-rights violations; and
• continuing its efforts to shrink the overall democratic space by clamping down on freedom of expression and the political opposition (as per today's Human Rights Watch classification of Cambodia as “not a free country”.

Giving Cambodia a seat on the UN Security Council at this time would translate into the UN endorsing and rewarding the government's "rogue" actions against UN institutions and principles.

The UN and its member states should uphold the values and principles of UN membership. Giving a seat to Cambodia would do the exact opposite.

The media needs to put the facts straight to avoid having such a surreal bid materialise.

Tony Guterres

Phnom Penh

PM pushes Security Council bid

Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen rallied his foreign diplomatic corp to help push Cambodia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council yesterday at a meeting in Phnom Penh, foreign affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said.

Koy Kuong said the premier had urged Cambodia’s foreign ambassadors and consul generals to lobby other nations as the Kingdom seeks to garner votes in an election later this year for one of 10 non-permanent spots on UNSC in 2013 and 2014. “We hope that Cambodia will receive enough voice and will send a candidate to a non-permanent member UNSC seat,” he said.

“The most important thing which Cambodia aims to contribute is its experience to end war through the ‘win-win’ policy that brought real national reconciliation and full peace.”

Foreign Minister Gathers Diplomats for Security Council Bid

Monday, 23 January 2012
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“Becoming a [Security Council] member is a very important responsibility and would be an honor for Cambodia.”

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with diplomats from 32 countries on Monday to lobby for Cambodia’s bid to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Cambodia is pushing for a seat on the council for 2013 and 2014; voting will be held later this year.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members—China, France, the UK, the US and Russia—and 10 non-permanent members and decides on international matters ranging from deployment of peacekeeping forces to sanctions against member nations.

Cambodia Unveils Key Foreign Tasks in 2012

2012-01-23
Xinhua

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs, said Monday the country's foreign policies face three main challenges this year.

The issues are the International Court of Justice's interpretation for its judgment in 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear and surrounding area, the vote at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for Cambodia's candidacy as the non-permanent member in 2013-2014, and the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The minister unveiled the tasks at a meeting with 26 Cambodian ambassadors and eight consuls general to foreign countries, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry, told reporters after the meeting.

Cambodia actively seeks supports from friendly countries for UNSC seat

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has been actively seeking supports from friendly countries to secure a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2013 and 2014 mandate.

During a meeting with the British Ambassador to Cambodia Andrew Stephen Mace on Wednesday, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong asked the United Kingdom to support Cambodia for the seat.

"In response, the ambassador said Cambodia should be voted for the seat," Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry told reporters after the meeting.

He added that so far more than 100 countries have expressed their supports for Cambodia's candidacy for the seat.

Indonesia and ASEAN’s peace-making role [... but with the ASEAN up to task?]

Fri, 07/22/2011
PLE Priatna, Jakarta
The Jakarta Post

Thailand and Cambodia must immediately withdraw their military personnel from the disputed-area of Preah Vihear Temple. Both countries should continue their cooperation within ASEAN and in particular, allow the observers appointed by ASEAN to have access to the provisional demilitarized zone.

Thailand and Cambodia also had to refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve. The answers from the UN’s highest court on the case of Cambodia’s request for clarification on Preah Vihear’s status to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was released last Monday (ICJ order No. 2011/22 dated 18 July 2011).

A new Thailand-Cambodia relationship has to begin. “It is encouraging to note that United Nations Security Council and now International Court of Justice have recognized ASEAN to play a role in facilitating a resolution. I heard from both sides that they remain committed to peace and following the process to implement it. Both sides also continue to welcome the appropriate engagement of ASEAN,” said Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s foreign minister, in his capacity as ASEAN chairman, to the media in Bali on Tuesday.

Abhisit and Hun Sen must take blame for undermining Asean

May 5, 2011
By Suthichai Yoon
The Nation
Jakarta

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was asked last week whether he would try to arrange for the Thai and Cambodian premiers to meet at the Asean Summit to be held here later this week. His prompt response was: "No, I don't want to wait that long. The sooner the better."

The bilateral, top-level meeting between Abhisit Vejjajiva and Hun Sen has yet to materialise after a series of military skirmishes. Whether they will sit down and hold serious talks here later this week remains to be seen.

On the eve of the Asean Summit, the Thai-Cambodian armed conflict threatens to seriously undermine the regional grouping's credibility. The "Asean Option" to resolve conflicts between member countries may prove to be ineffective. The lack of an effective dispute settlement mechanism, despite the existence of the much-heralded Asean Charter, will continue to weaken the regional grouping.

Foreign Minister Natalegawa told a group of Asian editors from the Asia News Network (ANN) here last week: "As the host, we don't want the summit to be a single-issue gathering about the Thai-Cambodian confrontation. That's why I am pursuing peace aggressively for both countries. We have several other issues to consider at the summit, including those of Burma and the South China Sea."

There is a general feeling here that this week's summit of the 40-year-old regional grouping will be held under a dark cloud of cynicism over its future as a cohesive organisation.

Sinatoons: The Master's NO

Cartoon by V. Sina

Letter from Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs to the UN Security Council on the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand

Politiktoons No. 120: Arms Suppliers

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

Politiktoons No. 119: UNSC's Super Market

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

CACJE's declaration on the claim made by Thailand FM spokesman

Cambodian Action Committee for Justice & Equity (CACJE)
No: 3 Fountain Ave. Cranston RI, 02920 Web: www.cacje.net, Email: cacjepress9@gmail.com
"CACJE is an Alliance for People Power, Promote Social Justice & Support Human Equity"

No: 0049 / CACJE

14th May 2009

DECLARATION

Cambodian Action Committee for Justice and Equity (CACJE) opposes categorically the declaration of Thai Foreign Ministry's spokesman Mr. Tharit Jarungwat who claims shamelessly that Cambodia could not ask for compensation from Thailand for border clash in April 3, 2009 because the clash site is on the Thai territory.

The baseless claim of Thai Foreign Ministry’s spokesman shows not only the volition of Thai government to ignore his own history but also to look down the Cambodians victims of the Thai Army aggression who lost their lives and their entire livelihood.

Cambodia Foreign Ministry should protest and urge Foreign Ministry of Thailand to condemn and categorically reject the claim of Thai Foreign Ministry's spokesman Tharit Jarungwat relative to Preah Vihear aggression.

CACJE would like to remind the public and the world, in order to solve the borders conflicts of Cambodia versus Thailand, Vietnam and Laos the best way to fix it is to bring this affair under the auspice of the Security Council of the United Nations (UNSC). Only the international treaties and universal treaties might provide the best protection to Cambodia.

Signed
SOURN SEREY RATHA
Chief Mission