By Sav Yuth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
An official from the Oddar Meanchey province expressed his concerns on the disappearance of a number of border markers along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Following a visit at the location of these markers in the province, it was observed that a number of them have disappeared.
Phon Nol, the cabinet chief of the Oddar Meanchey provincial office, said on Sunday 29 July that following a visit to the border markers located in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province by the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee, it was observed that stone markers delimiting the border between the two countries which were installed during the France-Thailand convention in 1907 have disappeared and could not be found.
Phon Nol said: “There are 26 border markers, we could not find a border marker, for the other 25 markers, we are just starting to look for them, we don’t know about these yet. We want to see the border markers which were installed jointly in 1907 which must be at the same location, and both sides respect them.”
However, the committee for border resolution claimed that the disappearance of border makers is nothing to be alarmed at.
Var Kim Hong, the chairman of the government committee for border resolution, said on Sunday morning that the disappearance of the markers delimiting the Cambodia-Thailand border is nothing to be surprised of, sometimes, they were not installed properly. What is important is for the Cambodian border committee to find the exact location back and install a new border marker there.
Var Kim Hong said: “We went to install border markers, we looked for the old markers installed by the joint France-Siam committee from the 20th century. They disappeared, that’s nothing, there’s nothing to be surprised of, that’s why we went to look for them, sometimes they are lost, sometimes they are found. Sometimes, they cannot be used either because the installation location was wrong, we must search for the correct location. Our mission, the duty to find them (is under the charge) the joint Cambodia-Thailand committee.”
On Sunday, Thai embassy officials in Cambodia could not be contacted on this issue.
Var Kim Hong added that: “Nevertheless, the problem of delimitation of border markers with neighboring countries is not an easy issue when it comes to discussion on the setting of the location again. The joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is currently cooperating to push for detailed and correct installation of border markers again this year, starting from region No. 27, 26, and 23 in Oddar Meanchey province.”
The government of Cambodia indicated that in the past several years, the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is initiating the search for old border markers as well as installing new ones successively. These activities start from the Poipet region (border marker No. 49) until the Phnom Dangrek region in Oddar Meanchey province.
Phon Nol, the cabinet chief of the Oddar Meanchey provincial office, said on Sunday 29 July that following a visit to the border markers located in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province by the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee, it was observed that stone markers delimiting the border between the two countries which were installed during the France-Thailand convention in 1907 have disappeared and could not be found.
Phon Nol said: “There are 26 border markers, we could not find a border marker, for the other 25 markers, we are just starting to look for them, we don’t know about these yet. We want to see the border markers which were installed jointly in 1907 which must be at the same location, and both sides respect them.”
However, the committee for border resolution claimed that the disappearance of border makers is nothing to be alarmed at.
Var Kim Hong, the chairman of the government committee for border resolution, said on Sunday morning that the disappearance of the markers delimiting the Cambodia-Thailand border is nothing to be surprised of, sometimes, they were not installed properly. What is important is for the Cambodian border committee to find the exact location back and install a new border marker there.
Var Kim Hong said: “We went to install border markers, we looked for the old markers installed by the joint France-Siam committee from the 20th century. They disappeared, that’s nothing, there’s nothing to be surprised of, that’s why we went to look for them, sometimes they are lost, sometimes they are found. Sometimes, they cannot be used either because the installation location was wrong, we must search for the correct location. Our mission, the duty to find them (is under the charge) the joint Cambodia-Thailand committee.”
On Sunday, Thai embassy officials in Cambodia could not be contacted on this issue.
Var Kim Hong added that: “Nevertheless, the problem of delimitation of border markers with neighboring countries is not an easy issue when it comes to discussion on the setting of the location again. The joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is currently cooperating to push for detailed and correct installation of border markers again this year, starting from region No. 27, 26, and 23 in Oddar Meanchey province.”
The government of Cambodia indicated that in the past several years, the joint Cambodia-Thailand border committee is initiating the search for old border markers as well as installing new ones successively. These activities start from the Poipet region (border marker No. 49) until the Phnom Dangrek region in Oddar Meanchey province.
