07 September 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A report from Kampot province indicated that a number of Cambodian fishermen were beaten up by a group of Vietnamese fishermen and Vietnamese sea border patrol authority. The Cambodian fishermen were arrested after they told the Vietnamese fishermen to stop fishing inside Cambodian waters.
Where does the truth lie? RFA’s Phan Sophat talked with a representative of the Licadho organization, Mrs. Nget Soeung, about this incident: “Two Cambodian fishermen were taken away by Vietnam. They went out to fish in a group of about 10 boats. When they reached their fishing ground, they met three Vietnamese trawlers, and two of the trawlers were turning (on the Cambodian fishermen boats), forcing them to take off because they were scared of the Vietnamese trawlers. When they arrived near Koh Karaing Island, they met another Vietnamese trawler. This morning, the fishermen contacted the two (arrested) fishermen by radio, the two fishermen confirmed that they were arrested by the Vietnamese navy based on Koh Tral Island (Phu Quoc in Vietnamese). They were arrested inside Cambodian waters at around 6:30 AM.”
Up until now, officials from both sides have not reacted to the accusations that the Vietnamese fishermen were not acting properly towards Cambodian people. However, In Chiva, the deputy police commissioner of Kampot province, told RFA: “… I don’t know anything about it, only the security will know, ask them …”
A few years ago, Vietnamese fishing trawlers and Vietnamese navy boats rammed boats belonging Cambodian fishermen offshore from Kep city, Kampot province, causing the death of 2 Cambodian fishermen.
Where does the truth lie? RFA’s Phan Sophat talked with a representative of the Licadho organization, Mrs. Nget Soeung, about this incident: “Two Cambodian fishermen were taken away by Vietnam. They went out to fish in a group of about 10 boats. When they reached their fishing ground, they met three Vietnamese trawlers, and two of the trawlers were turning (on the Cambodian fishermen boats), forcing them to take off because they were scared of the Vietnamese trawlers. When they arrived near Koh Karaing Island, they met another Vietnamese trawler. This morning, the fishermen contacted the two (arrested) fishermen by radio, the two fishermen confirmed that they were arrested by the Vietnamese navy based on Koh Tral Island (Phu Quoc in Vietnamese). They were arrested inside Cambodian waters at around 6:30 AM.”
Up until now, officials from both sides have not reacted to the accusations that the Vietnamese fishermen were not acting properly towards Cambodian people. However, In Chiva, the deputy police commissioner of Kampot province, told RFA: “… I don’t know anything about it, only the security will know, ask them …”
A few years ago, Vietnamese fishing trawlers and Vietnamese navy boats rammed boats belonging Cambodian fishermen offshore from Kep city, Kampot province, causing the death of 2 Cambodian fishermen.
