27/08/2010
Anucha Charoenpo and Nopparat Kingkaew
Bangkok Post
Thailand is pledging to resume 1.4billion baht in assistance to Cambodia for a road development project in a further sign that ties between the two countries are returning to normal.
Thailand froze the loan shortly after Phnom Penh appointed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government in November.
The soft loan will be spent on upgrading Road 68 from Kralanh to Samrong and O'Samach in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday the aid would soon be resumed and people from the two countries would get back on track in terms of trade, tourism and investment.
Thailand and Cambodia normalised diplomatic ties when Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai returned to Phnom Penh on Monday and Cambodia sent its ambassador to Thailand, You Aye, to Bangkok on Tuesday.
Thailand is now seeking the release of three Surin natives being held at the prison in Siem Reap.
Their families visited them yesterday amid hopes they will be freed within days.
It was the first time the three villagers have seen their families since they were arrested last Wednesday in O'Samach in Oddar Meanchey, opposite Surin, for entering Cambodia illegally and carrying weapons without permission.
The trip was arranged by officials in Surin who yesterday took seven family members across the border through Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
Cambodian officials there arranged a van to take them to Siem Reap prison, about 150km away.
Prison staff took the villagers to see their family members and Thai officials.
The three were safe and happy on learning they would be returned to Thailand in the next three to four days.
Surin governor Raphee Phongbuphakit said the three Thais were awaiting paperwork from Siem Reap authorities before being released.
Lam Wongcharoen, mother of Sanong Wongcharoen, one of the three villagers, thanked Cambodia for allowing the families to visit them.
She said she would not let her son gather wild products in the forest again after he was freed. The other two being held are Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri.
Deputy spokesman for foreign affairs Thani Thongphakdi said Thai diplomats from the embassy in Phnom Penh visited the three on Wednesday.
Thailand froze the loan shortly after Phnom Penh appointed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government in November.
The soft loan will be spent on upgrading Road 68 from Kralanh to Samrong and O'Samach in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday the aid would soon be resumed and people from the two countries would get back on track in terms of trade, tourism and investment.
Thailand and Cambodia normalised diplomatic ties when Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai returned to Phnom Penh on Monday and Cambodia sent its ambassador to Thailand, You Aye, to Bangkok on Tuesday.
Thailand is now seeking the release of three Surin natives being held at the prison in Siem Reap.
Their families visited them yesterday amid hopes they will be freed within days.
It was the first time the three villagers have seen their families since they were arrested last Wednesday in O'Samach in Oddar Meanchey, opposite Surin, for entering Cambodia illegally and carrying weapons without permission.
The trip was arranged by officials in Surin who yesterday took seven family members across the border through Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
Cambodian officials there arranged a van to take them to Siem Reap prison, about 150km away.
Prison staff took the villagers to see their family members and Thai officials.
The three were safe and happy on learning they would be returned to Thailand in the next three to four days.
Surin governor Raphee Phongbuphakit said the three Thais were awaiting paperwork from Siem Reap authorities before being released.
Lam Wongcharoen, mother of Sanong Wongcharoen, one of the three villagers, thanked Cambodia for allowing the families to visit them.
She said she would not let her son gather wild products in the forest again after he was freed. The other two being held are Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri.
Deputy spokesman for foreign affairs Thani Thongphakdi said Thai diplomats from the embassy in Phnom Penh visited the three on Wednesday.
16 comments:
Thanks heaven for such a drastic change of event between Cambodia and Thailand.As long as Thai did not look down on khmer,i think Thailand is a great neighbor primarily because both did have a similar culture.
Under Hun Sen's leadership, Cambodia became a begging country and will keep on begging as long as Hun Sen will be in charge.
Khmer is dog country, come to papa and beg. We will give you shit to eat. Hahaha
You just can't be nice to the bastard Thai.
Despite the coward Cambodian government dare not asking for those Khmer we killed in these few years, It's the good news, that our Thai people will be released shortly...
I think we should just stay away from this country. If we do, they would wine about helping Cambodia. Let just learn how to be self reliance. WE must learn how to stand on our own two feet. Get help from others but not Thailand. They have given us enough lessons not to get involved with them. We must learned or we will feel that pain again.
It's approx. $40 us dollars loan assistant? Hun Xen already said, this could be stuck in Cambodian throat for future generations. Why could Hun Xen still accept this package from his #1 enemy if he already said that? Maybe sell off Prea Vihear to pay debt later?
correction $40 million US dollars.
The Cambodian government must review and think double time before accepting this soft loan. We have a lot of experiences with Siam government, and must NOT allow things; including land border dispute and diplomtic downgraded repeatedly happen again and again when foreseeing discussion about maritime border which is unsettled yet - and this issue will definately happen. In addition, the Cambodian government must think about the stewardship and long term sustainability without too much dependency on external supports; including aid and soft loan. If it is not avoidable, Cambodian government should place the conditions because we are not asking for loan at this moment, rather than Siam itself is willing to review and lend the loan to Cambodia. Thus, the Cambodian government has a chance to play whether to accept or not to accept the loan. The diplomatic ties whould be a different agenda from this issue, but it will be gradully improved by keeping normal dialogues and relations between both countries.
This is a way to go. life is all about stability and peace for all. We need each other in time of need and we cannot live without each other. So, as long as we live in the same common ground we will be ok. The power of healing can be seen through "Love and Peace", from here we will be more prosperous then ever before for all of our Asian Nations. Love last forever but hatred will only be short lived. So, do the right thing for the righteous will live forever and the wicked will be terminated. In addition, we belong to the earth and the earth doesnot belong to us, so we might as well be kind to one another for this short time being. From here, we need to learn to respect each other regardless, and also there is a need to promote unity for all as well as having a common interest and common goal. Without love and unity, we all be doomed and for what purpose? nothing but a life of hell. So, human being have to be smarter all the times for good outcome. Aust
Before releasing these three thai persons, Cambodia shall discuss with Thailand how Thailand treated many Cambodian people who entered into Thaland the same way as these thai entered illegally into Cambodia. The release shall be in according with the Cambodian existing law and based on reciprocity.
As for soft loan, Cambodian government should accept this loan for poverty alleviation, but at the same time, she shall be careful about Thai government's scheme and tactic. The question must be asked why the Thai government soften its policy by providing this loan and sent its ambassador to Cambodia???? why???. Cambodia must be firmed with its multimechanism such as UN or ASEAN in dealing with the current border dispute.
Stupid and ignorant prime minister Hun Xen,make us called dumber prime minister ever in the khmer history Thai look down ours like animal and Hoon Xen need the grateful debt to choke Cambodian throat in the near future.
Hun Xen if you can't be youn dog you want to be Siam dog? Oh KRAYAU dog it always be dog unavoidable .
Cambodians you must be foreign slaves for your live if you not change this ignorant Prime minister.
Ah Kwak took the money save for his grand children and Cambodian poor people grand children who pay the dept!
You think ah Kwack is going to refuse that?
If Thai and Vietnam,both of them,would do the right things,Khmer people would be glad; but Khmer inside the country and Khmer oversea people keep their eyes wide open.These two,Thai and Vietnam,have had pretty bad attitudes toward Cambodia. Khmer people never,never trust them. Khmer people knew very well about them.Right now Khmer people are staring at Vietnam crooked invading land, taking Cambodia as his slave to the next 30 years.
becareful! siem tries to corrupt cambodia! make sure the road they build is up to international standard, not broken a year later, ok!
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