Hun Sen, Sam Rainsy to meet at ASEAN conference

Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) departs for Indonesia yesterday while Interior Minister Sar Keng (L), Deputy Prime Minister Sok An (2nd L), Defence Minister Tea Banh (2nd R) and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong look on. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen left for Indonesia yesterday to attend an ASEAN conference for parliamentarians from member states.

The otherwise drab-sounding event packs a twist, though, as opposition and self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy is expected to also be in attendance.

Rainsy, who is self-exiled in France after being convicted of charges that his supporters claim are politically motivated, told the Post yesterday that he held a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on September 13 over the political situation in Cambodia.

“I can only say that I requested to Marty and other parliamentarians to support the UN Special Rapporteur for Cambodia on his recommendations for election organisation in Cambodia,” Rainsy said.

Hun Sen, Heng Samrin leave for AIPA meeting in Indonesia

(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

17-Sep-12

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly President Heng Samrin left Monday for the annual meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Indonesia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

In a statement released Sunday, the ministry said Hun Sen would deliver a speech to the meeting.

In addition to ASEAN parliamentarians, the AIPA meeting is expected to be attended by lawmakers from Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

China wary of U.S. military moves in Asia-Pacific

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is likely to face sharp questions when he arrives in Beijing for talks with China’s defense minister.

As Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visits Beijing this week, the U.S. is forging closer defense ties to countries near China and renewing its focus in the South Pacific.

September 16, 2012

Los Angeles Times (USA)

WASHINGTON — When a senior U.S. general met in Beijing recently with Lt. Gen. Cai Yingting, the deputy chief of China's armed forces, Cai forcefully objected to America's expanding military presence in Asia and the Pacific, describing it as an effort to encircle his country.

"Why are you containing us?" Cai demanded, according to a U.S. official who was present and described the incident in return for anonymity.

The U.S. general denied seeking to contain China, but it's easy to see why officials in Beijing might get that impression.

The Obama administration is forging closer defense ties to countries near China, including India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore; repositioning troops, planes and ships; and stepping up aid in the South Pacific to offset attention from Beijing.

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ជួប​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី - Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy met with Marty Natalegawa

 

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង និង​ជា​ប្រធាន​ចលនា​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​ជួប​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា (Marty Natalegawa) កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បតិ៍ ទី១៣ ខែ​កញ្ញា នៅ​ទីស្ដីការ​ក្រសួង​ការ​បរទេស​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី ក្នុង​ក្រុង​ហ្សាកាតា (Jakarta)។

2012-09-15
ដោយ ម៉ៅ សុធានី
Radio Free Asia

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លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ត្រូវ​បាន​សភា​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី អញ្ជើញ​លោក​ឲ្យ​ចូល​រួម​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ពិភាក្សា​មួយ​ចំនួន​ជាមួយ​សមាជិក​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ​ខ្លះ នៃ​គណបក្ស​ផ្សេងៗ​គ្នា​ក្នុង​សភា​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី ផង​ដែរ។

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ ទី​១៤ កញ្ញា មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​តាម​ទូរស័ព្ទ​ពី​ទីក្រុង​ហ្សាកាតា ថា ជំនួប​ពិភាក្សា​រវាង​លោក ជាមួយ​លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៣ ខែ​កញ្ញា បាន​ផ្ដោត​សំខាន់​លើ​ស្ថានការណ៍​នៅ​កម្ពុជា និង​នៅ​តំបន់​អាស៊ី។ លោក​ថា រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី មាន​ជំហរ​ដូច​លោក​ដែរ គឺ​ចង់​ពង្រឹង​លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​១០ ដែល​ជា​សមាជិក​អាស៊ាន៖ «គាត់​មិន​មែន​និយាយ​ពី​រឿង​គណបក្ស​ទេ គាត់​និយាយ​អំពី​គោលការណ៍ គឺ​គាត់​គាំទ្រ​គោលការណ៍​ឲ្យ​មាន​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​ល្អ​ជាមួយ​នឹង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា គឺ​មាន​ន័យ​ថា មិន​មែន​តែ​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ទេ គឺ​ជាមួយ​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ ជាមួយ​អង្គការ​ក្រៅ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល។ គាត់​យល់​ឃើញ​ថា រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ទាក់​ទង​គ្នា​បាន​ល្អ​ហើយ តែ​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ និង​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ជាមួយ​តំណាង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ត្រូវ​តែ​ទាក់​ទង​គ្នា ដើម្បី​ពង្រឹង​មិត្តភាព នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ។ ធ្វើ​បែប​នេះ គឺ​អាច​យក​គំរូ​ល្អ​ពី​ប្រទេស​ដែល​គេ​បាន​អនុវត្ត​លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​យ៉ាង​រឹងមាំ ដូច​ជា​ប្រទេស​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី»។ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បាន​ជួប​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត ពី​គណបក្ស​ផ្សេងៗ​នៅ​ក្នុង​សភា​ឥណ្ឌូនេស៊ី កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ។

Sam Rainsy Meets With Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa

September 13, 2012

SAM RAINSY MEETS WITH INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARTY NATALEGAWA

Today in Jakarta, Cambodian Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy and Member of Parliament Saumura Tioulong had a friendly and fruitful meeting with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On September 14, Sam Rainsy is invited to the Indonesian Parliament where he will hold discussions with a number of parliamentarians from different political parties.

Sam Rainsy is on a 7-day visit to The Philippines and Indonesia.

Results from his meetings in The Philippines, especially at the Philippine Senate where he was received as a guest of honor, will be reported later.

SRP Cabinet

Dozens of Indonesians held in Cambodia betting raid

Monday, 10 September 2012
AFP (Agence France-Presse)

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian authorities on Monday said they had arrested 114 Indonesian nationals in a raid on a suspected online football gambling ring in the capital Phnom Penh.

The group of 90 men and 24 women were picked up at two residential houses in the city, according to Chhay Sinarith, of the Cambodian interior ministry.

"They were arrested for running illegal online gambling. They were involved in football betting," he told AFP.

US, China jockey for influence with ASEAN [-The US thanks Indonesia rather than Hun Xen]

Wed, September 05 2012
Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her mission in Jakarta to enhance ties with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bolster the grouping’s role in the South China Sea spat, China pledged to give Cambodia US$500 million in loans and grants as a token of gratitude for Phnom Penh’s move in accommodating the Asian superpower’s interests in the region.

Clinton concluded her state visit to Indonesia by making a courtesy call on President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono and paying a visit to ASEAN headquarters in South Jakarta.

In her meeting with Yudhoyono, Clinton discussed the South China Sea issue as well as Indonesia’s key role in ASEAN toward producing a peaceful resolution with China regarding the conflicting territorial claims.

“On the latest developments in the South China Sea, Secretary of State Clinton expressed the US’ appreciation for Indonesia’s role, particularly having managed to retain ASEAN unity. Indonesia and the US have agreed to push for a code of conduct within the zone, particularly ahead of the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Phnom Penh in November,” Marty, who accompanied Yudhoyono at the meeting, told a press conference at the Presidential Office on Tuesday.

Indonesia To Import Rice From Cambodia

SIEM REAP, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will soon sign an agreement to import 100,000 metric tonnes of rice from Cambodia over the next five years.

Speaking after the opening of the 44th Asean economic ministerial meeting by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen here Monday, Indonesian Trade minister Gita Wirjawan said his country will also sign an agreement to procure rice from Laos, Vietnam and other countries.

The move is made by the Indonesian government to strengthen food resilience and to ensure food security, ANTARA news agency reported.

Cambodia Offers Rice To Indonesia

SIEM REAP (Cambodia), Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Cambodia has requested that Indonesia buy rice from that country and invest in post-harvest business, reports Antara news agency.

Indonesian ambassador to Cambodia Soehardjono Sastromihardjo said Monday that Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen made the request to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the Asean Summit in Bali last year.

"I myself heard (prime minister) Hun Sen made (the request) directly to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when they met at the Asean Summit in Bali last year," he said on the sidelines of Asean senior officials' meeting ahead of the 44th Asean Economic Ministers' Meeting here.

Hun Sen is scheduled to open the Asean Economic Ministers' Meeting that would discuss trade and investment cooperation as well as food security.

ASEAN in crisis: Divided we stagger [-Nobody trust Cambodia, the ASEAN chairman, to resolve this crisis?]

Can Indonesia heal the deepening rifts in South-East Asia?

Aug 18th 2012

The Economist

JAKARTA, PHNOM PENH AND SINGAPORE

FOR decades the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has led a largely blameless existence, untroubled by the glare of publicity as it gently sought to bring coherence to a region of enormous political and economic differences. Not for ASEAN the highs and calamitous lows of, for example, the European Union. All that has now suddenly changed. On its 45th birthday newspapers and blogs are at last paying ASEAN plenty of attention, though marked more by despair than praise. Some even question its very survival.

The cause of the furore is the widening division in the ten-member grouping over China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. The division was laid bare publicly at a meeting last month of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. For the first time in its history ASEAN failed to issue a joint communiqué. Its members could not agree on what to say about China. Broadly, those members with claims in the South China Sea themselves—Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, supported by Singapore and Thailand—want ASEAN to register serious concerns over what they see as China’s belligerent actions to enforce its claims in the waters of the South China Sea and over the Spratly, Paracel and other islands and atolls. However, non-claimants, mainly Cambodia supported by Laos and perhaps Myanmar, are loth to alienate China. They go along with China’s insistence on dealing with the issue with each country in turn. This year Cambodia holds the rotating chair of ASEAN.

Right after the Phnom Penh fiasco, Indonesia’s foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, in a vigorous exercise in diplomacy, tried hard to paper over the cracks. Since then, however, there has been no let-up in the unASEAN-like public rowing. Last week the Philippine government sent the Cambodian ambassador packing. He had accused the Philippines and Vietnam of playing “dirty politics” in their push to put the South China Sea on ASEAN’s agenda. The regional press is full of articles and letters lambasting Cambodia’s stance.

China 'willing to work with Indonesia' on maritime row [-Oops! China prefers working with Indonesia rather than Cambodia, the ASEAN chair!!!]

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (R) and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi (L) attend a joint press statement after their meeting at the foreign ministry office in Jakarta. Jiechi said his country was willing to work with Indonesia as an informal mediator to "maintain peace and stability" in the South China Sea, amid tensions with neighbouring nations over rival claims to the area

AFP – 08/12/2012

China's foreign minister said Friday his country was willing to work with Indonesia as an informal mediator to "maintain peace and stability" in the South China Sea, amid tensions with neighbouring nations over rival claims to the area.

"To maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and in the region, China is willing to work with Indonesia," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Jakarta.

He also said China was prepared to work "on the basis of consensus toward the eventual adoption of the code of conduct".

Observers at border territory still needed [-Never mind the stupid Thai general!!!]

Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong speaks in Phnom Penh on Friday. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Monday, 23 July 2012
David Boyle and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia and Thailand remain committed to the deployment of independent observers at the disputed Preah Vihear border despite comments from a Thai general suggesting they may not be necessary, the respective foreign ministries said.

On Saturday, the Bangkok Post quoted Thai military supreme commander General Thanasak Patimapakorn saying his Indonesian counterpart had dismissed the necessity for his country to provide observers.

“Indonesia considers that if the two countries can talk, they will have no need to come in, and this is also the two nations’ stance,” General Thanasak reportedly said.

Thai commanders are doing all they can to avoid Indonesian observers in Preah Vihear temple

Thanasak Patimapakorn

Observers 'no longer needed' (sic!)

21/07/2012
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Indonesian observers may no longer be needed in the disputed land near Preah Vihear temple as the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border has stabilised, Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimapakorn said yesterday.

Gen Thanasak, who visited Indonesia on Monday and Tuesday, said he had told his Indonesian counterpart that Thailand and Cambodia had not been in conflict for almost two years now, so there is no longer a need for observers.

"Indonesia considers that if the two countries can talk, they will have no need to come in, and this is also the two nations' stance," Gen Thanasak said.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 18 last year ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops from the 17.3 sq km provisional demilitarised zone (PDZ) around Preah Vihear temple after Cambodia petitioned the ICJ to reinterpret its 1962 verdict granting Cambodia sovereignty over the temple and its 4.6 sq km surrounding area.

Meltdown for Asean over South China Sea [... so much for Cambodia being the ASEAN chair]

Marty takes to the skies

Indonesian diplomats scurry across region attempting to put the pieces back together

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Asia Sentinel

The combination of aggressive Chinese jawboning and Filipino pride are combining to create a diplomatic crisis in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that Indonesia is trying desperately to untangle.

The squabble has sent Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who previously called the Phnom Penh deadlock “perplexing” and “very, very disappointing,” flying on a diplomatic mission across the region to attempt to find support for a common position on the South China Sea issue.

Senior diplomats and political figures involved with Asean are growing increasingly concerned that the 10-member alliance has become polarized, with the Philippines and Vietnam squaring off against China and Cambodia essentially doing Beijing’s bidding. Political insiders in Kuala Lumpur say Malaysia has quietly tilted towards Beijing.

Marty charms Manila, Hanoi. Next stop: Phnom Penh

Thu, July 19 2012
Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has met with his counterparts in the Philippines and Vietnam on the first leg of a shuttle diplomacy mission to build bridges after last week’s contentious ASEAN meeting.

The Philippines was the initial stop on the minister’s charm offensive, undertaken on orders from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, following the failure of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) to agree to a joint communique last week.

The AMM foundered after delegates failed to reach consensus on competing territorial claims in the South China Sea involving China.

From Manila, Marty proceeded directly to Hanoi, where he met with foreign minister Pham Binh Minh.

Cambodian, Thai PMs agree to redeploy troops at disputed border

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand agreed on Friday to redeploy military personnel in the Provisional Demilitarized Zone surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice.

The verbal agreement was made during a meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his visiting Thai Counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra.

The meeting was also attended by the two countries' defense ministers - Cambodia's Tea Banh and Thailand's Sukumpol Suwanatat.

"Both sides had agreed and announced to re-deploy military personnel in the Provisional Demilitarized Zone, which is defined by the International Court of Justice," Hun Sen told reporters in a joint press briefing after the meeting. "The redeployment is very important to enhance the two countries' relationship."

Beijing's divide and rule strategy exposes Jakarta

18 April 2012
By Greta Nabbs-Keller
The Interpreter

Greta Nabbs-Keller is writing a PhD at Griffith Asia Institute on the impact of democratisation on Indonesia’s foreign policy.

Indonesia's aspirational slogan, 'ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations', posted all over Jakarta in 2011, has been undermined by recent events in Cambodia. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Phnom Penh just days before the ASEAN Summit, which was due to decide on how to proceed with drafting the South China Sea Code of Conduct. ASEAN subsequently split over whether China should be included from the beginning of the drafting process. No prizes for guessing which side Cambodia was on.

Beijing's non too subtle exercise of political leverage over Phnom Penh recently with regard to the Code of Conduct has exposed divisions within ASEAN and frustrations among Jakarta's foreign policy elite. But more seriously for Jakarta, machinations behind the April ASEAN Summit meeting illustrate the risks of a foreign policy predicated upon the cohesion and ongoing integration of ASEAN as a bulwark against major powers.

Despite earlier frustrations with ASEAN in post-Suharto Indonesia, successive Indonesian governments have affirmed their commitment to ASEAN and its pivotal importance in Indonesia's foreign policy. ASEAN remains the cornerstone (sogok guru) of Indonesia's foreign policy. But increasingly, ASEAN's preference for consensus decision-making renders it hostage to the lowest common denominator (in this case, Cambodia), damaging its credibility and leaving it exposed to manipulation by external powers.

Powerful quakes off Indonesia create panic around Indian Ocean

Acehnese women hug each other and pray shortly after a powerful earthquake hit the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. (Chaideer Mahyuddin / AFP - Getty Images)

A powerful earthquake and several strong aftershocks hit the Indian Ocean, causing tsunami warnings and watches across the region. NBC's Ian Williams reports from Bangkok, Thailand.

By Alastair Jamieson and Ian Johnston, msnbc.com

Updated at 9:22 a.m. ET: A 8.6-magnitude earthquake and powerful aftershocks struck off Indonesia on Wednesday, sending people scurrying from shaking buildings in several countries and raising fears of a disastrous tsunami.

Tsunami alerts were issued across the entire Indian Ocean, although they were later lifted.

The U.S. Geological Survey said that the initial quake happened about 14 miles beneath the ocean floor and 270 miles from Banda Aceh, the provincial capital of Aceh, at 2:38 p.m. local time (4:38 a.m. ET).

Reuters reported that the tremors were felt in Thailand, Singapore and southern India.

The quake struck in a similar location to the 9.1-magnitude tremor on Dec. 26, 2004, that triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, killing almost 230,000 people.

President (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) not to attend ASEAN summit in Cambodia

Jakarta, March 31 (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will not attend the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia and has assigned Vice President Boediono to represent him at the meeting, Julian Aldrin Pasha, said.

"Right. The President has delegated the vice president to represent him at the meeting," he said here on Friday night.

Julian said President Yudhoyono has decided not to attend the summit so that he could personally monitored conditions in the country especially with regard to the government`s plan to raise the price of subsidized oil fuels.

"This way he could give directives personally," he said.

Analysis: Waiting for the Indonesians

Cambodian soldiers in a sandbagged position at Preah Vihear train their weapons on Thai troops. Photo by Heng Chivoan

Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Jonathan Prentice
The Phnom Penh Post

Analysis

A year ago, Cambodia and Thailand fought a series of short but nasty skirmishes along their joint border.

Efforts to reduce tensions through the deployment of Indonesian observers remain still-born; 12 months on, there are no observers and, on the Cambodian side, just a lonely man with Indonesian and ASEAN flags blowing in the breeze.

The dispute, centred on the emblematic Preah Vihear temple – in Cambodian territory, but often claimed by Thailand – was serious enough to seize the attention of the United Nations Security Council.

It also triggered signs that ASEAN wanted a more pro-active role in ensuring stability in its region.