A monument to commemorate Chinese funding of the Khmer Rouge regime coming up next?

Monument inaugurated in Cambodia to commemorate Chinese peace-keeping soldiers

KAMPONG CHAM, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy and the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense here on Wednesday unveiled a monument for two Chinese peace-keeping soldiers who were killed in a rocket attack 15 years ago in this eastern province.

"The monument now stands at the place where the two Chinese soldiers, Chen Zhiguo and Yu Shili, maintained peace for the country, to tell about our commemoration and the praise of the Cambodian government and people," said Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jinfeng at the ceremony.

The six-meter-tall monument bears pictures of the Chinese flag, the logo of the United Nations, the blue helmet and pigeon.

According to the Chinese- and Cambodian-language introduction on the monument, Chen and Yu were killed by anonymous rocket attack at their campsite on May 21, 1993.

The two, together with some other 800 Chinese engineering soldiers, were then stationed in war-ravaged Cambodia to carry out peace-keeping missions under the arrangement of the United Nations.

From April 1992 to September 1993, this team renovated over 500 kilometers of roads, established 36 bridges, overhauled two airports and constructed hundreds of camp houses.

Sam Rainsy promises demonstration against the moving of grenade victims monument

Cambodian Buddhist monks chant as they pray in front of some displaying portrait photos of Cambodian victims of a deadly grenade attack of March 30, 1997, at a memorial stupa in the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, March 30, 2007. Cambodian opposition party supporters and Buddhist monks chanted prayer at a ceremony remembering Friday the victims of a deadly grenade attack on peaceful demonstration 10 years ago. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said on Monday that he will lead a demonstration if the municipality of Phnom Penh will move the monument commemorating the 30 March 1997 grenade attack from in front of the National Assembly. Sam Rainsy said that this monument holds a great significance for people who come here to commemorate (the victims of the attack), therefore, it cannot be moved out. Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, Licadho human rights group President, told The Cambodia Daily that the moving of this monument is a serious affront to the families of the victims of the grenade attack. However, Pa Socheatvong, deputy-governor of Phnom Penh, said that this monument will not be moved immediately, even though it is removed from the garden development plan already. Pa Socheatvong said that a compromise must be reached with Sam Rainsy and the families of the victims first before the city can move it out of the present location.