Ceremony marking the installation of the foundation for the border marker at the Trapeang Sre International gate, Snuol District, Kratie province, on 28 May 2007. (Photo: Or Phearith, RFA)28 May 2007
By Or Phearith
Radio Free Asia (a station labeled insolent by Hun Sen)
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
“SRP never recognizes the treaties concluded in 1982, 1983, 1985, during the 80s. And we believe that these treaties are illegal because they were concluded by a government which was not recognized by the International community at the time. Secondly, these treaties affect the interest of the country and the nation, they affect the territorial integrity of Cambodia, and it made Cambodia lose territories, both land and maritime territories” - Opposition Leader Sam RainsyOn 28 may, the Kratie provincial authority organized a ceremony to install the foundation for border marker no. 69 at the Trapeang Sre International gate, Snuol district, and the Bonue gate in Vietnam.
In a speech given by Kham Phoeun, the Kratie provincial governor, said that the border marker foundation installation was performed according to the Supplemental border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.
In this speech, Kham Phoeun stresses the importance of the building of border marker no. 69, because it is done with the aim of creating a borderline which, in the past, was not clear and not certain, but that is now turned into a clear borderline filled with peace.
Kham Phoeun claimed at the end of the ceremony that, in the past, people living on both sides of the border never had any problem. “The first installation is at the international gate directly, next, other border markers will be installed, it will not follow a corridor but it will depend on the decisions made by both sides. The Royal Government determined that no matter what, in May, border markers will be installed at all international gates. The borderline in Kratie has no problem between the two countries.”
The installation of the foundation for the border marker in Snuol district takes place after the installation of the border marker at Trapeang Phlong border gate in Kompong Cham province on 24 May. The installation of this latter border marker is also based on the Supplemental border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam. This Supplemental border treaty fixed 2008 as the year in which the installation of all border markers along 1,270 kilometers borderline will be completed.
However, opposition leader Sam Rainsy commented that SRP does not recognize the treaties concluded in the 80s. Sam Rainsy accuses these treaties of being illegal.
Sam Rainsy said: “SRP never recognizes the treaties concluded in 1982, 1983, 1985, during the 80s. And we believe that these treaties are illegal because they were concluded by a government which was not recognized by the International community at the time. Secondly, these treaties affect the interest of the country and the nation, they affect the territorial integrity of Cambodia, and it made Cambodia lose territories, both land and maritime territories.”
In the report detailing the installation of border maker no. 69 at the International gate in Trapeang Sre-Bonue, the marker weighs 990 kilograms, is 2.2-meter high, and has the same design as the one installed in Bavet (Svay Rieng province). The cost of each marker is 293,249,000 dongs (~$18,300). The installation of this marker starts today and will be completed in 27 days.
