Samak visits border troops, advises patience

The Bangkok Post
By Wassana Nanuam

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Monday advised soldiers guarding the border to be patient as Thailand and Cambodia attempt to resolve the row over the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple through negotiations.

“ All soldiers should help maintain ties between Thailand and Cambodia. You should be patient and ignore any attempt to cause rifts between the two countries,” the prime minister said during a visit yesterday to the border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, which is adjacent to Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province.

Mr Samak stressed the importance of Thai-Cambodian relations as the two countries are immediate neighbours and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

He hoped Cambodia would reduce troop numbers in the disputed area to the same level as Thailand.

Thailand has 300 troops in the 4.6-sqkm overlapping zone, while Cambodia has 500 in total, the prime minister said.

The Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers, Tej Bunnag and Hor Namhong, were to meet at an informal dinner last night in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi. They will co-chair the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting today.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda visited the area and the Ta Moan Thom temple in Phanom Dong Rak sub-district in neighbouring Surin yesterday and said later he was not worried about the border situation in the area.

Neither country wanted a military stand-off, Gen Anupong said. He hoped the two ministers would agree at the JBC talks to withdraw more troops from the overlapping zone.

Thailand and Cambodia completed the first round of troop reductions on Sunday. The pullout agreement was reached at the JBC meeting in Siem Reap on July 28.

Hor Namhong was also optimistic that a new round of talks with Thailand would result in a lasting solution to the long-running border dispute.

“ The meeting will achieve good success in resolving the problem step by step,” the Cambodian minister said in Phnom Penh before departing for Thailand.

Hor Namhong insisted his government wished to resolve the problem peacefully, amicably and by legal means. The two countries share “ a lot of economic and trade interests” , he said. (with additional reporting by AFP)

Cambodians accuse Thailand of redeploying troops at border temples

Phnom Penh – Cambodian border officials Monday accused Thailand of disregarding agreements to move back from three border temples in northern Oddar Meanchey province, but said they would not act until after bilateral ministerial talks in a week.

After negotiations Tuesday, Thai troops agreed to pull back from the Ta Moan group of temples, but moved back into the area Saturday, said a senior border official who asked not to be named.

‘We have held four rounds of negotiations with the Thais and they just don’t respect any agreement,’ the official said. ‘They have not built a barricade at the temple – that has been there for a long time – but they are making it bigger.’

However, he said Cambodia refused to react until after talks between the nations’ foreign ministers scheduled for August 18.

‘We will not be drawn,’ he said. ‘We await the orders of Prime Minister Hun Sen and he has ordered peaceful negotiation.’

The English-language Cambodia Daily quoted provincial governor Pich Sokkin as saying about 20 Thai troops were now at the temples, with 70 more stationed nearby, and said they were fortifying barricades.

Thailand moved troops into the disputed border area on July 28, further worsening relations over a spat concerning the Preah Vihear temple, which was recently listed as a World Heritage site, about 150 kilometres east of Ta Moan.

Preah Vihear’s listing by UNESCO on July 7 came despite protests by Thailand, which complained the surrounding border area remained in dispute and Thai troops moved in not long after. Later that month the spat spread to Ta Moan.

Cambodia has repeatedly said it has proof that the Ta Moan group of temples are sovereign territory but has stressed it seeks a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

Source: M&G

Thais Adding Troops to Border: Commander

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh

Thailand has added at least 100 soldiers to border positions near Preah Vihear temple, a Cambodian commander said Monday.

The addition of troops comes as both countries have been unable to solve a tense military standoff of thousands of troops and as Thailand secured military positions at another temple complex.

“ The Ministry of National Defense told us [Thursday] that in two days, there would be a withdrawal of troops, and the announcement passed through the Thai infantry to the Thai regional military, but since the announcement, it has been four days already,” said Maj. Gen. Srey Doeuk, commander of Military Region 4. “ The Thais did not withdraw their troops; contrarily, they deployed more than 100 soldiers west of the temple, and they are digging trenches.”

Officials said over the weekend Thailand had occupied and hardened defense lines in a temple complex where Cambodia claims two temples as its own. The Ta Moan temple complex is on the border of Oddar Meanchey province, west of Preah Vihear.

Officials also said Saturday a Thai soldier had died on the border, due to non-combat related injuries, but could not confirm the cause.

Bilateral talks last week led to promises of withdrawal on both sides, but no dates have been given and troops have not moved so far.

No new meetings have been scheduled between the two countries, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

“ The case is not in an alert situation,” he said. “ We are focusing on the preparation of the new government.”

Cambodia rice floods into Mekong border provinces

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of tonnes of rice are being imported daily from Cambodia into Vietnam’s Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Without these middle-men, who are a “ burden” on them, farmers can sell rice for VND6,000 for export.

In the border province of An Giang, Cambodian rice is flooding into “ transit depots” in areas like Vat Lai (An Phu District), Cay Mit and Duong Su (Tinh Bien District), and Vinh Gia (Tri Ton District) after being transported by boats and trucks.

On the Vinh Te canal in the border village of Duong Su in Tinh Bien District, hundreds of trucks and boats arrive at husking factories from Cambodia every day.

Meanwhile, local farmers are sitting on heaps of rice along roads in Duong Su, awaiting buyers.

Nguyen Quoc Tuan, deputy chairman of the An Nong Commune People’s Committee, said the four local businesses that buy Cambodian paddy in Duong Su procured 100 to 200 tonnes daily.

Nguyen Van Ut, owner of the Dai Thanh husking factory in Tan Chau District, said Cambodian rice cost VND3,800 to 4,200 per kilogram, a little lower than local rice.

“ This makes it more difficult for Vietnamese farmer to sell their produce,” he said.

He said his factory bought 200 tonnes of domestic rice last year but much less this year. At the beginning of the season, husking businesses bought rice for VND4,800 per kilogram and sold rice to exporters at VND6,050, or US$352 per tonne.

Ut said this was half the international rice. “ Rice exporters earned all the profits and did not share the (rice export) cake with farmers and rice processors.”

Prof. Vo Tong Xuan, ex-director of An Giang University, said because of the critical food shortage on the world market, Cambodian paddy was a windfall for Vietnamese businesses.

Though countries were expanding the areas under rice cultivation, there was a growing demand for the grain on the world market and prices would remain high, he said.

“ We should use this opportunity wisely rather than close the door to imported rice,” he explained.

The Vietnamese rice trade is burdened with many layers of intermediaries who add to the cost, he said.

Without these middle-men, who are a “ burden” on them, farmers can sell rice for VND6,000 for export.

Source: Vietnam Net Bridge

Opinion: Thai-Cambodian border talks: a good start

By The Nation
Published on July 30, 2008

Tensions ease at Preah Vihear as the foreign ministers of both sides sit down to negotiate, but the process will take time and patience to complete

The latest round of talks between Thailand and Cambodia over Preah Vihear Temple was successful because the two sides agreed to continue to work for a solution. But it will take time. Granted, with the current situation in both countries it could be a long process, but as long as the two countries agree on the modus vivendi, it will help lower tensions along the border.

Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, on his inaugural mission, has done well in creating trust with his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong. On a personal level, they are friends and have known each other for a long time. However, both foreign ministers will protect their national interests

Both sides will recall troops from the adjacent areas to the temple. This will be done discretely to ensure security along the volatile border. They also agreed to de-mine the areas. The sensitive issues of legality and sovereignty were not discussed. These can be picked up in the future.

Cambodia would like to push for a meeting at the UN if the current bilateral talk fails. But Thailand views the talks as an ongoing process which will require time and patience. Bangkok views the temple quarrel as a bilateral issue. Given the current state of Thai-Cambodian relations, it is not hard to foresee that both sides will need longer to deal with it.

With calm, tourists, both local and foreign, will return to the temple site. Thai and Cambodian vendors, who have both benefited from tourism, must cooperate to ensure that no fighting or any form of violence occurs which could spark armed intervention. At the moment, there are more Cambodian stands set up in the overlapping area, so everyone needs to be sensible in solving perceived local imbalances.

As long as the potential for armed conflict has been reduced, the border can be managed agreeably by both sides. More dialogue is pivotal, and when the political climate improves, maybe something more positive will emerge from this episode.

Thailand, Cambodia agree on border troop adjustments

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a troop adjustment in the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple.

In a joint press conference, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai  counterpart Tej Bunnag announced both countries would adjust their troop deployments stationed inside and around a pagoda located in the temple complex.

“ We agreed to ask our governments to redeploy the troops. We will decide at our next meeting how many troops will stay in the disputed area,” Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.

“ The redeployment will only take place once the Thai government approves,”    said the Thai Foreign Minister at the end of the meeting at a hotel in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province.

The military adjustment would not affect territorial sovereignty and has no implication to future border demarcation.

The announcement came after the two foreign ministers met earlier on Monday, after which their delegations continued discussions until late in the evening. The two sides began their talks around 10.20am.

The meeting was scheduled to end around 4.30pm, but dragged on until around 10pm. Both delegations had to postpone their flights, pending negotitation.

Talks between Thailand’s armed forces chief General Boonsrang Niumpradit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh ended a week ago without resolution.

At least 1,000 soldiers have deployed since July 15 in manifestation of either sides’ claim of the 4.6 square km land at the border area.

Further talks will be held to tackle border demarcation in the disputed area and the clearing of landmines in the area.

Both parties also agreed on the need to set up a joint committee to work out the contentious issues, for which cabinet approval would be required from their respective governments.

Thai Foreign Minister Tej said he had informed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of the outcome of Monday’s talks.

Source: The Nation

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ខ្មែរ​ថៃ​ជួប​ប្រជុំ​គ្នា​ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ​ជម្លោះ

កិច្ចប្រជុំ​កម្រិត​ខ្ពស់​ថ្នាក់​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​នៃ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ និង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ គឺ​បាន​ចាប់ផ្តើម​ហើយ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ច័ន្ទ​នេះ នៅ​ឯ​ទីក្រុង​សៀមរាប​នៃ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ​កម្ពុជា ដើម្បី​រក​ការដោះស្រាយ​ភាព​តានតឹង​ផ្នែក​យោធា​នៅ​តំបន់​បា្រសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​ នោះ ។

តំណាង​ភាគី​កម្ពុជា​គឺ​មាន​មន្ត្រី​ចំនួន​១៧​រូប ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក ហោ ណាំហុង ឧប​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស ។ ចំណែក​ឯ​សមភាគី​ថៃ​មាន​មន្ត្រី​ចំនួន​១៦​រូប ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក ទេព ប៊ុនណាក ដែល​ជា​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ថៃ​ទើប​ឡើង​កាន់​តំណែង​ថ្មី ។

សេចក្តី​រាយការណ៍​ពី​អ្នក​យក​ព័ត៌មាន​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី​ពី​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ នៅ​ឯ​ខេត្ត​សៀមរាប​នោះ គឺ​លោក ម៉ាយ៉ារិទ្ធិ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា​នៅ​ក្នុង​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​នា​ថ្ងៃ​នេះ​ភាគី​កម្ពុជា​បាន​លើក​យក​ បញ្ហា​ដែល​ថៃ​បាន​រំលោភ​អធិបតេយ្យ​កម្ពុជា ចំណែក​ឯ​ថៃ​វិញ​បាន​លើក​យក​ចំណុច​តំបន់​ត្រួត​ស៊ី​គ្នា​នៅ​ព្រំដែន​ថៃ​-​ កម្ពុជា ។

សូម​ជម្រាប​ថា​កិច្ច​ពិភាក្សា​ថ្នាក់​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​នេះ​បាន​ ធ្វើ​ឡើង​បន្ទាប់ពី​ជំនួប​ប្រជុំ​មួយ​រវាង​មន្ត្រី​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​យោធា​កម្ពុជា​ -​ថៃ​បាន​បរាជ័យ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ច័ន្ទ​ដើម​សប្តាហ៍​មុន ។ ហើយ​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ថ្ងៃ​នេះ​ដែរ​ក៏​បាន​ធ្វើឡើង​បន្ទាប់ពី​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ គឺ​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន និង​លោក សាម៉ាក់ ស៊ុនថរាវ៉េទ បាន​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​គ្នា​តាម​ទូរស័ព្ទ​កាលពី​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បតិ៍​សប្តាហ៍​ មុន​នោះ​ដែរ ។

រហូត​មក​ទល់​ម៉ោង ៧:៣០​នាទី​ថ្ងៃ​ដដែល​នេះ កិច្ចពិភាក្សា​គឺ​នៅ​មិន​ទាន់​បាន​ដឹង​លទ្ធផល​នៅ​ឡើយ​ទេ ៕

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