CWCI´s Statement on Hun Sen´s Repeated Interference in ECCC.

As a reacion to Hun Sen´s reeated warning about civil war if more Khmer Rouge leaders who are now holding in the high positions of Cambodian government today are to be investigated related their roles and crimes committed in the killing field regime, CWCI released its statement to condemn Hun Sen for his interference and a threat to national unity and peace.

• CWCI Statement on H.S’s Interference in ECCC

Below is the publication of CWCI´s Statement in DAP News:

• DAP News – CWCI Condemns Govt for Interfering in ECCC´s Internal Affairs

Hun Sen, Prime Minister

SRP Oversea´s Reaction on the Lift of MP Sam Rainsy´s Immunity

MP Sam Rainsy

After the approval for the lift immunity of MP Sam Rainsy  on 16 November 2009 as response to his action of uprooting the illegal border posts installed by Vietnam in Chan Trea District by the Cambodian National Assembly (CNA), Sam Rainsy Party branches in oversea have released their statement as a condemn on Cambodian government as lack of respect for freedom of  speech and the  national consciousness.

Pleaase click the articles belows to read statement in KHMER.

1. SRP Norway´s Statement on the Lifts of MP Sam Rainsy’s Immunity
2. SRP Denmark´s Statement on the Lifts of MP Sam Rainsy’s Immunity

Expert: 2000 Border Agreement a Disadvantage

By Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
02 September 2009

A 2000 border agreement signed between Cambodia and Thailand is not likely to yield results in longstanding disputes, a former minister told VOA Khmer.

The agreement put Cambodia at a disadvantage, and border negotiations will face endless crises, said Sean Pengse, former Minister of Industry and a border expert.

After Cambodia regained peace and the reintegration of Khmer Rouge fighters into society, border trade flourished, and the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2000.

However, it would have been better for Cambodia to negotiate on the border from a position of a 1962 international court decision, which “set a clear border with no white zones,” Sean Pengse said. “Why are there now white zones? Why should Cambodia negotiate? I believe Cambodia’s voice in the negotiation is useless, because we beg aid form them. Our country is small, and we should use international law, from which we previously had an advantage.”

The 2000 agreement led to the white zones, or disputed areas, he said, giving Thailand the chance to argue against rebuilding a market near Preah Vihear temple.

The temple is at the center of a military border standoff that has claimed seven lives so far. The market was destroyed in fighting earlier this year.

“The Phnom Penh government claims that I speak groundlessly about the MOU,” he said. “Now Thailand isn’t allowing us to rebuild the market that they burned down. They have warned us against rebuilding it, citing contradiction to the MOU. The Cambodian government didn’t realize the MOU contradicted our interests. If Cambodia wishes to develop anything at Preah Vihear temple, [the Thais] warn us it is a white zone.”

Sean Pengse, CFC President, based in Paris, France

However, Var Kimhong, chairman of Cambodia’s border committee, denied the 2000 agreement included areas of Preah Vihear temple as white zones. The agreement was over cooperation on border demarcation for 805 kilometers from the Dangrek mountains to the sea, he said, adding that Sean Pengse’s claims are contradictory to the facts.

“He shouldn’t make comments if he doesn’t know the truth,” Var Kimhong said. Thailand “warned us against rebuilding the market, claiming we were violating Article 5 of the 2000 MOU,” he said. “We responded to Thailand, explaining that we are rebuilding the market on the orders of Prime Minister Hun Sen, in honor of Article 5 of the MOU to keep the status quo before the MOU. The MOU was signed June 14, 2000. The market had been there since 1998.”

Many Thais objected to Cambodia’s bid to enlist the temple as a Unesco World Heritage Site. When it was listed in July 2008, the current military standoff began.

Sean Pengse said that Thailand has in the past and is now currently using negotiation time for its own interests. “Thailand doesn’t want us to file a complaint with the international court,” he said. “The 2000 MOU states that the border dispute should be discussed. This deprives us of our right to file a complaint.”

However, Var Kimhong said the agreement has not lost groud for Cambodia and honors the 1962 agreement. “If you read the 2000 MOU, you would see that it refers to all previous treaties, conventions and maps since 1907,” he said.

The government was seeking joint cooperation on border demarcation as its primary choice, in the name of being a good neighbor, he said. It has not deprived itself the right to complain on border demarcation contrary to a map signed between the French and Thailand.

Sean Pengse worries that negotiations will drag on and more serious incidents will ensue. After regaining independence from France in 1954, Cambodia reclaimed Preah Vihear from Thailand, after regaining several lost provinces, such as Battambang and Siem Reap. Disputes over the temple escalated, including a severing of diplomatic ties between the two in 1958. Cambodia lodged a complaint with the international court, which decided in 1962 Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia.

MP Mu Sochua and MP Ho Vann’s immunity suspended

Monday 22 June 2009
DAP-news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata, the KI MEDIA

In the morning of 22 June 2009, the National Assembly controlled by the majority ruling CPP (Cambodia People’s Party) approved the suspension of the parliamentary immunity of Mrs. Mu Sochua, MP for Kampot province, and  Mr. Ho Vann, MP for Phnom Penh, who belong both to the SRP (Sam Rainsy party). The immunity suspension was done based on the request made by the prosecutor of the Phnom Penh municipal court through the ministry of Justice, in order to open the way for the court to take care of the lawsuits brought up by Hun Sen and RCAF (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) [Hanoi PhD] generals.

MP Mr. Ho Vann

In the case of Mrs. Mu Sochua, 90 out of 111 MPs voted to approve the suspension of her immunity, and in the case of Mr. Ho Vann, 91 out of 96 votes approved his immunity suspension.

Immediately after the two MPs saw their immunity suspended, SRP and HRP (Human Right Party) MPs walked out of the chamber and they came out to the front of National Assembly, they all wore masks to give a press conference. However, reporters were not allowed to report inside the National Assembly as usual.

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CWCI Statement on the Lifting of MP Mu Sochau’s Immunity

This is the released statement of CWCI concerning the plan of lifting MP Mu Sochua’s immunity during the National Assembly’s session on 19 June 2009 in order to pave the way for municipal court to carry out Hun Sen’s counter suit against MP Mu Sochua on defamation.

Please view full story here in Khmer.

Notice: If we remember the defamation case complained by the CPP and Hor Nam Hong in 2008 agaist MP Sam Rainsy, while MP Sam Rainsy critizing the CPP’s leaders by quoting the Global Witness’s report on the “Family Tree“  and the history of Bang Trobaek prison chief, MP Sam Rainsy didn’t indicate their names as well, yet he was sued and lost the cases in court.

It is really like the case that Hun Sen spoke out in Kampot Province defaming MP Mu Sochau, yet the suit against Hun Sen is dismissed and it seems that he has already won the case.

Mass Demonstration Warned: Rong Chhun

‘‘If Mu Sochua is arrested, we will lead mass demonstrations throughout the country with teachers and workers’’, said CITA President Rong Chhun

Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

THE National Assembly’s Permanent Committee met Monday to consider a court-sanctioned request to lift the  immunity of opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua and allow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s defamation suit against her to go ahead, officials said.

“The issue of lifting [Mu Sochua's] immunity has been included in the agenda for this session of the Permanent Committee, and a decision will come on June 22, when the Assembly will [decide whether to] adopt” the committee’s recommendations, senior Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post Monday.

Lawmaker Ms. Mu Sochua talking to reporters

The defamation case against the outspoken Kampot lawmaker is a response to Mu Sochua’s attempt to sue the prime minister for what she says were defamatory remarks made about her during a speech in April.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court rejected Mu Sochua’s lawsuit last week, saying it was groundless, but moved ahead with Hun Sen’s countersuit, asking the National Assembly to lift Mu Sochua’s immunity so that it might proceed with questioning.

Mu Sochua told the Post Monday she would go to jail rather than pay the 10 million riels (US$2,410) that Hun Sen is demanding. “I have said again and again that my case is a symbol of the entire justice system in Cambodia, and I repeat: I will not pay…. I am ready to go to prison, and I would like to emphasise I will not flee,” said the former Minister of Women’s Affairs, who has a US passport.

Since Mu Sochua’s case was discussed at a standard session of the committee, a decision will still have to be approved by two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly.

The ruling CPP holds more than two-thirds of seats in the body. Last year, an extraordinary session of the 12-member  Permanent Committee was called to strip opposition leader Sam Rainsy of his parliamentary immunity. The Permanent Committee is made up of the heads of all the Assembly’s committees – all of whom are CPP members – and presided over by Assembly President Heng Samrin.

Parliament President Mr Heng Samrin

In an April 4 speech in Kampot, Hun Sen referred to an unnamed lawmaker as a cheung klang, or “strong leg”, term viewed by some as particularly offensive to women. Mu Sochua has said repeatedly that the speech clearly referred to her, noting that Hun Sen described the same lawmaker as a “strong female MP from the opposition party in Kampot” who lost a button on her shirt while running around embracing people.

During last year’s election campaign, Mu Sochua was involved in an altercation in which she said an army general tore a button from her blouse and exposed her bra. Mu Sochua said that if the prime minister’s comments in April did not refer to her, as his defence team claim, he should clarify to whom he was referring. “He must take responsibility for his words and answer in front of parliament,” she said.

Also Monday, 11 civil society groups delivered a letter to Heng Samrin asking the Assembly reconsider stripping Mu Sochua of her immunity. “If parliamentary immunity can be lifted easily, it makes everyone afraid; if parliamentarians have fear, democracy and national development have problems,” said the director of the Community Legal Education Centre ,Yeng Virak, who was allowed to deliver the letter.

The letter outlined concerns over the lawsuits, and urged the duelling parliamentarians to resolve the matter out of court, saying they “regret” that CPP lawmaker and permanent committee member Cheam Yeap had already announced publicly that parliament would lift Mu Sochua’s immunity, Yeng Virak said.

The president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, Rong Chhun, said parliamentary immunity would be worthless if it could be lifted so easily, and threatened mass protests if the Assembly went ahead with the move. “If Mu Sochua is arrested, we will lead mass demonstrations throughout the country with teachers and workers.”

The use and abuse of defamation and disinformation lawsuits dangerously undermine constitutional freedoms of opinion and expression – UN OHCR

UNITED NATIONS
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA
No. 10, Street 302, Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penh Cambodia
Tel: +(855) 23 987 671 / 987 672 / 993 590 / 993 591 or 216 342 Fax: +(855) 23 212 579 or 213 587
E-mail: cambodia@ohchr.org Website: http://cambodia.ohchr.org

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“The use and abuse of defamation and disinformation lawsuits dangerously undermine constitutional freedoms of opinion and expression and democratic development”
says the UN human rights office

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A briefing note on freedom of expression, defamation and disinformation
(15 June 2009)

Since April this year, not less than eight separate criminal defamation and disinformation complaints have been lodged with the Courts by some of Cambodia’s highest public authorities against Government critics. One of them was lodged, not by an allegedly aggrieved individual, but in a generic manner on behalf of “the Government”. These cases are currently under investigation by Phnom Penh Municipal Court Deputy Prosecutor, Mr. Sok Roeun. One of them was adjudicated on 8 June 2009 (see annex for details of these cases).

This recent surge in the use of criminal defamation and disinformation lawsuits filed mostly against politicians, journalists and other persons expressing their views in a peaceful manner on matters of public interest threatens to inhibit what should be a free debate and exchange of ideas and views on these matters. These actions undermine the constitutional freedom of opinion and expression which everyone in Cambodia is entitled to, and which is the cornerstone of the exercise of civil and political rights. The exercise of this right is a significant indicator of the level of protection of and respect for all other human rights in any society. No one should be afraid to express peacefully his or her views, provided this does not infringe on the rights of others. Stifling freedom of expression through the use or the threat of legal action, be it criminal or civil, especially in a context where the courts are vulnerable to executive influence, is a serious threat to democratic development which may undermine the efforts of the past 16 years to rebuild a tolerant and pluralistic environment in Cambodia. The experience in other countries shows that limiting freedom of expression, instead of addressing issues and criticism through discussion and a reasonable debate, not only provokes self-censorship but nurtures fear, frustration and anger, with the risk of leading to further conflict and violence.

At the same time, freedom of expression is not unlimited. It should be exercised in a peaceful manner, with respect towards others and their views, and not in order to advocate violence. International law is clear about the appropriate balance between the rights of free expression and debate on matters of public interest and the protection of individual reputation. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is part of Cambodian law, states that any restriction on freedom of expression must be provided for by law, and must be necessary for respect of the rights and reputation of others or for the protection of national security or public order, or public health or morals.

Under international law, it is not sufficient that political debate on issues of public interest is expressed in strong terms, or is perceived as disrespectful of or contrary to Governmental policy, for limits on the exercise of freedom of expression to be legitimate. Open and dynamic debate on issues of public interest is part and parcel of the democratic process. Under the Constitution, the Government is responsible before its citizens for its policies and practices, and these must therefore remain open to public scrutiny, criticism and debate. Around the world, it is increasingly recognised that political debate on issues of public interest must be protected, and that civil rather than criminal law is sufficient to protect individual – rather than Governmental – reputations in the rare cases that these are genuinely infringed upon by political debate.

When investigating the complaints lodged before it, the Municipal Court is under a legal obligation to apply these international standards and to assess each case against them.

In respect of Members of Parliament, international law recognises the special role that they have in the democratic process and in forming public opinion and debate. The very purpose of parliamentary immunity is to enable Parliamentarians to discharge their duties as elected people’s representatives and law-makers without fear of retribution. A Parliament, as the name indicates, is a place in society where issues are discussed. The lifting or immunity, or a threat thereof, for no other valid reasons than to intimidate parliamentarians and stifle political or other debate shows disregard and contempt for open and democratic debate. It should be considered only in the case of the most serious offences.

Pursuing the current complaints may reverse the course of the still fragile democratic development process in Cambodia. The OHCHR recalls the international standards accepted by Cambodia and contemporary best practices with regard to defamation related disputes:

• The filing of criminal complaints in respect of public issues raised in the cases concerned is excessive and unjustified. If individuals disagree in public discussions they should first respond to the substance of the allegations and engage in a fair debate about them. If they feel aggrieved by words pronounced by others, they should resort to civil rather than criminal remedies, as the Cambodian law provides.
• It is important for the protection of the democratic space for public debate that public authorities, politicians as well as members of the public, who participate in these debates, tolerate dissenting views and do not regard them as personal attacks. There is nothing wrong in criticising public policies. This is part of a healthy democratic process and environment.
• It is inappropriate for complaints to be filed in the name of the Government. If individual officials feel aggrieved, the Courts are open to them as individuals. This practice reflects international jurisprudence on this issue and the interpretation of Article 19 of the ICCPR by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the monitoring body of the ICCPR, which has recommended against the criminalisation of defamation of the Government.
• Any issues arising from journalistic publication of matters of public debate should be addressed as provided for under the Press Law.
• The lifting of Parliamentary immunity, or threat thereof, for intimidation purposes undermines its important value in enabling free discussion of public issues among people’s representatives and law-makers. This practice should cease in respect of defamation and disinformation lawsuits.
• As independent and impartial arbiters of cases before them, judges and prosecutors, as well as professional bodies such as the Bar Association, have a professional duty to treat all cases presented to them in the order they were filed, in an equal, fair and objective manner and apply the law without discrimination or prejudice. This is an essential principle of justice not only to be delivered, but also to be seen as being delivered by all parties and the wider public.
• In 2006, the Government took the important step to remove prison sentences as a sanction for criminal defamation. A further step in strengthening the legal framework for democratic debate would be to remove defamation and disinformation from the new Criminal Code currently under preparation, so that only civil courts may address these issues. This would constitute an unequivocal confirmation of the right of all Cambodians to freedom of expression in accordance with the law and a clear recognition of the value of free democratic debate on issues of public interest, while allowing for the reputations of individuals to be properly protected in appropriate cases through civil actions for damages.

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APPENDIX

Several of the most recent instances of defamation and disinformation complaints:

1. The case of Ms. Mu Sochua against Prime Minister Hun Sen and subsequent complaint by the Prime Minster against her and her lawyer Mr. Kong Sam Onn:

On 27 April 2009, SRP Parliamentarian Ms. Mu Sochua lodged a defamation complaint against the Prime Minister for a speech he made on 4 April 2009, while in Kampot province which is her constituency. In her complaint, Ms. Sochua claims that the Prime Minister defamed her by referring to a female parliamentarian from Kampot who had allegedly embraced a General and then later complained that the buttons of her shirt had come undone. She was allegedly also referred to as having “strong legs”, reportedly a derogatory term in Khmer. While the speech did not mention her by name, Ms. Sochua claimed that she was being referred to.

On 23 April 2009, Ms. Sochua, with her lawyer Mr. Kong Sam Onn held a press conference at her party’s Phnom Penh headquarters where she announced her intention to file a defamation lawsuit against the Prime Minister. Her lawyer reportedly outlined the evidence and the grounds he would use to support her complaint.

On 27 April, the Prime Minister’s lawyer, Mr. Ky Tech, lodged a defamation complaint against Mu Sochua as well as against her lawyer for defaming the Prime Minister by claiming that he had defamed her. In addition, Mr. Ky Tech filed another complaint against Mr. Kong Sam Onn with the Bar Association for allegedly violating the code of conduct of the Cambodian Bar. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court dismissed Ms. Mu Sochua’s complaint on 10 June. The Prime Minister’s case against Ms. Sochua and her lawyer is still actively being pursued with threats made to lift her parliamentary immunity. The Bar Association has also started to investigate alleged ethical misconduct by Mr. Kong Sam On.

2. Complaint of defamation and disinformation against Mr. Hang Chakra, editor of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper:

On 21 May 2009, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a summon for Mr. Hang Chakra, the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper to appear in court on June 3 for questioning over a disinformation and incitement complaint lodged against him by the lawyer of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Sok An. The complaint reportedly relates to several articles published on April 5 and 7 and 21 May in the newspaper, exposing possible corruption attributed to officials working with Mr. Sok An. (One article is titled “Hun Sen Has Cracked Down on Bad and Corrupt Officials Who Are Working Around Sok An”). The complaint reportedly claims that these articles could affect political stability because they were written about government leaders. According to Mr. Chakra, Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun questioned him about the sources of the information for his articles, information Chakra has refused to disclose. Article 2 of the 1995 Press Law allows journalists to protect the identity of their sources.

3. Complaint of disinformation and incitement against Mr. Moeun Sonn, President of the Khmer Civilisation Foundation:

On 2 June 2009, government lawyer Mr. Pol Chandara filed a disinformation and incitement lawsuit with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against Mr. Moeun Sonn, the president of Khmer Civilization Foundation for allegedly publishing untrue information related to the installation of lights at Angkor Wat, contending that heat emitted from the light installation could damage the temple walls. The government lawyer allegedly accused Mr. Moeun Sonn of using such remarks to defame the Government and to incite persons to think negatively about the Government.

4. Complaint of defamation by Municipal Governor Mr. Kep Chuktema against Mr. Sam Rainsy:

The Governor of Phnom Penh, Mr. Kep Chuktema filed a complaint on 27 May in relation to a speech Mr. Sam Rainsy reportedly gave on 14 May, in which he allegedly claimed that Mr. Kep Chuktema was involved in vote-buying for the CPP prior to the 17 May council elections. To date, Mr. Rainsy has not been summoned to the court.

5. Complaint of incitement and defamation against SRP Parliamentarian Mr. Ho Vann:

On 5 June, SRP Parliamentarian Mr. Ho Vann was summoned to the Municipal Court pursuant to a complaint of defamation and incitement lodged against him on 27 April by 22 senior RCAF military officers, who were allegedly offended by a comment Mr. Ho Vann had made related to post-graduate degrees conferred on the RCAF officials by a Vietnamese military institution in April.

6. SRP youth leader sentenced to US$ 1,250 for defamation:

On 6 June 2009, Mr. Soung Sophorn, a 22-year-old law student and local leader of the SRP youth wing was charged, arrested and convicted with defamation within three days and sentenced to pay a 5 million Riels fine for having spray-painted words critical of the Government on the wall of his private house. Mr. Soung Sophorn belongs to one of the hundreds families embattled with the Shukaku company and the Municipality to defend their rights to their lands and housing in the disputed Boeng Kak lake case where 4,000 families are under threat of eviction.

Non-violence demonstration of CCU against Thai PM visiting Cambodia

The Cambodia Watchdog Council International (CWC-International) released its statement after the Govt forces cracked down to the non-violence demonstration of Cambodia Confederation of Unions (CCU) during Thai Prime Minister visits Cambodia.

However, CCU President Rong Chhun and his colleagues suddenly have conducted the press conference at their office while Govt intelligences and police controlled and attempted to crack down them. Please view full statement here in Khmer; and English below.

………

CAMBODIA WATCHDOG COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL
# Havreveien 94, 4635 Kristiansand City, Norway, Tel: +4790818257/+4799489347
E-mail: cwci_secretariat@yahoo.com / cwci@start.no
Website: www.cwcinternational.wordpress.com

Kristiansand, 12 June 2009

STATEMENT

On 12 June, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) was prevented by several hundreds of Cambodian government police force from holding a peaceful demonstration during the official visit of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Cambodia. The demonstration goal was to demand that Thailand pays damage compensations for Cambodian people living near the Preah Vihear temple. The action [of the Cambodian government] clearly confirms that Mr. Hun Sen’s government is nothing but a client-state of Thailand, and it agreed to dismiss Cambodia’s honor and benefit altogether. Furthermore, the prevention of this peaceful demonstration by CCU only encourages Thailand to pursue further its aggression on Cambodia because the Cambodian government is taking all measures to silence its own people, and preventing them from protesting. This is a clear violation of the Cambodian Constitution which grants full rights to Cambodian people to hold public gathering, and to hold peaceful demonstration and strikes.

With its plan turned down by the authority, CCU led by Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues decided to hold a press conference at its office instead. Nevertheless, Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues were still followed by the authority, and especially by secret government agents. This is tantamount to intimidation and threat against the personal safety of Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues.

CWCI is very concerned about the safety of Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues who could suffer from [ill will] attempts by Cambodian government secret agents. Due to past mishaps suffered by union and political activists after they were followed and threatened by government agents, these activists became target of murder attempts and the perpetrators of these crimes were never apprehended by the government nor were they brought in to face justice.

CWCI strongly condemns the actions taken by the government authority against CCU, and we call on International and National human rights groups to pay close attention to this case, we also call on them to push the Cambodian government to immediately cease all its threatening actions, as well as its prevention to hold public gathering and peaceful demonstration, and its repression against union and association activists.

CWCI President,
(Signed) Men Nath

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English text of Ki-Media, by Socheata
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Statement on the Visit of Thai Prime Minister to Cambodia

The Cambodia Watchdog Council International (CWCI) released its statement, regarding to the visit of Thai Prime Minister to Cambodia on 12 June 2009, in order to introduced himself as the new elected Prime Mintser of Thailand in accordance with Asean traditon, in which CWCI has demanded the two leaders of the two countries to upphold the inter national laws and determine to commitment for mutual respect, peaceful resolution, and political sincerity.

Actually, the dispute of the border lines at the Preah Vihear temple stemmed from the irresponsibility of the two countries’ leaders who are leading the countries without thinking of their own people’s need for peace, respect, and brotherhood but to serve their own political greed and their group interests. Please view full statement here in Khmer; and English below.

Men Nath, President of the CWC-International

CAMBODIA WATCHDOG COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL
CWC-International, # Havreveien 94, 4635 Kristiansand City, Norway, Tel: +4790818257/
+4799489347/E-mail: cwci_secretariat@yahoo.com/ cwci@start.no

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Kristiansand, 10 June 2009

STATEMENT:

Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister of Thailand, will perform an official customary visit to Cambodia on 12 June as the new prime minister of Thailand and as a member of the ASEAN community. During his visit, he will return 7 artifacts to Cambodia and he will also raise a number of issues to discuss with his Cambodian counterpart. Regarding the dispute near Preah Vihear temple, Mr. Abhisit did not provide a clear indication on whether he will discuss this issue with Cambodia or not. He simple said: “I will try to resolve it according to my ability. If it can be done, just the fact that there is no serious clash, and the people can live quietly, this is acceptable.”

At the same time, the Cambodian government seems to show its political stance indicating that it truly has the will to resolve this dispute issue in the Preah Vihear temple area involving Thailand’s aggression, and that it is willing to accept bilateral negotiations based on the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding. Cambodia also demands for more than $2.15 million of damage compensation form Thailand for the destruction of properties owned by Cambodian people living near Preah Vihear temple, and the damage incurred on the temple itself resulting form the armed clash which took place on 03 April.

However, in rea/ity, these actions by the Cambodian government show that it does not have a clear stance to resolve this dispute because it allowed armed clashes to take place twice already, and it also allows Thailand to lead its aggression on Cambodian territories at will. In fact, the Cambodian government does not pay attention to the existing legal basis which it can use to resolve this dispute – such as the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia, the 1962 decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice, and the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siam conventions. Furthermore, Indonesia, the co-President of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, wanted to intervene on this issue, but it was met by the rejection from Mr. Hun Sen’s government instead.

Because Cambodia is a victim of Thai aggression, the Cambodian government must fulfill its role by displaying a strong stance toward the Thai PM, and it must also resolve the dispute issue in the Preah Vihear temple area through international institutions, based on the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia, the 1962 decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice, and the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siam conventions.

(Signed) Men Nath
CWCI President.

..

Note: KI Media source, Unofficial translation from Khmer by Socheata

Group to Protest Thai Premier’s Visit

Rong Chhun: Authorization or not, the demontrationa against Abhisit will go on
Sourse: KI Media, Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
June 11, 2009

On Wednesday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, declared that the meeting for the march starting from in front of the old National Assembly building to be held on Friday, the day when Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand PM, will visit Cambodia, will take place even if the city hall does not authorize it.

Rong Chhun said that he sent a letter to inform the Phnom Penh city hall already about the planned meeting to express the people’s opinion and the ensuing march. He said that even without the authorization from the city hall, “we must hold [this demonstration against Abhisit] because this is an issue that affects the nation as a whole, and this no longer an individual issue.”

Rong Chhun (picture),

Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), also declared that he will join the demonstration. He said that this is an occasion for Cambodian people to express their opinion about Thailand’s aggression on Cambodian territories, as well a show of the expression of opinion to the Thai authority. He said that, even with the prevention from the city hall, “we will hold [this demonstration] because this is our national interest, and the city hall should protect those who come to express their opinion on 12 June.”

Chea Mony was arrested by policemen

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Group to Protest Thai Premier’s Visit
Source: By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh, 10 June 2009

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will make an official visit to Cambodia Friday, but he won’t receive a warm reception from everyone.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva

The Cambodian Confederation of Unions plans to hold a protest of Thai incursions into Cambodia along the disputed border, following nearly a yearlong military standoff near Preah Vihear temple.

“We want the Thai prime minister to remove troops from Cambodia and keep the situation the same as it was on July 15, 2008,” said Rong Chhun, head of the confederation.

Phnom Penh authorities say they will not allow a protest. “Such a demonstration cannot resolve a border dispute,” Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema said.

Thai Embassy officials declined to comment on the protest. Abhisit is scheduled to visit senior leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni.

Thailand and Cambodia are in a standoff over a small stretch of disputed border that was sparked by the inclusion of Preah Vihear temple as a Unesco World Heritage site under Cambodia in July 2008.

At least three soldiers on each side have died in ensuing skirmishes, with hundreds of troops entrenched along the border.

Thai-Cambodian relations are particularly volatile. Cambodian mobs looted and burned the Thai Embassy and Thai businesses in 2003, following unconfirmed rumors a Thai actress had said Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand.