Tuesday, February 1, 2011

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Posted: 01 Feb 2011 05:24 PM PST
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
By Khmer Borann

This morning of February 2, 2011, I went to work and drove my motorcycle on Sothearos Boulevard of Phnom Penh. When I reached the former National Assembly building I could not go further because the road was blocked by the police. I was forced to turn to the east passing former building of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then turned to the north on Sisowath street. At first I thought there might be a foreign delegation visiting the Royal Palace, but when I reached the road section in front of the Royal Palace, I saw a large group of Dragon Dancer (ម៉ុងសាយ) preparing to enter the Royal Palace. I also heard the complaint from some motorists about the blockage of the road. Some complained "Just for Dragon Dance, the road is blocked and causing trouble for the motorists". Other said "Is it great that our Khmer King celebrate Chinese New Year?"

Khmer Borann
Phnom Penh
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 04:44 PM PST
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Op-Ed by Davan Long

Once again the friction between Cambodia and Thailand has reached a flash point that war can potentially erupt any time as a result of a false maneuver or slightest misunderstanding. Despite of such perilous situation, both sides show no sign of backing down, instead opt to flex their muscles through exchanges of war rhetoric, military exercises and troop reinforcements.

From the Cambodian perspective, the ongoing friction between the two countries is a result of a smear campaign of intimidation by Thai radical groups to gain political grounds at home, and PM Abhisit government's lack of commitment to clamp down on those radical groups. As long as these two conditions persist, war between the two countries will be inevitable.

Cambodian public believes its government has been very accommodating vis-à-vis the Thai counterpart. In deed, the Cambodian government has so far exercised utmost restraint by not requesting the UN to intervene. Thailand has insisted that the issue be addressed at the bilateral level, and in the spirit of promoting friendly neighborhood, Cambodia has agreed to it, at least up to now.


On the other hand, PM Abhisit government's questionable approach to the issue has perplexed many Cambodians at home and abroad. If Thai incumbent government deems that the Cambodian counterpart is acting outside the framework of legitimate self-defense or contrary to the relevant UN charters, then why not pursuing the matter with the International Court of Justice or other appropriate UN bodies. Cambodia will genuinely and unreservedly abide by the international rulings, and challenges Thailand to do the same.

Thailand is very fortunate that she has not had a war for a long time. Perhaps too long that some Thai ultranationalist or radical groups don't fully realize what it means to be at war. For Cambodia, war is synonym for collateral damage, human tragedy and mass destruction. Most Cambodians have seen it, lived through it and definitely don't want to go through another one. That being the case, there should be no doubt to anyone that Cambodians will resolutely stand ready to face the challenge, should a war be imposed on them.

In the interest of both nations, Cambodians are cautiously optimistic that the current political hazard in Thailand will be trumped by the voice of reason, which will put an end to this prolonged and unwarranted friction, and foster a new era of genuine cooperation between the two countries.

Fellow Khmer
(Davan Long)
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 04:40 PM PST
1 Feb
Op-Ed by PHATRY DEREK PAN
Originally posted at: http://www.phatryderekpan.com/archives/3-reasons-why-social-media

BROOKLYN, NY – If only Egypt's Mubarak government was as strong as its iconic pyramids, the administration might withstand the 'million-man march.' But these were built by the pharaohs and Mubarak is far from saintly through the eyes of the general populace. So as the inevitable nears, voices are emerging throughout cyberspace on how the role of social media, namely Twitter and Facebook have aided in the movement that will likely see a new Egypt in the coming days. Can revolutions be televised through these new unconventional forms of medias? We have seen it through Neda's Iran (RIP) last year and recently in Tunisia. But can 'tweets' and 'likes' unravel another long serving ruler, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia?

In a recent telephone interview via Candlelight Radio Program, outspoken government critic and leader of the opposition party, Sam Rainsy, believes Cambodia has all the same ingredients for the next Egypt uprising. He cites five sources as the root: 1) extreme poverty 2) social injustice 3) inflation 4) unemployment and 5) corruption. Many observers will agree to these realities, which are a common set of problems found in most developing nations, but to allude of a similar fate like Egypt is premature and unrealistic.

In my view there are three reasons why the social media movement will not come to Cambodia.

LOW INTERNET PENETRATION
According to Google Data, there were only 74,000 Internet users in the Kingdom in 2008. Looking at the percentage ratio between users and the overall population, that figure is a microscopic atom at 0.005%. Now compared that to Iran (31%), Egypt (17%), and Tunisia (27%), respectively, Cambodia's majority rural population has a long way before they can utilize social medias to create social changes to their local and national governments. And it doesn't help when the country has one of the highest Internet rates in all of ASEAN.


LOW TWITTER MEMBERSHIP COUNT
When was the last time you received a tweet from a Cambodia-based journalist, human rights activist, or university student? No, I am not talking about a retweet of an article from sources like Phnom Penh Post or KI-Media. The Khmer Twitter community is almost non-existent; and there are probably more Khmer celebrities fan page accounts on Facebook than anything else. This is critical because its these individuals who are on the ground that served as the first line of information when countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Iran first reached our television and newspapers.

A CULTURE OF FEAR
Despite having the reputation of one of the most free and open press countries in the region, Cambodia still has a culture of fear. Perhaps its root was inherited through the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime of the mid-1970s, then later affirmed through Hun Sen's strong arm tactics. But try dispersing informational leaflets of the 1997 grenade attack, January 7th Liberation Day or even sharing a Global Witness report through e-mail, the government's specially created Press and Quick Reaction Unit will be on your tail faster than Looney Tune's coyote and road runner. But instead of the regular script, Wile E (the government) will get you. Case in point: Seng Kunakar. In order for similar movements to occur in Cambodia, the government must be able to have a higher tolerability to the criticisms from its people.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:15 PM PST
By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh
Power to the Cambodian People Series

This is your time, Cambodians, for your voices to be heard, for your suffering and pain to be eased, for your rights to be respected, for your dignity to be respected and restored. Gentle in manner, deep and strong in deeds. LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD. Demand that the Cambodian government clean up its act and work for you, for the PUBLIC GOOD. End the odorous corruption of the soul, the stealing from the national coffers. Read the excerpts (with my emphasis) below and be inspired.

The Quest for Dignity
David Brooks
The New York Times, January 31, 2011


I wonder if sometime around 50 years ago a great mental tide began to sweep across the world. Before the tide, people saw themselves in certain fixed places in the social order. They accepted opinions from trusted authorities.
As the tide swept through, they began to see themselves differently. They felt they should express their own views, and these views deserved respect. They mentally bumped themselves up to first class and had a different set of expectations of how they should be treated. Treatment that had once seemed normal now felt like an insult. They began to march for responsive government and democracy.
[…] Protesters invariably say that their government has insulted their dignity by ignoring their views. They have a certain template of what a "normal" country looks like — with democracy and openness — and they feel humiliated that their nation doesn't measure up.
Moreover, the protesters tend to feel enormous pride that they are finally speaking up, even in the face of danger. They feel a surge of patriotism as the people of their country make themselves heard.
This quest for dignity has produced a remarkable democratic wave. More than 100 nations have seen democratic uprisings over the past few decades. More than 85 authoritarian governments have fallen. Somewhere around 62 countries have become democracies, loosely defined.
The experiences of these years teach us a few lessons. First, the foreign policy realists who say they tolerate authoritarian government for the sake of stability are ill informed. Autocracies are more fragile than any other form of government, by far.
Second, those who say that speeches by outsiders have no influence on places like Egypt have it backward. The climate of opinion is the very basis of the revolt.
Third, for all the pessimism and nervousness that accompanies change, most countries that have experienced uprisings end up better off. We can all think of exceptions, like Iran, but we should greet these events with eagerness and hope.
Fourth, while the public hunger for dignity is unabated, the road from authoritarianism to democracy is rocky and perilous. Over the past few years, the world has experienced a "freedom recession" [CAMBODIA!!] with more governments retreating from democracy than advancing toward it. For outside powers, the real work comes after the revolution — in helping democrats build governments that work.
The other thing we've learned is that the United States usually gets everything wrong. There have been dozens of democratic uprisings over the years, but the government always reacts like it's the first one. There seem to be no protocols for these situations, no preset questions to be asked.
Policy makers always underestimate the power of the bottom-up quest for dignity, so they are slow to understand what is happening. Last week, for example, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that the Egyptian regime was stable, just as it was falling apart.
Then their instinct is to comfort the fellow members of the club of those in power. The Obama administration was very solicitous of President Hosni Mubarak during the first days of the protests and of other dictators who fear their regime may be next.
Then, desperately recalibrating in an effort to keep up with events, they inevitably make a series of subtle distinctions no one else heeds. The Obama administration ended up absurdly calling on Mubarak to initiate a reform agenda. Surely there's not a single person in the government who thinks he is actually capable of doing this. Meanwhile, the marchers heard this fudge as Obama supporting Mubarak and were outraged.
The Obama administration's reaction was tardy, but no worse than, say, the first Bush administration's reaction to the uprisings in the Baltics and Ukraine. The point is, there's no need to be continually wrong-footed. If you start with a healthy respect for the quest for dignity, if you see autocracies as fragile and democratic revolts as opportunities, then you'll find it much easier to anticipate events.
The Working Group on Egypt, co-led by Michele Dunne and Robert Kagan, has outperformed the U.S. government by miles. For months, they've been warning of Mubarak's fragility. As the protests started, they issued a smart and concrete set of policy recommendations.
Over the past decades, there has been a tide in the affairs of men and women. People in many places have risked their lives for recognition and respect. Governments may lag, and complications will arise, but still they will march. And, in the long run, we should be glad they do.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:11 PM PST
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Ratified, acceded by UN General Assembly in December 1966, entry into force March 1976. Cambodia ratified the ICCPR (thus, a part of Cambodia's body of laws) and is obligated to submit regular reports to the United Nations.

Part III
Article 26
All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:07 PM PST
Constitution of Cambodia (Sept. 1993)

CHAPTER IV: ON POLICY
Article 51
The Kingdom of Cambodia adopts a policy of Liberal Democracy and Pluralism.
The Cambodian people are the master of their own country.
All powers belong to the people. The people exercise these powers through the National Assembly, the Royal Government and the Judiciary.
The Legislative, Executive, and the Judicial powers shall be separate.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:06 PM PST
2/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Thailand is ramping up its military presence in the disputed area along the border with Cambodia but the army insists the use of force will be the last resort.

The military rumblings come as the spat over the presence of national flags in the disputed zone continues, with Cambodia refusing to remove its national standard from Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara inside the contested area and Thailand erecting its own in response.

Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara is the Cambodian name of the temple known in Thailand as Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara.

The Thai flag is said to be bigger and stands taller than the Cambodian one.


Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said the border dispute should be solved through the Joint Boundary Commission, adding the Foreign Affairs Ministry was pursuing this channel.

"Use of force will be the last resort," Gen Prayuth said.

"The government must try to solve this through dialogue."

He insisted Thailand had not lost any territory, despite the claims of the People's Alliance for Democracy pressure group, which is protesting against the government's handling of the dispute.

Gen Prayuth said the two countries had increased security along the border but insisted neither had any intention to intrude on the other's territory.

He said Cambodia's deployment of tanks and heavy weapons along the border was part of military preparedness in response to media expectation of the use of force.

Thailand had mobilised its own troops and arms, but Gen Prayuth said this was a routine preparatory practice.

"There are several approaches ranging from talks to force. If talks fail and there is a troop stand-off, that is another story," he said.

"But I don't want to see this happen. It will use a lot of resources. We have to help lessen tension.

" A war is not just about shooting at each other. We need to bring two or three times more troops to the border. There is also weapon support. All of this needs money."
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:02 PM PST
February 2, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Prime Minister Hun Sen should be grateful to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Thai Patriots' Network (TPN) for rallying against the Thai government, because their arguments and demands could be very useful for Cambodia.

The two groups have been camping outside the Prime Minister's Office for a week to pressure the government into taking tougher action over border conflicts with Cambodia. They have demanded that the government scrap the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on boundary demarcation, use military force to kick Cambodian communities out of disputed areas near Preah Vihear Temple and quit the World Heritage Committee.

The MoU, signed in 2000 under the Democrat-led government of Chuan Leekpai, is a legal instrument meant to set up a joint boundary committee, to help survey and demarcate the border.

The key point of concern in the MoU is Article 1 (c), which says "maps which are the result of demarcation works of the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam set up under the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France and Siam, and other documents relating to the application of the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France and Siam".

Like Cambodia, the PAD believes that the "maps" mentioned in this Article include the 1:200,000 scale one, which is part of a series of maps made by France that show the Preah Vihear Temple and its adjacent area being in Cambodia.


In a statement on December 28, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry confirmed a PAD belief that the maps resulting from the demarcation work conducted by the commission are actually based on the 1:200,000 scale map. The International Court of Justice used this map as a basic legal document when it ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, has been arguing that Thailand never accepted the Dangrek map, which was part of the series, because the Siamese-French boundary commission did not come up with it. The MoU mentions many maps, he said, implying that Thailand could choose any that worked in its favour.

The PAD, however, insists that Abhisit is wrong because the map referred to in the Article, which is related to the 1904 Convention and 1907 Treaty for the area near Preah Vihear, is no other than the Dangrek map. Yellow-shirt Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn said Cambodia would never use any other map to indicate the boundary near Preah Vihear.

It is unlikely that Abhisit will revoke the MoU, but at least Cambodia can claim that a group of Thais believe that the map mentioned in the boundary pact was the French-made 1:200,000 scale one.

If Thailand uses force, as demanded by the PAD, to drive Cambodians out of the disputed area, then Phnom Penh would have good reason to turn to the international community, if not the UN, and claim that its big neighbour was being aggressive. The demand that the government use force has already damaged Thailand's reputation.

As for the PAD's call for Thailand to step down from the World Heritage Committee - it makes very little sense. It would be good for Cambodia if Thailand withdrew, because then it would not be able to intervene in Phnom Penh's management plan for the temple.

The Preah Vihear Temple was given the World Heritage Site status in 2008, but Thailand, as a member of the committee, blocked its final management plan because the temple's vicinity was still under dispute.

No wonder Abhisit is questioning PAD's real intentions - is it protesting for the benefit of Thailand or Cambodia?
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:11 PM PST
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:56 AM PST


People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) co-leader Chamlong Srimuang looks at a sign criticising Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The sign reads: PM - Liar - Stupid - Sneaky - Traitorous - Slave to Khmer
1/02/2011
Bangkok Post

A Thai flag has also been hoisted in a disputed area near the Preah Vihear ruins, where the flying of a Cambodian flag has raised tensions, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.

Mr Abhisit said this information was included in a situation report made by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

"We have never said that the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda should be demolished. We said only that the Cambodian flag flying over the temple should be removed.

"But, meanwhile, we have also flown our flag there," the prime minister said, but did not elaborate.


The Keo Sikha Kiri Svara temple is located in the 4.6 square-kilometre disputed area adjoining the Preah Vihear temple.

The prime minister admitted that Thai and Camboldian military forces were confronting each other along the border.

However, there should be no problems if both sides observe the 2000 memorandum of understanding, and this is the best way of solving the Thai-Cambodian dispute, he said.

Mr Abhisit said Thai and Cambodian authorities have been in contact to ease the tension and prevent possible border infringements by either side.

National army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha also said earlier today that a Thai flag had been raised in the 4.6 square-kilometre disputed area where both countries claim ownership.

"We have done that acting on orders," Gen Prayuth said.

The army chief insisted that the best way to settle the border dispute with Cambodia is by formal talks.

It is most important the problem is resolved by negotiation through the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), he said.

The Foreign Ministry was trying to arrange a new meeting of the JBC to discuss the matter.

The situation along the border remained normal today, and the 2nd Army was well prepared to ensure peace and order in the border area, he said.

The Cambodians had similar security measures along the border, but that did not mean the two sides were on the verge of clashing with each other, said Gen Prayuth.

"The use of force will be the last means we will turn to.

"It's now the government's duty to try to end the problem through talks," he said, reiterating that Thailand had not lost any territorial sovereignty to Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court rejected a lawsuit filed by two members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) against Prime Minister Abhisit and three other ministers for alleged negligence causing the loss of territorial sovereignty to Cambodia.

The other three named in the suit were Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Defence Minister Prawit.

The lawsuit was filed on Jan 26 by Samdin Lertbutr and Tainae Mungmajon, two of the seven Thais arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 for illegal entry.

The two were freed after a nine-month jail sentence was handed down on them by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which found them guilty, was suspended on the grounds that they had already served nearly one month in jail.

The Criminal Court rejected the lawsuit, ruling that it had been filed with the wrong court.

It should be filed with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions under Section 275 of the constitution, the court said.

PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang claimed the government has a three-stage plan to disperse the yellow-shirt protest outside Government House.

Maj Gen Chamlong said the government would send senior police officers to ask the yellow-shirt protesters to unblock roads when there is actually little traffic.

The police had changed the settings so traffic lights stayed on red longer, causing people to be frustrated and blame the rally, he said.

The government would then send undercover agents into the rally to stir up confusion and conflict among the yellow-shirt group.

The final stage would be the deployment of more police and a crackdown on the protesters, he said.

"The government's attempt will fail because the PAD will not move anywhere unless the government accedes to our three demands," Maj Gen Chamlong said.

He said the government should concentrate on the Thai-Cambodian problem instead of focusing on the yellow-shirt protesters.

"As a professional demonstrator, I can affirm that our rally will not end. If our rally is dispersed today, we can start it again tomorrow.

"If the government refuses to protect our country we won't end our rally," he added.

The yellow-shirt key member said he had lost count of the number of lies Prime Minister Abhisit had made about Thai-Cambodian border issues.

The government had begun to take action only when the PAD revealed the information about the Cambodian flag being hoisted near Preah Vihear temple, he said.

He said the government should not give in too much in its dealings with Cambodia.

The PAD started its peaceful protest outside Government House last Tuesday, pressing the government to withdraw from the Unesco World Heritage Committee, scrap the memorandum of understanding on the Thai-Cambodian border signed in 2000, and expel Cambodian people from disputed border areas.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:54 AM PST


Click on the cover to dowload PDF file.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:45 AM PST
PHNOM PENH, Feb 01, 2011 (Xinhua) -- Derek J. Mitchell, U.S. principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, on Tuesday concluded his two-day visit to Cambodia focusing on strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation on defense.

During his visit in Cambodia, Mitchell had held the inaugural U. S.-Cambodia defense policy discussion with Neang Phat, secretary of state for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, according to the press release from U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday evening.

The objective of this defense talk was to highlight the U.S. department of defense's commitment to assisting the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to develop a professional force, while encouraging Cambodia to continue on a path of improved transparency, governance, commitment to the rule of law, sustained democratic development, and respect for human rights, it said.


Mitchell said on Tuesday in the press briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh that Cambodia has annually received

1 million U.S dollars from the United States for its military training.

During the visit, Mitchell also conducted site visits to the peacekeeping training center in Kampong Speu province, the National Counter-terrorism Special Force, and other sites that has benefited from U.S.-Cambodia defense cooperation.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:41 AM PST
Tuesday, 01 February 2011
Sam Rith and James O'Toole
The Phnom Penh Post

The Cambodian investigating judge at the Khmer Rouge tribunal said today that he was participating in investigations in the court's controversial third and fourth cases, proceedings to which Prime Minister Hun Sen has publicly expressed opposition.

The admission from Judge You Bunleng stands in contrast to a pattern of opposition by Cambodian court officials to the cases, which feature five suspects who have yet to be arrested and whose identities remain confidential.

You Bunleng himself declined to participate in the investigations when they began last year, leaving his international counterpart, Co-Investigating Judge Marcel Lemonde, to pursue them on his own.

"For these cases, I am working with the foreign judge and already have a specific plan," You Bunleng said today.


"Now we are examining the cases and documents in relation to the previous cases."

Asked about Hun Sen's stated opposition to the cases, You Bunleng said: "I'm sorry, I work together [with the foreign staff] as a working group."

During a visit to Cambodia by United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon in October, Hun Sen reportedly said the pending investigations in Cases 003 and 004 were a threat to the Kingdom's stability.

"Samdech [Hun Sen] clearly affirmed that Case 003 will not be allowed," Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters following the meeting. "We have to think about peace in Cambodia or the court will fail."

"The court will try the four senior leaders successfully and then finish with Case 002."

Anne Heindel, a legal adviser with the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, said You Bunleng's participation in the new investigations was "enormously significant".

"For the legacy of the court, for the perceived fairness of the court, it's tremendously significant," she said.

"It shows that whatever led him to [decline to participate] in the first place, there have been discussions or reconsiderations … and now there is the possibility of having the third and fourth case [and] there isn't the government pressure that people feared would close off the possibility.

"It is possible he's doing this on his own, but that would be very surprising."

In June last year, You Bunleng and Lemonde made public letters to one another revealing that they had disagreed on the timing of investigations in Cases 003 and 004.

In one communication, Lemonde called on You Bunleng to sign a rogatory letter authorising preliminary investigations.

You Bunleng responded that he had initially signed the rogatory letter before changing his mind out of concern for the "current state of Cambodian society". He suggested the matter be considered following the issuance of indictments in the court's second case, which were handed down in September.

Lemonde and other foreign staff in the co-investigating judges' office began investigating the cases on their own following the June disagreement.

As recently as late November, You Bunleng said he was still undecided on how to proceed with the matter.

Lemonde announced his resignation following the Case 002 indictments in September and has been replaced by the German judge Siegfried Blunk.

You Bunleng's initial reluctance to pursue the cases was the latest in a series of disputes between Cambodian and foreign court officials on the issue.

Cambodian co-prosecutor Chea Leang opposed the submissions for Cases 003 and 004 made by international prosecutor William Smith in 2009.

The issue also split judges of the court's Pre-Trial Chamber along Cambodian vs foreign lines, according to a decision issued the same year.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan declined to be drawn out today on whether the government was still opposed to additional cases at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, as the tribunal is formally known.

"What we understand is right now, we put our utmost attention to Case 002 in terms of resources," he said.

"Case 003 and 004, we don't pay attention that much. We want Case 002 to be the legacy of the ECCC."

Case 002, which features the four most senior surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, is expected to begin within the next six months.

The defendants, including former Khmer Rouge Brother No 2 Nuon Chea and Foreign Minister Ieng Sary, face a raft of charges including genocide and crimes against humanity.

United Nations court spokesman Lars Olsen said today that he had not received any official information about You Bunleng's involvement in Cases 003 and 004.

"The most recent information I have is that the investigation conducted by international investigators was limited to crime sites and crime bases," he said.

Long Panhavuth, a project officer with the Cambodia Justice Initiative, said his organisation welcomed the news of You Bunleng's participation in the investigations.

"The public needs to see a sign of cooperation and progress on Cases 003 and 004," he said.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:34 AM PST
February 01, 2011
Xinhua

Thailand has reaffirmed that a disputed temple on the common border with Cambodia is situated on Thai territory and demanded that Phnom Penh remove both the temple and its flag.

"Thailand maintains that the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda is situated on Thai territory, and demands that Cambodia remove both the pagoda and the Cambodian flag flying over the pagoda," the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement received by media late Monday.

"This is a reiteration of the many protests that Thailand has submitted to Cambodia regarding the activities carried out in the pagoda and the surrounding area, all of which constitute violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Thailand," the statement said.

Recently, Cambodia erected a controversial stone sign in front of the temple, but later removed it after a request by Bangkok.


The Thai Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the government's commitment to resolve all boundary issues with Cambodia in accordance with international law through peaceful means under the framework of the existing Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), the statement said.

The two countries' border issue recently heated up after seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec. 29 for illegal entry into the neighboring country. Five of them were on Jan. 21 sentenced by a Phnom Penh court to nine months of imprisonment but were able to return home as the jail term was suspended.

Hundreds of the "yellow-shirts" People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been rallying near the Government House in Bangkok to demand the Thai government to take a tougher stance against Phnom Penh on the border issue.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:30 AM PST
February 1, 2011
ABC Radio Australia

Thailand says it is committed to a peaceful resolution of its border dispute with Cambodia, but it has fended off the idea of maintaining the area around the Preah Vihear temple as a jointly administered zone. The comments come a day after the Thai government renewed a demand that Cambodia remove a flag on a temple in the disputed area and also pull down the temple itself. Both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed that nothing would be built while a joint boundary commission surveyed the disputed land. Thailand insists the Cambodian temple was erected after the memorandum of understanding was signed in 2000.

Presenter: Zulfikar Abbany
Speaker: Thani Thongpakdi, spokesman, Thai foreign ministry, Bangkok
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:25 AM PST
BANGKOK, Feb 1 (MCOT online news) – Thai activist Veera Somkwamkid, detained in a Cambodian prison for illegal entry to the neighbour's territory and spying charges, on Tuesday denied all charges, asserting he was arrested on the Thai soil.

Veera Somkwamkid, coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, was taken from Prey Sar Prison Tuesday morning to stand trial as he was the only one still detained there, while his secretary, Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who was earlier granted bail, arrived at court by Thai embassy van.

Mr Veera stood firm on every question asked by the Cambodian court judge that he was detained by Cambodian soldiers while he was on Thai territory, while Ms Ratree conceded that a recorded video that Cambodian authorities seized and used as evidence for spying charge belonged to her, but the video recording was not for spying on Cambodian troop information as charged.

The Cambodian court also allowed two witnesses for the defense, members of the Thailand Patriots Network, to testify.


The court began questioning the plaintiff witnesses in the afternoon.

The two were among the seven Thais, including Democrat member of parliament for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth, who were arrested Dec 29 by the Cambodian authorities for illegal entry in Banteay Meanchey province.

The five have already returned to Thailand after receiving nine-month suspended jail terms from the Cambodian court for illegal entry and intentional trespass into Cambodian territory.

For Mr Veera and Ms Ratree, the Cambodian government prosecutor earlier added espionage against the duo, citing they gathered security information that could pose a severe threat to Cambodian security.

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said Tuesday that it is still unknown whether the court will deliver its verdict today or not, but the ministry stands ready to support the two Thais after the verdict is given.

Meanwhile, the leader of the 'Yellow Shirt' People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Gen Chamlong Srimuang said as he and PAD supporters have encamped at Government House since last Tuesday that the movement will intensify its campaign against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration no matter what the ruling of the Cambodian court is.

Gen Chamlong added the group will not accept the court's ruling and demand that Prime Minister Abhisit take responsibility over the matter.

The prime minister earlier rejected the PAD three demands including the withdrawal from the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, the revocation of the 2000 MoU signed with Cambodia and the pushing of Cambodians now living in border areas, which they claim belong to Thailand, back to their homeland.

In a related development, Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday reaffirmed Thailand has not lost its territory to the neighbouring kingdom, while urging all parties to solve Thai-Cambodian border dispute through negotiations not the use of force.

Gen Prayuth said Thai troops and ammunition have been standby along the Thai-Cambodian borders to protect the Thai sovereignty but stated clearly that the use of force was the last resort.

"We did not lose any land to the neighbour. Our troops are on alert along the border while the Cambodian forces are also ready," stated the Thai army chief.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:23 AM PST
Veera Somkwamkid
Ratree Pipatanapaiboon
1/02/2011
Bangkok Post

A Cambodian court on Tuesday evening sentenced yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid to eight years in prison without probation and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon six years without probation on charges of trespassing and espionage.

Mr Veera was fined 1.8 million riel (about 13,000 baht) and Mrs Ratree 1.2 million riel (about 10,000 baht).

They later returned to Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh.

The court gave them one month to file an appeal.

Mr Veera and Mrs Ratree, along with five other Thais, were arrested by Cambodian soldiers and charged with illegally entering Cambodia on Dec 29.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:17 AM PST
The two alleged leaflet distributors: So Khemrak and Ngor Meng Hong (Photo: CEN)
February 1, 2011
By ucanews.com reporter, Phnom Penh

A worker with the Maryknoll mission in Cambodia has been arrested for allegedly distributing defamatory leaflets against a "Cambodian government politician."

So Khemrak, a former Royal University of Phnom Penh student, was arrested on Jan. 29, as a result of confessions made by four other people arrested earlier for the same offence in Takeo in southern Cambodia, according to the Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea, the country's most popular daily.

Khemrak denied distributing the leaflets, saying he only overheard one of the other four talking about them.


Another person arrested with Khemrak – Ngo Meng Hong – also denied distributing the leaflets but admits he has had some in his possession since 2008.

Police found more than 200 leaflets in Hong's home, the paper reported. Some 85 leaflets were distributed around Phnom Penh last week.

Op Siphal, a Maryknoll office manager, admitted Khemrak is one of 172 workers for the local Maryknoll mission but denied the Church institution had anything to do with his spare time activities.

Khemrak works for Karol and Setha, (Knowledge and Reflection on Life and Sexuality Through a Holistic Approach), a Maryknoll program, he said.

"We just provide a job for him. We don't know about his activities outside the office," Siphal told ucanews.com.

If found guilty Khemrak could face up to two years in jail and be fined 1.4 million riel (about US$345).

The US-based Maryknoll family consists of Fathers and Brothers, Sisters and lay workers dedicated to mission and social work outside the United States.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:21 AM PST
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Ratified, acceded by UN General Assembly in December 1966, entry into force March 1976. Cambodia ratified the ICCPR (thus, a part of Cambodia's body of laws) and is obligated to submit regular reports to the United Nations.

Part III

Article 25
Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage [vote] and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:14 AM PST
Constitution of Cambodia (Sept. 1993)

Chapter III
Rights and Responsibilities of Khmer Citizens

Article 50
Khmer citizens of either sex shall respect the principles of national sovereignty, liberal multi-party democracy.
Khmer citizens of either sex shall respect public and legally acquired private properties.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:14 AM PST
Constitution of Cambodia (Sept. 1993)

Chapter III
Rights and Responsibilities of Khmer Citizens

Article 50
Khmer citizens of either sex shall respect the principles of national sovereignty, liberal multi-party democracy.
Khmer citizens of either sex shall respect public and legally acquired private properties.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 01:47 AM PST
1/02/2011
Bangkok Post

A Thai flag has also been hoisted in a disputed area near the Phreah Vihear ruins, where the flying of a Cambodian flag has raised tensions, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.

Mr Abhisit said this information was included in a situation report made by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

"We have never said that the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda should be demolished. We said only that the Cambodian flag flying over the temple should be removed.

"But, meanwhile, we have also flown our flag there," the prime minister said, but did not elaborate.


The Keo Sikha Kiri Svara temple is located in the 4.6 square-kilometre disputed area adjoining the Phreah Vihear temple.

The prime minister admitted that Thai and Camboldian military forces were confronting each other along the border.

Hosever, there should be no problems if both sides observe the 2000 memorandum of understanding, and this is the best way of solving the Thai-Cambodian dispute, he said.

Mr Abhisit said Thai and Cambodian authorities have been in contact to ease the tension and prevent possible border infringements by either side.

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha also said earlier today that a Thai flag had been planted in the 4.6 square-kilometre disputed area where both countries claim ownership.

"We have done that acting on orders," Gen Prayuth said.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 01:33 AM PST
Thais protesting in front of Cambodian embassy in Bangkok (AP file photo)
1/02/2011
Bangkok Post

The city police have stepped up security at the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok to prevent any possible incidents aimed at stirring up trouble.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Jakthip Chaijinda said on Tuesday he had ordered the Metropolitan Police Division 4 and the Wang Thonglang police station to deploy extra police outside the embassy on Pracha Uthit Road.

There would be extra patrols, including plainclothes agents, in the surrounding areas around the clock to guard against any incidents, said Pol Lt Gen Jakthip.


The extra security was aimed at thwarting possible sabotage by a third party that may want to further stir up border tensions.

Police were also monitoring the movements of the groups protesting against Cambodia over the recent border dispute, he said.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 01:29 AM PST
The two alleged leaflet distributors: So Khmerak and Ngor Meng Hong (Photo: CEN)
01 Feb 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Two former students of the Phnom Penh Royal University, who were involved in the distribution of leaflets insulting government leaders, were ordered jailed by the Phnom Penh municipal court on 31 January. The pair are charged with incitation to crime. The two former students are So Khemarak, currently an employee of the Maryknoll organization, and Ngor Meng Hong who currently helps his mother sell chicken at Phsar Deum Kor market. The pair were arrested on 29 January 2011. Following their arrest, the cops searched their houses and confiscated 200 leaflets from Ngor Meng Hong's home in addition to the 85 leaflets the cops confiscated from the street last week in 07 Makara and Chamcar Mon districts.
Posted: 01 Feb 2011 12:39 AM PST
31 January, 2011

Dear Director Bradley Cox, Rebbeca Sommer and President Thach Ngoc Thach:

I am writing to express my concern about the six people who have been arrested by the Hun Sen's dictatorship authorities in Phnom Penh. I would like to inform you know that all these men I used to know well; they are the real democrats who works for Sam Rainsy Party. At the moment, they helped sign on the petition which sent to President Barack Obama and Petition to Secretary General Ban Kimoon and the signatories countries of Paris Peace Accord. Those people are Khem Sovanarose (Takeo), Phon Sam Arth, Meng Hong and Khemarak. They are innocent people and have been accused of distributing the leaflets. Therefore, I would like to call for you and all Human Right commission to help their case and made the public concerns.

I hope that you will consider on this matter.

Finally, I would like express my deep thanks for all your effort to help the victims.


Repecfully yours,

Yean Yeab
Victim by Hun Sen 's authorities and Vietnamese communist

 

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