Friday, February 11, 2011

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Thai army scared of Khmer black magic

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:47 PM PST

Yantra for Thai soldiers?
Keep your talismans close, boys

Army says troops need protection against Khmer black magic.

12/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Si Sa Ket : The Thai army believes it needs the help of talismans to protect itself from Cambodian soldiers.

The chief of the 2nd Army Friday distributed talismans to his troops to help protect them from evil curses which he believes Cambodians are likely to call upon in their fight over disputed border areas.

As a result, soldiers guarding the border with Cambodia are now equipped with arms, life-saving kits - and talismans.

Second Army chief Thawatchai Samutsakhon issued assorted talismans to soldiers stationed at the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district to ward off Khmer curses.

"I believe in this and I have to take care of my subordinates in every possible way," Lt Gen Thawatchai said.


Lt Gen Thawatchai is a follower of the late Luang Poo Jiam Atissayo, a respected monk at Wat Intrasukaram in Surin's Sangkha district.

When he was deputy chief of the 2nd Army and was also appointed as commander of the Pattani Task Force in the lower South, Lt Gen Thawatchai also issued amulets and talismans consecrated by Luang Poo Jiam to soldiers from the Northeast who were deployed in the lower South.

Friday, Lt Gen Thawatchai asked Luang Phor Supat Techapalo, who is also a disciple of the late monk, to give similar talismans including takrud - a small, rolled metallic sheet inscribed with yantra symbols - and Buddha amulets to the soldiers.

The monk was also asked to sprinkle holy water and wrote yantra at military bases to bless them with good luck.

Lt Gen Thawatchai said the talismans are meant to prevent black magic reaching them. Some troops believe the Cambodians are involved in occult practices.

He said the Buddhist amulets and the talismans are also intended to boost soldiers' morale.

An army source stationed at the border said he believed Cambodian troops would perform "some kind of rituals" on Preah Vihear temple to counter the army's distribution of talismans to its troops.

On Aug 1, 2008, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's wife Bun Rany presided over a ritual at Preah Vihear temple, which raised fears among many Thais, who believed it could bring bad luck to Thailand.

Battle of Koh Chang: A superior Thai navy defeated by a small French flotilla

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:24 PM PST

Dear Readers,

We are posting below the account of the battle of Koh Chang in which a small French flotilla inflicted major damages to the Thai navy on January 17, 1941. We are posting below an account of the battle posted on Wikipedia, as well as another account posted in French. We urge you to visit the English and French website sources to learn more about this battle and to see more photos.

Thank you,

KI-Media team
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Battle of Koh Chang


The Battle of Koh Chang took place on January 17, 1941 during the French-Thai War and resulted in a decisive victory by the French over the Royal Thai Navy. During the battle a flotilla a French warships attacked a smaller force of Thai vessels, including a coastal battleship. In the end Thailand lost two ships sunk and one heavily damaged and grounded. Within a month of the engagement the Vichy French and Thailanders negotiated a peace which ended the war.

Background

Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy had been modernized with the recent acquisition of vessels from Japan and Italy. The major units of the fleet included two Japanese-built armoured coast defence vessels which displaced 2,500 tons and carried 8" guns, two older British built armoured gunboats with 6" guns, twelve torpedo boats and four submarines. In addition the Royal Thai Air Force had in its inventory over 140 aircraft, including relatively modern Mitsubishi Ki-30 light bombers, which saw extensive service against the French. These aircraft in themselves were quite capable of causing severe damage to any French naval mission which might be mounted. Other less capable aircraft in the Thai inventory included P-36 Hawk fighters, seventy Chance-Vought O2U-2 Corsair biplanes, six Martin B-10 bombers and several Avro 504 trainers.

French Navy
Despite the strengths of the Thai forces the French Governor General of Indochina and Commander-in-Chief Naval Forces, Admiral Jean Decoux, decided that the naval mission should go ahead. A small squadron, the Groupe Occasionnel, was formed on December 9, 1940 at Cam Ranh Bay, near Saigon, under the command of Capitaine de Vaisseau Régis Bérenger. The squadron consisted of the light cruiser Lamotte-Piquet, the avisos Dumont d'Urville and Amiral Charner, and the older avisos Tahure and Marne. There was no air cover to speak of, apart from eight Loire 130 seaplanes based at Ream which provided reconnaissance. Additional scouting was provided by three coastal survey craft, and intelligence gleaned from the local fishermen.


Bérenger's squadron began training manoeuvres in Cam Ranh Bay shortly after coming together. Early in the new year, on January 13, 1941, Admiral Decoux formally requested Bérenger to send the squadron against the Thais to act in support of a land offensive planned for January 16. This operation was intended to throw back Thai forces which had been advancing along the coast. Because of the disparate speeds of the French ships Bérenger sent the slower sloops on ahead, whilst he remained in Saigon to complete the final elements of the plan. Several options were currently being prepared, the Admiralty in Paris having recently given its formal blessing to the use of naval forces in support of the army. The final planning meeting of the 13th saw an immediate delay in the execution of the operation for 24 hours. With the plans finalised, Bérenger sailed in Lamotte-Picquet, the delay in the start of the operation allowing him to refuel at Cap St. Jacques before the rendezvous with the slower ships at 16:00 on the 15th, 20 miles North of Poulo Condore.

The orders from Admiral Decoux were clear and simple, "attack the Siamese coastal city from Rayong to the Cambodian frontier to force Siamese government to retreat the arms force from Cambodian frontier". On the evening of the 15, following a final conference on board the flagship, the squadron weighed anchor at 21 15 and closed the Thai coast at 14 knots, the best speed of the sloops. The French ships remained undetected as they entered the Gulf of Siam, but their quarry was not so lucky. The Loire 130s from Ream had completed a sweep of the coast from Trat to Sattahib. They had located one coast defence ship and two torpedo boats at Koh Chang, and one gunboat, four torpedo boats and two submarines at Satahib. Their report was sent to Marine Headquarters in Saigon, who retransmitted the report to the Lamotte-Picquet. Bérenger considered his options in the light of this intelligence and opted for a dawn attack on Koh Chang. He discounted an attack on Sattahib because it was not possible for the sloops to reach the port until later in the day, by which time the Thai force was likely to have been alerted to the French presence and the element of surprise would be lost. In addition there was doubt as to the contribution which the harbour defences at Satahib could make. Finally the force at Koh Chang, although formidable, was the weaker of the two and was thought to offer the best chance for victory.

Bérenger's plan of attack was as follows. The squadron would approach at dawn from the South West. Because the anchorage at Koh Chang was surrounded by islands and islets, many of which were over 200 metres high, the squadron would break up and use the cover of the islands to concentrate fire on portions of the Thai squadron whilst covering all the avenues of escape. The easternmost channel was regarded as the most likely route by which a breakout would be made - this was the most suitable route and was also the area in which the recce report had placed the largest Thai ships. The Lamotte-Picquet would head to the eastern side of the anchorage to block this route whilst the colonial sloops blocked the centre and pounded the Thai ships there. The smaller French ships would concentrate to the West.

Battle

The French squadron closed on the anchorage at 05:30 am on January 17. At 05:45 they split into the three groups as planned, Lamotte-Picquet heading for the eastern part of the anchorage, Dumont d'Urville and Amiral Charner continuing to the central position and Tahure and Marne heading for the western side. Conditions were perfect — the weather was fine, the seas calm and almost flat. Sunrise was due at 06:30, and the scene was lit only by the first rays of light on the horizon and by the dim moonlight. A final aerial reconnaissance of the target area had been arranged using one of the Ream-based Loire 130s. Lamotte-Picquet carried two such aircraft, but these could not be launched due to catapult problems. At 06:05 the Loire 130 overflew the anchorage and reported two torpedo ships. This came as a nasty surprise to the French — previous reports led them to believe that only one of the torpedo boat was present, but during the night HTMS Chonburi had arrived to relieve HTMS Chantaburi, which was to return to Satahib later that day for repairing. Once their presence had been passed to Lamotte-Picquet the aircraft attempted an attack of its own using bombs, but was forced off by a heavy barrage of AA fire. The effect of this mission was double edged — the French were now aware that they faced both the Thai units, but the element of surprise had been wasted and there was still thirty minutes to go until sunrise. Caught napping by the oncoming French the Thais desperately began to raise steam and prepared to slip their anchors, but the torpedo boats were sunk by gunfire from Lamotte-Picquet.

At 06:38 the lookouts in Lamotte-Picquet spotted the coastal defence ship HTMS Thonburi, heading northwest, at a range of 10,000 metres (11,000 yd). A running battle ensued with the fire of both ships frequently blocked by the towering islets. The fire from the Thai ship was heavy, but inaccurate. By 07:15 fires could be seen on Thonburi, which then found herself engaged not only by the cruiser but also by the sloops. In the beginning of the engagement, a lucky shot from Lamotte-Picquet killed the captain of Thonburi, Commander Luang Phrom Viraphan, and disrupted her operations. Believing they had a better chance of hurting the smaller French ships the Thais shifted their fire onto Admiral Charner, which soon found 8" salvoes falling around her. Thonburi shifted fire back to Lamotte-Picquet after a salvo from the French cruiser put her after turret out of action. Soon she reached the safety of shallow water which the French ships could not enter for fear of grounding, but it all came too late for the hapless Thais as Thonburi was burning fiercely and listing heavily to starboard. Her remaining turret was manned and hand and could not fire unless the maneuvers of the ship put it in appropriate position. At 07:50 Lamotte-Picquet fired a final salvo of torpedoes at 15,000 metres (16,000 yd), but lost sight of Thonburi behind an island from which she was not seen to emerge.

For the next hour the French ships patrolled the area, picking up survivors and ensuring their victory was total. At 08:40 Bérenger ordered the squadron to head for home, but this coincided with the start of the expected Thai air attacks. Thai planes dropped several bombs close to Lamotte-Picquet and scored one hit, although the bomb failed to explode. Lamotte-Picquet's AA guns put up a vigorous barrage and further attacks were not pressed home. The final raid departed at 09:40, after which the victorious French squadron returned to Saigon.

Aftermath

The French left behind them a scene of total devastation. Thonburi was heavily damaged and grounded on a sand bar in the mouth of the Chantaboun river with a loss of about twenty dead. She was later raised and repaired by the Japanese, survived the war and was used as a training ship until she was retired. The Thai transport HTMS Chang arrived at Koh Chang shortly after the French departed and took Thonburi in tow. The torpedo boat Chonburi was sunk with a loss of two men and HTMS Songhkla also sank with a loss of fourteen dead. The only survivors were rescued by the torpedo boat HTMS Rayong, the minelayer HTMS Nhong Sarhai and the fishery protection vessel Thiew Uthok. These three ships, which had been sheltering to the north of Koh Chang, wisely chose not to break cover and thus were not observed by the French. The French were elated, for they had inflicted a defeat as decisive in its way as the Japanese at Tsushima. Their success is all the more notable when the difficulties of navigating and fighting in such confined waters are considered, and given the courage and tenacity which the Thai sailors exhibited during the action, a fact which the French were gracious to accept. In the end though it was all for nought — five days later the Japanese government offered to arbitrate in the search for a peaceful settlement, and soon confirmed the Thai annexations. Even this state of affairs did not last for long, as Thailand was invaded later that year during the attacks on Malaya, and was forced to return her short-lived gains to France at the end of WW2.

Thonburi was later raised by Royal Thai Navy. She was repaired in Japan and was used as a training ship until she was decommissioned. Her gun and deck are placed as a memorial in the Royal Thai Naval Academy, Samut Prakan.

During the post-action investigations it was claimed, on the evidence of sailors and the fisherman around Koh Chang, heavy damage was seen to have been caused to Lamotte-Picquet and her fleet. The report claims the crew of Lamotte-Picquet spent all of the following night repairing the damage.
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La bataille de Koh Chang (janvier 1941)

Préambule

Au début de la guerre, le Japon qui supporte mal la présence française en Indochine et qui souhaite profiter de la défaite française de 1940, pense pouvoir réaliser ses rêves expansionnistes avec l'appui de son allié siamois.

Le Siam (aujourd'hui la Thaïlande) qui négociait avec la France un pacte de non-agression depuis plusieurs mois, déclare brutalement en juin 1940 que la signature d'un tel traité n'a plus raison d'être. Dès la fin de 1940, le Siam, qui revendique la souveraineté sur tous les territoires situés à l'est du Mékong, masse ses troupes aux frontières du Cambodge, et commence une série de provocations et d'incursions sur le territoire du Protectorat. Nos forces réagissent avec vigueur et ainsi s'établit un véritable état de guerre.

Il apparaît alors clairement que si la Marine siamoise n'était pas encore entrée en action, c'est qu'elle allait le faire très bientôt. Pourtant jusqu'à ce mois de janvier 1941, les opérations françaises contre le Siam s'étaient bornées à des opérations défensives... Mais pour l'amiral Decoux, Gouverneur général de l'Indochine, il était temps de prendre les devants. Le 15 janvier il donne son feu vert à l'amiral Terraux, commandant la Marine en Indochine, pour exécuter une opération contre la Marine siamoise qui devait aboutir au combat de Koh Chang.

Les Forces en présence

(Liste des 20 vaissaux siamois)
(Liste des 5 vaissaux français)

Comme on le voit sur ce comparatif, la Marine siamoise à Koh Chang est bien supérieure à la division navale française d'Indochine et cela, aussi bien en tonnage (16600 tonnes contre 12500 pour la France) qu'en hommes (2300 contre 950).

Les garde-côtes cuirassés type Dombhuri sont aussi d'un modèle très récent (mis en service en 1938) ainsi que les torpilleurs de type Trat (mis en service de 1935 à 1937). Face à eux, la flotte française est âgée...

De plus les côtes siamoises sont fort mal connues, les fonds ne sont pas sains et les risques d'échouages sont importants.

L'issue de la bataille est très incertaine !

L'engagement

Le groupe occasionnel, formé du croiseur Lamotte-Picquet, des avisos coloniaux Dumont d'Urville, Amiral Charner et des avisos Marne et Tahure, est placé sous le commandement du capitaine de vaisseau Bérenger, commandant le croiseur Lamotte-Picquet. Le CV Bérenger connaissait bien l'Extrême-Orient, il y avait commandé en second, en 1911, de petits torpilleurs, puis en 1929, l'aviso Marne.

Le croiseur Lamotte-Picquet parti faire le plein de carburant dans la matinée du 15, rallie les avisos dans la soirée au mouillage dans la baie sud-ouest de Poulo Condore. Vers 21h00, le groupe appareille et se dirige vers le golfe de Siam à 13.5 noeuds (vitesse maximum de route des avisos).

Dans la matinée du 16 janvier des reconnaissances aériennes sont effectuées et rapportent de précieux renseignements sur les positions des bâtiments siamois :

- à Satahib (pointe Est de la baie de Bangkok) : 1 garde-côte cuirassé, 4 torpilleurs, 2 sous-marins, 2 bâtiments légers ;
- à Koh Chang : 1 garde côte cuirassé, 3 torpilleurs.
Le CV Bérenger décide de concentrer ses forces sur Koh Chang et adresse le message suivant aux bâtiments placés sous ses ordres : "Attaque au jour des bâtiments au mouillage sud de Koh Chang. Présentation dans le sud-ouest de Koh Kra au jour. Dislocation sur ordre pour gagner rapidement secteurs de tirs répartis comme suit : section Tahure - Marne entre Koh Chang et Koh Kra, section Dumont d'Urville - Amiral Charner entre Koh Kra et Koh Klum, Lamotte-Picquet entre Koh Klum et îlots Koh Chan. Ouverture du feu dès que visibilité le permettra. La désignation des objectif se fera sur place si possible. Décrochage au signal. Dégagement des avisos se fera dans le sud-ouest."

(Liste des commandants des bâtiments français)

Les choses se compliquent !

Routes d'engagement

Le 17 janvier à 5h45, l'ordre de dislocation est donné, l'action devant commencer à 6h15. Le Lamotte-Picquet n'avait pu embarquer son hydravion, car ce dernier, comme tous les appareils de l'aviation embarquée, avait été remis à Catlaï pour y compléter une escadrille aux ordres du LV Gaxotte. Cette escadrille (dont deux Loire 130) était basée à Réam depuis le début des hostilités. C'est un Loire 130, parti de Ream et piloté par le LV Plainemaison qui survole le site de Koh Chang à 6h05. Mais surprise, c'est cinq unités qu'il aperçoit dont deux garde-côtes cuirassés au lieu d'un. En fait, ce sont les deux torpilleurs Chomburi et Songkla. Les trois autres sont le Dombhuri, le Nonsaraï et le Thieu Tok.

Ce n'était pas prévu au programme ! L'aéronef est repéré, et se retrouve sous le feu violent de 76 CA. Il parvient néanmoins à regagner la base sans dommage.

Je reprends ici le récit du médecin major de l'Amiral Charner, le MDA J.Billiottet : Le temps est calme, le ciel est clair, et nos bateaux qui sont maintenant à pied d'oeuvre, se profilent nettement sur l'horizon dégagé alors que l'ennemi, dissimulé dans la grisaille du petit matin et se confondant avec la terre, est encore mal visible.

Les Siamois ouvrent le feu les premiers

Alertés, les deux torpilleurs siamois ouvrent le feu à 6h14. Les deux sections d'avisos ripostent presque immédiatement. Les premiers coups, tirés à 12500 par les avisos coloniaux furent longs mais n'en furent pas moins très utiles.

Le Lamotte-Picquet tire sa première salve de 155 à 6h19, à 10000 m des bâtiments siamois, puis à 6h20, il lance une gerbe de 3 torpilles, et ouvre dans le même temps le feu avec ses 75 à grand débit sur un torpilleur. De 6h25 à 6h35, les deux artilleries (155 et 75) concentrent leur feu sur un second torpilleur, le premier ayant été durement touché dès les premiers coups de 155.

Selon le contre-amiral Romé, à l'époque embarqué sur le Lamotte-Picquet en tant qu'enseigne de vaisseau, c'est la première salve du Lamotte-Picquet qui aurait détruit un poste d'observation situé à terre et relié téléphoniquement à Chantaboun. Le télémétriste du Lamotte-Picquet avait cru voir le chiffre 11 (numéro de coque du torpilleur Trat), ce qui crée une certaine confusion. En fait, il s'agissait peut être seulement des pignons de maisons du poste, touchés par la première salve trop longue.

Pris sous le feu des cinq bâtiments français, les deux torpilleurs siamois auront durement encaissé entre 6h19 et 6h37. L'un deux explose presque immédiatement. De 6h37 à 7h00, les quatre avisos qui se sont rapprochés entre 5000 m et 8000 m de l'adversaire, concentrent leur feu sur les les torpilleurs qui chavirent et coulent la quille en l'air. La colonne de fumée atteint trois ou quatre cents mètres.

Il ne reste plus rien sur rade. La première phase de l'engagement est terminée. Ayant laissé le soin aux avisos d'achever les torpilleurs, le Lamotte-Picquet manoeuvre pour reprendre la vue du mouillage.

L'agonie du garde-côte cuirassé Dombhuri

A 6h38, il aperçoit, entre les îles et à 4000 m un garde-côtes faisant route au nord-est et l'engage immédiatement avec ses 155. C'est le Dombhuri. Celui-ci fait tête, évolue sans arrêt avec une vitesse de giration très grande et essaie de dérégler le tir des français en se cachant derrière les îles. Son propre tir est lent mais précis en direction.

Le Lamotte-Picquet évolue constamment à 27 noeuds, ses hélices brassent la vase mais sans pénétrer dans le fond inférieur à 10 mètres. Il serait plus que téméraire pour lui de continuer à évoluer sur des petits fonds totalement inconnus. Le commandant Bérenger décide donc, à contre-coeur, de s'éloigner de son adversaire en revenant vers l'ouest. Le Dombhuri, sur lequel plusieurs incendies se sont déclarés, fait route au sud-ouest pour se cacher derrière les îlots mais, chaque fois qu'il apparaît dans un créneau, le Lamotte-Picquet reprend le tir.

A 7h15, les avisos ouvrent le feu à leur tour sur le Dombhuri et le touchent à plusieurs reprises. Le Lamotte-Picquet voulant les soutenir contre la riposte dangereuse du garde-côte se place entre eux et ce dernier, et reprend son tir à grand débit pendant un quart d'heure d'affilée.

Trois incendies au moins dévorent le Dombhuri qui ne tire plus qu'avec sa tourelle avant, manifestement maniée à bras et seulement quand les mouvements du bâtiment la mettent en direction. Il est gîté sur tribord avec son château en feu et son arrière est enfoncé, l'avant relevé.

A 7h50, le CV Bérenger ordonne aux avisos de se retirer et le Lamotte-Picquet cesse lui-même le feu à 8h00. Il est en effet impossible de continuer à poursuivre le Dombhuri, blessé à mort, dans les eaux peu profondes où il s'est réfugié, derrière les îlots. En outre, il est à prévoir que les attaques aériennes ne vont pas tarder à se produire.

Tout le monde attend la riposte aérienne

A 8h30, tous les bâtiments du groupe sont en mer libre vers l'ouest. Tout le monde attend maintenant la riposte aérienne en s'étonnant qu'elle n'ait pas encore eu lieu. Le groupe navigue perpendiculairement à la côte. Les avisos, placés sous le commandement du Dumont d'Urville, marchent à 13 noeuds. Le Lamotte-Picquet, placé comme un bâtiment hors rang, navigue à la vue du groupe.

A 8h58, un biplan Vought Corsair attaque le Lamotte-Picquet dans le soleil. Une bombe tombe par le travers de bâbord milieu. Une autre la suit, plus loin, sur l'arrière, tandis qu'un deuxième appareil largue les siennes à 200 m du bord. Plusieurs éclats ont été trouvés sur le Lamotte-Picquet, mais après le combat et largement avant l'attaque aérienne. Ils provenaient probablement des obus CA (contre-avions) tirés par les torpilleurs siamois quand, surpris par notre arrivée, ces derniers ont tourné leurs pièces de l'hydravion français vers le croiseur (en oubliant peut être de modifier les munitions utilisées)

A 9h00, une bombe manque l'Amiral Charner de 500 m. Jusqu'à 9h40, d'autres avions, d'ailleurs peu nombreux, groupés par deux ou isolés essaient de gagner des positions d'attaque dans le soleil ou sont aperçus, survolant les bâtiments à 3000 m d'altitude.

Chaque fois, la vigueur de la défense anti-aérienne de tous les bâtiments, 75 et mitrailleuses de 13.2, les décourage et les force à s'éloigner rapidement ou à renoncer à leur piqué, parfois en se débarrassant de leurs bombes à plusieurs milliers de mètres de nos bateaux.

Bilan et enseignements

Le bilan est particulièrement lourd côté siamois. Les torpilleurs n°32 Chomburi et n°33 Songkla ont été coulés. Le garde-côte Dombhuri a chaviré au large du feu de Lem Ngoz. Les pertes en hommes sont effroyables, sur les quatre premiers bâtiments, vraisemblablement 300 hommes, dont plus de 80 sur les torpilleurs. Seuls 82 survivants seront sauvés. Au total, c'est un quart de la flotte de guerre siamoise qui a été détruit ou mis hors de combat pour longtemps. Du côté français, on ne déplore aucune perte, aussi bien en hommes qu'en matériel.

Qu'est-ce qui peut expliquer une victoire aussi éclatante ? Car, contrairement à ce que l'on pourrait penser, l'effet de surprise de l'attaque française a été raté. Il semble que des veilleurs installés sur les îles aient signalé la présence de notre flotte. De plus l'hydravion Loire a mis en alerte tous les bâtiments siamois au mouillage. Trois facteurs, je pense, ont contribué à la vistoire de Koh Chang :

Un brillant stratège, le CV Bérenger : Placé devant un choix tentant, il résiste à la tentation d'essayer de détruire en deux attaques séparées la flotte siamoise. Lorsque l'on analyse de près l'ensemble des choix du commandant, on se rend compte combien sa lucidité est grande. Le bon sens et la simplicité conduisent son action, ce qui dans l'urgence des combats est loin d'être toujours évident.

La qualité et l'entraînement des équipages : De notre côté, les bâtiments sont servis par des équipages enthousiastes et parfaitement entraînés. Malgré l'âge certain du matériel, ils firent preuve jusqu'à la fin de l'engagement d'un sens manoeuvrier et d'un esprit de combativité dignes d'éloges.

La chance : Si les premiers obus tirés par le Lamotte-Picquet n'avaient pas détruit le poste de guet terrestre relié téléphoniquement à la base ennemie, l'intervention de l'aviation siamoise aurait eu sans doute lieu plus tôt et, en plein combat naval, ceci aurait été extrêmement gênant pour nos bâtiments. On sait également aujourd'hui que le Dombhuri encaissa dès la première phase du combat un coup heureux du Lamotte-Picquet qui tua son Commandant et l'officier de manoeuvre à la passerelle. A noter que la veille, avait eu lieu la relève du groupe Ayuthia (un garde-côte et trois torpilleurs) par le groupe Dombhuri (même composition). A un jour près, notre escadre aurait pu tomber sur deux garde-côtes et six torpilleurs, ce qui lui aurait sensiblement compliqué la tâche.

La France ne put profiter des résultats de la bataille de Koh Chang. Le Japon, le 20 janvier 1941, décidait de mettre fin aux hostilités entre Français et Siamois en proposant ses "bons offices aux deux belligérants". L'amiral dut accepter la cessation des hostilités sous la menace d'un ultimatum japonais auquel l'Indochine française était incapable de faire face militairement. Après de difficiles discussions les diplomates français devaient admettre, le 11 mars, les termes d'un compromis peu avantageux pour la France.

13 July 1893: French sailors forced the entrance to the Menam River

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 02:59 PM PST

Dear Readers,

We are posting below a historical report in French about a feat by the French Navy to force its entrance to the Menam River while under fire from superior number of Siam Navy boats and equipments. Two French small boats were sent up the Menam River to reach Bangkok on 14 July 1893, the French Bastille Day, to show off to the Siam King the superiority of the French Navy. In fact, it was purely a bluff pulled by France and it did work wonderfully on the Siamese. Three weeks after the feat accomplished by the French Navy, the Siam King asked to sign a peace treaty with France and accepted conditions imposed by France, among which the French demanded as guarantees the temporary occupation of Chantaburi and the demilitarization of Battambang, Siemreap and a 25 kilometre-wide zone on the western bank of the Mekong. The conflict led to the signature of the Franco-Siamese Treaty, on October 3, 1893.

Additional information on the 1893 conflict can be found at Wikipedia here.

Due to the volume of information we received and the very limited resource we have at this point in time, it is impossible for us to translate all the documents into English. Therefore, the next best thing we decided to do is to convert all the scanned documents into text that can be copied and pasted for automatic translation by services such as Google. We hope you would understand and indulge on our precarious condition.

We also would like to thank Mr. Charles Thiounn for sending the documents originally and Mr. Bora Touch, Esq. for forwarding the information to us.

We also noticed that recently, DAP-news decided to translate the report submitted by Prince Norodom Kantol to the UN Security Council on the Thai invasion and aggression of Preah Vihear in 1966. We hope Khmer newspapers will pick up these articles and translate them into Khmer for the general Khmer audience. Even though we know that KI-Media is blocked in Cambodia by several ISPs for posting articles criticizing the Hoon Xhen regime, we also know that Cambodian government agents and their sicophants are closely following and scrutinizing the content of postings by KI-Media. As a result of their scrutiny, they fell straight into our bait article which led them to the current blocking of KI-Media. The current blocking and censorship of KI-Media clearly points, once again, to the disdain of Mr. Hoon Xhen's regime on freedom of expression. This does not bode well for a regime that needs all the help it can get to fight the Thai aggression. By silencing KI-Media and the free press, the Phnom Penh regime is de facto silencing those who are helping it publicize the misdeeds committed by Thailand.

Sincerely,

KI-Media team
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Click on the article in French to zoom in
NOTRE MÉMOIRE

13 juillet 1893 : nos marins forcent les passes du Ménam

Au mois de juillet 1893, le gouvernement français, qui avait à se plaindre du royaume de Siam, résolut, après avoir longuement et vainement négocié, de faire une démonstration navale devant la capitale. Deux petits navires, l'aviso l'Inconstant et la canonnière la Comète, reçurent l'ordre de franchir la barre du Ménam, dans la soirée du 13, de remonter le fleuve jusqu'à Paknam, conformément /aux traités en vigueur puis profitant de la nuit, de continuer leur route, et d'être le lendemain, jour de la fête nationale, aux côtés du stationnaire le Lutin, en face de la légation de France, à Bangkok.

L'entreprise était audacieuse, de pénétrer ainsi, avec de si faibles forces, au cœur d'un pays très mal disposé pour nous, qui pouvait, d'une seconde à l'autre, se déclarer ennemi, faire couler nos navires, ou les laisser passer, puis fermer la route et les retenir prisonniers. Il suffisait même, pour qu'elle devînt périlleuse, de beaucoup moins. Les Siamois n'avaient qu'à éteindre les phares et à enlever les bouées, pour que l'Inconstant ou la Comète, ou tous les deux ensemble, eussent de grandes chances de s'échouer, parmi les bancs de vase et de sable qui obstruent l'entrée du Ménam. Les officiers prévirent tout, et n'hésitèrent pas.


A six heures, le capitaine de frégate Bory, commandant l'Inconstant, ordonne de faire route et franchit la barre. La Comète suit, à quatre cents mètres, commandée par le lieutenant de vaisseau Dartige du Four net. A six heures trente, au moment où les deux navires, ayant doublé un banc de vase, prennent le milieu du fleuve et s'approchent du fort de l'Ouest, les Siamois, "sans provocation, sans avertissement, tirent sur eux, avec leurs pièces de 21 cm, cachées dans des tourelles blindées. Les Français ne répondent pas encore, mais tous les hommes courent à leur poste de combat, et, comme aux jours de fête, à la pointe de chaque mât, le pavillon tricolore est hissé. « Au tumulte de la première minute, a succédé un silence profond. Après le frisson de la surprise, après un flux de pensées rapides et chères qui sont le cri du sang, il semble qu'on entende battre son cœur... Le fort Phra-Chula se couvre d'éclairs et de fumée ; son tir, évidemment repéré d'avance, est bien ajusté, quoique nous soyons à quatre mille mètres de lui. Ses pièces à éclipse n'apparaissent qu'au moment de faire feu, puis redescendent aussitôt dans leurs puits blindés... toujours muets, nous continuons notre route à dix nœuds. Les Siamois ne pourront pas dire que nous avons manqué de patience, et d'ailleurs, plus nous serons près, mieux nous riposterons. Les gros obus de 21 cm labourent la mer autour de nous, ricochent avec un son mat, passent a travers la mâture, suivis de ce bruit d'ondulations stridentes qui semble un vol d'ailes de métal... Nous sentons par moments le souffle de ces projectiles dont un seul, frappant la flottaison ou les chaudières, suffirait pour mettre un de nos navires hors de combat. Sur la passerelle, l'officier de manœuvre compte les coups à haute voix. »

A six heures quarante-trois, un obus touche l'Inconstant, et tue le maître charpentier. Nos navires répondent au feu de l'ennemi. Ils avancent toujours. La nuit va tomber. Devant eux, le fleuve est barré par des coques de bateaux coulées, des chaînes, des pieux. Il ne reste de libre qu'une ouverture de quatre- vingts mètres. Au-delà de la passe, qui doit être garnie de torpilles, neuf bâtiments de guerre siamois sont embossés, et attendent nos deux petits navires qu'ils vont accabler d'obus et de balles. Que croyez-vous que va faire le commandant Bory ? Il faut que la France passe, elle passera. Il ordonne : « A toute vitesse ! » L'Inconstant et la Comète se précipitent en avant, droit au milieu du chenal. Une torpille éclate à quelques mètres de l'Inconstant, et ne le touche pas. « Il franchit le barrage, et s'engage entre les deux lignes ennemies. Il est superbe au milieu du feu. Sa coque blanche disparaît dans la fumée ; ses hunes jettent des flammes ; il marche dans une sorte de nuage traversé de lueurs rouges, que dominent fièrement ses mâts pavoises de pavillons tricolores... La Comète, suivant les eaux de son chef de file, traverse à son tour la flottille siamoise, ripostant de droite et de gauche, faisant feu à la fois de sa grosse artillerie, de ses hotchkiss, de sa mousqueterie des gaillards. L'ennemi a des mitrailleuses dont le crépitement s'entend même à travers le piaulement des balles et le fracas de la canonnade. Pendant quelques minutes, une averse de projectiles pleut sur nous, "et, comme par miracle, personne n'est encore blessé ; mais, au moment où nous élongeons le dernier bâtiment de gauche, grand navire à voiles blanc que nous laissons à cent mètres par bâbord, une de ses salves tue à leur pièce les canonniers Jaouen et Allongue. Notre canon de retraite répond par un obus en plein bois ; le feu cesse ; nous sommes hors du guêpier ; il est six heures cinquante-huit. »

Avant d'atteindre Paknam, les deux navires français passent encore devant le fort de l'Ilot, qui les canonne de ses huit grosses pièces, et les manque. Pendant qu'ils filent à toute vitesse, une petite lumière les suit dans les ténèbres. Elle se démène et danse dans le sillage. Serait-ce un torpilleur ennemi ? Les pointeurs de la Comète en sont persuadés. Ils ne la quittent pas des yeux, et voudraient la couler à fond. Heureusement leur conseil n'est pas écouté. C'est la vedette de l'Inconstant, un simple canot à vapeur, qui a traversé toute la bataille, a subi le feu, comme un cuirassé, mais sans pouvoir répondre, n'a pas été touché, et tâche de rejoindre la flottille.

Le lendemain matin, à huit heures, devant le palais du roi de Siam, en rade de Bangkok, deux navires français, arrivés dans la nuit, tout frais lavés, sans trace d'avarie, hissaient le grand pavois, en l'honneur de la fête nationale.

Trois semaines plus tard, le roi de Siam demandait la paix, et acceptait les conditions de la France.

Unesco to send envoy to Bangkok, Phnom Penh

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:52 PM PST

February 12, 2011
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee,
Nuntida Phuangthong
The Nation
Meanwhile, Thailand's Joint Boundary Committee chief Asda Jayanama is in Paris to meet with Bokova to push for revocation of the temple's World Heritage status. Thailand wants Unesco to suspend the designation until the boundary conflict is settled. This dispute with Unesco is one of Thailand's many international battles against its smaller neighbour.
With its mission to inspect damage done to Preah Vihear Temple during the border skirmish blocked, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) said yesterday that it would send a special envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh soon to pave the way for a visit to the temple.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia spilled over to Unesco, with the Abhisit government blaming the UN body for igniting the conflict by giving the temple a World Heritage Site designation in 2008.

Unesco announced earlier that it would dispatch an urgent mission to inspect the temple after Cambodia claimed the structure was partly damaged by Thai artillery shells during the skirmish from February 4 to 7.

The Thai government, however, is against the mission, saying any visit to the temple had to be permitted by Thai authorities, especially as officials will have to access the site via an area that comes under Thailand's sovereignty.


In response, Unesco director-general Irina Bokova announced that she would shortly send a special envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh. She added that any assessment mission to Preah Vihear could only take place once calm has been restored to the area.

Unesco, meanwhile, has voiced regret at the continuing tension between the two neighbouring countries over the issue of Preah Vihear. "A world cultural heritage should never be the cause for conflict," Bokova said in a statement yesterday, adding that Unesco was in touch with senior officials of both nations.

The 900-year-old temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, has been at the core of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia since the last century.

In a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice, Preah Vihear is situated in territory that comes under the sovereignty of Cambodia, but Bangkok has been arguing that the surrounding area belongs to Thailand.

Initially, Thailand was not supposed to have anything to do with the World Heritage designation, but it got involved in the process over fears of losing its sovereignty in the temple's vicinity.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Joint Boundary Committee chief Asda Jayanama is in Paris to meet with Bokova to push for revocation of the temple's World Heritage status. Thailand wants Unesco to suspend the designation until the boundary conflict is settled. This dispute with Unesco is one of Thailand's many international battles against its smaller neighbour.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will lead a delegation of experts from his ministry's Treaties and Legal Affairs Department to the UN Security Council meeting in New York on Monday. They will be armed with historical documents, maps, photographs and video clips of the border clash, an official said yesterday.

The four-day clash at the border killed at least eight people, including a Thai civilian, and injured about 70 others.

As requested by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Security Council will hold a closed meeting on Monday with foreign ministers from both sides, diplomats said.

Kasit, his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who as the current chairman of Asean has been trying to mediate in the dispute, are expected to speak to the council, diplomats said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke to both sides on Tuesday and offered help to negotiate a peace deal. However, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government insisted on bilateral talks, though it did agree to send a delegation to the UN.

Bangkok, Parlez-vous Common Sense?

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:42 PM PST

No offer to 'mediate', say French

February 12, 2011
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

A French offer to provide maps of the disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia has been misrepresented by some Thai media outlets that claimed France had offered to "mediate" between the two countries.

Some columnists even attacked France for poking its nose where it wasn't wanted, leading the French Embassy to clarify the proposal.

"There never was any French offer of 'mediation' in the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, as some media reported," said Alain Gavillet, press attache at the French Embassy.

Yesterday, elements of the Thai media continued to misreport the news and even obtained reaction from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Some columnists wrote pieces attacking the French government for trying to interfere in Thai-Cambodia affairs.

"Pardon ... sorry but please do not poke your nose," wrote Post Today editor Nakarn Laohavilai in his column in the paper.


On Thursday, the Thai Foreign Ministry had already issued a correction regarding the "misunderstanding".

Thani Thongphakdi, director-general of the Department of Information and spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said, "There may have been some misunderstanding about the proposal as France had not offered to mediate between the two countries as some media had reported.

"Rather, France had expressed its readiness to provide access to maps of the region it had made in the early 20th Century should any country wish to study or make copies of them."

A press release from Thani added that Thailand welcomed the offer.

"In fact, Thailand had in the past received good cooperation from Quai d'Orsay, which had given Thai officials access to their archives several times before.

Should there be additional maps that Thailand has not yet examined, it would certainly consider examining such maps without prejudice to its boundary claims."

Lots of talking but little in the way of diplomacy

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:35 PM PST

February 12, 2011
The Nation

As the border conflict simmers, both Thailand and Cambodia should withdraw troops from the area and sit down at the negotiating table

All eyes will be on the UN Security Council this Monday when Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Nam Hong present their cases to the 15-member body. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in his capacity as chair of the Asean Standing Committee, will also make a statement.

Considering the microphone diplomacy, the Monday showdown could very well be a juicy event. Cambodian PM Hun Sen is accusing his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva of committing war crimes, and accusing Thai troops of using cluster bombs against Cambodian civilians and damaging the historic Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. The Thai Army denies the accusations, saying their targets were military.

For a man who used to run with the Khmer Rogue, it appears that the Cambodian leader has gone soft when one takes into consideration his benchmark for what constitutes a war crime. Let's not forget that he has done just about every thing to obstruct the ongoing UN tribunal on former Khmer Rouge cadres charged with crimes against humanity.


At the heart of the problem is the overlapping claim along the Thai-Cambodian border near the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, whose ownership the World Court decided three decades ago in favour of Phnom Penh. It can be said that a time bomb was also put in place because the overlapping disputed area was not ruled upon.

Bangkok has faulted Unesco for exacerbating the sovereignty spat when it declared the temple a World Heritage site in July 2008 despite Thai objections. Today, the two sides continue to claim ownership over the 4.6-square-kilometre areas surrounding the temple. As they beef up the border with soldiers, they also beat the nationalist drum for the ears of their supporters while paying lip service to the need to strengthen bilateral ties.

Sadly, politicians and political groups from both countries milk the situation for their own selfish gain, while at the same time heightening the political stakes and making it harder for either government to come up with any compromise without looking weak.

For the time being, both Thailand and Cambodia are behaving with the same degree of intransigence, stubbornly refusing to budge on how to move this forward. Bangkok wants to settle the dispute bilaterally while Phnom Penh took the matter to the UN Security Council. The two sides talk about settling the matter diplomatically but in fact they are equally as pigheaded when it comes to agreeing on the modality to settle the dispute. Perhaps they want to keep using military means to serve their political purposes but don't have the courage to say so because such talk is unacceptable in this day and age.

If this dispute becomes internationalised, Thailand stands to lose face in the long run, as the 1962 ruling will be amplified and make Thailand look as if it is still crying over spilled milk.

What is lacking is a game plan from the Thai side. Bangkok appears to be reacting to Phnom Penh's every move. At first, Thailand said it would deal with the issue bilaterally. But when Phnom Penh wrote to the Security Council, Bangkok began dancing to the Cambodian tune. And this Monday the two ministers, plus the Asean chair, will be in New York to state their positions.

First of all, Kasit didn't have to write to the Security Council. He should just have stayed the course. In 2008, during the administration of the late Samak Sundaravej, Thailand used diplomatic means to block Cambodia's attempt to reach the Security Council, in spite of the fact that at the time Cambodia's good friend Vietnam was the chair. It was the same issue involving armed clashes along the border.

The ironic thing is that the Samak administration was doing this on the run, as Government House had been taken over by the yellow shirts. The then-administration stood its ground. Kasit, on the other hand, is a retired diplomat, a top one at that. And in spite of the fact that the then-government was unable to even get into Government House, foreign minister Noppadon Patama had just resigned, and deputy premier Sahat Bunditkul was quickly rushed to the Asean ministerial meeting in Singapore, Thailand's message to, and tactics toward, Cambodia, were not confusing.

So what can Kasit tell the Security Council that will make any difference? That Cambodia shot first and fired artillery into civilian territory, forcing thousands to run for their lives? And then what?

Kasit can start by asking Cambodia to respect international norms and to pull its troops back from the border, especially in the disputed area around the temple. Thailand should do the same.

Thai shenanigans and bullying for the past week as recounted by the Bangkok Post

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:21 PM PST

Weekly highlights

11/02/2011
Veera Prateepchaikul
Bangkok Post

For now, it appears diplomacy has replaced guns in the war between Thailand and Cambodia over the old Preah Vihear temple, or Khao Phra Viharn, and its disputed surrounding area. The PAD, meanwhile, decided to travel to the border area instead of intensifying its rally in Bangkok. And, suddenly, the mother of all corruption cases, involving the Klong Dan waste water project, is back to haunt the Pollution Control Department.

The battleground over the 4.6 square kilometres of "overlapping" land around the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has shifted from the Thai-Cambodian border to the international arena.

In essence, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appears to have won his fight to internationalise the border issue, over Thailand's insistence that the issue be resolved bilaterally through negotiation.


The United Nations Security Council has scheduled a meeting on Monday for a briefing on the Thai-Cambodian situation. The Asean chairman, currently Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Hamhong have been invited to attend.

Cambodia earlier asked that a UN peace-keeping force be deployed to create a buffer zone in the disputed border area, but this was strongly rejected by the Thai government.

The government also turned down a proposal by Unesco to send in a team to inspect the Preah Vihear temple, which was damaged during the Feb 4-6 fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces -- clashes which have, so far, left three Thais dead, two soldiers and a civilian, and 22 others injured, 14 soldiers and eight civilians.

Eight houses in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket were destroyed and 28 others damaged. The casualties on the Cambodian side were not clear, with conflicting statements.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva demanded that Unesco de-list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. He said the unilateral listing of the ancient temple with Camboldia as sole manager was the origin of the conflict and border skirmishes between the two countries.

Thailand's joint boundary committee chief, Asda Jayanama, is now in Paris to explain Thailand's position regarding the ancient temple to the chairman of Unesco's World Heritage Committee, which is due to meet in June in Bahrain to consider Cambodia's management plan for the temple area.

Although a shaky ceasefire is being observed at the border close to the ancient temple, both Thai and Cambodian forces deployed at the border remain on high alert.

In Bangkok, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its ultra-nationalist ally, the Thai Patriots Network, which have been calling the Thai government to take a decisive stance against Cambodia, have decided to send some of their men and women to Kantharalak district to distribute supplies to villagers and soldiers there, instead of "upgrading" their anti-government protest in Bangkok.

However, many residents of Kantharalak have voiced their clear opposition to the PAD's presence there.

To deal with the PAD-TPN protest and protests planned by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the cabinet on Tuesday invoked the Internal Security Act in seven districts in the capital. Also, the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), which was set up under the ISA to deal with red-shirted protesters during the March-May protest last year, was revived.

Roads around Government House and the parliament have been closed to traffic by the police exercising powers under the ISA. Police may use force to reclaim roads occupied by yellow-shirt protesters after their requests that they re-open at least some lanes to traffic were rejected by PAD leaders.

The amendment of the existing constitution is also to the fore again, with a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives scheduled today to vote on the charter amendment bills. Political observers expected the bills to sail through the third, and final, reading.

The government side, Democrats in particular, has in the past several days lobbied support from senators to vote in support of the amendment bills, which needed at least 313 votes to pass. Critics have charged that several senators have been "bribed" to vote for the bills, without saying how.

The key point of the charter changes is the number of constituency and list MPs in the lower House, which will be changed to 375 elected constituency MPs and 125 appointed list MPs instead, of 400 and 80 respectively as currently stipulated in the charter.

Once the charter amendments are passed, pressure on the prime minister for an early House dissolution and a general election is expected to increase. The prime minister said he wants an early election in the first half of this year but did not specify the exact timing. It was reported that Mr Abhisit wants, at the least, the mid-year budget to be passed before the House is dissolved.

The controversial Klong Dan waste water treatment project is back in the spotlight after a report emerged on Thursday that an arbitration committee has ordered the Pollution Control Department to pay compensation amounting to six billion baht, plus 7.5% annual interest, to the consortium which built the waste water treatment facility in Samut Prakan province.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who oversees the Pollution Control Department, said the department would appeal the committee's ruling in the Civil Court.

The 23-billion baht project was riddled with corruption scandals, especially the highly-inflated prices of land bought by the department for the project - much of it public land sold with forged papers.

Several politicians and officials were implicated in the scandals and prosecuted. Prominent among the most corrupt was former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame, who fled the country before he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years imprisonment by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Vatana, who was for long regarded at the untouchable "god father" of Samut Prakan, has not served a single day in prison, and is believed to have taken refuge in Cambodia. His sons remain active in local politics and business.

Asean calls urgent border talks [-Isn't the call somewhat too late?]

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:12 PM PST

All 10 FMs to discuss Thai-Cambodian rift

12/02/2011
Pichai Chuensuksawadi
Bangkok Post

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, the current Asean chair, has invited all Asean foreign ministers to an urgent meeting in Jakarta to discuss the Preah Vihear border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Invitations for the meeting, set for Feb 22, were sent out yesterday.

The meeting reflects Mr Marty's belief that the United Nations Security Council will endorse efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to assist Thailand and Cambodia in resolving their border dispute following fighting which erupted last weekend.

Officially, the ministers are invited to discuss "regional and international issues", but the purpose of the meeting is clear, senior Asean officials have confirmed.


As fighting broke out over the disputed border area between Thai and Cambodian troops last Friday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sought an urgent Security Council meeting and called for a UN buffer force to be put in place.

Thailand has said the dispute should be resolved bilaterally.

Mr Marty met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Monday and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Tuesday.

At the meetings, he described Asean's role as one that supports bilateral efforts to resolve the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Hun Sen and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday and once again offered UN help in negotiating a peace deal.

Developments moved rapidly as the UNSC met on Monday night to discuss the Thai-Cambodian conflict, urging restraint on both sides and expressing the hope that a resolution could be reached via peaceful means.

But by Wednesday the Security Council had decided to discuss the conflict as an urgent matter and invited both Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers and Mr Marty to attend a meeting of the council on Monday .

The meeting is expected to be held behind closed doors.

Mr Marty was invited to attend Monday's UNSC meeting as chair of Asean.

He spent two years on the council before taking up the post of Indonesian foreign minister, diplomatic sources in New York said.

The sources added that it was suggested to Security Council president Maria Viotti of Brazil that the body would benefit in its deliberations from a briefing from Mr Marty, who is well-known at the UN for his diplomatic abilities.Mr Marty has also been in constant contact with Mr Ban Ki-moon and Mrs Viotti.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said in a statement released on Thursday that the Asean chair's attendance at the UN Security Council meeting on Monday represents "an evolution of Asean's efforts to resolve bilateral disputes among its member states as provided by the Asean Charter".

"This is particularly important as it will set the procedure for future Asean dispute settlement mechanisms," Mr Surin said.

In his letter to the Asean foreign ministers, Mr Marty said in order to take advantage of the stated desire of both Thailand and Cambodia for a quick and peaceful settlement, he is proposing a brief and informal meeting on Feb 22 in Jakarta to deliberate on "issues or regional and international concern", a diplomatic source in Jakarta said yesterday.

Mr Marty's letter added that Asean must take note of the fast-developing situation on the Thai-Cambodian border and be mindful of the quick pace of diplomatic activities at different but coordinated forums - an apparent reference to the UNSC, the source added.

By inviting the ministers to the Jakarta meeting, the source in Jakarta said this indicates that the UNSC - while spending time to listen to both Thailand's and Cambodia 's positions - have taken heed of Mr Marty's views that Asean is ready to play a role assisting in a resolution of the dispute.

Asean senior officials said that events this past week indicate that Thailand will have to make some quick diplomatic adjustments to its strategy of sticking to its position that the border dispute and conflict can be resolved bilaterally.

Som Niyeay Phorng - Op-Ed by Angkor Borei News

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:02 PM PST

Click on the article in Khmer to zoom in

Bangkok is gearing up for an all-out war with Cambodia? 20,000 Thai troops ready to head to the border

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 12:52 PM PST

20,000 troops ready to head to the border

Army wants B200m for 'Preah Vihear mission'

12/02/2011
Bangkok Post

More than 20,000 soldiers will be deployed along the Thai-Cambodian border as part of a national defence plan and an incident action plan approved by the army commander, an army source says.

The source yesterday said army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha approved the plan last Friday and it will remain in effect until March 30.

Under the plan, a total of 23,641 troops will be deployed at the border.

The army has also submitted a request for more than 200 million baht to support an army mission codenamed "Preah Vihear battlefield" from the cabinet, the source said.


The source said the army has also sought cabinet approval for the procurement of additional ammunition because a lot of ammunition was used in clashes with Cambodian troops between Feb 4-6. The army is also seeking an additional budget to pay for allowances for army personnel at the border.

However, the source said not all of the more than 20,000 troops will be stationed in the disputed border area.

Some will be deployed at the front lines of defence while others will be placed along the border at Sa Kaeo, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and at the Preah Vihear temple near Si Sa Ket, the source said.

They will be given different tasks to perform in command units, combat forces, logistics units, and other units under the national defence plan.

Second Army chief Thawatchai Samutsakhon said yesterday Thai soldiers will remain at the border until peace talks between the Thai and Cambodian governments achieve results.

"I hope the talks between the government, the Foreign Ministry and the Joint Boundary Commission will improve the situation. But now, the army must continue to maintain a military presence," Lt Gen Thawatchai said.

Lt Gen Thawatchai rejected accusations by Cambodian authorities that Thai troops used cluster bombs during the border fighting.

The armed forces have adhered to an international law which bans the use of such bombs, he said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday held a teleconference with the 2nd Army chief and Si Sa Ket governor Somsak Suwansujarit to assess the border situation.

It was agreed at the meeting that the more than 21,000 villagers who fled their villages during the border clashes and who were staying at 37 temporary evacuation centres in Si Sa Ket can return home today. Lt Gen Thawatchai said Thai soldiers are ready to ensure their safety after they go back home.

Mr Somsak said although there is no guarantee that fresh fighting will not erupt at the border, the villagers have to return home because conditions at the evacuation centres are uncomfortable and the heat unbearable.

Many villagers also wanted to get back to their jobs to make money, Mr Somsak said.

The navy has also put its forces on full alert at the maritime border with Cambodia off Chanthaburi and Trat after reports that Cambodian naval vessels have entered the area.

Hosni Mubarak resigns as president of Egypt [-Congratulations to the people of Egypt!]

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:36 AM PST

EGYPT IS FREE!

Month of LOVE

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:34 AM PST

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.

- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Riot Like an Egyptian!

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:29 AM PST

Live coverage: Mubarak resigns, hands power to the military [-One more dictator down! A warning to Hun Xen]

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:29 AM PST

Feb 11, 2011
By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

Update at 11:22 a.m. ET: MSNBC reports that President Obama was notified of Mubarak's resignation during an Oval Office meeting. He then watched the TV coverage for several minutes in an outer office.

Update at 11:15 a.m. ET: Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei, reacting to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, says: "This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated."

Update at 11:08 a.m. ET: Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators erupted in jubilation in Tahrir Square as vice president Omar Suleiman announces that President Mubarak has resigned and called on the army to "run the affairs of the country."

Update at 11:05 a.m. ET: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned Vice President Omar Suleiman said in a brief televised statement. His statement in full: "Hosni Mubarak has waived the office of presidency and told the army to run the affairs of the country."

Riot Like an Egyptian!

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:25 AM PST

Thai-Cambodian Border Issues Are To Be Resolved Through Negotiations

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:23 AM PST

BANGKOK, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha confirmed Friday that border rows between Thailand and Cambodia are to be resolved bilaterally through negotiations, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

General Prayuth admitted that to end unsettled border issues between the two neighbouring countries will take some time, reiterating that bilateral negotiations with patience are necessary.

The Thai army chief said that civilian evacuation plans have been put in place as a precaution and Thai soldiers have been on alert along the border to maintain security in the wake of a spate of clashes between Thai and Cambodian border troops near Thailand's northeastern Si Sa Ket Province from February 4-6.

Meanwhile, local villagers in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak District have gradually returned home under the safeguard of troops from Thailand's 2nd Army Area Command; while local bomb disposal teams have continued inspecting border areas on the Thai side to ensure public safety.

[Thai] Army: Deployed troops to remain at border

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:18 AM PST

Air force back pedals on explanation of border flights

11/02/2011
Bangkok Post

Thai troops now deployed along the Thai-Cambodian border will remain at their current levels and villagers affected by border clashes can return home tomorrow, Army Region 2 chief Lt-Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon said on Friday.

Lt Gen Thawatchai said he could not say whether there will be more clashes or not between Thai and Cambodian soldiers along the disputed border.

However, Thai soldiers were well positioned to take care of the people and the border.

The deployed troops will remain it the border area but the government should hold talks with Cambodia to settle the problem quickly, Lt Gen Thawatchai said.


He said more than 21,000 residents evacuated to 27 temporary shelters in Si Sa Ket can return to their homes tomorrow.

The Army Region 2 commander said he had assigned army engineers and personnel from the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) to instruct residents of Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district about explosive devices and mines, so they would be aware what to look for and how to react.

He was speaking after a video conference with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Si Sa Ket governor Somsak Suwansucharit on Friday to assess the border situation.

Prime Minister Abhisit said the government will proceed with negotiations with Cambodia. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya would take part in the negotiation process.

Si Sa Ket governor Somsak said villagers at makeshift camps wanted to return home although they were uncertain about the border situation.

The weather was very hot and people said they could not sleep well in the tents provided as temporary accommodation.

They also wanted to get back to work to earn money, Mr Somsak said.

Air Force spokesman Monthon Satchukorn said the two fighter planes that flew close to the Cambodian border on Thursday were Thai F16s on a regular patrol, and were not planes taking part in Cobra Gold 2011 joint exercise as earlier stated.

A spokesman said yesterday that Thai, US and Singaporean F16s and F18s taking part in Cobra Gold had flown to within two or three kilometres of the border "by mistake".

The spokesman said they should have remained 10km or more inside the border.

Air Marshal Monthon said there was a misunderstanding. The planes were not taking part in the Cobra Gold 2011 exercise being held in the 2nd and 3rd Army Regions.

In fact, the two F16 fighters which flew to within two or three kilometres of the Cambodian border yesterday were Thai air force jets.

They were flying a regular air patrol from Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima and were not carrying any weapons, AM Monthon said.

30,000 people displaced in border clashes between Cambodian and Thai armies

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:14 AM PST

Geneva, 10 February 2011

Brief Description of the Emergency

Armed clashes that flared up on 4 February 2011 between the Cambodian and Thai military over a disputed stretch of border surrounding a 900-year-old temple have killed both soldiers and civilians. The exact number of deaths and injuries due to the clashes is unknown as both sides report different numbers. According to a report on Alert Net at least 11 people have been killed and thousands evacuated[1]. Although the fighting has stopped, the situation remains tense. The Cambodia government has called on the UN Security Council to intervene while the Thai government still wants bilateral talks. It is expected that the UN Council will discuss the issue on Monday.

On 8 February, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and Asia Pacific News reported that more than 10,000 Cambodian villagers had fled their villages near the temple of Preah Vihear. According to an IRIN report of 9 February, up to 30,000 people (15,000 in Cambodia and 15,000 in Thailand) were reported to have been displaced since the fighting began. The director of the Thai Red Cross confirmed that an estimated 15,000 people on the Thai side of the border had fled to makeshift shelters and other villages to escape the fighting while the Cambodian Red Cross officials estimate that a similar number were displaced on their side of the border.


According to the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) - Cambodia, about 1,000 families had also fled to another border area called Anlong Veng to seek safety in Siem Reap and Battambang provinces. This was confirmed by Asia Pacific News which also confirmed that they were sheltering in pagodas and school compounds and urgently needed temporary shelter, food and water.

Impact

ACT member, The Lutheran World Federation, Department of World Service (LWF/DWS), carried out an initial assessment of 1,315 displaced families in Cambodia who have fled their homes near the conflict areas and found temporary safe shelters in six different locations within Choam Ksan and Koulen districts. Many have been settled in pagodas and school grounds while others are sheltering in military compounds without adequate shelter or tents.

Another ACT member Church World Service (CWS), which has staff living in villages in Choam Khsant district, has evacuated its staff and is preparing to assist those who have fled the area. The Commune Councils and Village Chief have informed CWS of about 2,200 to 2,400 families which have been evacuated from the fighting zone. These families are now sheltering in three camps, in Koulen district, about 70-80km from the fighting areas. Two camps are located in two primary schools, one in Thmey village and another in Takeung village. The third camp is in a pagoda called Toul Andet.

The NCDM Deputy Secretary General says that people staying in temples and schools do not have adequate access to water and children cannot attend school[2].

National and International Response

Cambodian government and civil society groups have closely worked together to assess the situation and prepare emergency response.

According to Asia Pacific News, authorities are providing some relief in the form of rice and money, but it is not sufficient. CARITAS has provided 25kg bags of rice, and basic kits comprising a blanket, mat and mosquito net to 1,096 families and plans to provide 900 other families with kits. OXFAM and Cambodian Red Cross have provided 789 water tanks of 80 litres and 820 water tanks of 16 litres, however the response is not sufficient.

ACT Alliance members' response

Local authorities and the NCDM have requested ACT members in Cambodia - LWF/DWS and CWS - to help with immediate food assistance. Nutrition needs, particularly for women and children, have not been met. An assessment team comprising staff of a LWF/DWS partner, along with several other groups, is currently assessing the situation.

LWF/DWS plans to buy canned fish for about 1,315 families which it will transport to Preah Vihear when it carries out its assessment.

CWS Cambodia has received US$ 3,000 from its head office in New York for immediate response. It plans to conduct an assessment in the coming days and foresees provision of basic food and non-food items including water containers, water purifying tablets, health kits, mosquito nets and plastic tents. CWS Thailand is closely monitoring the situation while planning for the next step.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, ACT Chief Finance Officer (jbi@actalliance.org).

Riot Like an Egyptian (Walk Like an Egyptian redux)

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:12 AM PST

By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh
Power to the Cambodian People Series

Enjoy!! Freedom is contagious!! Walk like an Egyptian. Rise up like the Egyptian. Riot like the Egyptian!!! It's a fun music video. ENJOY!!

Riot Like an Egyptian
(21st Century version)



The Bangles official music video of 1986.

While the world watches Egypt, Thailand and Cambodia are almost at war

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:09 AM PST

Feb 10, 2011
By Cris Sholto Heaton
MoneyWeek

Imagine that two European countries – say, Italy and Slovenia – were lobbing artillery shells at each other in a dispute over a church on their shared border.

It doesn't sound very likely. But that's more or less what's going on in Southeast Asia right now.

Relations between Cambodia and Thailand have taken a nasty turn in the last few weeks. An ongoing row about a 900-year old temple called Preah Vihear has spilled over into violence yet again. Several soldiers and civilians have been killed in exchanges of fire over the past couple of weeks.

Events in Egypt have mostly kept this spat out of the headlines in the West. But it's an unpleasant mess. And it tarnishes the reputation of both the countries involved, and their neighbours.

With governance something that matters more for sentiment in emerging markets than it might elsewhere, investors should keep an eye on the situation…

A good excuse for causing trouble

Thailand and Cambodia have been in dispute over ownership of Preah Vihear since the current border was established a century ago.


In 1962, Cambodia won an international court ruling that the temple was its territory. This should have settled things. The Thai troops that had occupied it withdrew after the decision.

Unfortunately, the order said nothing about the land surrounding the temple. That's still contested. And when Cambodia successfully applied to have the temple listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2008, it included some of this land in its proposal. That made the temple a hot issue again, as it was dragged into Thailand's messy politics.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or 'yellowshirt' movement, opposes former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (now in exile). They've used the temple as a key rallying point. They claimed that the then-government's willingness to support Cambodia's application for world heritage status was giving away Thai territory.

PAD's protests and some helpful court decisions turfed that government out of power. It was replaced by the current administration headed by Abhisit Vejjajiva, and the issue cooled off a little. There were a couple of encounters, but the situation appeared to be settling down.

But things took a major turn for the worse in late 2010. In December, Cambodian border guards arrested seven Thais for illegally crossing the border. Although this was in another location, it immediately brought all border issues back into the headlines. The party included a PAD activist and his aide, who are still being detained in Cambodia (as well as an MP from the ruling party, who has now been released).

Unfortunately, at the time, relations between the PAD and Abhisit had soured. The yellowshirts were agitating for another change of government. And the arrests gave them an excellent excuse to get back on the streets, demanding that Abhisit take a tougher line or resign. Add in the fact that many in the military are in the same anti-Thaksin camp as the PAD, and it's no surprise that things have again boiled over on the frontlines.

This might make it sound as though all the sabre-rattling is on the Thai side. It's not. Cambodia's autocratic prime minister Hun Sen frequently uses the temple issue for domestic political purposes too. He recently stationed his son (who he presumably intends to succeed him) with the forces at Preah Vihear to boost his profile.

For historical reasons, there is a fair amount of anti-Thai sentiment in Cambodia at the best of times. There were anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh in 2003 when a Thai actress was misquoted as saying that the Angkor Wat temple (unambiguously Cambodian) belonged to Thailand.

Finally, you need to remember that Thaksin and Hun Sen are friends. The former Thai PM acts as an adviser to Cambodia. Like everything he does, this is calculated to stir the pot in Bangkok.

Put all this together, and you have a recipe for a very messy dispute. One that unfortunately involves soldiers and civilians dying over a tiny piece of borderland.

An embarrassment for Southeast Asia

Beyond the deaths, why does this spat matter? Well, the worst case scenario is that it could escalate into something much worse. Thailand has a larger army than Cambodia, including a far more powerful airforce. But Cambodian troops would not be a pushover. Casualties would probably be high on both sides.

For now, war looks unlikely. There doesn't seem to be much appetite for bloodshed in Bangkok beyond the vocal minority of the PAD. But even if it doesn't spiral, the affair is already making these two countries – and Southeast Asia by extension – look pretty bad.

To get the best deal for themselves in the decades ahead, Southeast Asian countries need to work together much more than they have done in the past, along the lines of a mini-European Union. Nobody's expecting a full EU-scale project – there's too much concern about national sovereignty for that. But the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is finally showing signs of going beyond being a simple talking shop.

We have seen progress on deals to reduce barriers to trade and investment in the region, and promote free-trade deals with the rest of the world. Members with tricky political histories such as Malaysia and Singapore have made some moves towards improving relations.

There are many areas where ASEAN can benefit from teaming up. For example, a longstanding plan for an electronic link between stockmarkets in Singapore with Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines will hopefully be in place by the end of the year. This could cut trading costs, improve liquidity and make ASEAN's relatively small capital markets largely and more attractive

But conflicts such as this one between ASEAN members have quite the opposite effect. So Cambodia and Thailand aren't just hurting each other. They're also damaging their neighbours. So the whole of Southeast Asia should be – and is – pushing for this to be resolved.

Thai politics are at the heart of this mess

The other reason to worry is that it's yet another sign of how corrosive Thai politics is. The affair is by no means solely the fault of the Thai government. And it's unclear who fired first in this particular round.

But the ongoing power struggle in Thailand is a major reason why the conflict has flared up again. The PAD's nationalist rhetoric will do nothing to help bring a peaceful solution. It makes even sensible politicians worry about looking too soft.

It also reinforces the problems within Thailand. Any PAD demonstrations bring a response from the pro-Thaksin 'redshirts'. The sight of these competing groups of demonstrators on the streets shows how polarised Thailand still is.

Politics remains Thailand's main problem. The country has huge potential. Stocks are relatively cheap compared to peers, especially in the smaller end of the market. Dividend yields higher than government bond yields are not uncommon. From a bottom-up value perspective, it looks highly compelling.

But the divide between the established Bangkok elite and the poorer rural majority (which is loosely how the yellowshirt versus redshirt movement breaks down) is wide. And there seems little understanding of how to narrow it.

Thailand's near-universal reverence for King Bhumibol has helped hold the country together during past problems. But the king is in poor health. His death could come at any moment. His son is viewed as a playboy, and is widely disliked and probably incapable of uniting the country in the same way as his father. Unless reconciliation becomes more important, Thailand could be headed for severe unrest.

Of course, there is always the chance that politics could take a turn for the better. A peaceful solution to the Preah Vihear problem in the face of the PAD's rantings could be a positive if it left them looking hot-headed and marginalised.

Meanwhile, elections are likely in the next few months, as long as the PAD and the army don't manage to whip up enough unrest over Preah Vihear to have them postponed. Abhisit has made some efforts to reach out to the rural population that has been Thaksin's powerbase. If some of these voters are won over and the government wins a convincing victory, it could be a major step towards patching up problems and reducing Thaksin's influence.

But it would certainly be far easier to be optimistic about Thailand if we didn't have to cope with situations like this.

Border clash evidence to be presented to UNSC

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:59 AM PST

BANGKOK, Feb 11 (MCOT online news) -- Thailand's Foreign Ministry has collected evidence on the recent Thai-Cambodian border clashes to clarify to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York on Monday, the ministry spokesman said here Friday.

Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information, said the briefing was expected to last about an hour or an hour and a half.

It would be a closed-door meeting to be attended by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his capacity as the current chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in which Thailand and Cambodia both are members.

The meeting has been scheduled at 10am local time, he said.


Mr Thani said Thailand would present an accurate account of recent developments to the Security Council as well as provide information about the state of the overall bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia, which have progressed well in political, economic and social aspects, with amicable interactions between the peoples of both countries.

It will also emphasise Thailand's commitment and efforts to resolve the situation peacefully through dialogue.

Thailand would also stress that it did not intend to start a war to invade another country.

None of the clashes that took place were initiated by Thailand. Thailand responded to Cambodia's provocation in self-defence while exercising utmost restraint. The Thai response was aimed only at military targets and confined to the areas of the clashes in an attempt to contain the incidents from escalating, he said.

Mr Thani said that during the flight transit in Paris, France, Mr Kasit would meet Asda Jayanama, chief of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

Mr Asda will also be in Paris to meet the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to clarify Thailand's stance on listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the request to put off the consideration of the temple management plan to be proposed by Cambodia as it was a sensitive issue and led to the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.

The information prepared by Thailand included historical documents, maps, photos and video footages around the contested area along Thai-Cambodia border and photos of the recent clashes and the damages caused by Cambodian weapons.

Mr Kasit's entourage comprises the ministry's experienced legal experts who are keen on the border issue--Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom, Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs Director Genral Ittiporn Boonprakong, Thai ambassador to the Netherlands Weerachai Pladisai and Mr Thani himself.

Japan concerns over Cambodia-Thailand border clashes: officia

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:55 AM PST

February 11, 2011
Xinhua

Japan has expressed grave concern over the clashes between Cambodia and Thailand over the border dispute on Feb. 4-7, an official said here on Friday.

"We are deep concern over the two countries' conflict," the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Koy Kuong quoted Yutaka Banno, state secretary for Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as saying to Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong.

Yutaka Banno is here to join the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Japan-funded Neak Loeung Bridge on Feb. 12.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold its meeting on Feb. 14 to intervene over the border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.


Hor Namhong will fly to New York this Friday evening to report to the UNSC about Thai's invasion into Cambodian territory at the border areas near Preah Vihear Temple on Feb. 4-7, said Koy Kuong.

The armed clashes between the two countries caused some people killed and many injured; and tens of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas fled for safe shelters.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia, the row over the 4.6-square-km territory around the temple has never been resolved.

Vietnam did not join military exercise in Thailand

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:52 AM PST

10/02/2011

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese Ministry of Defense denies the information that Vietnam has sent three military officers to join the Cobra Gold military exercises in Thailand, the largest drill in Southeast Asia.

The Ministry confirmed that Vietnam only sent one military attaché to Thailand to attend the opening ceremony.

Earlier, some local and foreign sources had reported that Vietnam and nine other countries - Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Britain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and the Philippines – sent three personnel each to participate.


The military exercise - which is hosted annually by Thailand as a bilateral effort between the US and Thai militaries since 1982 - attracted full participation of the US, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and, for the first time, Malaysia.

AP news agency quoted Royal Thai Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Piroon Paewpolsong as saying the training this time will be focused mostly on peacekeeping support and stability operations.

Representatives from ten countries - China, India, Brunei, Laos, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates - are also involved in this year's exercise as observers.

Thailand, Cambodia Border Fight Moves to UN

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:36 AM PST

Ron Corben, Voice of America
Bangkok February 11, 2011

Thailand and Cambodia plan to present their positions next week to the United Nations Security Council over recent fighting on their border.

A ceasefire held Friday along the Cambodian-Thai border, though the armies of both governments remain on alert.

Latest fight

A week ago, fighting erupted near a 900-year-old Hindu Khmer temple on the border. Several died before fighting halted Tuesday, and thousands on both sides were forced to flee their homes.

On Monday, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Thailand's Kasit Piromya appear before the United Nations Security Council to set out their respective positions. Each country blames the other for starting the battle.


In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled the temple was in Cambodia, but a main access route is on the Thai side. The two sides have disputed the exact border in places around the temple, known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.

Possible rights violations

Sunai Pasuk, a representative for Human Rights Watch in Thailand, says the U.N. will provide a forum for debate over the clashes, and could help determine human rights violations.

"But the basis for conflict resolution is still within bilateral process," noted Sunai. "A presentation at the U.N. Security Council will be an opportunity to both Thailand and Cambodia to [outline] further allegations of human rights violations to international laws as the use of cluster ammunitions can only be resolved with independent observation of the affected area."

Both countries have accused the other of using banned cluster bombs in the fighting.

ASEAN presence at meeting

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa, whose country is currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also will attend the U.N. meeting. ASEAN officials have offered to mediate negotiations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

In Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the temple should be de-listed as a United Nations Scientific and Educations Organization World Heritage site.

Mr. Abhisit says doing so and scrapping a proposed Cambodian management plan would defuse the border conflict. However, Cambodia is expected to oppose the idea.

Interior pressure

The border dispute first flared up in 2008, after Cambodia received World Heritage status for Preah Vihear. Thai nationalists, many of whom say the temple belongs to Thailand, protested, and both governments reinforced troops along the border.

The Thai government is facing pressure from the nationalists, who demand that Bangkok revoke a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on resolving border disputes. Nationalist groups want their government to push for Cambodians off disputed lands. The government has rejected these calls.

Mubarak Leaves Cairo as Crowds Surge

Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:32 AM PST

Protesters gathered for Friday prayers in Tahrir Square as the anger continued to swell. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)
February 11, 2011
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, ANTHONY SHADID and ALAN COWELL
The New York Times

CAIRO — Amid an ongoing crisis, President Hosni Mubarak left the Egyptian capital for his resort home in Sharm el-Sheik, amid indications that a transfer of power was underway, Western officials said Friday. State television said Mr. Mubarak would issue a statement later.

The Egyptian military issued a communiqué pledging to carry out a variety of constitutional reforms in a statement remarkable for its commanding tone. The military's statement alludes to the delegation of power to Vice President Omar Suleiman and it suggests that the military will supervise implementation of the reforms.

Angry protesters, who had swarmed by the thousands into the streets here Friday morning, were hardly mollified by the news of Mr. Mubarak's exit and an accompanying statement by the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces over state television and radio indicating that the military, not Mr. Mubarak, was in effective control of the country. They said they would not believe he was gone until he had formally relinquished his title as president, and until Mr. Suleiman, his handpicked successor, had been ousted as well.

The protesters did let out a cheer at news on state radio that Naguib Sawiris, a wealthy and widely respected businessman, has agreed to act as a mediator between the opposition and the authorities in carrying through the political reforms.


Mr. Suleiman himself has not made a statement. The military also did not indicate whether it intended to take the kinds of fundamental steps toward democracy that protesters have been demanding. This was the second direct statement from the military in two days, and it was not clear if the military was asserting more direct leadership or if it intended to signal that it stands behind the vice president.

Nor was it clear whether Mr. Mubarak is definitely relinquishing power, although Western diplomats said they had received a barrage of calls from senior Egyptian officials assuring them that was the case.

Although Mr. Mubarak said in his speech Thursday that he was "delegating" his powers to his vice president, he did it in an aside that was easy to miss. He apparently referred to a provision of the Constitution that would have allowed him to reclaim those powers. And the rest of his speech sounded very much like he was an active president with no intention of resigning, and ina patronizing tone that further enraged protesters.

Western diplomats said that officials of the Egyptian government were scrambling to assure the public that Mr. Mubarak had flubbed his lines, and that his muddled speech had in fact signaled his irrevocable hand over of presidential authority.

"The government of Egypt says absolutely, it is done, it is over," a Western diplomat said, suggesting that the Egyptian military and government officials had expected Mr. Mubarak to make his exit clear last night, but that the president failed to deliver those lines. "That is not what anybody heard."

The Army announcement and diplomatic scrambling appeared intended to forestall the potential for violent confrontations as hundreds of thousands of protesters, angered by Mr. Mubarak's refusal to step down on Thursday, flooded the streets demanding his full resignation — if not also his public trial for violence against them.

By about 1 p.m., state television was reporting that thousands had gathered around the state television building and were threatening violence against employees who entered. Their rage had been stoked when, after a day of mounting official signals that he was about to make an exit, the president failed to convey any such conclusion in either the tone or literal meaning of his speech.

The statement Friday by the military's Supreme Council struck a very different tone and appeared to assert that the military, not President Mubarak, was now in control. The military said that it would end the 30-year-old emergency law — often used by the government to detain political opponents without trial— "as soon as the current circumstances are over." The protesters have demanded that the law be eliminated immediately, before any talks about ending the uprising.

The military also said that it would oversee the amendment of the Constitution to "conduct free and fair presidential elections."

"The Armed forces are committed to sponsor the legitimate demands of the people," the statement declared, and it vowed to ensure the fulfillment of its promises "within defined time frames with all accuracy and seriousness and until the peaceful transfer of authority is completed toward a free democratic community that the people aspire to." The military further promised the protesters — "the honest people who refused the corruption and demanded reforms" — immunity from prosecution or "security pursuit."

The statement urged a return to normalcy but made no threats to enforce it. Western diplomats and American officials say that the top military commanders, including the defense minister and the chairman of the armed forces, have told them for weeks that the Egyptian Army would never use force against Egyptians civilians to preserve the regime. And on Friday morning the military said that the defense minister, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, was presiding over the military's Supreme Council, which appeared to have taken control of the state.

It has been "increasingly clear," a Western diplomat said Friday, that "the army will not go down with Mubarak. "

The military statement, broadcast first by a civilian announcer on state television and then by a uniformed military spokesman, came as the city — and many other places in Egypt — began noon prayers on Friday, the Muslim holy day and the beginning of the weekend, a moment that has been the prelude for large-scale demonstrations since the revolt started.

Several hundred protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in the suburb of Heliopolis, news reports said, as troops backed by armored vehicles and razor wire barricades did nothing to prevent them from assembling.

In the upscale neighborhood of Mohandiseen, about a thousand protesters spilled out of the Mustafa Mahmoud mosque to march on the Radio and Television Building, even though shouting matches broke out as some Egyptians watching them urged them to call off their protest because Mr. Mubarak had repeated that he would leave in September when elections are scheduled. But one demonstrator, Mohamed Salwy, 44, said: "Mubarak doesn't understand. I think these protests are going to have to go on for a long time."

Once they arrived at the broadcasting center, they were joined by thousands of others, facing a ring of steel made up of a dozen armored personnel carriers and tanks forming a cordon. Soldiers with heavy machine guns looked down at them from a balcony.

Outside the capital, television images showed large numbers of protesters gathering under a sea of Egyptian flags in Alexandria, and there were unconfirmed reports of thousands of protesters surrounding government buildings in Suez.

The reaction abroad to Mr. Mubarak's address was more measured, but also critical. President Obama issued a statement on Thursday night saying that "too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy." European leaders also called for more fundamental change and urged that it happen faster.

Earlier in the day, even Mr. Obama seemed to believe that Mr. Mubarak would go further, celebrating his belief that Egypt was "witnessing history unfold."

Instead, Mr. Mubarak, 82, a former general, struck a defiant, even provocative note in his speech. While he acknowledged for the first time that his government had made mistakes, he made it clear that he was still president and that reforms in Egypt would proceed under his government's supervision and according to the timetable of elections in September.

Mr. Mubarak echoed the contention of officials in past days that foreigners might be behind the uprising, but he cited no evidence to support that allegation.

For hours before Mr. Mubarak's speech, jubilant crowds, prematurely celebrating their victory, positioned themselves next to large speakers for what they assumed was a resignation speech. At about 10:45, the crowd quieted as Mr. Mubarak started his speech, which was transmitted via a tiny radio that someone held up to a microphone.

Soon, angry chants echoed through the square. People gathered in groups, confused, enraged and faced with Mr. Mubarak's plea to endorse his vision of gradual reform. Some said his speech was intended to divide the protesters, by peeling off those who thought he had gone far enough. Others said it reflected the isolation of a president they had come to detest.

By midnight, about 3,000 protesters made their way from the square to the Radio and Television Building, which protesters loathe for propaganda that has cast them as troublemakers. In a sign of the confusion that reigned in Cairo, youthful opposition leaders sought to dissect the series of statements from the military command, Mr. Mubarak and Mr. Suleiman. Some believed that the army, long a player behind the scenes, was still intent on seeking power but had not yet mustered the leverage to force Mr. Mubarak from office.

It was unclear whether the military had tried to oust Mr. Mubarak and failed or was participating in a more complicated choreography in Egypt's opaque system of rule.

Along with the protests, labor strikes have flared across Egypt, organized by workers at post offices, telecommunications centers, textile factories and cement plants. Clashes have occurred in distant parts of the country — from the New Valley west of the Nile to Suez, a city along the Suez Canal, which provides Egypt with crucial earnings.

While organizers have said Friday's rallies may be some of the biggest protests yet, they spoke in darker tones about what they may represent now, given what many view as the determination of Mr. Mubarak to stay in office, whatever the numbers.

The anger was fueled in good part by expectations that Mr. Mubarak would be making his last address to the nation. For much of the day, people traded rumors about where he might be preparing to go to — Bahrain and Dubai were two rumored destinations — and then by a cascade of official statements suggesting that might be the case.

The first came from the civilian government. Around 3 p.m., Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq told the BBC that talks with Mr. Mubarak about his possible resignation were already under way.

Gen. Hassan al-Roueini appeared in Tahrir Square to tell protesters that "all your demands will be met today," witnesses said, words that were quickly read by crowds around him to mean that Mr. Mubarak was on the way out.

A short time later, the military, still seen as potentially decisive in the conflict, announced that it was taking action in what sounded to many people like a coup.

"In affirmation and support for the legitimate demands of the people, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces convened today, 10 February 2011, to consider developments to date," an army spokesman declared on state television, in what was described as communiqué No. 1 of the army command, "and decided to remain in continuous session to consider what procedures and measures that may be taken to protect the nation, and the achievements and aspirations of the great people of Egypt."

Around the same time, Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, the chief of staff of the armed forces, appeared in Tahrir Square to tell the protesters the same thing, to roars of celebration.

The reports seemed increasingly convincing, to both protesters and even high-ranking officials. Hossam Badrawy, the top official of the ruling party, said in a television interview that he had personally told the president he should resign. And, though Mr. Mubarak did not respond, Mr. Badrawy said he believed he would go. "That is my expectation, that is my hope," he added in an interview. The news electrified protestors in the square and Mr. Mubarak opened his speech with words that suggested he was staying. "I am addressing all of you from the heart, a speech from the father to his sons and daughters," he said. He expressed what he described as pride for them.

"Can this man be serious or did he lose his mind?" asked George Ishak, a longtime opposition leader. Mohamed ElBaradei, an opposition leader and Nobel laureate, was blunter. "I ask the army to intervene immediately to save Egypt," he wrote on his Twitter feed. "The credibility of the army is being put to the test."

David D. Kirkpatrick and Anthony Shadid reported from Cairo, and Alan Cowell from Paris. Reporting was contributed by Kareem Fahim, Liam Stack, Mona El-Naggar and Thanassis Cambanis from Cairo, and Sheryl Gay Stolberg from Marquette, Mich.

 

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