UNESCO to send experts to evaluate, repair damaged temple: special envoy

Source: People's Daily Online
28 Feb. 2011


Koichiro Matsuura, the special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Monday Cambodia' s Preah Vihear temple needs to be restored urgently following the damages by the military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand over the border disputed area on Feb. 4-7.

During a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, on Monday, Matsuura said that as soon as Indonesian observers arrive at the border disputed area, UNESCO will send its experts to evaluate the damages.

"Urgent restoration on the temple will be conducted after the evaluation of the damages and UNESCO will send repair-experts to restore the temple," Matsuura said, adding that "UNESCO will not involve in the border issue, but the temple."

Meanwhile, Sok An, also the minister of the Council of Ministers, presented Matsuura with internationally recognized maps about Cambodian border with Thailand, and also showed him about the maps used unilaterally by Thailand, not international recognition.

Sok An also informed him about the serious damages of Preah Vihear temple caused by about 414 mortar and artillery shells falling on the temple. "So, Cambodia has to publicize this information to the international communities."

Matsuura, a former director-general of UNESCO (1999-2009) and a former Chair of the World Heritage Committee, was named by Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, on Feb. 11 as the special envoy to mediate the issue of Preah Vihear temple following a deadly clash from Feb. 4-7 between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed area next to the temple. He arrived here on Sunday for a three-day visit.


The clash unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, killed and wounded some soldiers and people of both sides, as well as caused serious damages to Preah Vihear temple.

Preah Vihear Temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008.

The conflict has occurred just a week after the inscription due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, since then periodic clashes have happened between the two nations'troops.

Source: Xinhua

ANALYSIS: WILLTHE MAPS HAVE THEIR DAYS IN COURT?

Source: DAP News
MONDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2011 04:47 DAP-NEWS

(The Annex I map v. the unilateral and secret map)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) special envoy Koichiro Matsuura, in Bangkok on 25 February 2011 listened to the very unusual assurance given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajeva that “Thailand would settle the conflict with Cambodia over the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear's inscription before the World Heritage Committee's next meeting in Bahrain in the middle of this year,” as reported by The Nation on 26 February under the title: Unesco told to delay consideration. Moreover, as reported by The Bangkok Post Online the same day, under the title: Unesco special envoy supports ‘Thai stance’, among other things the FM spokesman Thani Thongphakdee said “The minister also told Mr. Matsuura about the history of the Preah Vihear problem that stems from both countries using different maps. Thailand has stuck to an international principle of using a watershed as a border line but Cambodia has relied on a map made by France.”

Is it a Thai poor PR?

Taking into account the two statements by PM Abhisit and FM Kasit, Thailand hinted at the settlement of the conflict based on the “Cambodian map” or the “Thai map”.  It sounds as the “Cambodian map” and the “Thai map” will have their days in court soon. Whether this is true or this is only a poor public relation campaign stunt by Thailand remains to be seen.

FM Kasit Pyromya of Thailand as well as PM Abhisit Vejjajeva many times before FM Kasit, told the press and foreign or international dignitaries including lastly the UNESCO special envoy Koichiro Matsuura who is also a former Unesco director-general, “about the history of the Preah Vihear problem that stems from both countries using different maps,” over which I have no quarrel with them. It is very rare for PM Abhisit and FM Kasit to say exactly what it is. I was waiting until he said something of this nature to a prominent international dignitary as a witness to voice my opinion. Yes, the problem stems from both countries using different maps.

There is no doubt in my mind that those who have heard PM Abhisit and FM Kasit speaking would have naturally and instantaneously asked the simplest question oblivious for a moment to the spin that comes next, and that spin is “Thailand has stuck to an international principle of using a watershed as a border line but Cambodia has relied on a map made by France”. The question is: what is the map used by Cambodia, and what is the map used by Thailand?

The answer may lead the International Community to conclude that Thailand is committing crime against humanity

By answering the question using historical, legal, and international facts and truth, the International Community including UNESCO and ASEAN may come to the conclusion that Thailand must be responsible for tensions, conflicts, armed clashes, losses of lives, destruction of property, damages to Cambodian cultural heritage and to the world cultural heritage as the Temple of Preah Vihear has been inscribed on the World Heritage List since 7 July 2008, in its attempt to change history, to alter the international frontier line, and to take possession of the territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia. For these reasons it seemed to be not going overboard, nor becoming unreasonable to raise the question of accusing Thailand for crimes against humanity.

First, let’s talk about the map used by Cambodia

It is a map, the “Dangrek map,” known as Annex I to the Memorial of Cambodia or Annex I map at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear, (Cambodia v. Thailand) Judgment 15 June 1962. Here are three (3) paragraphs of the ICJ merits that deal with the watershed line and the frontier line:

“Whereas the general character of the frontier established by Article I (of a boundary treaty dated 13 February 1904) was, along the Dangrek range, to be a watershed line, the exact course of this frontier was, by virtue of Article 3 to be delimited by a Frenco-Siamese Mixed Commission,” p 17.

“Amongst these (the eleven maps) was one of that part of the Dangrek range in which the Temple is situated, and on it was traced a frontier line purporting to the outcome of the work of delimitation and showing the whole Preah Vihear promontory, with the Temple area, as being on the Cambodian side,” p 20.

“If therefore the delimitation carried in respect of the eastern Dangrek sector established or was intended to establish a watershed line, this map purported to show such a line,” p21

If and when it is necessary to explain to PM Abhisit and FM Kasit that the frontier line on the Dangrek map is the watershed line at the time of the delimitation (1906), which is not the same watershed line in 1962 when Thailand as Claimant intended to convince the Court that the Temple of Preah Vihear is on the Thai side of the watershed line, not the same watershed line in 2011 that Google Earth is putting the photo on the internet, it is my obligation to do so, and certainly I will do it. I have understood that the third paragraph here above mentioned said it all about the frontier line on the Dangrek map or Annex I map and the watershed line in 1906 at the time of the delimitation, more than half of a century before the 1962 Court case.
Moreover, it is well within the reach of ordinary and reasonable people to follow the ICJ Merits to find whether the frontier line on the Annex I map is legally binding on both Cambodia and Thailand or not. On this critically important point of the Dangrek map or Annex I map and the frontier line on it, the Court stated:

“The real question, therefore, which is the essential one in this case, is whether the Parties did adopt the Annex I map, and the line indicated on it, as representing the outcome of the work of delimitation of the frontier in the region of Preah Vihear, thereby conferring on it a binding character,” p 22. The court sees:

“That the Siamese authorities, by their conduct acknowledged the receipt, and recognized the character, of these maps, and what they purported to represent, is shown by the action of the Minister of Interior, Prince Damrong, in thanking the French Minister in Bangkok, and in asking him for another fifteen copies of each of them for transmission to Siamese provincial Governors,” p 24. In addition the Court sees that the Dangrek map or Annex I map (amongst a series of eleven maps completed in late autumn of 1907 under the 13 February 1904 Convention) has been internationally communicated and therefore, presumed to be acquainted and recognized by recipients:


“It is clear from the record that the publication and communication of the eleven maps referred to earlier including the Annex I map was something of an occasion,” p 22.

“The maps were given wide publicity in all technically interested quarters by being also communicated to the leading geographical societies in important countries, and to other circles generally interested; to the Siamese legations accredited to the British, German, Russian and the United States Governments; and to all the members of the Mixed Commission, French and Siamese,” p 23.

“In 1937, even after Thailand’s own survey in 1934-1935, the Siamese Royal Survey Department produced a map showing Preah Vihear as lying in Cambodia,” p 27.

Second, let’s see what do I know and what does the world know about Thailand map?

It is a secret map. I know and the world knows that the Thai Royal Survey Department produced this secret map that the Thai delegation to the World Heritage Committee at Christchurch, New Zealand in 2007 communicated for the first time to outsiders who are members of the Committee.

It is a unilateral map. It is not the result of any Convention or Treaty between two contracting parties. This unilateral map alters the international frontier line recognized by Thailand (then Siam) under the 13 February 1904 Convention. This is the falsification of an international document. This is totally in contravention with international norms.
It is produced during a period of time known in recent history as the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, taking into account the inscription on this secret and unilateral map that nominates the Cambodian side of the boundary as “Democratic Kampuchea,” the official name of genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge (April 1975 – January 1979).

The map has been kept as state secret by Thailand. A warning on the secret and unilateral map in Thai language said: “This map is a state secret. Users must exercise extreme caution. It could damage the national interests.”

This is how much I know about the “Thai map,” referred to by PM Abhisit and FM Kasit.

I would welcome all the explanations from the Thai side, and from whoever having more knowledge of this secret, unilateral, and falsified map.

Between the Cambodian Annex I map and the Thai unilateral map the difference is staggering

The point I want to make here is the fundamental difference between the “Cambodian map” and the “Thai map” referred to by PM Abhisit and FM Kasit when they communicated with the UNESCO special envoy, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura in the context of the historical, legal and international facts and truth. There is no possible comparison anyone could think of.

Thai military actions based on the unilateral map had caused death and injury to many hundreds of people, destruction of property, displacement of many thousands of people, and damages to the Cambodian Cultural property and world heritage. Since 2008 Thai Armed Forces have launched four attacks on Cambodian territory and military positions, first on 15 July 2008, second on 15 October 2008, third on 3 April 2009 and fourth on 4 to 7 February 2011. Therefore it is correct and absolutely proper to say that “Thai map” is a pure Thai’s creation used to commit crimes against Cambodia and the entire humanity.

The ground rule of engagement is set in full force.

Cambodia, under the wise leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of Cambodia wishes to live in peace, strives for development, reduces poverty step by step, insures internal stability and harmony, safeguards national sovereignty and territorial integrity, upholds the principle of justice between nations and neighbors, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence by using all available bilateral and international treaties and legal means she has, but determines to defend the country and the people against all forms of military aggressions imposed by Thai aggressors and all other foreign aggressors indiscriminately. The ground rule of engagement is set: The Cambodian troops will never engage in the fight with Thai troops on Thai soil, but will shoot to kill when Thai troops attacked the Cambodian front line positions in their attempt to enter and occupy the territory under Cambodian sovereignty.

Prof. Pen Ngoeun
Senior advisor and member of the Academic Committee
Puthisastra University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia,
Former Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Business and Economics
Pannasastra University of Cambodia,
Former Assistant Controller at Phibro Inc.,
A subsidiary of Citigroup Inc., New York City, USA, until 2000
 

Bitter sweet stories around the borders

Source: The Jakarta Post
I Made Andi Arsana, Yogyakarta | Mon, 02/28/2011 10:15 AM | Opinion

While we generally agree that border disputes can endanger people’s lives, I doubt that many people know that the popular teddy bear has something to do with a border dispute. The iconic toy is indeed closely related to a border dispute in the US. We may say that the teddy bear represents a not-so-bitter side of a border dispute.

The story goes back to 1902, when American president Theodore Roosevelt went on a trip to settle a border dispute between two US states, Mississippi and Louisiana. While being involved in lengthy negotiations, the president spent his leisure time hunting bears. The host took the president to the woods but no bear could be found. Feeling uneasy about the matter, the host then caught a bear cub, tied it to a tree and asked the president to shoot it so that the hunting exercise was not in vain. Deeming it poor sportsmanship, the president refused to shoot the defenseless cub.

This bear moment soon made headlines around the country. A political cartoonist, Clifford Berryman, published a cartoon depicting the president and the defenseless bear in the Washington Post on Nov. 6, 1902. It inspired a Russian American immigrant to produce bear toys that were subsequently named “teddy bears”. Teddy was the president’s nick name.

That is part of the history of the iconic teddy bear that is loved by millions of kids around the globe. Its origin is not so far from the border dispute. It was invented because of the American president’s willingness to settle a boundary dispute between two states.

Recently, we heard a not-so-sweet story about a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The two neighbors exchanged fire in a border clash close to an ancient temple, Preah Vihear. The Hindu temple was awarded to Cambodia in a UN court ruling in 1962 but a piece of land around the temple is still disputed and has been the source of a long-standing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

Earlier, a border incident between North and South Korea was also in the headlines for quite some time. An incident in the Yellow Sea that cost human lives once again confirmed that the two neighbors still have unfinished border issues.

A maritime area in the Yellow Sea was, in fact, divided between the two countries in 1953. The line, known as the Northern Limit Line, does not seem to be accepted as a final and binding maritime boundary by North Korea.

In contrast, South Korea apparently accepts it as the line dividing the maritime zones and jurisdiction between the two Koreas. This difference in view seems to be the source, among other things, of the conflict between North and South Korea in the Yellow Sea.

Similar to Thailand and Cambodia, the Koreas seem to have a reasonably bitter story concerning border disputes. In addition to maritime boundary disputes, the two Koreas also have land boundary issues to deal with. Their land boundary is considered the most heavily guarded border in the world, where soldiers from each side are on standby 24/7.

Close to Thailand, Cambodia and the Koreas, Indonesia also has boundary issues to address. Being geographically located at the “crossroad”, Indonesia has 10 neighbors to deal with. From the neighbors, Indonesia shares both land and maritime boundaries with three countries: Malaysia (Borneo), Timor Leste (Timor) and Papua New Guinea (Papua). While for seven others (India, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Palau and Australia), only maritime boundaries needed to be settled.

While it is apparent that border issues between Indonesia and its neighbors are not as worrying as those of Thailand-Cambodia and the Koreas, Indonesia undoubtedly needs to remain vigilant. The Ambalat block case, the border crossing in the Malacca Strait and the apprehension of fishermen in the maritime area between Indonesia and Australia are three good examples that portray why some important border issues still need to be addressed in Indonesia.

Indonesia is now the chair of ASEAN and therefore ideally broadens its attention to serve regional interests. What can Indonesia do to address border issues facing ASEAN members? Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s foreign minister, has taken good steps to demonstrate ASEAN’s willingness to address the issue. He was also involved in a meeting with the United Nations to pave the way to solution.

Even though the solution seemingly remains distant, this initiative has indicated good intention, showing to the world that ASEAN, as a community and organization, is willing to do something to address its members’ problems. Dewa Mangku (2009) in his thesis at Gadjah Mada University, for instance, is quite optimistic that ASEAN has opportunities to assist the two neighbors in settling their border dispute. However, what ASEAN can really do about border issues remains to be seen.

Some major sovereignty and border disputes among ASEAN members were solved through the International Court of Justice: e.g. the Sipadan-Ligitan case (Indonesia-Malaysia, 2002) and the Pedra Branca case (Malaysia-Singapore, 2008). Some opine that this is an indication that ASEAN members do not prefer ASEAN for dispute settlement.

This is debatable, but there is no doubt that ASEAN members, through its good chairmanship, should maximize its role in dealing with inter-member issues. As written by Rizal Sukma “what is ASEAN good for if it cannot use its own mechanism to address its own problems?” (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 10, 2011).

I am personally hoping that we can have sweet stories out of the current border disputes. We might not invent another toy like the teddy bear, but we may have heroes for their achievement in settling border disputes peacefully. The fences between countries need to be mended with goodwill for, as Robert Frost once said, “good fences make good neighbors”.


The writer is a lecturer at the School of Geodetic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University. His research interest is in technical/geodetic and legal aspects of border establishment. The opinions expressed are those of the author alone.

UNESCO envoy arrives

The Phnom Penh Post

SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2011 19:59 CHEANG SOKHA


A special envoy from UNESCO arrived in the Kingdom today to discuss the preservation of Preah Vihear temple following deadly clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border near the 11th-century site earlier this month.

Koichiro Matsuura, formerly the head of UNESCO, will be in Cambodia until Tuesday to hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and other senior officials.

Matsuura was originally scheduled to travel to Preah Vihear on Tuesday to assess the damage sustained by the temple over four days of fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops that left at least 10 people dead and displaced thousands of civilians.

The envoy said today, however, that this visit had been delayed.

Chuch Phoeurn, chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said the trip had been postponed for two weeks to allow Cambodia to prepare for the arrival of military observers from Indonesia who will be monitoring the situation along the border as a result of an agreement reached between Thailand and Cambodia last week.

On Saturday, an advance team of five Indonesians visited the border area to plan for the observers’ arrival, Chuch Phoeurn said.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said  UNESCO’s role in the dispute was not to determine “who is right and who is wrong”, but to “ease tension” and “seek cooperation to effectively protect the temple of Preah Vihear”.

The temple sustained damage to its staircases and exterior during this month’s clashes, though early claims from the Cambodian government that a whole wing had collapsed later proved exaggerated.

Matsuura came to the Kingdom from Thailand, where he met officials including Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva in relation to the dispute.

Thai state media reported that Bangkok had stressed the importance of resolving the countries’ border dispute before UNESCO approves Cambodia’s management plan for the temple.

Tensions along the border have been heightened since 2008, when UNESCO inscribed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site for Cambodia.
Phnom Penh Then and Now
Chum Puy, governor of Kulen district in Preah Vihear province, said today that of the 2,678 families living near the border who had been evacuated to temporary shelters in the midst of the fighting, all but 30 had returned to their homes.

“We see that the situation is now safe for them to return,” he said.

Talks on NGO law ‘broken’?

The Phnom Penh Post
THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2011 21:11 THOMAS MILLER

A Ministry of Interior official who has been central to the drafting of the government’s NGO law lashed out today at a United States diplomat for comments he made about the controversial legislation on a visit this week, while talks with NGOs continued at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

In a letter to Daniel Baer, deputy assistant secretary in the bureau of democracy, human rights and labour at the US State Department, Nouth Sa An, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior, said he was “disappointed” by Baer’s remarks on the law, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Post.

“The consultation is still ongoing between the Government and the NGOs,” Nouth Sa An wrote.

“Your statement ‘we don’t see the need for the law at this point’ now has broken the consultation process.”

Nouth Sa An said the government believed the presence of NGOs following the 1993 elections was an “asset”, but that by 2009, they had “mushroomed to more than 2000 organisations”.

“Subsequently the rule of law is the necessity for Cambodia to ensure the activities of the national and international NGOs to be protected from the unnecessary activities that may hamper their objectivity,” Nouth Sa An wrote.

NGOs have expressed concern that the government would use the law to curb activity it deemed “political” or overtly critical, arguing that the draft allows excessive and arbitrary government authority without recourse to outside appeal.

Mark Wenig, US embassy spokesman, referred a request for comment to the statements made by Baer on Tuesday.

Baer had said one of his “chief aims” in his visit was to learn more about the draft legislation and meet with government and civil society to discuss it.

At the end, he maintained the US position: That it sees no necessity for the law, and urges the government to continue consulting widely on it with civil society.

Nouth Sa An and Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, could not be reached for comment.

Ouch Borith, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said consultations were still ongoing, and he met today with representatives of Medicam and the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, while a colleague discussed the issue with NGO Forum.

He declined to comment further, preferring to “wait until everything is finished”.

He said he would meet Anne Höglund, the Swedish ambassador, about the law tomorrow.

Chith Sam Ath, executive director of NGO Forum, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had agreed, if in word only, to an important change to the law that would allow coalitions between international and domestic NGOs to operate if the lead person is Cambodian.

Chith Sam Ath said NGOs still hope to see a second draft of the law and have a chance to provide further comments on it.

Tackling challenges a step at a time

The Phnom Penh Post

WEDNESDAY, 09 FEBRUARY 2011 15:00 DR NICK WALSH

Health Matters
Dr Nick Walsh


I often sit back and wonder why things are so in Cambodia in contrast to the region. Yes, there are many similarities, but also stark differences. This is often explained away by the Pol Pot/Khmer Rouge years, but I can’t help thinking that it surely is more complicated than that. If the Pol Pot years had not happened, would Cambodia be like Singapore? Would Phnom Penh resemble Jakarta? Likely not.



The preeminent medical journal The Lancet recently published a health series focusing on the ASEAN nations, of which Cambodia is one. It was a fascinating series of papers, so much so that rather than posting a ‘like’ on my FB page, I thought I would devote this column to it.

“It’s the economy, stupid” so the immortalised words go. But in many ways it all boils down to economics. This is not Cambodia’s strong hand. On a purchasing power parity measure, Cambodia has the lowest per capita income of the ASEAN region and the highest proportion of population living in poverty. Nevertheless, economic growth is robust, and one would expect these figures to change in the coming years.
But there’s much more to health than economics.

Starting with the basic facts, life expectancy in Cambodia is 61 years – a little less for men, a little more for women. This has increased by around 10 years in the past 15 – significant progress. Cambodia has a largely young population with 50 percent younger than16. It’s also largely rural country (85 percent) compared to its neighbours, impeding economic growth and the provision of health care.

Cambodia has the highest infant mortality and death rate within ASEAN

It turns out that Southeast Asia is somewhat of a ‘hot spot’ for emerging infectious diseases. Take SARS and H5N1 as two recent examples, as well as the recent emergence in Cambodia of malaria resistant to new antimalarials. What is less known is that the first reported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever occurred in Southeast Asia and have contributed greatly to the global spread of dengue fever. The SARS outbreak alone cost $18 billion with a significant impact on tourism – a key industry for Cambodia and neighbouring economies.

How is it possible that we live in an area which is a crucible to human infectious disease? The most important factors are rapid population growth (from high birth rates) and rapid urbanisation. The latter is responsible for dengue spread in particular. Interestingly, farming practices do explain some diseases. For example Japanese encephalitis requires water birds and mosquitoes to propagate itself – though pigs can also harbour the disease. In Cambodia, rice paddy fields next to farmed pigs in combination with no vaccination programme mean that it is likely the prevalence will increase.

Cambodia experiences the highest burden of communicable disease in ASEAN, even surpassing Myanmar and Laos. This, combined with a lack of health infrastructure and trained health professionals, means that the challenges for Cambodia are great. Despite this, there is no doubt that the SARS, H5N1 and H1N1 outbreak focused minds on the tasks at hand, and better surveillance of infectious disease, including border screening, ensued.

Turning to child and maternal mortality, the news is also worrying. Within ASEAN, Cambodia has the highest infant mortality and deaths under 5 (mostly from infectious diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia) and the second- highest maternal mortality rate. Despite this, the figures have improved by about 20 percent in the past 20 years – so progress is certainly being made.

Other ASEAN countries provide an example of how it is possible to reduce maternal and child mortality. Indonesia and Thailand were both able to do this over an extended period, a combination of economic development, gender equity, mandatory rural placements for health trainees, and a number of public policy programs resulting in better health financing.

Interestingly, early infant mortality improved with maternal mortality, meaning that what’s good for the mum helps the baby too. In terms of evidence, emergency obstetric care, safe water and the availability and use of appropriate oral antibiotics in early childhood are the key interventions which reduce deaths in these groups.

Lifestyle diseases have become part of the developed world over the past 20 years. Diabesity is the latest word to describe the epidemic, with fast food and lack of exercise to blame. However, Cambodia does very well when it comes to lifestyle disease with diabetes and obesity being near lowest in the region. Little data is available about tobacco use, but the risk of developing complications from obesity and hypertension are two to four times higher in Asian populations when compared with world populations. With increasing wealth, Cambodia will be vulnerable to an upturn in these lifestyle diseases.

Cambodia spends around 6 percent of its GDP on health, which is higher than neighbouring countries, but unfortunately 60 percent of health expenses are out-of-pocket, one of the highest in the region, meaning that the burden falls on families rather than the tax payer. The major reason for this is that 70 percent of health care expenditure occurs in the private sector (the highest in the region), and as most health economists know, private health systems are more costly than public ones. Cambodia’s health system is supported by donors to a large extent and with dependency comes the question of sustainability. But transferring the burden of health finance to the tax payer means a structured and effective tax system – and necessitates a middle class to pay the bills.

In fact, it’s a vicious cycle. Cambodia introduced a user fee for health facilities in 1996  as an incentive to health workers. Unfortunately for the poor, this was a barrier, and the health equity fund (donor backed) was introduced in 2000 to compensate health centres and providers. It now covers almost 70 percent of the poor in Cambodia and about a quarter of the total population. The  final stage is then transferring this burden again to the taxpayer (in the form of a social insurance scheme).

This has already happened in the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand where social insurance schemes covering health in the formally employed sectors have been introduced to varying degrees, Cambodia is not yet in a position to consider this option.

Lessons from neighbouring countries show that consistent economic growth is needed to establish the tax base necessary to fund health insurance schemes. Cambodia is challenged by a largely rural population so health financing will be more difficult than urbanised neighbours.

But it’s not just about the burden of infectious disease and health financing. Doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers are needed to provide care and develop public health care systems. Cambodia currently has 0.2 doctors and 0.9 nurses (stats not people!!) per 1000 population, leaving it with a deficit of 44,000 health workers in order to meet World Health Organisation standards, only surpassed in absolute numbers by Vietnam and Indonesia (both sporting  much larger populations).

Whereas Vietnam and Indonesia have 14 and 52 medical schools respectively (though have larger populations), Cambodia has only one or two, markedly restricting the country’s capacity to produce new doctors. Cambodia fairs better when it comes to nurses, producing around 900 a year in the public system, though this is still low compared to our neighbours.

The mind boggles at the complexity of this kaleidoscope of issues. In many ways it does come down to economics, but it is a long and complex journey from basic health services to a sector with universal health coverage. Cambodia has had a more difficult journey than most. Decoupling health from dependence on aid is another additional challenge with no easy solution. Where the heck do we start? One step at a time.

Cambodia’s First Lady appointed national champion for women’s and children’s health

23 February 2011
Source: UNAIDS
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2011/february/20110223cambodia/

UNAIDS Director, Regional Support Team for Asia and Pacific Steve Kraus and First Lady of Cambodia, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen during the official ceremony to appoint her as a National Champion for the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan for Women’s and Children’s Health. Phnom Penh, 21 February 2011.

The First Lady of Cambodia, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, has been appointed the National Champion for the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan for Women’s and Children’s Health at a ceremony in Phnom Penh on 21 February.

In her role as National Champion, Bun Rany will regularly visit health centres across Cambodia to advocate for healthy motherhood with midwives and other health professionals, women and their families, as well as local communities.

The UN Secretary-General launched the Action Plan in April 2010. It is a roadmap that identifies the finance and policy changes needed to improve health and save women’s and children’s lives.

Cambodia has one of the highest levels of maternal mortality in Asia, with 461 deaths per 100,000 live births. With a strong tradition of delivering babies at home, less than half of all babies are delivered in a health facility in Cambodia, and just 60% of births are assisted by trained birth attendants.

Integrated approach to the health MDGs

Although the country has a long way to go to meet its Millennium Development Goal 5 (improve maternal health) target by 2015, it has seen progress in recent years by addressing the health related MDGs through a joint and comprehensive approach. In 2007 Cambodia adopted the “Linked Response Initiative,” a national strategy to expand access to HIV, reproductive and sexual health, family planning, tuberculosis and maternal health services using the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission as an entry point.

These national innovations to health delivery are leading the way to breaking down barriers to broader health care which an isolated approach to AIDS cannot achieve

UNAIDS Country Coordinator, Tony Lisle

Additionally, resources for the AIDS response are supporting integrated laboratory services at referral hospitals allowing tests for TB, malaria, HIV and sexually transmitted infections to be carried out in a single laboratory enabling cost and labour efficiencies and rapid return of results to patients.

“These national innovations to health delivery are leading the way to breaking down barriers to broader health care which an isolated approach to AIDS cannot achieve,” said UNAIDS Country Coordinator Tony Lisle. “It translates to a far more effective use of scarce resources and brings many more women and their children closer to meaningful and comprehensive care.”

It is hoped that Bun Rany’s role as National Champion for the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan for Women’s and Children’s Health as well as her role as National Champion of the Asian Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV and Development will strengthen the country’s integrated approach to tackle MDGs 4, 5 and 6 and will complement the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia on addressing maternal and child health and HIV. Cambodia received a Millennium Development Goal Award in September 2010, an acknowledgement of the country’s efforts to halt and reverse the AIDS epidemic.

‘I was injured by cluster munitions’

MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2011 19:47 HURLEY SCROGGINS
The Phnom Penh Post



Photo by: Hurely Scroggins
Kim Samnang, a border police officer who lost his right forearm to what he described as a cluster munition, recovers from his injuries at Siem Reap Provincial Hospital last week.
Preah Vihear province

 

Life has not yet returned to normal in Svay Chrum village, four kilometers south of the front lines in Preah Vihear, more than two weeks after it was shelled by the Thai army.

Buildings lie empty, while abandoned bicycles and clothes hanging on fences are testament to the hasty departure of the village’s residents.

“There were 250 families in this area; now there are five,” said Rany, a shopkeeper, who returned to the village two days after her home was nearly hit by artillery on February 7.

“We are the risk-takers, the people who have property to protect. I hear from the camps that [villagers] all want to come back, but they are still afraid of the situation here,” she said, referring to the thousands of residents who fled the area during and in the aftermath of the fighting.

In addition to the anxiety about returning to a potential war-zone, displaced people are faced with a new fear.

Cambodia has accused Thailand of deploying an unspecified number of cluster munitions during four days of border skirmishes earlier this month.

Neither country has signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted in 2008 and became binding international law for all signatories in August 2010.

“My base was shelled between 3:15pm and 4:10pm on February 4,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sok Min of Svay Chrum’s border police force.

“I was standing at the gate looking at the mountain, and I heard incoming [shells] and made it just in time to the bunker. The only thing I could hear was a boom, pop, pop, pop – like popcorn – and all I could see was smoke,” Sok Min said.

Kim Samnang, a border police officer, said the shell sounded unusual.

“I suspected there was something different when I heard the pop, pop, pop. I had heard about bombies [cluster munitions] in other provinces,” he said.

“At 6pm [on February 6], we turned the generator on to pump water and decided to watch the Sunday boxing. Someone came in with this thing with a white string, and I put my hand up and told him to put it down,” said Kim Samnang.

The man, identified as border police officer Cheng Mol, put the object on the table and it exploded, killing two and injuring eight others.

Kim Samnang and Cheng Mol both lost forearms and are now sharing a ward at Siem Reap provincial hospital.

“I was injured by cluster munitions,” Kim Samnang said.

“Two days ago, an NGO showed us a photo. It had slightly different coloring, but it’s the same kind of bombie [submunition],” he said.

“It looked like a cow bell or something,” Cheng Mol said.

So far, Thai officials have steadfastly denied deploying cluster munitions in the recent border clashes.

Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd instead accused Cambodia of using the controversial weapon, claiming that a cluster bomb had killed a Thai officer during the skirmish.

Cambodia denies the claim.

 


Photo by: Hurley Scroggins
An unexploded cluster bomblet.

Photo by: Hurley Scroggins
A military official shows where a cluster bomb exploded.

Photo by: Hurley Scroggins
A soldier digs for remnants of exploded cluster bombs.
 

 

























New scourge

Cluster bombs, launched from the ground or dropped from the air, split open before impact to scatter multiple bomblets over a wide area.

Many initially fail to explode and can lie hidden for decades, maiming civilians who inadvertently happen upon them.

Cambodia has a long and tragic history of unexploded ordnance from years of revolution and civil war, but the bombies described by Kim Samnang and Cheng Mol were something new.

Officials from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre arrived in the village the following morning.

“I had never seen anything like them before. They’re not like the American war bombies,” said Saem Ponnreay, manager of CMAC’s Demining Unit 3.

“People were playing with the things, spinning them in the air by their cords. We sent photos to HQ and they confirmed that they were M42/46 submunitions. We had recently cleared the area. Now we have to come back.”

CMAC issued a statement on February 10, in which they stated: “During the crossfire there was identified evidence of heavy artillery such as 105mm, 130mm and 155mm shells used by the Thai military, and CMAC experts have confirmed that these artilleries contained cluster munitions including M35, M42 and M46 types.”

Cluster Munitions Coalition member Sister Denise Coughlan surveyed the situation near the border last week.

“I am saddened by the suffering and displacement of people from both sides of the border.

I witnessed with my own eyes cluster munitions on the ground,” she said.

“I have also spoken to the victims who identified the M46 as the munition that injured them.”

Coughlan said the legacy of cluster munitions was long and tragic.

“The use of cluster bombs causes devastating consequences years after the conflict. A friend of mine lost both his arms from cluster munitions from the 1970s in 2004. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else.”

CMAC officials say they have an enormous task ahead of them even if the fighting stops soon.

“We don’t know how many shells landed around here. Some could have fallen in unpopulated areas,” said Saem Ponnreay.

“Before we let civilians back in [to their homes], we need to educate them. We have reached 4,000 families in the camps, teaching them not to touch these [bombies] and to call our hotlines if they see one.”

Most of the people remaining in Svay Chrum are in uniform. Soldiers either walk or hitch rides down the mountain to buy supplies or get a drink in one of the two places that serve them.

Some soldiers live about 50 metres from opposing troops and relish the opportunity to take a break. Morale remains high.

The few women still in the village have more practical concerns.

Rany worries about her land.



“It was announced on [February 3] that we must register our property.

Then the war started the next day,” she said.

“I had to come back because I was afraid somebody would take my inventory and my house. At least if I stay here nobody will take it apart.”

Cambodia welcomes Thai intention to ask observers from Indonesia to border disputed area

Source: Xinhua, English.news.cn   2011-02-21 13:22:38


PHNOM PENH, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Monday that Cambodia welcomes Thailand's intention to ask Indonesia to send observers to embed in Thai side's troops in the border conflict near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"Now Thailand agreed with the observers, it's the best, so it will be positive step in the meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 22," he told reporters on Monday morning at Phnom Penh International Airport before departing for the foreign ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia to hear of the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

"This is the result of our complaint to the United Nations Security Council because we had asked to the UNSC for observers to the disputed border areas to ensure cease-fire and to observe who the real invader is-- as both sides always put the blame on each other," he added.

Hor Namhong's remark was made following a Sunday's announcement by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya that Thailand planned to invite Indonesia to send observers to "embed" with Thai soldiers at the border where Thai troops clashed with Cambodian troops.
"We would ask Indonesia, chair of ASEAN, to dispatch observers to embed with the Thai troops at the border where the Thai troops clashed with Cambodian troops. The observers will be our witness that we respect the ceasefire," The Nation quoted Kasit as saying on Sunday.


During the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers'meeting, Cambodia will ask Thailand to sign a permanent ceasefire under the witness of ASEAN chair or representative and it will also ask ASEAN observers to the disputed areas to ensure the permanent ceasefire.


"Cambodia has a strong confidence on ASEAN in meditating the conflict," he said.
Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The conflict is due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides. The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7, unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, had killed and wounded many soldiers and citizens of both sides, and caused tens of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas fleeing for safe shelters.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thai claims are outrageous

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 15:00 Ek Madra 

 The Phnom Penh Post

 

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Displaced villagers in a temporary shelter after fleeing their homes near the Preah Vihear Temple.

Opinion

---

Ek Madra

Thailand claimed that Cambodia attacked first when hostilities broke out 10 days ago at the Preah Vihear Temple region. Thailand also claimed, via its premier, that Cambodia positioned troops at the world heritage site of Preah Vihear.

Fact or fiction?
Thailand’s GDP for 2010 at constant prices was estimated at US$580.3 billion. The population of Thailand in 2010 was estimated at 67.7 million. The country has a land mass of 513,120 square kilometres. And armed forces, including paramilitaries, as of 2008 were at 665,000, including modern main battle tanks, F16 fighter jets and attack helicopters as well as naval units.

Cambodia’s GDP was US$29.5 billion. Cambodia has a population of 14 million people and its land area is 181,035 square kilometers. Its armed forces number approximately 100,000, and it has a virtually non-existent air force and naval units.

Given the above, would anyone of a sane and rational mind ever belief what Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva alleged – that Cambodia attacked the Thai military and civilian units across the tenacious border of Preah Vihear over four consecutive days  in early February?

Is this logical for Cambodia to actually mount an offensive against Thailand as claimed and foolishly alleged by Thailand? Cambodia is a vastly smaller neighbour, struggling to build its economy, build infrastructure and bring basic amenities to her people.

On the contrary, it would be outrageous, ridiculous and even outright stupid for Cambodia to launch any offensive against Thailand in the battle field as it is outnumbered in every single aspect of the armed forces – from the military to the air force, to the navy and to the paramilitary and even the civilian police force.

In the absence of an air force, attack helicopters, modern main battle tanks, an inadequate supply base and nightmarish logistics, no one ever believed Cambodia is capable of mounting any form of attack against Thailand.  

Cambodia, which emerged from three decades of civil war from 1970-1998 during which her infrastructures were devastated and tens of thousands of people were killed, is tired of fighting.

It is clear and evident that Thai premier Abhisit, fearing an international public relations nightmare and a highly likely scenario of being sanctioned by the UNSC, ASEAN, UNESCO and other international institutions, has embarked on a much maligned public relations  campaign to say that the victim has been the aggressor.  The above facts speak volumes of this, including the Thai threat to unleash its mighty air force on Cambodia if Cambodia did not withdraw from its own territory.

Surely the international community and ASEAN are mature enough and have within them the capability of rational thinking based on the facts on the grounds to judge or conclude who is the aggressor and who is the victim.

Furthermore, Abhisit also alleged that Cambodia used the world heritage listing of Preah Vihear to house troops and launch attacks on Thai territory. This is another outrageous lie and false propaganda designed to pull the wool over the international community’s eyes and against all reasoning.

Cambodia has to defend the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple given the fact that Thailand has tried on several occasions by military means to occupy the temple’s surrounding area, which is Cambodia’s territory.

This is the opening Thailand is seeking, yearning and even prepared to die for. Thailand wants to walk into the Preah Vihear Temple unopposed, unchallenged and plant its flag on sovereign Cambodian soil.
Thailand intended and intends to do this unopposed and is masking its intentions by alleging that Cambodia is using the world heritage site as a military base.

These lies and malicious rumours are precisely the reason why Cambodia has invited the United Nations military observers to take up positions in the Preah Vihear Temple region and its vicinity, on sovereign Cambodian territory, so the international community can see up close and in person that Cambodia is indeed a victim of Thailand’s grand scheme of annexing Cambodian soil, seizing Cambodia’s and the world’s cultural heritage from right under the nose of Cambodia and the world community.

This would indeed be the case if Cambodia left the temple unguarded as history and the ICJ has proven that Thais have looted the Preah Vihear Temple for centuries and will continue to do so, even if they have no legal, cultural, historical and no moral right to the temple or its vicinity.

Cambodia, by appealing to the UNSC and the world community, including UNESCO, to take up its just cause, has done the right thing as an intransigent Thailand has proven time and again over decades that it cannot be trusted or depended upon to accept internationally binding verdicts, not bilateral agreements, as it harbours territorial ambitions and to claim as its own what it does not own or understand in the first place.

Director-General expresses alarm over escalation of violence between Thailand and Cambodia

Source: World Heritage Centre

URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/707

Sunday, February 6, 2011

 

UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova expressed her deep concern at the sudden escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Reports indicate that troops on either side have exchanged fire resulting in the loss of life and also some damage to the temple.

The Director-General expresses her distress at this sudden turn of events and calls upon both sides to exercise restraint for the sake of the preservation of the Temple of Preah Vihear and open direct channels of communication at the highest levels to defuse the tension.

Wat Keo Sehakiri Svarak was burned down and poinsionous weapons were used by Siamese army (News in Khmer)

ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​​កំពុង​​កាន់​កាប់​ទី​បញ្ជា​ការ​របស់​សៀម​ ​និង​វាយ​សង្គ្រប់​លើ​ទាហាន​សៀម​ បណ្តាល​ឱ្យ​ឆេះ​លេណ​​ដ្ឋាន​ជា​ច្រើន​កន្លែង

Source: Koh Santepheap Daily 

http://kohsantepheapdaily.com.kh/article/20110206-061125.html

(ប្រុសកោះ)

ថ្ងៃ អាទិត្យ ទី ៦ ខែ កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ២០១១

រូបភាព កោះសន្តិភាព

ទាហានកម្ពុជាពេលកំពុងប្រតិបត្តិការ

 

ការ​បាញ់​​ផ្លោង​អូស​បន្លាយ​អស់​រយៈ​ ពេល​ជាង​១​ម៉ោង​ គឺ​មក​ដល់​នៅ​វេលា​ម៉ោង​៨​យប់ ថ្ងៃ​​ទី​៦ កុម្ភៈ ​២០១១ ដដែល ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​​កំពុង​​តែ​​វាយ​សង្គ្រប់​ទៅលើ​លេណដ្ឋាន​​របស់​ទាហាន​សៀម​​ជា ​ច្រើន​​កន្លែង​បណ្តាល​ខូច​ខាត​​ និង​ឆេះ​សន្ធោ​​សន្ធៅ​ ព្រម​ទាំង​​ចូល​កាន់​កាប់​​ទី​បញ្ជា​ការ​របស់​ទាហាន​​សៀម​​មួយ​ចំនួន​​រួច​ ទៅ​ហើយ ។ ទាហាន​សៀម​បាន​ប្រើ​​កាំភ្លើង​​ធុន​១០៥​មិល្លី​ម៉ែត្រ ​១៣០ និង​១៥០មិល្លី​ម៉ែត្រ​បាញ់​​ចូល​មក​ក្បែរ​បន្ទាយ​ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា និង​ធ្លាក់​ចំ​​វត្ត​កែវ​សិក្ខា​គិរី​ស្វារៈ ជា​ច្រើន​គ្រាប់​​ផង​ដែរ ​បង្ក​ឱ្យ​ឆេះ​ និង​ផ្សែង​ខ្មៅ​អាប់​​ពុល​ដល់​ព្រះ​សង្ឃ​ ។

សូម​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ស្នូរ​ផ្ទុះ​អាវុធ​​តូច​​-ធំ​​ដ៏​​កក្រើក​បាន​​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​យ៉ាង​រន្ថើន​ជា​ ថ្មី​ទៀត​នៅតាម​ខ្សែ​បន្ទាត់​​ព្រំ​ដែន​រវាង​ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា ​និង​សៀម​ កាល​ពីវេលា​ម៉ោង​​៦​និង​៤៥​នាទី​ល្ងាច ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៦ កុម្ភៈ ​២០១១ បង្ក​ឱ្យ​មាន​ការ​​រន្ធត់​​យា៉ង​ខ្លាំង បន្ទាប់​ពី​ទាហាន​សៀម​នៅតែ​ព្យា​យាម​​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​ទឹក​ដី​កម្ពុជា​ ហើយ​កម្ពុជា​ប្រើ​សិទ្ធិ​ស្វ័យ​ការ​ពារ​ទឹក​ដីរបស់​ខ្លួន​ដោយ​បាញ់​តប​ត​ទៅ​ វិញ ។
ការ​បាញ់​ផ្តក់​បាន​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​ចេញ​ពី​ចំណុច​​អូរ​ចាក់​ច្រែង រាល​ដាល​មក​ដល់​ភ្នំ​​ទ្រព្យ​​ វាល​ឥន្ទ្រី​សំបុក​ឃ្មុំ ​ឆៀង​ខាង​ឆ្វេង​​កៀក​នឹង​​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​ និង​កំពុង​រាល​ដាល​ទៅ​ដល់​ស្លាប​ខាង​ស្តាំ​នៃ​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះ​វិហារ​​ ដែល​ការ​ប្រយុទ្ធ​​គ្នា​នេះ​ឱ្យ​មាន​ទំហំ​ធំ​ជាង​​កាល​ពី​២​ថ្ងៃ​មុន​ទៅ​ ទៀត។ ​ការ​​​ស្លាប់​​ និង​របួស​នៅ​មិន​ទាន់​មាន​របាយ​ការណ៍​​ទេ ​ព្រោះ​ថា ស្បៃ​រាត្រី​បាន​ទំលាក់​មក​គ្រប​​ដណ្តប់​​លើ​សមរ​ភូមិន្ទ​ទៅ​ហើយមើល​អ្វី​ មិន​ឃើញ​ទេ ​គឺ​ឃើញ​តែ​គ្រាប់​​កាំភ្លើង​​​ក្រហម​ច្រាល​រត់​​ឆ្វាច​កាត់​លំហ​អាកាស​​ពី​ ខ្សែ​​ត្រៀម​​ម្ខាង​ទៅ​​ខ្សែ​ត្រៀម​​ម្ខាង​​ទៀត​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ ។

មជ្ឈ​ ជាតិ-អន្តរ​​ជាតិ​ដែល​កំពុង​តាម​ដាន​​ស្ថាន​ការណ៍​តាន​តឹង​ និង​ការ​ប្រយុទ្ធ​គ្នា​នេះ​បាន​សំដែង​​ការ​​ព្រួយ​បារម្ភ​ពី​ការ​​ខូចខាត​ ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​​របស់​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​សៀម​​ប៉ុន​ប៉ង​​​លេប​ត្របាក់ និង​យល់​ឃើញ​ថា ​ការ​បញ្ឆេះ​ឱ្យ​ផ្ទុះ​អាវុធ​​របស់​ទាហាន​សៀម​​នេះ​គឺ​ជា​មហិច្ឆតា​ ចង់បំផ្លិច​បំផ្លាញ​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះ​វិហារ​របស់​កម្ពុជា​តែ​ម្តង៕

CTN and Bayon TV Live Broadcast on Thai Invasion

Phnom Penh, 6 Feb. 2011:  CTN is reporting live on the Siamese invasion into Cambodia by heavy weapons deep into 18 to 20 Kilometres.

Cambodia Television Network
Bayon TV

Below is the extract  from Reuters.

Thai and Cambodian troops clash again in disputed territory

(Reuters) - Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fire on a disputed stretch of their border on Sunday, witnesses said, the third flare-up in three days in an ancient feud over territory surrounding a 900-year-old Hindu temple.

The latest fighting occurred despite Thailand's announcement of a ceasefire on Saturday following clashes in the area that killed at least five people on Friday and Saturday.

A witness said about 20 rounds were heard going off in the vicinity of a 4.6-sq-km (two-sq-mile) disputed area around the 11-century Preah Vihear temple, a jungle-clad escarpment claimed by both countries.
"We are receiving reports of fresh shooting right now. But there is no report of casualties," said Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

(Reporting by Ambika Ahuja. Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

Cambodian, Thai troops exchange fire again near Preah Vihear temple

Source: Xinhua, 5 Feb. 2011
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai troops at the Beehive area near Preah Vihear temple exchanged fire again on Saturday morning.

"The fighting between our Cambodian troops and Thai troops over the beehive area near the Preah Vihear temple has begun again at 6:15 a.m. this morning and lasted for more than an hour," said colonel Darun at Preah Vihear temple.

"Heavy weapons including rockets, machine guns and mortars, artillery have also been used in the exchange fire this morning," he said. One more Thai soldiers were captured in Saturday morning' s clash, bringing the arrested Thais to five.

No immediate report about the deaths and wounds in the clash this morning, he added.

This is the second military clash after the conflict on Feb. 4 between 15:00 to 17:00.

According to the statement issued by the Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in late Friday, the aggression by Thai armed forces on Feb. 4 was also followed by firing of many 130 mm and 155 mm artillery shells which reached as far as 20 kilometers inside Cambodian territory.

"The attack caused many seriously damages to the temple of Preah Vihear, a world heritage, as well as death and injury of more than ten Cambodian troops and villagers," said the statement.



It added that "facing this flagrant aggression, Cambodian troops had no option, but to retaliate in self defense and in order to safeguard Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"Cambodia is sincerely committed to find a peaceful solution with Thailand on the demarcation of the border according to the existing legal documents that both countries must comply with," it said.

Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Meanwhile, Kasit Piromya, Thai Foreign Minister said during a press conference in Phnom Penh that he would try his best to mend the ties of both countries.

Kasit said that the clash indicated that the border issue was very sensitive and the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO should handle the disputed issue very carefully.

"The border situation around temple is very sensitive and both sides should restrain."

The relationships between two countries should not be affected by a "minor conflict," Kasit added.

In a related development, Thai army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha made remarks Friday evening that he believed it would take some time for the Thai and Cambodian ties to be back to normalcy, but he supports the peaceful method.

"There is no use to resort to violent means. We have to handle the border issue extremely carefully; otherwise, it will badly affect the business in border provinces, lives of the Thai and the Cambodian people," Gen Prayuth said.

This latest confrontation occurred while Thailand's Foreign Kasit Piromya is in Cambodia for the 7th Joint Commission meeting to discuss with his counterpart the bilateral cooperation on various issues including the border matter.

Cambodia-Thai Troops Exchange Fire Near Ancient Temple

Source:  2011-02-04 16:54:24     Xinhua      Web Editor: Sun


Cambodian and Thai border troops exchanged fire on Friday near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, military sources said.
The fighting started at around 3 p.m. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the crossfire.

The re-tension between Cambodia and Thailand over the border started on Thursday last week after Thailand asked Cambodia to remove a national flag over Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple, claiming that the pagoda is on the disputed area, but the Cambodian side rejected it, saying that it is situated in Cambodian territory according to the map produced by the Franco-Siamese commissions between the period of 1905 and 1908.

Since then, military forces from both sides have been reinforced; tanks, fighting vehicles, missiles and ammunition have been dispatched to their respective border areas.

A close military source said that the tension at the border near Preah Vihear temple was heated up on Thursday afternoon and " both side's troops were on high alert."

Cambodian Garment Workers Open University

Phnom Penh, 4 February 2011:  ILO Better Factories Cambodia has run a series of event on "Garment Worker Open University in which training on basic Cambodian Labour Law is provided to around 2,000 workers from 28 garment factories in the Phnom Penh areas.

The garment sector provides work to approximately 300,000 workers currently.  90% of them are young women from different provinces of Cambodia such as Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, and Kampong Speu.  The "Open Univerity" event aims at:

• Highlighting the importance of the labour law for the healthy growth of the industry and Cambodia as a whole;
• Increasing the knowledge of garment workers of the Labour Law, their rights and responsibilities;
• Increasing the knowledge of key trade union leaders in terms of the labour law and how it applies to their work; and
• Increasing workers' knowledge of a disseminate information about life basic skills as to encourage safe behaviours.

ILO BFC Trainer and workers on one of Sunday providing the labour law training to workers.

The Open University runs through four Sundays with 500 workers for each Sunday.  The 500 workers were divided into 17 different classes with 17 to 20 worker participants.  Workers were collected from the designated areas and transported to the training centre in Phnom Penh.

 

Workers listen to the session on labour law training.  This is their first time to take part in such mass labour law training.

Workers had luch during the lunch break under the shadow of the training building.

Workers enjoyed the comedy during the break. As part of the event, an educational comedy on reproductive health and domestic violence was integrated and performed by Phva Punleau Selabak.

Workers stood watching the comedy during lunch break time.

Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, Chief Technical Advisor of ILO BFC and I, Sophal Chea, Programme Officer for MDG-F Joint Programme for Children, Food Security and Nutrition, observed one of the training classes during the Open Univeristy event.

      

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