Ron Corben, VOA Khmer | Bangkok Friday, 29 April 2011
"It was laying the path, laying the ground work for their decision to submit a request to the International Court of Justice."
Cambodia has called on the International Court of Justice to review a 1962 judgment over a disputed ancient Hindu temple along the Thai border. The move follows renewed fighting that broke an hours-old ceasefire.
In a submission to the International Court of Justice, Cambodia calls for an interpretation a 50-year-old ruling that gave the 11th century temple to Cambodia.
Cambodian Foreign Affairs Spokesman Koy Kuong announced the move Friday in Phnom Penh.
The spokesman says his government wants the court to interpret the 1962 decision that gave Preah Vihear to Cambodia. He says that ruling was based on a map that is recognized by the international community.
The border around the temple, known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand, has remained in dispute despite the 1962 decision. The temple is most easily accessed from Thai territory, and Bangkok claims ownership of the land near it.
Cambodia announced its appeal to the international court hours after new fighting along the border broke a ceasefire agreement. Both sides blamed the other for the clash
The ceasefire agreement reached on Thursday aimed to end a week of fighting, which has claimed at least 16 lives and forced tens of thousands of villagers from both countries to flee homes near the border.
The Thai government thinks the latest clashes are linked to Cambodia’s move to petition the International Court of Justice. Thani Thongphakdi is a Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"From our perspective I think this puts all the jigsaw pieces in place," said Thani Thongphakdi. "What the Cambodian side has been doing since it had been initiating these conflicts along the border. It was laying the path, laying the ground work for their decision to submit a request to the International Court of Justice."
The countries have fought sporadically along the border since 2008, when Cambodia obtained World Heritage status for the Hindu temple. That angered many Thai nationalists, and both sides increased military patrols along the border.
It is not clear what started the latest fighting. Regional political analysts, however, say that domestic politics on both sides makes it hard to resolve the dispute. In Cambodia, they say, it appears Prime Minister Hun Sen benefits by appearing tough against a larger neighbor, and it is possible he hopes that elections expected in Thailand later this year will allow his friend, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to return to power.
On the other side, the analysts say, Thailand’s powerful military commanders may hope a crisis along the border will provide an excuse to call off elections, and keep a new government from shaking up the senior ranks.
The border issue is set to be raised at a summit of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to be held in Jakarta next month. Thailand says the summit may lead to talks between Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodia’s Hun Sen "if conditions are right".
30 April, 2011
Maternal Mortality Remains A Burden for Most Asian Countries
Philstar.com
30 April 2011
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Western Pacific region still has a long way to go when it comes to improving maternal health.
The region includes some of the fast growing economies in east Asia. But rising prosperity failed to lift the plight of some of the region's poorest women. The incidence of maternal death remains high, with most pregnant mothers dying from postpartum hemorrhage.
A high maternal mortality rate is "symptomatic of a weak and iniquitous public heath system," said Mercy Fabros of Woman Health Philippines.
"Childbirth is a statement that the body is healthy. And yet there are still women who die while giving birth. That's really a tragedy," Fabros said.
Developing countries committed under the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015 from the estimated levels prevailing in 1990. But according to the latest report filed by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the health-related MDG targets, maternal mortality ratio is where the Western Pacific countries "made the least progress."
The WHO estimates that 13,000 maternal deaths occurred in the region in 2008, with huge disparities across and within countries. The WHO notes that while countries like China and Vietnam have succeeded in reducing maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2008 (achieving 75 percent of their MDG targets), maternal deaths remain a burden in most countries in the region.
"Clearly, societies and health systems are not doing enough to protect women's health and well-being," said Shin Young-soo, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific.
In its 2010 MDG Progress Report, the WHO reported maternal mortality remains "unacceptably high" in Cambodia, Laos and Papua New Guinea and among marginalized and underserved groups within these countries.
The WHO report cited limited access to prenatal care and decline in the percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel as among the key reasons behind the high maternal mortality ratio.
WHO said while the number of skilled birth personnel in Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines is increasing, their current coverage rates for births attended by skilled birth personnel remain low, at 20 percent, 44 percent and 60 percent, respectively.
Fabros attributed this to the lack of investments in both facilities and human resources needed to promote maternal health.
She said that in the end this boils down to the failure of governments to reduce poverty incidence the main reason why most women can't afford to pay for prenatal care services, eat nutritious food during pregnancy and ensure that there's a skilled birth attendant a doctor or midwife to attend to them while giving birth.
Apart from the high incidence of maternal deaths, the WHO said that millions of women in the Western Pacific region face a number of avoidable health risks.
For instance, 10 percent of newborn children have a low birth weight in at least seven countries in the region. This, WHO said is a sign of maternal malnutrition. There's also a high prevalence of anemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Neuropsychiatric disorders is also another problem with depressive disorders account to close to 42 percent of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women.
Wang Xiangdong, regional adviser in mental health at WHO, attributed this to the lack of information on how to deal with depression and limited access to trained psychiatrists who can help women cope with depression.
"Few people think that depression is a disorder that can be treated," Wang said.
30 April 2011
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Western Pacific region still has a long way to go when it comes to improving maternal health.
The region includes some of the fast growing economies in east Asia. But rising prosperity failed to lift the plight of some of the region's poorest women. The incidence of maternal death remains high, with most pregnant mothers dying from postpartum hemorrhage.
A high maternal mortality rate is "symptomatic of a weak and iniquitous public heath system," said Mercy Fabros of Woman Health Philippines.
"Childbirth is a statement that the body is healthy. And yet there are still women who die while giving birth. That's really a tragedy," Fabros said.
Developing countries committed under the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015 from the estimated levels prevailing in 1990. But according to the latest report filed by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the health-related MDG targets, maternal mortality ratio is where the Western Pacific countries "made the least progress."
The WHO estimates that 13,000 maternal deaths occurred in the region in 2008, with huge disparities across and within countries. The WHO notes that while countries like China and Vietnam have succeeded in reducing maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2008 (achieving 75 percent of their MDG targets), maternal deaths remain a burden in most countries in the region.
"Clearly, societies and health systems are not doing enough to protect women's health and well-being," said Shin Young-soo, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific.
In its 2010 MDG Progress Report, the WHO reported maternal mortality remains "unacceptably high" in Cambodia, Laos and Papua New Guinea and among marginalized and underserved groups within these countries.
The WHO report cited limited access to prenatal care and decline in the percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel as among the key reasons behind the high maternal mortality ratio.
WHO said while the number of skilled birth personnel in Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines is increasing, their current coverage rates for births attended by skilled birth personnel remain low, at 20 percent, 44 percent and 60 percent, respectively.
Fabros attributed this to the lack of investments in both facilities and human resources needed to promote maternal health.
She said that in the end this boils down to the failure of governments to reduce poverty incidence the main reason why most women can't afford to pay for prenatal care services, eat nutritious food during pregnancy and ensure that there's a skilled birth attendant a doctor or midwife to attend to them while giving birth.
Apart from the high incidence of maternal deaths, the WHO said that millions of women in the Western Pacific region face a number of avoidable health risks.
For instance, 10 percent of newborn children have a low birth weight in at least seven countries in the region. This, WHO said is a sign of maternal malnutrition. There's also a high prevalence of anemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Neuropsychiatric disorders is also another problem with depressive disorders account to close to 42 percent of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women.
Wang Xiangdong, regional adviser in mental health at WHO, attributed this to the lack of information on how to deal with depression and limited access to trained psychiatrists who can help women cope with depression.
"Few people think that depression is a disorder that can be treated," Wang said.
Thai, Cambodia clash again, toll up to 16
The Times of India
AP | Apr 30, 2011, 06.37am IST
THAILAND: Thai and Cambodian troops broke a brief cease-fire and clashed for an eighth day on Friday, shattering hopes of a quick end to a longrunning border conflict. The death toll rose to 16.
The fighting eased shortly after dawn and guns were silent the rest of the day as nearly 100,000 displaced residents on both sides waited to see if the worst skirmishes in years between the two Southeast Asian neighbours might finally end.
"I wish both sides could talk, so that there is no more fighting,'' said Boonteung Somsed, a 58-year-old Thai construction worker who fled to the village of Prasat, about 20 miles from the border.
Art & Architecture of Cambodia (World of Art)
Traditional Dancer and Costumes, Khmer Arts Dance, Siem Reap, Cambodia Photographic Poster Print by Bill Bachmann, 30x40
AP | Apr 30, 2011, 06.37am IST
THAILAND: Thai and Cambodian troops broke a brief cease-fire and clashed for an eighth day on Friday, shattering hopes of a quick end to a longrunning border conflict. The death toll rose to 16.
The fighting eased shortly after dawn and guns were silent the rest of the day as nearly 100,000 displaced residents on both sides waited to see if the worst skirmishes in years between the two Southeast Asian neighbours might finally end.
"I wish both sides could talk, so that there is no more fighting,'' said Boonteung Somsed, a 58-year-old Thai construction worker who fled to the village of Prasat, about 20 miles from the border.
Art & Architecture of Cambodia (World of Art)
Traditional Dancer and Costumes, Khmer Arts Dance, Siem Reap, Cambodia Photographic Poster Print by Bill Bachmann, 30x40
RI team waits for nod from Thailand, Cambodia
The Jakarta Post
Sri wahyuni,
Yogyakarta,
30 April 2011
An Indonesian observer team to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute was forced to delay its departure as both countries have not agreed on terms of reference (TOR) for the team’s duties and responsibilities.
Speaking in Yogyakarta on Friday, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said there were a number of issues that remained to be hammered out in the TOR, which stated the readiness of Indonesia to send observers, including the number of the observers to be deployed, to what extent and in how many spots.
“The dispute has expanded to as far as 150 kilometers to the east of the initial area. This of course has to be considered in the TOR,” Purnomo said after delivering opening remarks at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) Plus
on Friday.
The Thai-Cambodian border conflict, he said, was initially over an area of 4.5 square kilometers, but later spilled over to a wider area. The dispute, Purnomo claimed, had been brought to the UN Security Council, which recommended it be settled within ASEAN.
Based on the recommendation, Purnomo said, Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN initiated a meeting earlier this year and proposed the TOR should a peacekeeping operation be carried out to help settle the dispute.
“It’s still under discussion,” he said.
Purnomo added that a peacekeeping operation was one of five topics discussed at ADSOM Plus, which was attended by the representatives of the 10 ASEAN states and the grouping’s dialog partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.
“This is the new architecture of ASEAN and its eight dialog partners in the field of defense,” Purnomo said, adding that Yogyakarta was the first host city for the ADSOM Plus.
The meeting was scheduled back-to-back with the two-day ADSOM held on Wednesday and Thursday, which involved only senior defense officials from ASEAN states.
The other four defense cooperation issues discussed during the ADSOM Plus were military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and maritime security.
Cambodian for Beginners - Second Edition
EuroTalk Interactive - Talk Now! Learn Khmer
Sri wahyuni,
Yogyakarta,
30 April 2011
An Indonesian observer team to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute was forced to delay its departure as both countries have not agreed on terms of reference (TOR) for the team’s duties and responsibilities.
Speaking in Yogyakarta on Friday, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said there were a number of issues that remained to be hammered out in the TOR, which stated the readiness of Indonesia to send observers, including the number of the observers to be deployed, to what extent and in how many spots.
“The dispute has expanded to as far as 150 kilometers to the east of the initial area. This of course has to be considered in the TOR,” Purnomo said after delivering opening remarks at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) Plus
on Friday.
The Thai-Cambodian border conflict, he said, was initially over an area of 4.5 square kilometers, but later spilled over to a wider area. The dispute, Purnomo claimed, had been brought to the UN Security Council, which recommended it be settled within ASEAN.
Based on the recommendation, Purnomo said, Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN initiated a meeting earlier this year and proposed the TOR should a peacekeeping operation be carried out to help settle the dispute.
“It’s still under discussion,” he said.
Purnomo added that a peacekeeping operation was one of five topics discussed at ADSOM Plus, which was attended by the representatives of the 10 ASEAN states and the grouping’s dialog partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.
“This is the new architecture of ASEAN and its eight dialog partners in the field of defense,” Purnomo said, adding that Yogyakarta was the first host city for the ADSOM Plus.
The meeting was scheduled back-to-back with the two-day ADSOM held on Wednesday and Thursday, which involved only senior defense officials from ASEAN states.
The other four defense cooperation issues discussed during the ADSOM Plus were military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and maritime security.
Cambodian for Beginners - Second Edition
EuroTalk Interactive - Talk Now! Learn Khmer
45,200 Cambodian evacuees flee home due to clashes with Thailand
Xinhua, 30 April 2011
PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The eighth day of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over disputed border areas had forced other 11,200 Cambodian people to flee homes, bringing the total number of evacuees to 45,200 by Friday evening, said a senior government official.
"Too many Cambodian evacuees have fled home in the latest rounds of fighting with Thailand," Nhim Vanda, the first vice- president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, told Xinhua by telephone on Friday. "We have never expected such great number of evacuees, so now our major concerns for them are clean water and sanitary facilities."
During the fighting, the villagers living as far as 18 kilometers surrounding the fighting areas at the 11th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province have forced to flee for safe shelters.
The last day of armed clashes happened at Thursday night and lasted until 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning.
Cambodian and Thai troops had exchanged gunfire for eight straight days over disputed border areas at Ta Moan and Ta Krabei temples, which lie 150 kilometers west of Preah Vihear Temple.
The fighting had killed eight Cambodian soldiers, seven Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian, and caused several dozens injured.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, 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.
Preah Vihear
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE
PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The eighth day of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over disputed border areas had forced other 11,200 Cambodian people to flee homes, bringing the total number of evacuees to 45,200 by Friday evening, said a senior government official.
"Too many Cambodian evacuees have fled home in the latest rounds of fighting with Thailand," Nhim Vanda, the first vice- president of the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management, told Xinhua by telephone on Friday. "We have never expected such great number of evacuees, so now our major concerns for them are clean water and sanitary facilities."
During the fighting, the villagers living as far as 18 kilometers surrounding the fighting areas at the 11th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province have forced to flee for safe shelters.
The last day of armed clashes happened at Thursday night and lasted until 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning.
Cambodian and Thai troops had exchanged gunfire for eight straight days over disputed border areas at Ta Moan and Ta Krabei temples, which lie 150 kilometers west of Preah Vihear Temple.
The fighting had killed eight Cambodian soldiers, seven Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian, and caused several dozens injured.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, 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.
Preah Vihear
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE
28 April, 2011
World OSH Day in Kg. Cham Province
Kampong Cham, 28 April 2011: Commemoration of World Day for Safety and Health at Work was organized by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training in Kampong Cham Province to mark the annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April 2011.
Government officials from Department of Occupational Safety and Health and representatives from ILO Cambodia projects together with the Deputy Governor, H.E. Meng Suon and MoLVT Undersecretary of State, H.E. Eang Sophal attended the event and took part in the march to mark the day.
Government officials from Department of Occupational Safety and Health and representatives from ILO Cambodia projects together with the Deputy Governor, H.E. Meng Suon and MoLVT Undersecretary of State, H.E. Eang Sophal attended the event and took part in the march to mark the day.
26 April, 2011
Thai, Cambodian Troops Clash After Weeks of Peace
VOA News
Daniel Schearf | Bangkok Friday, 22 April 2011
URL:http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Thai-Cambodian-Troops-Clash-After-Weeks-of-Peace-120517714.html
Thai and Cambodian soldiers have exchanged fire near a disputed border area, breaking an informal ceasefire. The skirmish killed at least six soldiers and forced thousands of villagers to flee to safety.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers fought a brief battle Friday morning, with casualties on both sides.
No civilians were reported injured after the two militaries exchanged heavy gunfire and artillery along their disputed border.
But Thai military spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak says 7,500 villagers were evacuated on the Thai side and would not return until calm is restored. He says the fighting, which ended a two month lull in hostilities, stopped around mid-morning and the two military’s leaders were in contact to prevent further clashes.
"For the Royal Thai Army we did not reinforce troops or equipment but we have the soldiers or the unit deployed in that area alert, being on alert, because we don't know what would happen in the future." he said.
Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting.
Werachon says Cambodian soldiers broke an agreement to stay out of a disputed territory and then fired on Thai soldiers who gave them a "verbal warning."
Cambodia says Thai soldiers first advanced into Cambodian territory, firing their weapons.
Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat is spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense. He says the Thai soldiers entered Cambodian territory and ambushed them at a temple when they were on patrol. He says at the same time they launched heavy weapons more than twenty kilometers at their base and on villagers.
The spokesman's assertion of attacks on villages could not be independently confirmed.
Tensions are high since clashes broke out in February in a disputed border area near a 900-year-old Khmer Hindu temple called Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.
Thai and Cambodian militaries exchanged heavy artillery and machine gun fire, killing several people, including civilians, and sending thousands fleeing the border.
Cambodia wants international support to end the conflict while Thailand says it must be resolved bilaterally.
Indonesia brokered an agreement to send its observers to the border to help restore peace, but the process has stalled over disagreement on which areas they should be allowed into.
Daniel Schearf | Bangkok Friday, 22 April 2011
URL:http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Thai-Cambodian-Troops-Clash-After-Weeks-of-Peace-120517714.html
Thai and Cambodian soldiers have exchanged fire near a disputed border area, breaking an informal ceasefire. The skirmish killed at least six soldiers and forced thousands of villagers to flee to safety.
Thai and Cambodian soldiers fought a brief battle Friday morning, with casualties on both sides.
No civilians were reported injured after the two militaries exchanged heavy gunfire and artillery along their disputed border.
But Thai military spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak says 7,500 villagers were evacuated on the Thai side and would not return until calm is restored. He says the fighting, which ended a two month lull in hostilities, stopped around mid-morning and the two military’s leaders were in contact to prevent further clashes.
"For the Royal Thai Army we did not reinforce troops or equipment but we have the soldiers or the unit deployed in that area alert, being on alert, because we don't know what would happen in the future." he said.
Both sides blame the other for starting the fighting.
Werachon says Cambodian soldiers broke an agreement to stay out of a disputed territory and then fired on Thai soldiers who gave them a "verbal warning."
Cambodia says Thai soldiers first advanced into Cambodian territory, firing their weapons.
Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat is spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense. He says the Thai soldiers entered Cambodian territory and ambushed them at a temple when they were on patrol. He says at the same time they launched heavy weapons more than twenty kilometers at their base and on villagers.
The spokesman's assertion of attacks on villages could not be independently confirmed.
Tensions are high since clashes broke out in February in a disputed border area near a 900-year-old Khmer Hindu temple called Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.
Thai and Cambodian militaries exchanged heavy artillery and machine gun fire, killing several people, including civilians, and sending thousands fleeing the border.
Cambodia wants international support to end the conflict while Thailand says it must be resolved bilaterally.
Indonesia brokered an agreement to send its observers to the border to help restore peace, but the process has stalled over disagreement on which areas they should be allowed into.
Thai-Cambodia clashes spread east to Preah Vihear
BBC News, 26 April 2011
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13192513
Fighting has erupted between soldiers from Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed mountainous border for a fifth consecutive day.
Spokesmen from both sides said skirmishes broke out near the Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday.
The violence follows four days of fighting around the temple of Ta Krabey, 160km (100 miles) to the west.
At least 12 soldiers have been killed in the latest outbreak of violence between the two neighbours.
Parts of the Thai-Cambodian border have never been formally demarcated, causing continuing tensions and firing nationalist sentiment in each country.
The 11th Century hill-top temple of Preah Vihear is a particular flashpoint.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 but both sides claim ownership of the surrounding area. At least 10 people were killed in clashes around the temple in February.
There was no information on whether the most recent exchange of fire at Preah Vihear had caused casualties.
But it comes after days of fighting around Ta Krabey and another temple, Ta Moan, which stand in jungle areas further to the west that both sides claim.
Some 36,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, and the UN has called for a ceasefire.
On Saturday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the border dispute could not be resolved by military means and both sides needed to engage in "serious dialogue".
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13192513
Fighting has erupted between soldiers from Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed mountainous border for a fifth consecutive day.
Spokesmen from both sides said skirmishes broke out near the Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday.
The violence follows four days of fighting around the temple of Ta Krabey, 160km (100 miles) to the west.
At least 12 soldiers have been killed in the latest outbreak of violence between the two neighbours.
Parts of the Thai-Cambodian border have never been formally demarcated, causing continuing tensions and firing nationalist sentiment in each country.
The 11th Century hill-top temple of Preah Vihear is a particular flashpoint.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962 but both sides claim ownership of the surrounding area. At least 10 people were killed in clashes around the temple in February.
There was no information on whether the most recent exchange of fire at Preah Vihear had caused casualties.
But it comes after days of fighting around Ta Krabey and another temple, Ta Moan, which stand in jungle areas further to the west that both sides claim.
Some 36,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, and the UN has called for a ceasefire.
On Saturday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the border dispute could not be resolved by military means and both sides needed to engage in "serious dialogue".
Thailand-Cambodia Clash Deflecting Domestic Woes
The Irrawaddy
By SIMON ROUGHNEEN Tuesday, April 26, 2011
BANGKOK — Since Friday morning, fighting along the Thai-Cambodia border has left 12 soldiers dead and forced the evacuation of thousands of civilians on both sides of the frontier. This comes two months after four days of fighting left 11 people dead at a separate location along the border.
The latest bout of shelling began at around 6 am on Friday along the border where Thailand's Surin Province faces Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia. Both sides blame each other for shooting first. Thailand says that Cambodia plans a ground offensive to take control of two temples, while Cambodia claims that its adversary has used chemical weapons and sent fighter aircraft into Cambodia's airspace. Both sides deny the respective allegations.
It was the first fighting since February 4-7, when 12 people were killed near a 900-year-old Hindu temple called Preah Vihear. The temple was built by the same Khmer Empire that constructed Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure. Angkor Wat draws around two million tourists per annum and sits near Siem Reap in Cambodia's northwest.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice put Preah Vihear inside Cambodia. However Thai nationalists dispute the decision, with tensions intensifying after the site received World Heritage site status in 2008. The Thai government says that the land around the temple has not been demarcated, and that the status of the temple cannot therefore be denoted until the land issue is resolved.
The current conflict is taking place around 100 miles west of Preah Vihear, and similarly revolves around sovereignty over temples and the adjoining land. The situation has apparently remained calm around Preah Vihear, site of previous fighting between the two countries.
The clash has sparked other controversies. Thailand was criticized for alleged use of cluster bombs—which are banned by many countries—during the February fighting. A campaign group called the Cluster Munition Coalition said it found unexploded ordinance inside Cambodia, near where fighting took place. Thailand acknowledged the use of cluster bombs in the February fighting, but said that their weapons were not among those covered by international agreements on cluster bombs.
Both countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), currently headed by Indonesia. Jakarta's Foreign Minister Marty Natelagawa has sought to mediate between the two countries since the February clashes, but Thailand has been cool to Indonesia's offer to send impartial monitors to the border region.
Cambodia wants the Indonesians in place, but Mr Natelagawa canceled scheduled visits to Phnom Penh and Bangkok today without giving any reason. The fighting could overshadow the upcoming ASEAN summit in Jakarta in early May, when it is likely that Thai PM Abhisit Vejajjva and Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen will come face-to-face.
While the unresolved border row remains volatile, some analysts speculate that there are domestic political issues involved in the international dispute. Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said that the fighting “appears to be a cynical political ploy on the part of both governments to satisfy nationalist sentiment.”
Last Thursday, police in Phnom Penh beat protestors demonstrating against forced evictions, after around half of the 4,000 residents living close to Boeung Kak Lake in the city were driven from their homes to make way for a Chinese-backed property development project. Human rights groups say that the Cambodian government is trying to restrict freedom of association, not only by coercing protestors but by establishing a series of new laws for the establishment of NGOs and trade unions.
Cambodia's main opposition leader Sam Rainsy lives in exile in Paris and faces several jail terms at home. Charges against Mr Rainsy include accusing the country's current Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of membership of the Khmer Rouge, and allegedly publishing a false map of the Cambodia-Vietnam border.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Phnom Penh over the weekend—while fighting continued at Cambodia's western border—for talks about trade and investment. Vietnam occupied much of Cambodia for the decade following its 1979 invasion, which removed the Khmer Rouge regime from power after four years of rule left around two million Cambodians dead. The four surviving Khmer Rouge leaders are due to stand trial later this year at the internationally-backed court set up to mediate war crimes.
Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's former prime minister and seen by many as the de facto leader of Thailand's opposition, is also in exile after fleeing corruption charges.
In late 2009, the Cambodian Government riled its Thai counterpart by offering Mr Thaksin a role as an 'economic advisor' and comparing the billionaire former telecommunications entrepreneur to Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Meanwhile, a brief lapse in TV signals last Thursday—the evening before the border fighting re-started—sparked new rumors about a coup in Thailand. Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha denied that that a military takeover was being planned, with Thailand expected to hold elections during the coming summer.
Army leaders have warned politicians not to refer to the country's monarchy during the election campaign, and hit Redshirt leaders with lese majeste charges last week. This all comes less than a year after central Bangkok became an urban war zone, with Thai troops eventually over-running the two-month long Redshirt demonstration on May 19, 2010. Ninety-one people—mostly civilians—were killed during the two-month stand off, with little by way of information on who was responsible for the deaths coming from the Thai government in the intervening period.
Sodsri Sattayatham, a member of Thailand's Election Commission, said on Monday that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia might affect Thailand's upcoming vote. While a date for the election has not been set, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva says he plans to dissolve parliament in early May, with an election to follow in late June or early July.
Paul Chambers, a military analyst at the University of Heidelberg, told The Irrawaddy that in both Cambodia and Thailand, the military and civilian leadership do not see eye-to-eye on border policy. He believes that in Cambodia “local army commanders were more pragmatic and willing to accede to a peace with their Thai military counterparts than was civilian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has sought to fan the flames of nationalism to bolster his rule.”
In Thailand, according to Mr Chambers, the military leadership and nationalist factions are pushing a confrontational approach, with the army “unwilling to put up with any interference from the Thai civilian leadership—Abhisit included—with regard to Thai border policy.” However, Thai Army chief Gen Prayuth said earlier today that the military would adhere to the government's orders.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or 'Yellowshirts', have called on voters to spoil their vote in the election, after previously suggesting a five year period of appointed government. The PAD continues to protest against the Thai government's handling of the border issue, saying that a more hardline stance is needed.
The latest PAD protest has drawn no more than 3,000-4,000 people so far—much reduced from the tens of thousands that occupied Thailand's Government House and Bangkok's international airports in 2008. Those demonstrations presaged the ousting of the government led by allies of Thaksin, who won the last Thai election held in 2007. That vote came in the year after Thailand's last military coup, which took place in September 2006, while then-PM Thaksin was attending a United Nations summit in New York, and after yet more Yellowshirt protests against Thaksin.
Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban says that there is potential for a prolonged conflict on the border. Within Cambodia, a young population—with no memory of Cambodia's violent recent history—are “fiercely nationalistic and easily mobilized for war”, according to Emma Leslie of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in Phnom Penh.
Behind the Killing Fields: A Khmer Rouge Leader and One of His Victims (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)
Cambodia: Year Zero on trial: the trial of a few surviving leaders of the notorious Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia in the 1970s, is finally underway. ... An article from: New Internationalist
By SIMON ROUGHNEEN Tuesday, April 26, 2011
BANGKOK — Since Friday morning, fighting along the Thai-Cambodia border has left 12 soldiers dead and forced the evacuation of thousands of civilians on both sides of the frontier. This comes two months after four days of fighting left 11 people dead at a separate location along the border.
The latest bout of shelling began at around 6 am on Friday along the border where Thailand's Surin Province faces Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia. Both sides blame each other for shooting first. Thailand says that Cambodia plans a ground offensive to take control of two temples, while Cambodia claims that its adversary has used chemical weapons and sent fighter aircraft into Cambodia's airspace. Both sides deny the respective allegations.
It was the first fighting since February 4-7, when 12 people were killed near a 900-year-old Hindu temple called Preah Vihear. The temple was built by the same Khmer Empire that constructed Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure. Angkor Wat draws around two million tourists per annum and sits near Siem Reap in Cambodia's northwest.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice put Preah Vihear inside Cambodia. However Thai nationalists dispute the decision, with tensions intensifying after the site received World Heritage site status in 2008. The Thai government says that the land around the temple has not been demarcated, and that the status of the temple cannot therefore be denoted until the land issue is resolved.
The current conflict is taking place around 100 miles west of Preah Vihear, and similarly revolves around sovereignty over temples and the adjoining land. The situation has apparently remained calm around Preah Vihear, site of previous fighting between the two countries.
The clash has sparked other controversies. Thailand was criticized for alleged use of cluster bombs—which are banned by many countries—during the February fighting. A campaign group called the Cluster Munition Coalition said it found unexploded ordinance inside Cambodia, near where fighting took place. Thailand acknowledged the use of cluster bombs in the February fighting, but said that their weapons were not among those covered by international agreements on cluster bombs.
Both countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), currently headed by Indonesia. Jakarta's Foreign Minister Marty Natelagawa has sought to mediate between the two countries since the February clashes, but Thailand has been cool to Indonesia's offer to send impartial monitors to the border region.
Cambodia wants the Indonesians in place, but Mr Natelagawa canceled scheduled visits to Phnom Penh and Bangkok today without giving any reason. The fighting could overshadow the upcoming ASEAN summit in Jakarta in early May, when it is likely that Thai PM Abhisit Vejajjva and Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen will come face-to-face.
While the unresolved border row remains volatile, some analysts speculate that there are domestic political issues involved in the international dispute. Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said that the fighting “appears to be a cynical political ploy on the part of both governments to satisfy nationalist sentiment.”
Last Thursday, police in Phnom Penh beat protestors demonstrating against forced evictions, after around half of the 4,000 residents living close to Boeung Kak Lake in the city were driven from their homes to make way for a Chinese-backed property development project. Human rights groups say that the Cambodian government is trying to restrict freedom of association, not only by coercing protestors but by establishing a series of new laws for the establishment of NGOs and trade unions.
Cambodia's main opposition leader Sam Rainsy lives in exile in Paris and faces several jail terms at home. Charges against Mr Rainsy include accusing the country's current Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of membership of the Khmer Rouge, and allegedly publishing a false map of the Cambodia-Vietnam border.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Phnom Penh over the weekend—while fighting continued at Cambodia's western border—for talks about trade and investment. Vietnam occupied much of Cambodia for the decade following its 1979 invasion, which removed the Khmer Rouge regime from power after four years of rule left around two million Cambodians dead. The four surviving Khmer Rouge leaders are due to stand trial later this year at the internationally-backed court set up to mediate war crimes.
Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's former prime minister and seen by many as the de facto leader of Thailand's opposition, is also in exile after fleeing corruption charges.
In late 2009, the Cambodian Government riled its Thai counterpart by offering Mr Thaksin a role as an 'economic advisor' and comparing the billionaire former telecommunications entrepreneur to Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Meanwhile, a brief lapse in TV signals last Thursday—the evening before the border fighting re-started—sparked new rumors about a coup in Thailand. Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha denied that that a military takeover was being planned, with Thailand expected to hold elections during the coming summer.
Army leaders have warned politicians not to refer to the country's monarchy during the election campaign, and hit Redshirt leaders with lese majeste charges last week. This all comes less than a year after central Bangkok became an urban war zone, with Thai troops eventually over-running the two-month long Redshirt demonstration on May 19, 2010. Ninety-one people—mostly civilians—were killed during the two-month stand off, with little by way of information on who was responsible for the deaths coming from the Thai government in the intervening period.
Sodsri Sattayatham, a member of Thailand's Election Commission, said on Monday that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia might affect Thailand's upcoming vote. While a date for the election has not been set, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva says he plans to dissolve parliament in early May, with an election to follow in late June or early July.
Paul Chambers, a military analyst at the University of Heidelberg, told The Irrawaddy that in both Cambodia and Thailand, the military and civilian leadership do not see eye-to-eye on border policy. He believes that in Cambodia “local army commanders were more pragmatic and willing to accede to a peace with their Thai military counterparts than was civilian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has sought to fan the flames of nationalism to bolster his rule.”
In Thailand, according to Mr Chambers, the military leadership and nationalist factions are pushing a confrontational approach, with the army “unwilling to put up with any interference from the Thai civilian leadership—Abhisit included—with regard to Thai border policy.” However, Thai Army chief Gen Prayuth said earlier today that the military would adhere to the government's orders.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or 'Yellowshirts', have called on voters to spoil their vote in the election, after previously suggesting a five year period of appointed government. The PAD continues to protest against the Thai government's handling of the border issue, saying that a more hardline stance is needed.
The latest PAD protest has drawn no more than 3,000-4,000 people so far—much reduced from the tens of thousands that occupied Thailand's Government House and Bangkok's international airports in 2008. Those demonstrations presaged the ousting of the government led by allies of Thaksin, who won the last Thai election held in 2007. That vote came in the year after Thailand's last military coup, which took place in September 2006, while then-PM Thaksin was attending a United Nations summit in New York, and after yet more Yellowshirt protests against Thaksin.
Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban says that there is potential for a prolonged conflict on the border. Within Cambodia, a young population—with no memory of Cambodia's violent recent history—are “fiercely nationalistic and easily mobilized for war”, according to Emma Leslie of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in Phnom Penh.
Behind the Killing Fields: A Khmer Rouge Leader and One of His Victims (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)
Cambodia: Year Zero on trial: the trial of a few surviving leaders of the notorious Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia in the 1970s, is finally underway. ... An article from: New Internationalist
Clinton asks Thailand, Cambodia to exercise restraint
Source: The Hindu
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2011
URL:http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1768954.ece
Deeply concerned about clashes between security forces along the Thailand-Cambodia border, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked both the countries to exercise restraint and refrain from provocative acts.
“The U.S. remains deeply concerned about clashes between security forces along the Thailand-Cambodia border,” Ms. Clinton said in a statement.
“We strongly urge both sides to exercise restraint, refrain from provocative acts, and immediately take all necessary steps to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict. The loss of life, displacement of civilians, and damage to property is regrettable,” she said.
The U.S. supports the efforts of Indonesia in their role as chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work with both countries to reach a resolution, Ms. Clinton said.
“The U.S. is also engaging with Thai and Cambodian officials directly on this matter. We continue to urge the Royal Thai Government and Royal Government of Cambodia to resolve their disputes peacefully to help strengthen regional stability,” she said.
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2011
URL:http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1768954.ece
Deeply concerned about clashes between security forces along the Thailand-Cambodia border, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked both the countries to exercise restraint and refrain from provocative acts.
“The U.S. remains deeply concerned about clashes between security forces along the Thailand-Cambodia border,” Ms. Clinton said in a statement.
“We strongly urge both sides to exercise restraint, refrain from provocative acts, and immediately take all necessary steps to reduce tensions and avoid further conflict. The loss of life, displacement of civilians, and damage to property is regrettable,” she said.
The U.S. supports the efforts of Indonesia in their role as chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work with both countries to reach a resolution, Ms. Clinton said.
“The U.S. is also engaging with Thai and Cambodian officials directly on this matter. We continue to urge the Royal Thai Government and Royal Government of Cambodia to resolve their disputes peacefully to help strengthen regional stability,” she said.
Thai-Cambodia border calm after clashes
Source: Westpoint News
Published 11:25 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011
URL:http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Thai-Cambodia-border-calm-after-clashes-1352185.php
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai and Cambodian military officers say the border between their two countries is calm after four days of clashes that have killed at least 12 soldiers.
Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Tuesday that the latest flare-up Monday night lasted around three hours.
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat confirmed that account. But he says the situation is tense and troops are on high alert.
The fighting is centered around two crumbling stone temples from the Khmer Empire and is rooted in a long-running dispute over where the border should be drawn. The conflict has fueled deep nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Thai and Cambodian forces battled for a fourth straight day along their disputed border Monday, as Cambodia accused its neighbor of damaging two ancient temples in weekend clashes.
Southeast Asian diplomats are struggling to end the repeated deadly flare-ups, but Thailand's prime minister appeared to reject outside help Monday, saying the two countries have to resolve the dispute alone.
The fighting on land around temples and several other crumbling stone monuments is rooted in a long-running dispute over where the border should be drawn and has fueled profound nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades.
Field commanders on both sides reported heavy exchanges of fire after nightfall Monday around Ta Krabey temple. Cambodian Col. Suos Sothea said from the front that both sides had fired artillery, mortars and rifles.
Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd confirmed that account, saying "we could not stay still and allow them to attack. We had to counter responsively."
Both sides have accused each other of starting the latest battles, which by Sunday had killed at least 12 soldiers on both sides and forced 30,000 people in Thailand and another 17,000 in Cambodia to flee.
While a wider war seems unlikely, several cease-fires have failed to prevent new border bloodshed. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a cease-fire, but the prospects for peace appear shaky.
Most of the recent fighting has taken place around the 1,000-year-old Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, which are on territory claimed by both countries. The temples date back to the Khmer empire that once ruled over much of both Cambodia and Thailand.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the two temple complexes, caught in crossfire over the weekend, had been hit by bullets and shells, but there was no word on how bad the damage was. Thai authorities had no immediate comment on the allegation.
This month's renewed fighting comes as Thailand prepares for general elections expected by early July. The Thai army, which staged a coup in 2006 and continues to hold influence in domestic politics, has effectively vetoed a plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was in "intense" talks with both sides to secure an end to the conflict in his role as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Foreign Ministry official Hamzah Thayeb said.
Natalegawa postponed a scheduled trip Monday to Cambodia, Thayeb said, as Indonesia continued to push to send military observers to the region — a move that Thailand has so far vehemently rejected. The trip's cancellation cast doubt on hopes the simmering dispute might be resolved quickly.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the border issue must be solved by Thailand and Cambodia themselves, saying third-party involvement might make it "more complicated"
"There is no need for a third country to intervene," said Abhisit. "Eventually there has to be a talk between Thailand and Cambodia."
Abhisit said he would meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a two-day ASEAN summit due in Indonesia on May 7.
The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections.
In recent years, political groups on both sides have accused their opponents of using the skirmishes to stir nationalistic fever and further their own domestic political agendas.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has harnessed the dispute in the past to build political support. And during the last round of fighting in February, Thai nationalists launched a sit-in outside government buildings in part to demand the country take a tough stand against Cambodia. The group is widely seen as playing the patriotism card in a bid to exercise more influence over politics at home.
The current round of clashes are the first since February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the more well known Preah Vihear, which suffered minor damage from exploding artillery and mortar shells that knocked small chunks out of a few of its walls.
The latest fighting over the last several days broke out about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Preah Vihear. After easing earlier Sunday, fighting resumed later that night, both sides said, raising the toll from 10 to 12.
___
Doksone reported from Bangkok; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
Published 11:25 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011
URL:http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Thai-Cambodia-border-calm-after-clashes-1352185.php
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai and Cambodian military officers say the border between their two countries is calm after four days of clashes that have killed at least 12 soldiers.
Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Tuesday that the latest flare-up Monday night lasted around three hours.
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat confirmed that account. But he says the situation is tense and troops are on high alert.
The fighting is centered around two crumbling stone temples from the Khmer Empire and is rooted in a long-running dispute over where the border should be drawn. The conflict has fueled deep nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Thai and Cambodian forces battled for a fourth straight day along their disputed border Monday, as Cambodia accused its neighbor of damaging two ancient temples in weekend clashes.
Southeast Asian diplomats are struggling to end the repeated deadly flare-ups, but Thailand's prime minister appeared to reject outside help Monday, saying the two countries have to resolve the dispute alone.
The fighting on land around temples and several other crumbling stone monuments is rooted in a long-running dispute over where the border should be drawn and has fueled profound nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades.
Field commanders on both sides reported heavy exchanges of fire after nightfall Monday around Ta Krabey temple. Cambodian Col. Suos Sothea said from the front that both sides had fired artillery, mortars and rifles.
Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd confirmed that account, saying "we could not stay still and allow them to attack. We had to counter responsively."
Both sides have accused each other of starting the latest battles, which by Sunday had killed at least 12 soldiers on both sides and forced 30,000 people in Thailand and another 17,000 in Cambodia to flee.
While a wider war seems unlikely, several cease-fires have failed to prevent new border bloodshed. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a cease-fire, but the prospects for peace appear shaky.
Most of the recent fighting has taken place around the 1,000-year-old Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, which are on territory claimed by both countries. The temples date back to the Khmer empire that once ruled over much of both Cambodia and Thailand.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the two temple complexes, caught in crossfire over the weekend, had been hit by bullets and shells, but there was no word on how bad the damage was. Thai authorities had no immediate comment on the allegation.
This month's renewed fighting comes as Thailand prepares for general elections expected by early July. The Thai army, which staged a coup in 2006 and continues to hold influence in domestic politics, has effectively vetoed a plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was in "intense" talks with both sides to secure an end to the conflict in his role as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Foreign Ministry official Hamzah Thayeb said.
Natalegawa postponed a scheduled trip Monday to Cambodia, Thayeb said, as Indonesia continued to push to send military observers to the region — a move that Thailand has so far vehemently rejected. The trip's cancellation cast doubt on hopes the simmering dispute might be resolved quickly.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the border issue must be solved by Thailand and Cambodia themselves, saying third-party involvement might make it "more complicated"
"There is no need for a third country to intervene," said Abhisit. "Eventually there has to be a talk between Thailand and Cambodia."
Abhisit said he would meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a two-day ASEAN summit due in Indonesia on May 7.
The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections.
In recent years, political groups on both sides have accused their opponents of using the skirmishes to stir nationalistic fever and further their own domestic political agendas.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has harnessed the dispute in the past to build political support. And during the last round of fighting in February, Thai nationalists launched a sit-in outside government buildings in part to demand the country take a tough stand against Cambodia. The group is widely seen as playing the patriotism card in a bid to exercise more influence over politics at home.
The current round of clashes are the first since February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near the more well known Preah Vihear, which suffered minor damage from exploding artillery and mortar shells that knocked small chunks out of a few of its walls.
The latest fighting over the last several days broke out about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Preah Vihear. After easing earlier Sunday, fighting resumed later that night, both sides said, raising the toll from 10 to 12.
___
Doksone reported from Bangkok; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
Border conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand
(REUTERS/ Sukree Sukplang)
BANGKOK, April 25
RIA Novosti (Russia)
Thailand and Cambodia are amassing armor and heavy artillery along their common border raising fears that a long-running territorial dispute could escalate into a full-scale war, local media reported on Monday.
A fragile cease-fire between the two Southeast Asian states was broken on Friday when the sides exchanged artillery, rocket and rifle fire. By Monday at least 12 soldiers on both sides were reported to have been killed and dozens more wounded.
"A high concentration of troops and weaponry on the border threatens to turn the conflict into a large-scale war," the Bangkok Post said.
Thai television reported on Monday tanks and armored personnel carriers with troops facing each other on opposite sides of the border in full combat readiness.
Despite UN efforts to find a diplomatic solution for the flare-up, the prospects of a new cease-fire appear to be shaky as the Thai government refuses to accept foreign mediation.
Border conflicts between the two states over the ownership of several 11th century temples that began a century ago resumed in 2010-2011. The two neighbors fought a four-day war near one of the temples in February, and a ceasefire has been in place since March.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been demarcated in detail.
BANGKOK, April 25
RIA Novosti (Russia)
Thailand and Cambodia are amassing armor and heavy artillery along their common border raising fears that a long-running territorial dispute could escalate into a full-scale war, local media reported on Monday.
A fragile cease-fire between the two Southeast Asian states was broken on Friday when the sides exchanged artillery, rocket and rifle fire. By Monday at least 12 soldiers on both sides were reported to have been killed and dozens more wounded.
"A high concentration of troops and weaponry on the border threatens to turn the conflict into a large-scale war," the Bangkok Post said.
Thai television reported on Monday tanks and armored personnel carriers with troops facing each other on opposite sides of the border in full combat readiness.
Despite UN efforts to find a diplomatic solution for the flare-up, the prospects of a new cease-fire appear to be shaky as the Thai government refuses to accept foreign mediation.
Border conflicts between the two states over the ownership of several 11th century temples that began a century ago resumed in 2010-2011. The two neighbors fought a four-day war near one of the temples in February, and a ceasefire has been in place since March.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been demarcated in detail.
Bangkok's political turmoil is damaging regional stability
APRIL 26, 2011
The Wall Street Journal
Fighting over the disputed territory surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodia border resumed last Friday, with both sides trading artillery fire and accusations of targeting civilian villages throughout the weekend. The Associated Press reports 12 soldiers confirmed dead.
The world may never know which side started the latest clash, since Thailand continues to resist allowing international observers to monitor the area. And both countries deserve some blame for stirring the pot at various times. Nevertheless, it has become increasingly clear that the Thai military is doing nothing to ease the tension.
That much we know from the way that the military, and then Bangkok, vetoed initiatives to get the two sides talking. After the last major bout of fighting in February, Cambodia succeeded in bringing the matter to the United Nations Security Council, which promptly kicked it back to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Indonesia, the chair of Asean this year, has played shuttle diplomacy trying to bring the two sides together, but Bangkok continues to balk. That has allowed Cambodia to play the aggrieved and more reasonable party.
Thailand's unwillingness to even contemplate compromise may be due to the broader impasse in its domestic politics. In 2008, the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy, more commonly known as the yellow shirts, took up the temple issue as a cudgel against the government of Samak Sundaravej. The same group has now turned on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and is castigating him for not taking more aggressive action to recover the temple.
Meanwhile, the military is positioning itself as the main defender of the monarchy and Thai sovereignty. Tension between the military and the civilian government has been mounting since Mr. Abhisit announced elections would be held within the next few months. Bangkok is rife with rumors that a coup is imminent.
The military, palace and business elite all fear that supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will win their fourth straight general election. The last three results were annulled by a coup and court rulings, and the red shirt supporters of Mr. Thaksin have become increasingly restive as a result of their disenfranchisement. Even if their Puea Thai Party wins, there is a strong chance they will not be allowed to form a government. So further unrest later this year seems likely.
In this context, a fight with Cambodia might seem an appealing way out of the deadlock. A limited war with a much smaller neighbor could unify Thais, as the red shirts would feel pressure to get behind the military in a time of national crisis. Mr. Abhisit, who has never won an election and is widely regarded as a figurehead within Thailand, could be dispensed with, and elections pushed off until the glow of victory and massive public spending restore the Bangkok elite's popularity.
Perhaps the Thai military understands how much could go wrong with such a scenario and is only engaging in brinksmanship. But even this runs the risk of accidental escalation. And once a conflict starts, Asean nations would be put in the impossible position of having to choose sides, which might tear the organization apart.
Thailand's friends have a responsibility to dissuade the military from military adventures. It's also time they addressed the root cause of the problem. This conflict is a sign that the nation's internal political crisis is beginning to generate external costs, showing once again that Asean's credo of noninterference in domestic politics needs to be tempered with an awareness that promotion of democracy is part and parcel of regional stability.
As long as the military is allowed to play its pivotal role in national politics, Thailand will fail to play its rightful role as a stabilizing force in Southeast Asia.
The Wall Street Journal
Fighting over the disputed territory surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodia border resumed last Friday, with both sides trading artillery fire and accusations of targeting civilian villages throughout the weekend. The Associated Press reports 12 soldiers confirmed dead.
The world may never know which side started the latest clash, since Thailand continues to resist allowing international observers to monitor the area. And both countries deserve some blame for stirring the pot at various times. Nevertheless, it has become increasingly clear that the Thai military is doing nothing to ease the tension.
That much we know from the way that the military, and then Bangkok, vetoed initiatives to get the two sides talking. After the last major bout of fighting in February, Cambodia succeeded in bringing the matter to the United Nations Security Council, which promptly kicked it back to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Indonesia, the chair of Asean this year, has played shuttle diplomacy trying to bring the two sides together, but Bangkok continues to balk. That has allowed Cambodia to play the aggrieved and more reasonable party.
Thailand's unwillingness to even contemplate compromise may be due to the broader impasse in its domestic politics. In 2008, the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy, more commonly known as the yellow shirts, took up the temple issue as a cudgel against the government of Samak Sundaravej. The same group has now turned on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and is castigating him for not taking more aggressive action to recover the temple.
Meanwhile, the military is positioning itself as the main defender of the monarchy and Thai sovereignty. Tension between the military and the civilian government has been mounting since Mr. Abhisit announced elections would be held within the next few months. Bangkok is rife with rumors that a coup is imminent.
The military, palace and business elite all fear that supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will win their fourth straight general election. The last three results were annulled by a coup and court rulings, and the red shirt supporters of Mr. Thaksin have become increasingly restive as a result of their disenfranchisement. Even if their Puea Thai Party wins, there is a strong chance they will not be allowed to form a government. So further unrest later this year seems likely.
In this context, a fight with Cambodia might seem an appealing way out of the deadlock. A limited war with a much smaller neighbor could unify Thais, as the red shirts would feel pressure to get behind the military in a time of national crisis. Mr. Abhisit, who has never won an election and is widely regarded as a figurehead within Thailand, could be dispensed with, and elections pushed off until the glow of victory and massive public spending restore the Bangkok elite's popularity.
Perhaps the Thai military understands how much could go wrong with such a scenario and is only engaging in brinksmanship. But even this runs the risk of accidental escalation. And once a conflict starts, Asean nations would be put in the impossible position of having to choose sides, which might tear the organization apart.
Thailand's friends have a responsibility to dissuade the military from military adventures. It's also time they addressed the root cause of the problem. This conflict is a sign that the nation's internal political crisis is beginning to generate external costs, showing once again that Asean's credo of noninterference in domestic politics needs to be tempered with an awareness that promotion of democracy is part and parcel of regional stability.
As long as the military is allowed to play its pivotal role in national politics, Thailand will fail to play its rightful role as a stabilizing force in Southeast Asia.
ប្រវត្តិប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី
ប្រវត្តិប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី
Radio FreevAsia
ដោយ សេក បណ្ឌិត
2011-04-25
អ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រខ្មែរអះអាងថា ប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី ជាប្រាសាទរបស់ខ្មែរ ហើយស្ថិតនៅលើទឹកដីខ្មែរបច្ចុប្បន្ន។
ជម្លោះរវាងកម្ពុជា និងថៃ ដែលកំពុងកើតមាន នៅតំបន់ប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី និងប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារជាដើមនោះ មិនមែនជាបញ្ហាជម្លោះ ដែលបន្សល់ទុកពីសម័យដើមមកទេ គឺជាករណីថ្មី ដែលកើតឡើងចាប់តាំងពីថៃមានរដ្ឋាភិបាលថ្មី ក្រោយការផ្ដួលរំលំរដ្ឋាភិបាលចាស់របស់លោក ថាក់ស៊ីន ស៊ីនណាវ៉ាត់ (Thaksin Shinawatra) អតីតនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថៃ កាលពីឆ្នាំ ២០០៦ មក។
Radio FreevAsia
ដោយ សេក បណ្ឌិត
2011-04-25
អ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រខ្មែរអះអាងថា ប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី ជាប្រាសាទរបស់ខ្មែរ ហើយស្ថិតនៅលើទឹកដីខ្មែរបច្ចុប្បន្ន។
ជម្លោះរវាងកម្ពុជា និងថៃ ដែលកំពុងកើតមាន នៅតំបន់ប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី និងប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារជាដើមនោះ មិនមែនជាបញ្ហាជម្លោះ ដែលបន្សល់ទុកពីសម័យដើមមកទេ គឺជាករណីថ្មី ដែលកើតឡើងចាប់តាំងពីថៃមានរដ្ឋាភិបាលថ្មី ក្រោយការផ្ដួលរំលំរដ្ឋាភិបាលចាស់របស់លោក ថាក់ស៊ីន ស៊ីនណាវ៉ាត់ (Thaksin Shinawatra) អតីតនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថៃ កាលពីឆ្នាំ ២០០៦ មក។
25 April, 2011
Cambodia Says Thai Shells Damaged Ancient Temples
By SOPHENG CHEANG Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia April 25, 2011 (AP)
Cambodia accused Thailand of damaging two ancient temples during three days of border clashes that killed 12 people, as Southeast Asian diplomats struggled Monday to find a way to end the repeated deadly flare-ups.
A precarious calm held Monday in the disputed border region where Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples lie. The nearly 1,000-year-old stone temples date back to the Khmer empire that once ruled over much of both Cambodia and Thailand.
The land around the temples and several other crumbling stone monuments has fueled profound nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades. While a wider war seems unlikely, several cease-fires have failed to prevent new border violence.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the two temple complexes, caught in crossfire over the weekend, had been hit by bullets and shells, but there was no word on how bad the damage was. Thailand authorities had no immediate comment on the allegation.
The latest fighting comes as Thailand prepares for general elections expected by early July. The Thai army, which staged a coup in 2006 and continues to hold influence in domestic politics, has effectively vetoed a plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan alleged Sunday that Bangkok was stirring up fighting "for their (own) political issues." He did not elaborate.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was in "intense" talks with both sides to secure an end to the conflict in his role as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to foreign ministry official Hamzah Thayeb.
Natalegawa postponed a scheduled trip to Cambodia, Thayeb said, as Indonesia continued to push to send military observers to the region — a move that Thailand has so far vehemently rejected. The trip's cancellation cast doubt on hopes the simmering dispute might be resolved quickly.
The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections.
In recent years, political groups on both sides have accused their opponents of using the skirmishes to stir nationalistic fever and further their own domestic political agendas.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has harnessed the dispute in the past to build political support. And during the last round of fighting in February around the more well-known Preah Vihear temple, Thai nationalists launched a sit-in outside government buildings in part to demand the country take a tough stand against Cambodia. The group is widely seen as playing the patriotism card in a bid to exercise more influence over politics at home.
The current round of clashes are the first since February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near Preah Vihear, which suffered minor damage from exploding artillery and mortar shells that knocked small chunks out of a few of its walls.
The latest fighting over the last several days broke out about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Preah Vihear. After easing earlier Sunday, fighting resumed later that night, both sides said, raising the toll from 10 to 12.
Thai Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Cambodian troops opened fire, killing a Thai soldier. Chea Samrach, a Cambodian soldier on the front line, said Thai snipers killed one Cambodian soldier and wounded two others. Ten soldiers died in the first two days of the clashes.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry said Thai forces fired 1,000 artillery and mortar shells Sunday. Some shells landed about 12 miles (20 kilometers) inside Cambodian territory, forcing 17,000 people to flee and destroying one school and a dozen homes and setting ablaze some farming fields, the ministry said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a cease-fire, but the prospects for peace appear shaky.
Indonesia's efforts to mediate have been stymied for weeks by Thailand's refusal to allow Indonesian military observers in the area of dispute. Thailand insists the problem should be solved through bilateral talks with Cambodia, but Cambodia wants third-party mediation.
———
Associated Press writers Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia April 25, 2011 (AP)
Cambodia accused Thailand of damaging two ancient temples during three days of border clashes that killed 12 people, as Southeast Asian diplomats struggled Monday to find a way to end the repeated deadly flare-ups.
A precarious calm held Monday in the disputed border region where Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples lie. The nearly 1,000-year-old stone temples date back to the Khmer empire that once ruled over much of both Cambodia and Thailand.
The land around the temples and several other crumbling stone monuments has fueled profound nationalistic fervor in both countries for decades. While a wider war seems unlikely, several cease-fires have failed to prevent new border violence.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the two temple complexes, caught in crossfire over the weekend, had been hit by bullets and shells, but there was no word on how bad the damage was. Thailand authorities had no immediate comment on the allegation.
The latest fighting comes as Thailand prepares for general elections expected by early July. The Thai army, which staged a coup in 2006 and continues to hold influence in domestic politics, has effectively vetoed a plan to station Indonesian observers to monitor the border situation.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan alleged Sunday that Bangkok was stirring up fighting "for their (own) political issues." He did not elaborate.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was in "intense" talks with both sides to secure an end to the conflict in his role as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to foreign ministry official Hamzah Thayeb.
Natalegawa postponed a scheduled trip to Cambodia, Thayeb said, as Indonesia continued to push to send military observers to the region — a move that Thailand has so far vehemently rejected. The trip's cancellation cast doubt on hopes the simmering dispute might be resolved quickly.
The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections.
In recent years, political groups on both sides have accused their opponents of using the skirmishes to stir nationalistic fever and further their own domestic political agendas.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has harnessed the dispute in the past to build political support. And during the last round of fighting in February around the more well-known Preah Vihear temple, Thai nationalists launched a sit-in outside government buildings in part to demand the country take a tough stand against Cambodia. The group is widely seen as playing the patriotism card in a bid to exercise more influence over politics at home.
The current round of clashes are the first since February, when eight soldiers and civilians were killed near Preah Vihear, which suffered minor damage from exploding artillery and mortar shells that knocked small chunks out of a few of its walls.
The latest fighting over the last several days broke out about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Preah Vihear. After easing earlier Sunday, fighting resumed later that night, both sides said, raising the toll from 10 to 12.
Thai Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Cambodian troops opened fire, killing a Thai soldier. Chea Samrach, a Cambodian soldier on the front line, said Thai snipers killed one Cambodian soldier and wounded two others. Ten soldiers died in the first two days of the clashes.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry said Thai forces fired 1,000 artillery and mortar shells Sunday. Some shells landed about 12 miles (20 kilometers) inside Cambodian territory, forcing 17,000 people to flee and destroying one school and a dozen homes and setting ablaze some farming fields, the ministry said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a cease-fire, but the prospects for peace appear shaky.
Indonesia's efforts to mediate have been stymied for weeks by Thailand's refusal to allow Indonesian military observers in the area of dispute. Thailand insists the problem should be solved through bilateral talks with Cambodia, but Cambodia wants third-party mediation.
———
Associated Press writers Thanyarat Doksone in Bangkok and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
Why Doesn't ASEAN Leader Come to Cambodia? (in Khmer)
ហេតុអ្វីប្រធានអាស៊ានមិនមកកម្ពុជា?
Radio Free Asia
ដោយ ទីន ហ្សាការីយ៉ា
2011-04-25
URL:http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/asean_leader_dont_come-04252011071558.html
គម្រោងទស្សនកិច្ចរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ាន លោក មាទី ណាតាឡេ ហ្គាវ៉ា (Marty Natalegawa) មកកម្ពុជា ត្រូវបានពន្យារពេលវិញហើយ នៅខណៈដែលកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ កំពុងតែបន្តការវាយប្រហារគ្នា។
ប្រធានសមាគមអាស៊ាន និងជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី បានពន្យារពេលអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជាគ្មានពេលកំណត់ និងគ្មានមូលហេតុច្បាស់លាស់ ដើម្បីចុះហត្ថលេខាលើលក្ខខ័ណ្ឌប្រតិបត្តិដាក់អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ីនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ។
មន្ត្រីនាំពាក្យក្រសួងការបរទេសខ្មែរ លោក កុយ គួង បានឲ្យដឹងថា នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជាបានទទួលលិខិតពន្យារពេលពីលោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា (Marty Natalegawa) ដោយមិនបានបញ្ជាក់អំពីមូលហេតុ ហើយក៏មិនបានបញ្ជាក់អំពីកាលបរិច្ឆេទជាថ្មី ថានៅថ្ងៃណា លោកនឹងកំណត់ពេលមកប្រទេសកម្ពុជាទេ។
ការពន្យារពេលរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ាន លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា ត្រូវបានអ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយកម្ពុជាពន្យល់ថា នៅក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈដែលទាហានទាំពីរកំពុងតែប្រយុទ្ធគ្នា នៅឯសមរភូមិ ហើយប្រធានអាស៊ានបានពន្យារពេលទៅវិញនេះ វាបង្ហាញកាន់តែច្បាស់ថែមទៀតថា អាស៊ានមិនមានអំណាចអ្វីដើម្បីឲ្យថៃបញ្ឈប់បទឈប់បាញ់ជាអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍បាននោះឡើយ។
ប្រធានមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលវប្បធម៌ជាតិ និងសីលធម៌សង្គម លោក ប៉ូ សំណាង បានអធិប្បាយថា ភាគីថៃក៏មានតួនាទីធំនៅក្នុងសមាគមអាស៊ានដែរ ថៃគឺជាអគ្គលេខាធិការអាស៊ាន ដូច្នេះគេមិនសង្ឃឹមថា ប្រធានអាស៊ានមានឯករាជ្យភាពក្នុងការដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាជម្លោះខ្មែរ-ថៃនេះទេ។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងនេះក្ដី គេសង្កេតឃើញថា លោក មាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា ក៏បានខិតខំដើម្បីស្វែងរកច្រកមួយដោះស្រាយបញ្ចប់ជម្លោះខ្មែរ-ថៃនេះដែរ ពីព្រោះកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៣ មេសា លោកបានផ្ញើលិខិតមួយច្បាប់ឆ្លើយតបទៅនឹងលិខិតស្នើសុំអន្តរាគមន៍របស់លោក ហោ ណាំហុង កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២២ មេសា នេះ។
ក្នុងលិខិតនោះ បានបញ្ជាក់ពីភាពចាំបាច់ដើម្បីជៀសវាងកុំឲ្យប៉ះទង្គិចផ្ទុះអាវុធជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀត លក្ខខ័ណ្ឌប្រតិបត្តិដាក់អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ីនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែន ត្រូវតែបន្តធ្វើការចរចាពីបញ្ហាព្រំដែនខ្មែរដោយមានការចូលរួមពីប្រធានអាស៊ាន និងប្រធានអាស៊ានបានជួនដំណឹងវាយប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារវាងកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ ទៅក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខអាស៊ានរួចហើយ ដើម្បីឲ្យមានវិធានការសមសម្រប។
ស្របពេលជាមួយគ្នា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៤ មេសា អគ្គលេខាធិការអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ លោក បាន គីមួន (Ban Ki-moon) ក៏បានស្នើឲ្យកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បញ្ឈប់ធ្វើសង្គ្រាមនិងគ្នាជាបន្ទាន់ ហើយអំពាវនាវឲ្យភាគីទាំងពីរដោះស្រាយបញ្ហានេះដោយសន្តិវិធី និងឲ្យមានប្រសិទ្ធភាពវិញ។ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ការវាយប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារវាងកងទ័ពទាំងពីរនៅតែបន្តរហូតដល់ថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា នេះមិនទាន់មានការឈប់បាញ់នោះឡើយ។
ក្រសួងការពារជាតិកម្ពុជាបានចេញសេចក្ដីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមនៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា ថាកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ នៅតែប៉ះទង្គិចគ្នា ហើយរហូតមកទល់ពេលនេះ ធ្វើឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស៊ីវិលខ្មែរ បានកើនឡើងដល់ជាង១ម៉ឺន ៧ពាន់នាក់ហើយ និងធ្វើឲ្យសាលារៀនមួយខ្នង និងផ្ទះ ១០ខ្នងនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែន នៃខែត្រឧត្តរមានជ័យនោះ។
ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាតាំងពីថ្ងៃទី២២ មេសា មក ភាគីខ្មែរ-ថៃ បានចោទគ្នាទៅវិញទៅមក។ លោក អាភីស៊ិត វ៉េតចាជីវ៉ាក់ (Abhisit Vejjajiva) បានឲ្យកាសែត ឌឺណេហ្សិន (The Nation) របស់ថៃដឹងថា ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាជាថ្មីបានចាប់ផ្ដើមឡើងដោយភាគីកម្ពុជា ដើម្បីយកឱកាសបាញ់គ្នាធ្វើជាការចាប់អារម្មណ៍ពីឆាកអន្តរជាតិ ឲ្យមកចូលខ្លួនដោះស្រាយតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ទ័ពថៃចាំបាច់ត្រូវតបតវិញដើម្បីការពារប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរបស់ខ្លួន។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ ឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋទូតសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជា លោក ស្រី ខារ៉ល រ៉ុដលី ( Caroll Rodly) បានថ្លែងទៅកាន់ក្រុមអ្នកសារព័ត៌មានក្នុងទិវាភពផែនដីនៅឯសាលាបឋមសិក្សាភ្នំពេញថ្មីនាថ្ងៃទី២៥ ខែមេសា ដោយស្នើឲ្យកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បញ្ឈប់ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាជាបន្ទាន់ ហើយជួបចរចាគ្នាដោយសន្តិវិធីឡើងវិញ។
លោក កុយ គួង បានសាទរចំពោះការអំពាវនាវរបស់លោកស្រី ខារ៉ល រ៉ុដលី នេះ ដោយលោកបញ្ជាក់ថា កន្លងមកកម្ពុជាស្វាគមន៍ចំពោះការចរចាដោយសន្តិវិធី ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ភាគីថៃទេដែលជាអ្នកបង្កបញ្ហា។
ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានបញ្ជាក់ថា ថៃបានប្រើកម្លាំងទ័ពជាថ្មីវាយប្រហារកម្ពុជានេះ ក្នុងគោលបំណងបង្ខំឲ្យកម្ពុជាព្រមតាមសំណើរបស់ខ្លួន ចរចាទ្វេភាគី ហើយបំភ្លេចចោលភាគីទីបី ដែលកម្ពុជារំពឹងថា នឹងអាចដោះស្រាយជម្លោះនេះបានប្រកបដោយយុត្តិធម៌។
អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយ លោក បណ្ឌិត សុខ ទូច បានបញ្ជាក់ថា ថៃកំពុងលេងល្បែងនយោបាយជាមួយកម្ពុជា គ្មានដាក់ដើមទុន មានន័យថា ថៃបានយកលេសថា តំបន់ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារជារបស់ថៃ ហើយសិនគេធ្វើការដោះស្រាយជាមួយកម្ពុជា បើសិនជាថៃចាញ់ គឺថៃគ្មានខាតបង់អ្វីទេ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ កម្ពុជាទេដែលជាអ្នកខាតបង់។
ទាក់ទងទៅនឹងការពន្យារពេលរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ានមកកម្ពុជានេះ លោក ឈាង វណ្ណារិទ្ធិ នាយកប្រតិបត្តិវិទ្យាស្ថានខ្មែរសម្រាប់សហប្រតិបត្តិការ និងសន្តិភាព បានលើកឡើងថា នេះជាការឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងសាជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀតថា ថៃប្រឆាំងទៅនឹងប្រធានអាស៊ាន ក្នុងការទទួលយកអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី។
កាសែតបាងកកប៉ុស្តិ៍របស់ថៃ (Bangkok Post) នៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា បានស្រង់សំដីលោក កាស៊ិត ភិរម្យ (Kasit Piromya) រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសថៃបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា នឹងអញ្ជើញទៅដល់ទីក្រុងបាងកក នៅទី២៥ មេសា នេះ ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីស្ថានភាពជម្លោះព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ។ លោក កាស៊ិ ភិរម្យ នឹងជួបលោក មាទី នៅឯប្រលានយន្តហោះនៅម៉ោង ៧យប់នេះ។ បន្ទាប់លោក មាទី នឹងអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជា ដើម្បីជួបលោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហោ ណាំហុង។
ប៉ុន្តែយ៉ាងនេះក្ដី រហូតមកទល់ល្ងាចថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ទី២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសខ្មែរមិនទាន់ទទួលដំណឹងពីលោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា អំពីកាលបរិច្ឆេទសាជាថ្មីថានឹងអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជានៅពេលណានោះទេ។
ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានសម្ដែងការព្រួយបារម្ភដល់ជនភៀសខ្លួនកម្ពុជាថា ពួកគេនឹងប្រឈមនឹងការលំបាក ព្រោះថា សង្គ្រាមរវាងកម្ពុជា-ថៃ នឹងមិនអាចបញ្ចប់ទៅវិញ ឆាប់ៗនេះទេ យ៉ាងហោចណាស់ក៏រយៈពេលមួយឆ្នាំទៀតដែរ ហើយការបញ្ចប់សង្គ្រាមនេះបានលុះត្រាណាស្ថានការណ៍នយោបាយផ្ទៃក្នុងថៃស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ទៅវិញ ពីព្រោះថា ស្ថានភាពនយោបាយថៃកំពុងតែវឹកវរនាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន។
នៅថ្ងៃទី ២៥ មេសានេះ រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីសុខភាពសាធារណៈថៃ លោក ជុរីន ឡាក់សាណាវិស៊ីត (Jurin Laksanavisit) បានប្រាប់កាសែតថៃឈ្មោះ បាងកកប៉ុស្តិ៍ (Bangkok Post) ថា ទាហានថៃស្លាប់ចំនួន ៥ នាក់ និងរបួស ២៨ នាក់ក្នុងការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារយៈពេលបីថ្ងៃ។ មានសេចក្ដីរាយការណ៍ថា ទាហានកម្ពុជាស្លាប់ចំនួន ៦ នាក់។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានអំពាវនាវឲ្យរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការពារជាតិក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ាន ធ្វើការកោះប្រជុំជាបន្ទាន់ ដើម្បីធ្វើឲ្យមានបទឈប់បាញ់ជាអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍ ហើយតម្រូវឲ្យភាគីថៃ-កម្ពុជា រកច្រកដោះស្រាយដោយសន្តិវិធីវិញ ជៀសវាងធ្វើឲ្យស្លាប់ទាហាន និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស៊ីវិលនៃប្រទេសទាំងពីរជាបន្តទៀត៕
Radio Free Asia
ដោយ ទីន ហ្សាការីយ៉ា
2011-04-25
URL:http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/asean_leader_dont_come-04252011071558.html
គម្រោងទស្សនកិច្ចរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ាន លោក មាទី ណាតាឡេ ហ្គាវ៉ា (Marty Natalegawa) មកកម្ពុជា ត្រូវបានពន្យារពេលវិញហើយ នៅខណៈដែលកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ កំពុងតែបន្តការវាយប្រហារគ្នា។
ប្រធានសមាគមអាស៊ាន និងជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី បានពន្យារពេលអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជាគ្មានពេលកំណត់ និងគ្មានមូលហេតុច្បាស់លាស់ ដើម្បីចុះហត្ថលេខាលើលក្ខខ័ណ្ឌប្រតិបត្តិដាក់អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ីនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ។
មន្ត្រីនាំពាក្យក្រសួងការបរទេសខ្មែរ លោក កុយ គួង បានឲ្យដឹងថា នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជាបានទទួលលិខិតពន្យារពេលពីលោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា (Marty Natalegawa) ដោយមិនបានបញ្ជាក់អំពីមូលហេតុ ហើយក៏មិនបានបញ្ជាក់អំពីកាលបរិច្ឆេទជាថ្មី ថានៅថ្ងៃណា លោកនឹងកំណត់ពេលមកប្រទេសកម្ពុជាទេ។
ការពន្យារពេលរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ាន លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា ត្រូវបានអ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយកម្ពុជាពន្យល់ថា នៅក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈដែលទាហានទាំពីរកំពុងតែប្រយុទ្ធគ្នា នៅឯសមរភូមិ ហើយប្រធានអាស៊ានបានពន្យារពេលទៅវិញនេះ វាបង្ហាញកាន់តែច្បាស់ថែមទៀតថា អាស៊ានមិនមានអំណាចអ្វីដើម្បីឲ្យថៃបញ្ឈប់បទឈប់បាញ់ជាអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍បាននោះឡើយ។
ប្រធានមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលវប្បធម៌ជាតិ និងសីលធម៌សង្គម លោក ប៉ូ សំណាង បានអធិប្បាយថា ភាគីថៃក៏មានតួនាទីធំនៅក្នុងសមាគមអាស៊ានដែរ ថៃគឺជាអគ្គលេខាធិការអាស៊ាន ដូច្នេះគេមិនសង្ឃឹមថា ប្រធានអាស៊ានមានឯករាជ្យភាពក្នុងការដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាជម្លោះខ្មែរ-ថៃនេះទេ។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងនេះក្ដី គេសង្កេតឃើញថា លោក មាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា ក៏បានខិតខំដើម្បីស្វែងរកច្រកមួយដោះស្រាយបញ្ចប់ជម្លោះខ្មែរ-ថៃនេះដែរ ពីព្រោះកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៣ មេសា លោកបានផ្ញើលិខិតមួយច្បាប់ឆ្លើយតបទៅនឹងលិខិតស្នើសុំអន្តរាគមន៍របស់លោក ហោ ណាំហុង កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២២ មេសា នេះ។
ក្នុងលិខិតនោះ បានបញ្ជាក់ពីភាពចាំបាច់ដើម្បីជៀសវាងកុំឲ្យប៉ះទង្គិចផ្ទុះអាវុធជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀត លក្ខខ័ណ្ឌប្រតិបត្តិដាក់អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ីនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែន ត្រូវតែបន្តធ្វើការចរចាពីបញ្ហាព្រំដែនខ្មែរដោយមានការចូលរួមពីប្រធានអាស៊ាន និងប្រធានអាស៊ានបានជួនដំណឹងវាយប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារវាងកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ ទៅក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខអាស៊ានរួចហើយ ដើម្បីឲ្យមានវិធានការសមសម្រប។
ស្របពេលជាមួយគ្នា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៤ មេសា អគ្គលេខាធិការអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ លោក បាន គីមួន (Ban Ki-moon) ក៏បានស្នើឲ្យកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បញ្ឈប់ធ្វើសង្គ្រាមនិងគ្នាជាបន្ទាន់ ហើយអំពាវនាវឲ្យភាគីទាំងពីរដោះស្រាយបញ្ហានេះដោយសន្តិវិធី និងឲ្យមានប្រសិទ្ធភាពវិញ។ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ការវាយប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារវាងកងទ័ពទាំងពីរនៅតែបន្តរហូតដល់ថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា នេះមិនទាន់មានការឈប់បាញ់នោះឡើយ។
ក្រសួងការពារជាតិកម្ពុជាបានចេញសេចក្ដីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមនៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា ថាកងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ នៅតែប៉ះទង្គិចគ្នា ហើយរហូតមកទល់ពេលនេះ ធ្វើឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស៊ីវិលខ្មែរ បានកើនឡើងដល់ជាង១ម៉ឺន ៧ពាន់នាក់ហើយ និងធ្វើឲ្យសាលារៀនមួយខ្នង និងផ្ទះ ១០ខ្នងនៅខ្សែបន្ទាត់ព្រំដែន នៃខែត្រឧត្តរមានជ័យនោះ។
ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាតាំងពីថ្ងៃទី២២ មេសា មក ភាគីខ្មែរ-ថៃ បានចោទគ្នាទៅវិញទៅមក។ លោក អាភីស៊ិត វ៉េតចាជីវ៉ាក់ (Abhisit Vejjajiva) បានឲ្យកាសែត ឌឺណេហ្សិន (The Nation) របស់ថៃដឹងថា ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាជាថ្មីបានចាប់ផ្ដើមឡើងដោយភាគីកម្ពុជា ដើម្បីយកឱកាសបាញ់គ្នាធ្វើជាការចាប់អារម្មណ៍ពីឆាកអន្តរជាតិ ឲ្យមកចូលខ្លួនដោះស្រាយតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ទ័ពថៃចាំបាច់ត្រូវតបតវិញដើម្បីការពារប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរបស់ខ្លួន។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ ឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋទូតសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជា លោក ស្រី ខារ៉ល រ៉ុដលី ( Caroll Rodly) បានថ្លែងទៅកាន់ក្រុមអ្នកសារព័ត៌មានក្នុងទិវាភពផែនដីនៅឯសាលាបឋមសិក្សាភ្នំពេញថ្មីនាថ្ងៃទី២៥ ខែមេសា ដោយស្នើឲ្យកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បញ្ឈប់ការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាជាបន្ទាន់ ហើយជួបចរចាគ្នាដោយសន្តិវិធីឡើងវិញ។
លោក កុយ គួង បានសាទរចំពោះការអំពាវនាវរបស់លោកស្រី ខារ៉ល រ៉ុដលី នេះ ដោយលោកបញ្ជាក់ថា កន្លងមកកម្ពុជាស្វាគមន៍ចំពោះការចរចាដោយសន្តិវិធី ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ភាគីថៃទេដែលជាអ្នកបង្កបញ្ហា។
ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានបញ្ជាក់ថា ថៃបានប្រើកម្លាំងទ័ពជាថ្មីវាយប្រហារកម្ពុជានេះ ក្នុងគោលបំណងបង្ខំឲ្យកម្ពុជាព្រមតាមសំណើរបស់ខ្លួន ចរចាទ្វេភាគី ហើយបំភ្លេចចោលភាគីទីបី ដែលកម្ពុជារំពឹងថា នឹងអាចដោះស្រាយជម្លោះនេះបានប្រកបដោយយុត្តិធម៌។
អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយ លោក បណ្ឌិត សុខ ទូច បានបញ្ជាក់ថា ថៃកំពុងលេងល្បែងនយោបាយជាមួយកម្ពុជា គ្មានដាក់ដើមទុន មានន័យថា ថៃបានយកលេសថា តំបន់ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារជារបស់ថៃ ហើយសិនគេធ្វើការដោះស្រាយជាមួយកម្ពុជា បើសិនជាថៃចាញ់ គឺថៃគ្មានខាតបង់អ្វីទេ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ កម្ពុជាទេដែលជាអ្នកខាតបង់។
ទាក់ទងទៅនឹងការពន្យារពេលរបស់ប្រធានអាស៊ានមកកម្ពុជានេះ លោក ឈាង វណ្ណារិទ្ធិ នាយកប្រតិបត្តិវិទ្យាស្ថានខ្មែរសម្រាប់សហប្រតិបត្តិការ និងសន្តិភាព បានលើកឡើងថា នេះជាការឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងសាជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀតថា ថៃប្រឆាំងទៅនឹងប្រធានអាស៊ាន ក្នុងការទទួលយកអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី។
កាសែតបាងកកប៉ុស្តិ៍របស់ថៃ (Bangkok Post) នៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ មេសា បានស្រង់សំដីលោក កាស៊ិត ភិរម្យ (Kasit Piromya) រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសថៃបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា លោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា នឹងអញ្ជើញទៅដល់ទីក្រុងបាងកក នៅទី២៥ មេសា នេះ ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីស្ថានភាពជម្លោះព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ។ លោក កាស៊ិ ភិរម្យ នឹងជួបលោក មាទី នៅឯប្រលានយន្តហោះនៅម៉ោង ៧យប់នេះ។ បន្ទាប់លោក មាទី នឹងអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជា ដើម្បីជួបលោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហោ ណាំហុង។
ប៉ុន្តែយ៉ាងនេះក្ដី រហូតមកទល់ល្ងាចថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ទី២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសខ្មែរមិនទាន់ទទួលដំណឹងពីលោក ម៉ាទី ណាតាឡេហ្គាវ៉ា អំពីកាលបរិច្ឆេទសាជាថ្មីថានឹងអញ្ជើញមកកម្ពុជានៅពេលណានោះទេ។
ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានសម្ដែងការព្រួយបារម្ភដល់ជនភៀសខ្លួនកម្ពុជាថា ពួកគេនឹងប្រឈមនឹងការលំបាក ព្រោះថា សង្គ្រាមរវាងកម្ពុជា-ថៃ នឹងមិនអាចបញ្ចប់ទៅវិញ ឆាប់ៗនេះទេ យ៉ាងហោចណាស់ក៏រយៈពេលមួយឆ្នាំទៀតដែរ ហើយការបញ្ចប់សង្គ្រាមនេះបានលុះត្រាណាស្ថានការណ៍នយោបាយផ្ទៃក្នុងថៃស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ទៅវិញ ពីព្រោះថា ស្ថានភាពនយោបាយថៃកំពុងតែវឹកវរនាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន។
នៅថ្ងៃទី ២៥ មេសានេះ រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីសុខភាពសាធារណៈថៃ លោក ជុរីន ឡាក់សាណាវិស៊ីត (Jurin Laksanavisit) បានប្រាប់កាសែតថៃឈ្មោះ បាងកកប៉ុស្តិ៍ (Bangkok Post) ថា ទាហានថៃស្លាប់ចំនួន ៥ នាក់ និងរបួស ២៨ នាក់ក្នុងការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នារយៈពេលបីថ្ងៃ។ មានសេចក្ដីរាយការណ៍ថា ទាហានកម្ពុជាស្លាប់ចំនួន ៦ នាក់។
ទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ អ្នកវិភាគនយោបាយបានអំពាវនាវឲ្យរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការពារជាតិក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ាន ធ្វើការកោះប្រជុំជាបន្ទាន់ ដើម្បីធ្វើឲ្យមានបទឈប់បាញ់ជាអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍ ហើយតម្រូវឲ្យភាគីថៃ-កម្ពុជា រកច្រកដោះស្រាយដោយសន្តិវិធីវិញ ជៀសវាងធ្វើឲ្យស្លាប់ទាហាន និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស៊ីវិលនៃប្រទេសទាំងពីរជាបន្តទៀត៕
Khmer-Thai Forces Exchanged Gunfire Again Today (in Khmer)
ទ័ពខ្មែរនិងថៃប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាទៀតនៅថ្ងៃអង្គារនេះ
Radio Free Asia
ដោយ អ៊ួន ឈិន
2011-04-25
URL:http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/new_clash_between_khmer_thai-04252011073908.html
អ្នកយកព័ត៌មានវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីបានរាយការណ៍ពីខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យមកថា កងទ័ពខ្មែរ និងថៃប៉ះប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាមួយប្រាវទៀត នៅម៉ោង ៦ ល្ងាចថ្ងៃអង្គារទី ២៥ ខែមេសានេះ។
នៅល្ងាចថ្ងៃទី ២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជា បានចេញសេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានថា កាលពីវេលាម៉ោង ១ និង ៤៥ នាទីរសៀល មានយន្តហោះថៃចំនួន ២ គ្រឿង បានហោះតាមបណ្ដោយព្រំដែនថៃ-កម្ពុជា លើតំបន់ប្រសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី ដែលភាគីកម្ពុជាចាត់ទុកការហោះហើរនេះជាការញុះញង់បង្កហេតុ និងគំរាមកំហែងសន្តិសុខជាតិកម្ពុជា ព្រមទាំងធ្វើឱ្យស្ថានការណ៍សឹកនៅតំបន់នោះកាន់តែតានតឹងថែមទៀត។
សេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានបន្តថា នៅវេលាម៉ោង ១ និង ៥៥ នាទីរសៀល ទាហានថៃបានបាញ់កាំភ្លើងផ្លោងធុន ១៥៥ ម.ម ចំនួន ៦ គ្រាប់ចូលតំបន់គោកមន មានជម្រៅ ២២ គីឡូម៉ែត្រក្នុងទឹកដីកម្ពុជា ដែលមានជនស៊ីវិលកំពុងរស់នៅ។ មិនមានរបាយការណ៍ណាមួយបញ្ជាក់អំពីការខូចខាតទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ឬប៉ះពាល់ជីវិតមនុស្សនៅឡើយទេ រហូតមកដល់ម៉ោង ៧ និង ១៥ នាទី៕
Radio Free Asia
ដោយ អ៊ួន ឈិន
2011-04-25
URL:http://www.rfa.org/khmer/indepth/new_clash_between_khmer_thai-04252011073908.html
អ្នកយកព័ត៌មានវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីបានរាយការណ៍ពីខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យមកថា កងទ័ពខ្មែរ និងថៃប៉ះប្រយុទ្ធគ្នាមួយប្រាវទៀត នៅម៉ោង ៦ ល្ងាចថ្ងៃអង្គារទី ២៥ ខែមេសានេះ។
នៅល្ងាចថ្ងៃទី ២៥ មេសា ក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជា បានចេញសេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានថា កាលពីវេលាម៉ោង ១ និង ៤៥ នាទីរសៀល មានយន្តហោះថៃចំនួន ២ គ្រឿង បានហោះតាមបណ្ដោយព្រំដែនថៃ-កម្ពុជា លើតំបន់ប្រសាទតាមាន់ និងប្រាសាទតាក្របី ដែលភាគីកម្ពុជាចាត់ទុកការហោះហើរនេះជាការញុះញង់បង្កហេតុ និងគំរាមកំហែងសន្តិសុខជាតិកម្ពុជា ព្រមទាំងធ្វើឱ្យស្ថានការណ៍សឹកនៅតំបន់នោះកាន់តែតានតឹងថែមទៀត។
សេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មានបន្តថា នៅវេលាម៉ោង ១ និង ៥៥ នាទីរសៀល ទាហានថៃបានបាញ់កាំភ្លើងផ្លោងធុន ១៥៥ ម.ម ចំនួន ៦ គ្រាប់ចូលតំបន់គោកមន មានជម្រៅ ២២ គីឡូម៉ែត្រក្នុងទឹកដីកម្ពុជា ដែលមានជនស៊ីវិលកំពុងរស់នៅ។ មិនមានរបាយការណ៍ណាមួយបញ្ជាក់អំពីការខូចខាតទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ឬប៉ះពាល់ជីវិតមនុស្សនៅឡើយទេ រហូតមកដល់ម៉ោង ៧ និង ១៥ នាទី៕
Indonesia steps into diplomacy
Monday, 25 April 2011 15:02
Thomas Miller and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post
The question of placing third-party observers along the contentious Cambodian-Thai border has been thrust into centre stage, after three days of fresh clashes sparked renewed international concern.
Following deadly fighting along the border near Preah Vihear temple in early February, Cambodia and Thailand agreed later that month to allow neutral observers from Indonesia to monitor a ceasefire on both sides.
The proposal stalled after Thailand failed to sign a terms of reference agreement. Thailand stated this month that it would not allow observers into the 4.6-square-kilometre area, which both sides claim, adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will arrive in Phnom Penh today before travelling to Bangkok this evening to meet Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, officials said yesterday.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Natalegawa wrote to Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to say he was making the trip in order to finalise the proposed terms for the observers.
Amid claims by both countries that the other side initiated the fighting, analysts and Cambodian officials argue that neutral observers could play a critical role.
International reaction
“Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he is troubled by reports of renewed fighting …
He urged Cambodia and Thailand to
take immediate measures for an effective
and verifiable ceasefire.”
“Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he is troubled by reports of renewed fighting …
He urged Cambodia and Thailand to
take immediate measures for an effective
and verifiable ceasefire.”
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman
“We urge Thailand and Cambodia to
exercise maximum restraint, take
necessary steps to reduce tensions and
fully commit to a peaceful resolution.”
exercise maximum restraint, take
necessary steps to reduce tensions and
fully commit to a peaceful resolution.”
United States embassy spokesman
“Indonesia, as current Chair of ASEAN, strongly calls for the immediate cessation
of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand; for the two sides to continue to resolve their differences through peaceful means as has been reflected in addressing the border
dispute between the two countries.”
of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand; for the two sides to continue to resolve their differences through peaceful means as has been reflected in addressing the border
dispute between the two countries.”
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“We urge Cambodia and Thailand to resolve their differences through negotiations. Singapore supports the efforts by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.…
This is important for the long-term relationship of Cambodia and Thailand, as
well as in the broader interests of ASEAN.”
This is important for the long-term relationship of Cambodia and Thailand, as
well as in the broader interests of ASEAN.”
Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Now, ASEAN is encountering the most
difficult part: How to influence Thailand and Cambodia to adhere to the rules and regulations [of a non-violent solution].”
difficult part: How to influence Thailand and Cambodia to adhere to the rules and regulations [of a non-violent solution].”
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said in an email yesterday that third party observers were a “necessary” part of ensuring a ceasefire between the two countries.
“A group of observers could help tone down the tension along the border. It is also crucial to be able to pinpoint who exactly started the gunfire,”
Pavin said. Cambodia also argues that that the presence of observers could have prevented the fighting over the weekend, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
“It should be noted that Thailand has, until now, not yet accepted the draft terms of reference for the deployment of Indonesian observers, which could have helped to prevent military clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border,” the statement read.
“Cambodia, on its part, has given its acceptance of the draft TOR four times already after its revision to accommodate Thailand’s position.”
Yesterday Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that at the meeting with Natalegawa, Kasit would likely “reaffirm that we are committed to solving the problems peacefully and bilaterally with the help of Indonesia as facilitator as agreed previously”.
He would not say whether Thailand would agree to terms that would make way for Indonesian observers, saying they were waiting for them to be finalised.
The Thai military, which has consistently opposed any sort of third-party intervention into the dispute, cast doubt on the proposal yesterday.
“As the chair of ASEAN, [Indonesia] ... can talk to both countries, but I don’t think they have any direct involvement on the ground,” Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, deputy spokesman for the Thai Royal Army, told The Post.
Pavin said the conflict was politically convenient for the Thai military because it could be used as a pretext to co-opt control over foreign policy from the civilian government.
“I can understand why Thailand has all this time insisted on dealing with the issue bilaterally. Especially from the viewpoint of the Thai army, the longer the conflict is the longer it can prolong its involvement in politics,” Pavin said.
“The delay of the election is in the military’s interest,” Pavin said, adding that a coup could be an “attractive solution” for the Thai army.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, the United States, China, Russia, Indonesia and Singapore have all called for an immediate end to the fighting.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he stood by the role of Indonesia to facilitate a bilateral solution, according to a statement from his spokesman released on Saturday.
“[Ban] said he had been encouraged by the initial signs of progress in regional efforts to strengthen bilateral mechanisms for dealing with the dispute between the two neighbours and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint,” he said.
Hor Namhong and Kasit have discussed a meeting, following a request from Kasit made on Saturday.
Koy Kuong said Hor Namhong had not responded yet, and had ruled out a purely bilateral meeting.
“Hor Namhong may meet Kasit with Marty Natalegawa in Indonesia – the three of them may meet, not one by one,” Koy Kuong said.
“A group of observers could help tone down the tension along the border. It is also crucial to be able to pinpoint who exactly started the gunfire,”
Pavin said. Cambodia also argues that that the presence of observers could have prevented the fighting over the weekend, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
“It should be noted that Thailand has, until now, not yet accepted the draft terms of reference for the deployment of Indonesian observers, which could have helped to prevent military clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border,” the statement read.
“Cambodia, on its part, has given its acceptance of the draft TOR four times already after its revision to accommodate Thailand’s position.”
Yesterday Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that at the meeting with Natalegawa, Kasit would likely “reaffirm that we are committed to solving the problems peacefully and bilaterally with the help of Indonesia as facilitator as agreed previously”.
He would not say whether Thailand would agree to terms that would make way for Indonesian observers, saying they were waiting for them to be finalised.
The Thai military, which has consistently opposed any sort of third-party intervention into the dispute, cast doubt on the proposal yesterday.
“As the chair of ASEAN, [Indonesia] ... can talk to both countries, but I don’t think they have any direct involvement on the ground,” Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, deputy spokesman for the Thai Royal Army, told The Post.
Pavin said the conflict was politically convenient for the Thai military because it could be used as a pretext to co-opt control over foreign policy from the civilian government.
“I can understand why Thailand has all this time insisted on dealing with the issue bilaterally. Especially from the viewpoint of the Thai army, the longer the conflict is the longer it can prolong its involvement in politics,” Pavin said.
“The delay of the election is in the military’s interest,” Pavin said, adding that a coup could be an “attractive solution” for the Thai army.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, the United States, China, Russia, Indonesia and Singapore have all called for an immediate end to the fighting.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he stood by the role of Indonesia to facilitate a bilateral solution, according to a statement from his spokesman released on Saturday.
“[Ban] said he had been encouraged by the initial signs of progress in regional efforts to strengthen bilateral mechanisms for dealing with the dispute between the two neighbours and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint,” he said.
Hor Namhong and Kasit have discussed a meeting, following a request from Kasit made on Saturday.
Koy Kuong said Hor Namhong had not responded yet, and had ruled out a purely bilateral meeting.
“Hor Namhong may meet Kasit with Marty Natalegawa in Indonesia – the three of them may meet, not one by one,” Koy Kuong said.
"Many bombs landed ... we are living in fear"
Monday, 25 April 2011 15:02
Cheang Sokha and James O’Toole
URL: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011042548689/National-news/qmany-bombs-landed-we-are-living-in-fearq.html
Oddar Meanchey province
At least 10 soldiers lay dead yesterday following a third straight day of clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border near Oddar Meanchey province, as simmering tensions between the two countries once again spilled over into bloodshed.
At least 10 soldiers lay dead yesterday following a third straight day of clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border near Oddar Meanchey province, as simmering tensions between the two countries once again spilled over into bloodshed.
Photo by: Sovan Philong
A damaged wooden chair sits at a house that was destroyed yesterday by a 155mm shell fired from Thailand into Banteay Ampil district, in Oddar Meanchey province, near the Thai-Cambodian border. SOVAN PHILONG
Six Cambodian soldiers have been killed – three on Friday and three on Saturday – while another remains missing and 16 have been injured, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.
Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said four Thai troops had been killed and 25 injured, with thousands of civilians evacuated on both sides.
The latest hostilities follow four days of fighting along the border in February, about 150 kilometres away near Preah Vihear temple. There, at least 10 troops were killed and dozens injured in clashes that led the two sides to appear before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations Security Council in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
As in February, both sides accused one another of touching off the fighting. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said on Friday that Thai troops had opened fire first, while Thai Lt General Thawatchai Samutsakorn said Cambodia had “started attacking our temporary base with artillery fire”.
Clashes yesterday began near Ta Moan temple with gunfire that quickly escalated into exchanges of artillery, troops of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces said. The thumping of shells was clearly audible 20 kilometres from the border in Oddar Meanchey’s Banteay Ampil district yesterday, as military trucks sped along the dirt road to the frontline.
Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, another temple along the border located roughly 10 kilometres away, are claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand and have been flashpoints for the latest fighting.
Photo by: Sovan Philong
Cambodian villagers displaced by fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border receive donations of rice and other supplies from the Red Cross in Samrong town, in Oddar Meanchey province yesterday.
During a weekly television programme yesterday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva accused Cambodia of deliberately provoking the clashes in order to “internationalise” the dispute. Thailand has argued that the conflict must be solved bilaterally, and a deal brokered in February that would see teams of Indonesian military observers dispatched on either side of the border has been stalled pending Thai approval.
Thailand “focused only on the military targets” during the clashes, Bangkok’s The Nation newspaper quoted Abhisit as saying. Some 21 kilometres from the border in Banteay Ampil district’s Kokmon commune, however, local officials claimed at least 18 shells had landed in the vicinity of civilian homes on Saturday.
One house in the village had been reduced to a shell after being hit by what officials said was a pair of 155mm Thai rockets.
A mangled satellite dish sat amid a pile of debris in the front yard yesterday morning as RCAF troops pieced through the wreckage, displaying a piece of silver shrapnel as evidence of the attack.
“We have never experienced a war like this and there have never been bombs dropped in this area,” Kokmon Commune Chief Oun Vy said yesterday, adding that no villagers had been injured in the shelling.
“There should not be fighting around here because it’s a civilian area and the people are unarmed.”
Panitan said Thai officials had identified “seven locations” in civilian areas of Thailand that had been hit by Cambodian artillery fire and were in the process of gathering further information.
Observers are on the scene analysing munitions used by Thailand. During the clashes near Preah Vihear in February, Thailand deployed 155mm Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions, a form of
cluster bomb. Such weapons scatter bomblets over a wide area – explosives that often lie dormant for decades – and are widely condemned for their devastating effects on civilian populations.
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre deployed personnel in Oddar Meanchey province this weekend to investigate whether Thailand had again used the controversial weapons, though CMAC director general Heng Ratana said yesterday that his organisation had discovered “no sufficient evidence to confirm” that cluster munitions had indeed been used.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry claimed Saturday that Thailand had used rockets equipped with “poisonous gas”, though Thai Army deputy spokesman Veerachon Sukhondhadpatipak called this accusation “groundless” and Heng Ratana said it had not been verified.
Conventional artillery, however, appears to have been heavily used. Roth Sopheaphal, an RCAF soldier stationed in Banteay Ampil’s Kork Kpos commune, said “nearly 1,000” shells had been exchanged between the two sides since the fighting began on Friday, including roughly 160 yesterday morning.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement yesterday that during the fighting, Thai troops had “showered gunfire” around Ta Moan temple in an attempt to seize control of the site.
The road to Ta Moan from the Cambodian side winds up a hill that is exposed to fire from Thai positions, Cambodian troops said.
Lab Hak, an ambulance driver from RCAF Brigade 42, said shells had landed both in front of and behind his vehicle yesterday as he sped away from the battlefield.
“It felt a bit shocking to see it just 15 metres in front of the car,” he said.
As of yesterday evening, Roth Sopheaphal said, Thai and Cambodian troops remained stationed around the perimeters of both Ta Maon and Ta Krabey, with neither side having taken control.
Back in Oddar Meanchey’s Samroang town, about 45 kilometres from the border, dozens of evacuees gathered outside the RCAF provincial commanding office to receive rations of 20 kilogrammes of rice, cookware and blankets from the Cambodian Red Cross.
Thun Nol, governor of Oddar Meanchey’s Samroang district, said 18,000 Cambodian civilians had been evacuated from their homes near the border; Uy Sam Ath, director the disaster management department at the Cambodian Red Cross, put the total at 9,867, but called this “an estimation” and said the figure could go up.
Thai spokesman Panitan said roughly 25,000 Thai villagers had been evacuated.
Sitting in the dust outside the RCAF office in Samroang, 53-year-old Nang Pheap said she had fled yesterday morning from her home in Banteay Ampil’s Por Thivong village, about six kilometres from the border.
“I arrived here just a few hours before the clashes started again,” she said.
“Many bombs landed close to my village and we are living in fear.”
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