Talking commerce in Cambodia
The Phnom Penh Post
TUESDAY, 31 MAY 2011 15:00 JEREMY MULLINS AND MAY KUNMAKAR
SENIOR Minister and Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh sat down with The Post yesterday to discuss Cambodia’s business environment, the challenges of attracting foreign companies to Cambodia and the effect of the border conflict on commerce. Edited by Jeremy Mullins and May Kunmakara.
In your discussions with foreign businesses, what do you raise as Cambodia’s strong point? Why should foreign businesses come to Cambodia?
When foreign businessmen go to one country, they are looking for at least three key factors. One is political stability. We know that Cambodia has already ensured political stability.
The second one is macro-stability. And we do also have that, despite a little hiccup during the world economic crisis. But it affected everybody, not just Cambodia. This was an exception. But apart from this, the economy is in good shape.
The third key factor is providing a sound and predictable legal framework for the businesspeople.… That means international practices are implemented in Cambodia as well, so it’s not the law of the jungle for businessmen that come to Cambodia.
These are the three key factors, but for Cambodia we have been able to provide to businessmen one more key factor, which is access to foreign markets.
We are inviting them to come invest in to Cambodia to produce for export to European markets on a duty-free and quota-free basis. To Canada, it’s the same, to Australia, to Japan, to India, to China, to Korea, to many big, rich countries, and almost everything is duty free and quota free.
The other thing that is very important is we have a very open liberal trade regime.
On the flipside, what are the largest obstacles to locating and running a business in Cambodia? And what is being done to improve on these obstacles?
People first think Cambodia is only a small market. You have only 14 million, and next door you have 70 and 80 million people, and 200 million down south, and over 1 billion people up north.
The moment foreign investors come to the region, you try to attract them to come to Cambodia, they zip or zap to Vietnam or to Thailand because of the large domestic market. But you provide them with a different way to do business [in Cambodia].
A handicap for Cambodia is that infrastructure is not all [complete] right now. But you have seen through many years that the government has tried to put all the infrastructure in place.
We still have one handicap in the cost of electricity.… But there are hydropower sites we have started to build.
In not less than 10 years, a lot of power will be generated from Pursat, from Koh Kong, or from the northeast. So that means this is not a handicap anymore for Cambodia.
We have a trump card, which is our market access, which most of our neighbours don’t have.
Laos and Myanmar have advantages like Cambodia, they are also Least Developed Countries.
But Laos is a landlocked country.…And from Myanmar you can produce the same as you can in Cambodia, but the problem is market access.
In ASEAN, Cambodia is the only one country that can maximise its status as a Least Developed Country.
The need to diversify exports from too much reliance on a single industry is often discussed. In your view, is it happening? What can be done to encourage it and also close the trade gap?
First you have to understand that for Least Developed Countries such as Cambodia, when you have large markets next door it is very difficult.
The first type of industry that we can get here are those that can compete with neighbouring countries. ... Cambodia can provide cheaper labour, compared to Vietnam or Thailand.
So what type of industry uses cheaper labour? First, it’s the garments and footwear industry. So this is why you can see the garment and footwear industry coming and flourishing in Cambodia.
What about electronics and other things? People are always having the wrong perception about Cambodia. They think there are still a lot of illiterate people. We have done a lot in the education system. I think many things have improved.
If you want to invest in microchips, for example, it is does not mean that you need a lot of PhDs and engineers. You need maybe 10 or 20 people, but the rest are people who can only tighten the bolts and everything.
More products are being produced in Cambodia. Bicycles, for example. Before nobody thought we could produce bicycles – now we can. Motorcycles, the assembly line is here.
Now we also have Minebea from Japan, which produces very small motors. That is very important for computers for the hard disc, and this is now produced in Cambodia.
When you have this type of production coming into Cambodia, people start to wake up and say why not [set up] in Cambodia?
I think it’s going to go little by little. And the automotive industry is going to move in, once they realise there are lots of opportunities to produce in Cambodia for export.
What lessons did you take from the effects of the global financial crisis on Cambodia?
Well, the world crisis affected everybody. The lesson you have to learn is you have to try not to trust the big guys too much. The lesson is that you were always thinking the big guy would never fall down, and when they fell it [caused] really big damage to the small guys.
Can you discuss your decision to postpone the second Thai trade exhibition, which was originally going to be held in Phnom Penh earlier this month? Were you concerned it would cause an escalation of some sort?
The reason why I postponed the Thai Exhibition 2011 is because of some wrongdoings at the border.
While the tension is still there, the [Thai] army also intervened in preventing free-flow of goods, preventing some essential goods from coming to Cambodia.
For example, oil sometimes, iron, cement. They think Cambodia used these to build bunkers, or our troops use the gasoline.
At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand also imposed new duties on products from Cambodia.
Of course, they put them in place for other countries as well, but they do not follow the rules of ASEAN. It affects the border trade.
The reason why I postponed this is not because of [problems] with selling across the border, but because we had also this army intervening in trade.
You have seen the policy of my Prime Minister is always confining the conflict to only military things, not in the economic field. So we still continue to promote trade.
They wanted to organise this exhibition right away at the time the Thai army are creating problems with our products at the border.
I feel it is not appropriate for us to try to promote Thai products at the time they are bullying us at the border.
We say okay, maybe it’s not the right time. You never know what the reaction of the Cambodian public would be; whether they would come and buy or they would come and create troubles with the exhibitors.
I say maybe it’s not safe for Thai exhibitors at this time. You cannot guarantee safety for them, too. Because you are stamping on my feet and you try and promote your products - it’s not fair.
In the trade sector we have already seen a reduction of two-way trade. I believe it could be [a drop of] around 20 percent at least, not because people fear the safety of the goods crossing the border. The problem is people fear their goods would not be sold in Cambodia, or would not be as popular as before in Cambodia.
Who is losing? You will see. We are only exporting $200 million, and we are importing $2 billion US dollars.
So they have to weigh the pros and cons. We want to use business to create a border of peace and cooperation with Thailand. But the problem is that domestic politics interfere with that type of behaviour.
Do you feel the fighting has affected the international business community’s view of Cambodia?
I don’t think so. First, international business sees Cambodia as being bullied by a bigger country. At the same time they have seen we have tried to confine the conflict to the border area only, so people can trade and do business and invest together.
For foreign businessmen, there is nothing that is going to change in Cambodia.
The macro-economy is going to be still here. Political stability is also here. A sound, predictable legal framework is also here. Market access is also here. The four key factors I mentioned earlier, they’re still here.
What effects will the Cambodia Securities Exchange have on business in Cambodia?
It will provide more capital for companies that are searching for capital that the bank cannot give.
We have to go step by step, steady step. I’m not very much in favour of the stock exchange, but I see it also as an important tool for the economy in the future.
But we have to go step by step, making sure that the securities exchange we are setting up is not going to be a time bomb for the Cambodian economy, but rather a paved road for people looking for capital. But you have to make sure the road is safe.
31 May, 2011
29 May, 2011
Cambodia confident temple management plan to be accepted by UNESCO
Cambodia confident temple management plan to be accepted by UNESCO
14:35, May 29, 2011
Source: Xinhua
Cambodia is firmly confident that the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee (WHC) will officially accept the management plan of Preah Vihear temple proposed in the 35th WHC meeting in Paris on June 19 to 29, said a top government official on Sunday.
"In the next month's meeting, the World Heritage Committee will make the official decision on the management plan of Preah Vihear temple, which Cambodia submitted in the last year's annual WHC meeting," the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said Sunday at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival from Paris, where he held talks with Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Preah Vihear temple issues under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"Cambodia has enough legal documents, which are internationally recognized, to support that the temple's management plan is done in Cambodian territory," he said, adding that the plan has also been admired by UNESCO for its good and standardized preparation in the last year's committee meeting.
However, the Bangkok Post online newspaper reported on Sunday that Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO has not made decision yet on whether the WHC will debate Cambodia's management plan.
Suwit Khunkitti said that Thailand and Cambodia would hold more talks over Cambodia's management plan for the disputed 4.6-square- kilometre area around Preah Vihear temple ahead of the 35th WHC meeting next month.
In response, Sok An said that Cambodia welcomed more meetings with Thailand under the UNESCO arrangements prior to the next month's WHC meeting in June.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
14:35, May 29, 2011
Source: Xinhua
Cambodia is firmly confident that the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee (WHC) will officially accept the management plan of Preah Vihear temple proposed in the 35th WHC meeting in Paris on June 19 to 29, said a top government official on Sunday.
"In the next month's meeting, the World Heritage Committee will make the official decision on the management plan of Preah Vihear temple, which Cambodia submitted in the last year's annual WHC meeting," the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said Sunday at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival from Paris, where he held talks with Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Preah Vihear temple issues under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"Cambodia has enough legal documents, which are internationally recognized, to support that the temple's management plan is done in Cambodian territory," he said, adding that the plan has also been admired by UNESCO for its good and standardized preparation in the last year's committee meeting.
However, the Bangkok Post online newspaper reported on Sunday that Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO has not made decision yet on whether the WHC will debate Cambodia's management plan.
Suwit Khunkitti said that Thailand and Cambodia would hold more talks over Cambodia's management plan for the disputed 4.6-square- kilometre area around Preah Vihear temple ahead of the 35th WHC meeting next month.
In response, Sok An said that Cambodia welcomed more meetings with Thailand under the UNESCO arrangements prior to the next month's WHC meeting in June.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
28 May, 2011
Cambodia says UNESCO not postpone Preah Vihear temple's management plan
Cambodia says UNESCO not postpone Preah Vihear temple's management plan
14:22, May 28, 2011
Source: Xinhua
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has not postponed the consideration of the management plan for Preah Vihear temple, scheduled for June 19 to 29 at the 35th session of World Heritage Committee, the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said on Friday night.
Sok An's assertion was made after the Thai state media MCOT online news reported on Friday Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO supported Thailand 's request for the agency's World Heritage Committee (WHC) to postpone consideration of the management plan for the areas surrounding the World Heritage-listed temple, pending demarcation of the border between Thailand and Cambodia.
Sok An said that Suwit Khunkitti had raised the postponement request to the UNESCO during the meeting on May 25 to 26 on Preah Vihear temple issues at the UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"But the Thai request has not fulfilled because we (Cambodia) disagreed to postpone it," he said in a live telephone interview from Paris by the local Cambodian Television Network. "It is completely untrue that Thailand said the UNESCO agreed to postpone the consideration of the Preah Vihear temple's management plan."
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
14:22, May 28, 2011
Source: Xinhua
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has not postponed the consideration of the management plan for Preah Vihear temple, scheduled for June 19 to 29 at the 35th session of World Heritage Committee, the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said on Friday night.
Sok An's assertion was made after the Thai state media MCOT online news reported on Friday Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO supported Thailand 's request for the agency's World Heritage Committee (WHC) to postpone consideration of the management plan for the areas surrounding the World Heritage-listed temple, pending demarcation of the border between Thailand and Cambodia.
Sok An said that Suwit Khunkitti had raised the postponement request to the UNESCO during the meeting on May 25 to 26 on Preah Vihear temple issues at the UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"But the Thai request has not fulfilled because we (Cambodia) disagreed to postpone it," he said in a live telephone interview from Paris by the local Cambodian Television Network. "It is completely untrue that Thailand said the UNESCO agreed to postpone the consideration of the Preah Vihear temple's management plan."
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
UNESCO disappointed at Thai, Cambodian deadlock over disputed temple
UNESCO disappointed at Thai, Cambodian deadlock over disputed temple
14:40, May 28, 2011
Source: Xinhua
The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova expressed her disappointment on Friday after Thai and Cambodian delegations failed to reach an agreement on disputes over the Temple of Preah Vihear.
Though the two parties had "affirmed their will to protect and preserve the Temple," Bokova voiced "her disappointment at the fact that no agreement was reached between the Parties on concrete steps ahead of the forthcoming World Heritage Committee session," the Paris-based UN cultural branch said in a statement.
The 35th session of the World Heritage Committee will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from June 19-29.
Delegations from Thailand and Cambodia have spent three days of bilateral and individual consultations at UNESCO.
"I appeal to both countries to pursue efforts towards achieving a common agreement before the World Heritage Committee session in June in a spirit of cooperation and constructive dialogue," the UNESCO chief said.
Cambodian and Thai border has never been completely demarcated. Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 square km) 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.
14:40, May 28, 2011
Source: Xinhua
The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova expressed her disappointment on Friday after Thai and Cambodian delegations failed to reach an agreement on disputes over the Temple of Preah Vihear.
Though the two parties had "affirmed their will to protect and preserve the Temple," Bokova voiced "her disappointment at the fact that no agreement was reached between the Parties on concrete steps ahead of the forthcoming World Heritage Committee session," the Paris-based UN cultural branch said in a statement.
The 35th session of the World Heritage Committee will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from June 19-29.
Delegations from Thailand and Cambodia have spent three days of bilateral and individual consultations at UNESCO.
"I appeal to both countries to pursue efforts towards achieving a common agreement before the World Heritage Committee session in June in a spirit of cooperation and constructive dialogue," the UNESCO chief said.
Cambodian and Thai border has never been completely demarcated. Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 square km) 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.
Thai Government pushes big lie on Preah Vihear in the 21st Century: Commentary
Thai Government pushes big lie on Preah Vihear in the 21st Century: Commentary
SATURDAY, 28 MAY 2011 08:38 DAP-NEWS
Phnom Penh, 27 May 2011-While Cambodian and Thai delegations are gathering in Paris for the preparatory meeting for the forthcoming 35th session of the World Heritage Committee from 19 to 29 June, the Thai government became even more flagrant in its efforts to intoxicate and mislead the world regarding its invasion of Cambodian territory and the damage it caused to the Temple of Preah Vihear.
On 26 May, the Bangkok Post reported, under the headline “PM says Thai troops didn’t fire at the Temple”: “ Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected allegations by Phnom Penh that the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was attacked by Thai troops in recent border armed clashes ”.
At the meeting of the Thai and Cambodian delegations with UNESCO in Paris, Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suwit Khunkitti, according to a source close to the Thai delegation who requested anonymity, repeated the same falsehood and lie, and claimed that there had been no damage to the Temple.
The leaders of the Thai government must think that the rest of the world has also a good memory. In early March 2011, the Thai government loudly objected when Cambodia organized a visit to the Temple by military attachés from 12 countries, who were able to see for themselves some of the damage caused by more than 400 Thai artillery shells, including cluster munitions, fired from 4 to 7 February.
Will Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suwit now tell the world that the visit they objected to didn’t take place and that the attachés did not see the damage they saw?
The Cambodian National Authority for Preah Vihear has sent a report on stone damage to the Temple, which was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, to UNESCO. The Cambodian government has prepared several documentaries showing some of the damage, which the Cambodian delegation to the preparatory meeting has shown to interested delegates. These documentaries are available to the Thai delegates if they can bear to see evidence that the chief of their delegation is out of touch with reality.
Of course, it would be better if national and international experts could visit the Temple in person to inspect the damage. But the Thai government objects to such visits as too dangerous. But what danger is there if the Thai military is not firing at the Temple?
Therefore, the international community must not fall into the Thai incessant tricks and this big lie in the 21st century. It is also an imperative for the world community to help the restoration and the preservation of this sacred Temple, especially to prevent a renewed military attack by Thailand.
By: Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers
SATURDAY, 28 MAY 2011 08:38 DAP-NEWS
Phnom Penh, 27 May 2011-While Cambodian and Thai delegations are gathering in Paris for the preparatory meeting for the forthcoming 35th session of the World Heritage Committee from 19 to 29 June, the Thai government became even more flagrant in its efforts to intoxicate and mislead the world regarding its invasion of Cambodian territory and the damage it caused to the Temple of Preah Vihear.
On 26 May, the Bangkok Post reported, under the headline “PM says Thai troops didn’t fire at the Temple”: “ Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected allegations by Phnom Penh that the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was attacked by Thai troops in recent border armed clashes ”.
At the meeting of the Thai and Cambodian delegations with UNESCO in Paris, Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suwit Khunkitti, according to a source close to the Thai delegation who requested anonymity, repeated the same falsehood and lie, and claimed that there had been no damage to the Temple.
The leaders of the Thai government must think that the rest of the world has also a good memory. In early March 2011, the Thai government loudly objected when Cambodia organized a visit to the Temple by military attachés from 12 countries, who were able to see for themselves some of the damage caused by more than 400 Thai artillery shells, including cluster munitions, fired from 4 to 7 February.
Will Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suwit now tell the world that the visit they objected to didn’t take place and that the attachés did not see the damage they saw?
The Cambodian National Authority for Preah Vihear has sent a report on stone damage to the Temple, which was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, to UNESCO. The Cambodian government has prepared several documentaries showing some of the damage, which the Cambodian delegation to the preparatory meeting has shown to interested delegates. These documentaries are available to the Thai delegates if they can bear to see evidence that the chief of their delegation is out of touch with reality.
Of course, it would be better if national and international experts could visit the Temple in person to inspect the damage. But the Thai government objects to such visits as too dangerous. But what danger is there if the Thai military is not firing at the Temple?
Therefore, the international community must not fall into the Thai incessant tricks and this big lie in the 21st century. It is also an imperative for the world community to help the restoration and the preservation of this sacred Temple, especially to prevent a renewed military attack by Thailand.
By: Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers
27 May, 2011
Thai delegation to leave for Hague to elaborate Temple issue
Thai delegation to leave for Hague to elaborate Temple issue
16:54, May 27, 2011
Source: Xinhua
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will leave for The Hague of the Netherlands Friday evening to elaborate the Preah Vihear Temple issue with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi, the minister and his entourage will leave Thailand Friday evening to present information to the ICJ after Cambodia sought an interpretation of the ICJ's 1962 judgement on the temple case, Thai National News Bureau reported, adding that the Foreign Minister will finish his mission on May 31.
The Thai delegation comprises government officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Survey Department of the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture.
They will arrive in The Hague this weekend for internal consultations and preparing documentations and are expected to finish their mission on May 31.
The Thai delegation has been preparing for this issue for a period of time including employment of foreign advisors to support the operation of the Thai working group since Thailand has already been expecting that Cambodia will take the temple issue to the ICJ once again.
As the interpretation of the verdict might take about 1-2 years to complete, the Cambodian side has asked the ICJ to issue a temporary measure ordering the Thai side to withdraw troops from the disputed zone pending the ruling.
The ICJ will take about three weeks, after Thailand and Cambodia present their information, to consider whether it is necessary to issue the temporary order. It is expected that Thailand and Cambodia will have to present written information to the ICJ again by September or October.
The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962. However, Thailand claims the ownership of the 4.6 square km next to the temple. 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.
Case Concerning Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea (romania V. Ukraine) Order of 8 June 2007 (Icj Reports Of Judgments Advisory Opinions & Order)
Icj International Court of Justice
16:54, May 27, 2011
Source: Xinhua
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will leave for The Hague of the Netherlands Friday evening to elaborate the Preah Vihear Temple issue with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi, the minister and his entourage will leave Thailand Friday evening to present information to the ICJ after Cambodia sought an interpretation of the ICJ's 1962 judgement on the temple case, Thai National News Bureau reported, adding that the Foreign Minister will finish his mission on May 31.
The Thai delegation comprises government officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Survey Department of the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture.
They will arrive in The Hague this weekend for internal consultations and preparing documentations and are expected to finish their mission on May 31.
The Thai delegation has been preparing for this issue for a period of time including employment of foreign advisors to support the operation of the Thai working group since Thailand has already been expecting that Cambodia will take the temple issue to the ICJ once again.
As the interpretation of the verdict might take about 1-2 years to complete, the Cambodian side has asked the ICJ to issue a temporary measure ordering the Thai side to withdraw troops from the disputed zone pending the ruling.
The ICJ will take about three weeks, after Thailand and Cambodia present their information, to consider whether it is necessary to issue the temporary order. It is expected that Thailand and Cambodia will have to present written information to the ICJ again by September or October.
The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962. However, Thailand claims the ownership of the 4.6 square km next to the temple. 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.
Case Concerning Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea (romania V. Ukraine) Order of 8 June 2007 (Icj Reports Of Judgments Advisory Opinions & Order)
Icj International Court of Justice
26 May, 2011
កិច្ចប្រជុំស្ដីពីការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ និងសន្តិសុខស្បៀង
កិច្ចប្រជុំស្ដីពីការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ និងសន្តិសុខស្បៀង
ដោយ អ៊ុក សាវបូរី
2011-05-25
Radio Free Asia
មន្ត្រីកម្មវិធីស្បៀងអាហារសហភាពអឺរ៉ុប ( FAO EUROPEAN UNION FOOD FACILITY PROJECT) និងមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាល ផ្នែកកសិកម្ម និងបរិស្ថាន បានជួបពិភាក្សាគ្នាអំពីផលវិបាកនានា ដែលបណ្ដាលមកពីគ្រោះធម្មជាតិ ដែលបានកើតឡើងកាលពីពេលថ្មីៗ នេះ។
នៅថ្ងៃពុធ ទី ២៥ ខែឧសភា ក្រុមមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាល និងមន្ត្រីអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ជាង ៩០ នាក់ បានជួបពិភាក្សាគ្នាអំពីការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ នៅពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន និងស្ដីអំពីវិធានការនានា ដើម្បីការពារផលដំណាំ និងសត្វចិញ្ចឹម នៅពេលមានគ្រោះធម្មជាតិកើតឡើង និងវិធីបញ្ចៀស ព្រមទាំងការប្រកាសគ្រោះអាសន្ន មុនពេលកើតមានគ្រោះធម្មជាតិទាំងនោះ ដើម្បីឲ្យកសិករមានការប្រុងប្រយ័ត្ន និងចូលរួមការពារ។
អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ ក្រសួងកសិកម្ម រុក្ខា ប្រមាញ់ និងនេសាទ លោក អ៊ិត ណូឌី មានប្រសាសន៍នៅថ្ងៃពុធ ទី ២៥ ខែឧសភាថា ប្រទេសជប៉ុន និងប្រទេសអាមេរិក ក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០១១ រងនូវគ្រោះធម្មជាតិរលកយក្សស៊ូណាមិ ជំនន់ ខ្យល់ព្យុះ ដោយសារការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ។ បញ្ហាប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុនេះ បង្កឲ្យមានផលប៉ះពាល់ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ដល់បញ្ហាសន្តិសុខស្បៀង។
នៅកម្ពុជា ការកាប់បំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើជាង ៣ លានហិកតារ ការដុតកាកសំណល់ដំណាំ និងដុតព្រៃដំណាំកសិកម្ម និងការដាំដុះស្រូវប្រដេញទឹកជាប្រចាំ ក៏រួមចំណែកបង្កើនឧស្ម័នផ្ទះកញ្ចក់ភាយទៅលើបរិយាកាស ដែលធ្វើឲ្យអាកាសធាតុប្រែប្រួលដែរ។ ក្រសួងកសិកម្ម បានចុះពន្យល់ប្រជាកសិករ ឲ្យកែប្រែទម្លាប់ទាំងនោះ និងដាំកូនឈើ ដើម្បីការពារព្រៃឲ្យបាន ៦០% វិញ។
សំឡេង ៖ «អ្វីដែលយើងចង់បាន គឺធ្វើយ៉ាងណាឲ្យកសិករយើង ចេះបច្ចេកទេសដាំដុះ ម្ចាស់ការឆ្នៃប្រឌិត។ ២ ឆ្នាំហើយ យើងធ្វើសន្និបាតកសិករ ដើម្បីស្វែងរកនូវកសិករឆ្នើមៗ លើការងារឆ្នៃប្រឌិតគ្រប់វិស័យ»។
តំណាងអង្គការស្បៀង និងកសិកម្មនៃសហប្រជាជាតិប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជា ហៅកាត់ថា (FAO) លោក អែជេ មិខិនដេ (Ajay Markanday) ថ្លែងថាការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ បានក្លាយទៅជាការគំរាមកំហែងដ៏ធំមួយ ចំពោះការសម្រេចទៅលើលទ្ធផលនៃការខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងឲ្យមានសន្តិសុខស្បៀង។
រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានទទួលស្គាល់ហានិភ័យនេះ ទើបអង្គការ FAO ផ្តល់ឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជានូវសមត្ថភាពបច្ចេកទេសកសិកម្ម រុក្ខា ប្រមាញ់ និងនេសាទ ដើម្បីបន្សាំទៅនឹងការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ និងដើម្បីកាត់បន្ថយផលប៉ះពាល់ ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុនេះ គឺធ្វើយ៉ាងណា គ្របដណ្ដប់ឲ្យបានទៅលើជីវៈចម្រុះ និង ការកសាងសមត្ថភាព ដោយផ្ទេរបច្ចេកវិទ្យា ដើម្បីការស្ដារព្រៃស្រោងឡើងវិញ។
នាយកវិទ្យាស្ថានស្រាវជ្រាវ និងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍កសិកម្មកម្ពុជា ហៅកាត់ថា CARDI លោក អ៊ុក មករា មានប្រសាសន៍ថា កម្ពុជាត្រៀមពូជស្រូវប្រើទឹកតិច សម្រាប់ការពារគ្រោះរាំងស្ងួត និងស្រូវដែលធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់។ ពូជស្រូវដាំសម្រាប់រាំងស្ងួត គឺ ខារ ៣ (CAR3) និងខារ ៤ (CAR4)។
ឯពូជស្រូវដែលធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់ លោក អ៊ុក មករា ថ្លែងថា មានដូចជាពូជស្រូវ ៖ «ពូជផ្ការំដួល ពូជខារ ៩ ពូជផ្ការំដេង ពូជផ្ការមៀតជាដើមនេះ ដែលខ្ញុំមានបង្ហាញនេះ គឺវាធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់។ ប៉ុន្តែ ទន្ទឹមនឹងយើងមិនទាន់ពេញចិត្តទេ យើងកំពុងធ្វើការសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវបន្តថែមទៀត ដើម្បីពង្រឹងពូជអស់ហ្នឹង ឲ្យវាកាន់តែធន់ទ្រាំទៅនឹងទឹកជំនន់ ឬរាំងស្ងួតថែមទៀត»។
មន្ត្រីអង្គការ យូ.អិន.ឌី.ភី (UNDP) លោក ឃីម ឡាយ បានឲ្យដឹងថា ថវិកាចំនួន ២០ លានដុល្លារអាមេរិកសម្រាប់ផែនការ ៥ ឆ្នាំ គឺឆ្នាំ ២០១១ ឆ្នាំ ២០១៥ អង្គការនេះកំពុងធ្វើការងារគាំទ្រ ដើម្បីកសាងនូវភាពធន់ និងការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ ក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដោយធ្វើការអប់រំសហគមន៍តាមរយៈសិក្ខាសាលា និងកិច្ចប្រជុំជាដើម៕
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ដោយ អ៊ុក សាវបូរី
2011-05-25
Radio Free Asia
មន្ត្រីកម្មវិធីស្បៀងអាហារសហភាពអឺរ៉ុប ( FAO EUROPEAN UNION FOOD FACILITY PROJECT) និងមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាល ផ្នែកកសិកម្ម និងបរិស្ថាន បានជួបពិភាក្សាគ្នាអំពីផលវិបាកនានា ដែលបណ្ដាលមកពីគ្រោះធម្មជាតិ ដែលបានកើតឡើងកាលពីពេលថ្មីៗ នេះ។
នៅថ្ងៃពុធ ទី ២៥ ខែឧសភា ក្រុមមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាល និងមន្ត្រីអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ជាង ៩០ នាក់ បានជួបពិភាក្សាគ្នាអំពីការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ នៅពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន និងស្ដីអំពីវិធានការនានា ដើម្បីការពារផលដំណាំ និងសត្វចិញ្ចឹម នៅពេលមានគ្រោះធម្មជាតិកើតឡើង និងវិធីបញ្ចៀស ព្រមទាំងការប្រកាសគ្រោះអាសន្ន មុនពេលកើតមានគ្រោះធម្មជាតិទាំងនោះ ដើម្បីឲ្យកសិករមានការប្រុងប្រយ័ត្ន និងចូលរួមការពារ។
អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ ក្រសួងកសិកម្ម រុក្ខា ប្រមាញ់ និងនេសាទ លោក អ៊ិត ណូឌី មានប្រសាសន៍នៅថ្ងៃពុធ ទី ២៥ ខែឧសភាថា ប្រទេសជប៉ុន និងប្រទេសអាមេរិក ក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០១១ រងនូវគ្រោះធម្មជាតិរលកយក្សស៊ូណាមិ ជំនន់ ខ្យល់ព្យុះ ដោយសារការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ។ បញ្ហាប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុនេះ បង្កឲ្យមានផលប៉ះពាល់ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ដល់បញ្ហាសន្តិសុខស្បៀង។
នៅកម្ពុជា ការកាប់បំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើជាង ៣ លានហិកតារ ការដុតកាកសំណល់ដំណាំ និងដុតព្រៃដំណាំកសិកម្ម និងការដាំដុះស្រូវប្រដេញទឹកជាប្រចាំ ក៏រួមចំណែកបង្កើនឧស្ម័នផ្ទះកញ្ចក់ភាយទៅលើបរិយាកាស ដែលធ្វើឲ្យអាកាសធាតុប្រែប្រួលដែរ។ ក្រសួងកសិកម្ម បានចុះពន្យល់ប្រជាកសិករ ឲ្យកែប្រែទម្លាប់ទាំងនោះ និងដាំកូនឈើ ដើម្បីការពារព្រៃឲ្យបាន ៦០% វិញ។
សំឡេង ៖ «អ្វីដែលយើងចង់បាន គឺធ្វើយ៉ាងណាឲ្យកសិករយើង ចេះបច្ចេកទេសដាំដុះ ម្ចាស់ការឆ្នៃប្រឌិត។ ២ ឆ្នាំហើយ យើងធ្វើសន្និបាតកសិករ ដើម្បីស្វែងរកនូវកសិករឆ្នើមៗ លើការងារឆ្នៃប្រឌិតគ្រប់វិស័យ»។
តំណាងអង្គការស្បៀង និងកសិកម្មនៃសហប្រជាជាតិប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជា ហៅកាត់ថា (FAO) លោក អែជេ មិខិនដេ (Ajay Markanday) ថ្លែងថាការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ បានក្លាយទៅជាការគំរាមកំហែងដ៏ធំមួយ ចំពោះការសម្រេចទៅលើលទ្ធផលនៃការខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងឲ្យមានសន្តិសុខស្បៀង។
រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានទទួលស្គាល់ហានិភ័យនេះ ទើបអង្គការ FAO ផ្តល់ឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជានូវសមត្ថភាពបច្ចេកទេសកសិកម្ម រុក្ខា ប្រមាញ់ និងនេសាទ ដើម្បីបន្សាំទៅនឹងការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ និងដើម្បីកាត់បន្ថយផលប៉ះពាល់ ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុនេះ គឺធ្វើយ៉ាងណា គ្របដណ្ដប់ឲ្យបានទៅលើជីវៈចម្រុះ និង ការកសាងសមត្ថភាព ដោយផ្ទេរបច្ចេកវិទ្យា ដើម្បីការស្ដារព្រៃស្រោងឡើងវិញ។
នាយកវិទ្យាស្ថានស្រាវជ្រាវ និងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍កសិកម្មកម្ពុជា ហៅកាត់ថា CARDI លោក អ៊ុក មករា មានប្រសាសន៍ថា កម្ពុជាត្រៀមពូជស្រូវប្រើទឹកតិច សម្រាប់ការពារគ្រោះរាំងស្ងួត និងស្រូវដែលធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់។ ពូជស្រូវដាំសម្រាប់រាំងស្ងួត គឺ ខារ ៣ (CAR3) និងខារ ៤ (CAR4)។
ឯពូជស្រូវដែលធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់ លោក អ៊ុក មករា ថ្លែងថា មានដូចជាពូជស្រូវ ៖ «ពូជផ្ការំដួល ពូជខារ ៩ ពូជផ្ការំដេង ពូជផ្ការមៀតជាដើមនេះ ដែលខ្ញុំមានបង្ហាញនេះ គឺវាធន់នឹងទឹកជំនន់។ ប៉ុន្តែ ទន្ទឹមនឹងយើងមិនទាន់ពេញចិត្តទេ យើងកំពុងធ្វើការសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវបន្តថែមទៀត ដើម្បីពង្រឹងពូជអស់ហ្នឹង ឲ្យវាកាន់តែធន់ទ្រាំទៅនឹងទឹកជំនន់ ឬរាំងស្ងួតថែមទៀត»។
មន្ត្រីអង្គការ យូ.អិន.ឌី.ភី (UNDP) លោក ឃីម ឡាយ បានឲ្យដឹងថា ថវិកាចំនួន ២០ លានដុល្លារអាមេរិកសម្រាប់ផែនការ ៥ ឆ្នាំ គឺឆ្នាំ ២០១១ ឆ្នាំ ២០១៥ អង្គការនេះកំពុងធ្វើការងារគាំទ្រ ដើម្បីកសាងនូវភាពធន់ និងការប្រែប្រួលអាកាសធាតុ ក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដោយធ្វើការអប់រំសហគមន៍តាមរយៈសិក្ខាសាលា និងកិច្ចប្រជុំជាដើម៕
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25 May, 2011
Officials Vague on Thaksin
Officials Vague on Thaksin
The Phnom Penh Post
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2011 15:02 CHEANG SOKHA
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011052449314/National-news/officials-vague-on-thaksin.html
Government officials have offered a noncommittal response to the question of whether ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be allowed to stage another of his controversial visits to the Kingdom during the current Thai election campaign, in which his sister is a leading candidate for prime minister.
Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 military coup and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for graft, was appointed economics adviser to the Cambodian government in 2009. The appointment, along with Thaksin’s high-profile visits to the Kingdom in the months that followed, provoked the ire of his bitter rivals in the current Thai government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, which repeatedly requested his extradition to no avail.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said yesterday Thaksin had yet to ask to return to Cambodia for the campaign.
“Up until now, we haven’t received any request from Thaksin,” he said, declining to comment on how the government would respond to such a request. Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he had “no information about Thaksin” and also could not comment.
During mass anti-government protests in Thailand last year that eventually turned violent and resulted in the deaths of more than 90 people, Hun Sen reportedly told officials from the Abhisit administration that Thaksin would not be allowed to visit Cambodia. Koy Kuong added at the time, however, that Thaksin remained Hun Sen’s “eternal friend”.
In a statement on Friday following the premier’s weekly cabinet meeting, the Council of Ministers said Hun Sen had “once again announced that he will not allow any foreigner or foreign political organisation to use Cambodia as a base to attack or overthrow the government of any foreign country”, though no specific individuals or countries were mentioned.
Thaksin announced his resignation from his government advisory post last year, prompting Cambodia and Thailand to return ambassadors that had been withdrawn in the row over his 2009 appointment.
Even while living abroad, Thaksin remains the most polarising figure in Thailand’s colour-coded politics, vehemently opposed by the conservative Yellow Shirts and lionised by the populist Red Shirts.
The opposition Puea Thai Party, aligned with the Red Shirts, has even tapped his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as its prime ministerial candidate.
Thailand’s elections will be held on July 3.
The Phnom Penh Post
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2011 15:02 CHEANG SOKHA
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011052449314/National-news/officials-vague-on-thaksin.html
Government officials have offered a noncommittal response to the question of whether ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be allowed to stage another of his controversial visits to the Kingdom during the current Thai election campaign, in which his sister is a leading candidate for prime minister.
Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 military coup and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for graft, was appointed economics adviser to the Cambodian government in 2009. The appointment, along with Thaksin’s high-profile visits to the Kingdom in the months that followed, provoked the ire of his bitter rivals in the current Thai government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, which repeatedly requested his extradition to no avail.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said yesterday Thaksin had yet to ask to return to Cambodia for the campaign.
“Up until now, we haven’t received any request from Thaksin,” he said, declining to comment on how the government would respond to such a request. Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he had “no information about Thaksin” and also could not comment.
During mass anti-government protests in Thailand last year that eventually turned violent and resulted in the deaths of more than 90 people, Hun Sen reportedly told officials from the Abhisit administration that Thaksin would not be allowed to visit Cambodia. Koy Kuong added at the time, however, that Thaksin remained Hun Sen’s “eternal friend”.
In a statement on Friday following the premier’s weekly cabinet meeting, the Council of Ministers said Hun Sen had “once again announced that he will not allow any foreigner or foreign political organisation to use Cambodia as a base to attack or overthrow the government of any foreign country”, though no specific individuals or countries were mentioned.
Thaksin announced his resignation from his government advisory post last year, prompting Cambodia and Thailand to return ambassadors that had been withdrawn in the row over his 2009 appointment.
Even while living abroad, Thaksin remains the most polarising figure in Thailand’s colour-coded politics, vehemently opposed by the conservative Yellow Shirts and lionised by the populist Red Shirts.
The opposition Puea Thai Party, aligned with the Red Shirts, has even tapped his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as its prime ministerial candidate.
Thailand’s elections will be held on July 3.
19 May, 2011
PM Open to Talks With Next Thai Government
PM Open to Talks With Next Thai Government
THURSDAY, 19 MAY 2011 15:02 CHEANG SOKHA
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011051949232/National-news/pm-open-to-talks-with-next-thai-government.html
Prime Minister Hun Sen says he is willing to continue holding bilateral talks with Thailand over the sovereignty of border temples Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, where deadly fighting broke out last month, though he warned that Cambodia may eventually bring the matter to the International Court of Justice.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for Chinese-funded renovations of National Road 41 in Kampong Speu province, Hun Sen said Cambodia was prepared to negotiate on the temples with both the current Thai government and the next, which will be formed following general elections on July 3. If these talks do not bear fruit, however, the premier said he was prepared to take the matter to the ICJ, an arm of the United Nations that deals with disputes between states.
“We cannot withdraw, and neither can Thailand, so only a verdict from the ICJ will allow us to explain to our people and them to explain to theirs,” Hun Sen said.
“This is the way of finding a solution – otherwise, we will fight each other forever.”
Clashes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia last month near Ta Moan and Ta Krabey and stretched for 11 straight days, ultimately claiming at least 18 lives. In February, similar clashes broke out near Preah Vihear temple, killing at least 10. The government also announced plans earlier this year to bring the border dispute at Preah Vihear to the ICJ, which will hold hearings on the matter on May 30 and 31.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple lay on Cambodian territory, though it did not make a decision about a patch of land adjacent to the 11th-Century temple that both sides still contest.
Cambodia therefore requested last month that the ICJ reinterpret that judgment to include a ruling on the sovereignty of the land. The government has also asked the ICJ to order interim measures ahead of a final judgment including a requirement that Thai forces withdraw from the area.
A ruling on such interim measures could come within the next few months, an ICJ official told The Post earlier this month, though the final reinterpretation could talk years.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, a Thai government spokesman, declined to comment on Hun Sen’s remarks.
“I think that’s for the domestic audience,” he said yesterday.
Hun Sen also ordered Cambodian soldiers to maintain their positions and not encroach on Thai positions so as to avoid further clashes.
Meanwhile, defence ministers from the two countries met last night after a regional defence meeting hosted in Jakarta.
Panitan said that Bangkok was waiting on the outcome of yesterday’s meeting in Jakarta before it would finalise an agreement that would allow Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire from both sides of the border.
That plan had been agreed to after the initial clashes in February, but the deal became stalled after senior Thai military officials expressed their opposition.
Details of the talks were not available by press time. Both Ministry of Defense spokesman Chhum Socheat and Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said they did not yet know the outcome of the meeting when reached late yesterday.
THURSDAY, 19 MAY 2011 15:02 CHEANG SOKHA
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011051949232/National-news/pm-open-to-talks-with-next-thai-government.html
Prime Minister Hun Sen says he is willing to continue holding bilateral talks with Thailand over the sovereignty of border temples Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, where deadly fighting broke out last month, though he warned that Cambodia may eventually bring the matter to the International Court of Justice.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for Chinese-funded renovations of National Road 41 in Kampong Speu province, Hun Sen said Cambodia was prepared to negotiate on the temples with both the current Thai government and the next, which will be formed following general elections on July 3. If these talks do not bear fruit, however, the premier said he was prepared to take the matter to the ICJ, an arm of the United Nations that deals with disputes between states.
“We cannot withdraw, and neither can Thailand, so only a verdict from the ICJ will allow us to explain to our people and them to explain to theirs,” Hun Sen said.
“This is the way of finding a solution – otherwise, we will fight each other forever.”
Clashes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia last month near Ta Moan and Ta Krabey and stretched for 11 straight days, ultimately claiming at least 18 lives. In February, similar clashes broke out near Preah Vihear temple, killing at least 10. The government also announced plans earlier this year to bring the border dispute at Preah Vihear to the ICJ, which will hold hearings on the matter on May 30 and 31.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple lay on Cambodian territory, though it did not make a decision about a patch of land adjacent to the 11th-Century temple that both sides still contest.
Cambodia therefore requested last month that the ICJ reinterpret that judgment to include a ruling on the sovereignty of the land. The government has also asked the ICJ to order interim measures ahead of a final judgment including a requirement that Thai forces withdraw from the area.
A ruling on such interim measures could come within the next few months, an ICJ official told The Post earlier this month, though the final reinterpretation could talk years.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, a Thai government spokesman, declined to comment on Hun Sen’s remarks.
“I think that’s for the domestic audience,” he said yesterday.
Hun Sen also ordered Cambodian soldiers to maintain their positions and not encroach on Thai positions so as to avoid further clashes.
Meanwhile, defence ministers from the two countries met last night after a regional defence meeting hosted in Jakarta.
Panitan said that Bangkok was waiting on the outcome of yesterday’s meeting in Jakarta before it would finalise an agreement that would allow Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire from both sides of the border.
That plan had been agreed to after the initial clashes in February, but the deal became stalled after senior Thai military officials expressed their opposition.
Details of the talks were not available by press time. Both Ministry of Defense spokesman Chhum Socheat and Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said they did not yet know the outcome of the meeting when reached late yesterday.
Editorial: Seeking a solid ASEAN defense
Editorial: Seeking a solid ASEAN defense
The Jakarta Post | Wed, 05/18/2011 7:00 AM | Editorial
The 5th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM), the highest defense mechanism within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will officially commence today. The two-day annual event is scheduled to discuss and exchange views on current defense and security issues as well as the challenges faced by ASEAN’s 10 member states.
Bringing together the 10 ASEAN member states, which are socio-culturally unique (although many share similar traditions because they are neighbors), is no easy task. One of the main obstacles in establishing a strong and united ASEAN, an association formed on Aug. 8, 1967, are the prolonged border disputes between its members. Almost none of the members are free from territorial problems with their neighbors.
One of the hot current issues in the region is none other than the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. The conflict began in June 2008 and is the latest round of a century-old dispute between Cambodia and Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, located between the Choam Khsant district in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the Kantharalak district in Thailand’s Sisaket province.
Another conflict is the on-and-off border disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia. After the Sipadan-Ligitan dispute was settled in December 2002 following the issuance of a ruling by the International Court of Justice (which stipulated that both islands belonged to Malaysia), the two neighbors continued to disagree over a number of border regions, the Ambalat Block being the most recent.
Last is the multilateral dispute over the Spratlys — a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from Vietnam, the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia and the Philippines. Brunei has also claimed an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the southeastern part of the Spratlys, encompassing just one area of small islands above mean high water level (on Louisa Reef).
The Thailand and Cambodia border dispute has been intensively discussed at forums within ASEAN, with Indonesia as the current ASEAN Chair taking the initiative to facilitate talks between the two neighbors. Still, there has been no significant progress in this area. Such border disputes, if unsettled properly and in a timely manner, will have significant impacts on the sustainability and success of the already approved agreement to develop the ASEAN Community by 2015.
There are a number of defense and security issues to be discussed at the two-day meeting, including an agreement to strengthen regional defense and security cooperation, to reaffirm a commitment to implement the Declaration of Conduct (DOC), and to work towards the adoption of a COC (Code of Conduct) in the South China Sea.
But above all the urgent tasks, a commitment to settling border problems should be at top of the priorities of ASEAN member states, lest these talks be fruitless and become a mere forum of symbolic diplomacy.
The Jakarta Post | Wed, 05/18/2011 7:00 AM | Editorial
The 5th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM), the highest defense mechanism within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will officially commence today. The two-day annual event is scheduled to discuss and exchange views on current defense and security issues as well as the challenges faced by ASEAN’s 10 member states.
Bringing together the 10 ASEAN member states, which are socio-culturally unique (although many share similar traditions because they are neighbors), is no easy task. One of the main obstacles in establishing a strong and united ASEAN, an association formed on Aug. 8, 1967, are the prolonged border disputes between its members. Almost none of the members are free from territorial problems with their neighbors.
One of the hot current issues in the region is none other than the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. The conflict began in June 2008 and is the latest round of a century-old dispute between Cambodia and Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, located between the Choam Khsant district in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the Kantharalak district in Thailand’s Sisaket province.
Another conflict is the on-and-off border disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia. After the Sipadan-Ligitan dispute was settled in December 2002 following the issuance of a ruling by the International Court of Justice (which stipulated that both islands belonged to Malaysia), the two neighbors continued to disagree over a number of border regions, the Ambalat Block being the most recent.
Last is the multilateral dispute over the Spratlys — a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from Vietnam, the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia and the Philippines. Brunei has also claimed an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the southeastern part of the Spratlys, encompassing just one area of small islands above mean high water level (on Louisa Reef).
The Thailand and Cambodia border dispute has been intensively discussed at forums within ASEAN, with Indonesia as the current ASEAN Chair taking the initiative to facilitate talks between the two neighbors. Still, there has been no significant progress in this area. Such border disputes, if unsettled properly and in a timely manner, will have significant impacts on the sustainability and success of the already approved agreement to develop the ASEAN Community by 2015.
There are a number of defense and security issues to be discussed at the two-day meeting, including an agreement to strengthen regional defense and security cooperation, to reaffirm a commitment to implement the Declaration of Conduct (DOC), and to work towards the adoption of a COC (Code of Conduct) in the South China Sea.
But above all the urgent tasks, a commitment to settling border problems should be at top of the priorities of ASEAN member states, lest these talks be fruitless and become a mere forum of symbolic diplomacy.
RI hosts another round of Thai, Cambodia border talks
RI hosts another round of Thai, Cambodia border talks
Mustaqim Adamrah and Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 05/19/2011 8:00 AM |
With one chance after another to resolve their current dispute, Thailand and Cambodia have met yet again over the border issue that has ignited repeated skirmishes between the two nations.
Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM). That meeting inspired hopes that the resolution Indonesia, as the current chair of ASEAN, has brokered will proceed and conclude in peace.
Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro held a number of separate talks with his ASEAN counterparts, as Indonesia is trying to build a climate of defense cooperation among countries in the region.
The ADMM will officially open on Thursday and conclude on Friday.
“We were talking in order to find a good way to bring the situation back to normal,” Banh told reporters of the bilateral meeting with his Thai counterpart.
“We are moving forward for the best interests of both countries,” he said.
But he failed to elaborate what progress had been made between the two countries.
Wongsuwon refused to be interviewed when The Jakarta Post approached him.
Repeated skirmishes have occurred in Thai-Cambodia border areas in the vicinity of three ancient temples — Preah Vihear, Ta Moan and Ta Krabey — claiming at least 23 lives on both sides since early this year.
While Cambodia has exchanged a formal letter on terms of reference for the Indonesian observers dispatched to the disputed area, Thailand refused to sign, demanding Cambodian troops withdraw from the area, which Cambodia refused.
While boasting of the success of the bilateral talks between Cambodia and Thailand, Indonesian Defense Ministry secretary-general Eris Herryanto said Thailand had not signed the package solution and that the talks went “alright”.
“There was significant progress during the bilateral talks,” he told reporters, without further elaborating.
He also said the conditions for withdrawal of Cambodian troops were not discussed in the bilateral talks.
Earlier in the day, Purnomo met with Vietnam Defense Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh on boosting cooperation between the two countries’ marine forces.
Later, Purnomo spoke with Myanmar’s Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Hla Min in the first meeting between the two ministers.
“All this time, the cooperation in security between the two countries has not been intense enough due to Myanmar’s condition. The visit is expected to increase the [cooperation],” Eris said.
Meanwhile, Purnomo and his Malaysian counterpart Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have agreed to promote the creation of the ASEAN Defense Industry Collaboration (ADIC) to tap the huge military spending in the region.
Purnomo said military spending by ASEAN members reached US$25 billion per year.
“Currently there are four ASEAN member countries with established defense industries: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. But, the region is still a net importer of weapons and systems.”
16 May, 2011
Cambodia to have separate footwear body
Cambodia to have separate footwear body
May 16, 2011 (Cambodia)
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has announced that a separate association would be formed by Cambodia's footwear factories to better represent the industry and attract buyers and sellers.
GMAC Chairman Van Sou Ieng said that the initiative would allow footwear factories to act collectively in a similar manner to garment factories in GMAC, which already has three footwear factories as its members.
The setting up of an independent association would not only let the footwear factories work together but also help them understand the issues among its members.
It may be noted that the Cambodian footwear exports have shown a gradual year-on-year increase over the years.
In 2010, 36 factories in the Kingdom exported footwear products worth US$ 172 million. In first quarter of 2011, footwear products worth US$ 65 million have been exported.
In 2011, total production of footwear is expected to touch US$ 250 million, as few large factories approved by the Government are expected to begin production. These new factories will generate additional employment for 3,000 to 5,000 people.
The final decision, however, to set up the association as an independent body or to stay with GMAC will be taken at a meeting to be held in June 2011.
May 16, 2011 (Cambodia)
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has announced that a separate association would be formed by Cambodia's footwear factories to better represent the industry and attract buyers and sellers.
GMAC Chairman Van Sou Ieng said that the initiative would allow footwear factories to act collectively in a similar manner to garment factories in GMAC, which already has three footwear factories as its members.
The setting up of an independent association would not only let the footwear factories work together but also help them understand the issues among its members.
It may be noted that the Cambodian footwear exports have shown a gradual year-on-year increase over the years.
In 2010, 36 factories in the Kingdom exported footwear products worth US$ 172 million. In first quarter of 2011, footwear products worth US$ 65 million have been exported.
In 2011, total production of footwear is expected to touch US$ 250 million, as few large factories approved by the Government are expected to begin production. These new factories will generate additional employment for 3,000 to 5,000 people.
The final decision, however, to set up the association as an independent body or to stay with GMAC will be taken at a meeting to be held in June 2011.
15 May, 2011
A lesson on diplomacy among neighbours
A lesson on diplomacy among neighbours
The Star Online, Sunday May 15, 2011
by MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR
ACCORDING to a recent Bangkok Post report, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva blamed Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem for not understanding the border spat with Cambodia.
“The Malaysian deputy foreign minister may not have understood the border situation because there was a tripartite meeting between the Thai, Cambodian and Indonesian foreign ministers last night (May 9) and the issue was settled,” the Post quoted Abhisit as saying.
For the uninitiated, Abhisit was talking about negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia with Indonesia as the mediator to resolve a border conflict that has resulted in 18 deaths so far. In February, both countries agreed to a ceasefire.
Clashes had occurred over the ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The Preah Vihear temple, which was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008, belongs to Cambodia.
Last weekend, Asean leaders including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came out in full support for the dispute to be resolved amicably after their summit nearly got “hijacked” when Cambodian leader Hun Sen verbally attacked Thailand.
Based on what Richard was quoted as saying by the media on the border dispute, Abhisit’s response that Malaysia did not understand the conflict is a natural one.
It all started in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. When opening a symposium on the Dynamics of Youth and Terrorism, Richard said he was taken aback that an agreement signed by all Asean members in February, of which he was a signatory, was not adhered to by Thailand.
News agencies Bernama and AFP quoted him in their stories. Thai newspapers including the Bangkok Post then obtained the reaction of their Prime Minister.
More than 24 hours after the wire reports emerged, Richard called for a press conference at Wisma Putra to clarify a “miscommunication” at the symposium.
It is unprecedented for a deputy minister to call for a press conference at 8.30pm in Putrajaya.
Why so late in the day? Why not just issue a written statement to clarify the matter?
Sadly, it ended up as a meek clarification at best by Richard that evening – cautious but not diplomatic enough. It is easy to blame the media.
Richard said that his remarks were misinterpreted by journalists who interviewed him.
“I was asked twice whether I blamed Thailand and I replied ‘No’. So I don’t know how it was published in the papers that I blamed Thailand,” he told reporters.
Those who attended the press conference really wanted an end to the issue.
In fact, the Malaysian embassy in Bang-kok had already met up with the Thai Foreign Ministry’s director-general for East Asia, and Bangkok had accepted Kuala- Lumpur’s explanation.
Richard had also said at Tuesday’s press conference that it was the Government’s practice not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, especially Asean members.
Spot on. That was what Najib had all along tried to explain to the Malaysian media who accompanied him to Jakarta for the Asean summit – that this matter should be resolved in the Asean spirit.
According to a veteran diplomat, there are a few basic rules of conduct in diplomacy:
> Diplomacy is always about making friends; never say anything that is unfriendly.
> Diplomacy is about being even-handed at all times; never take sides at anytime.
> Diplomacy is about contributing towards peace; forever hold your piece if you do not have anything constructive to contribute.
> Diplomacy is about being tactful on every occasion; never be indiscreet.
> Diplomacy is about being cautious every time; never try to be clever anytime.
The Star Online, Sunday May 15, 2011
by MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR
ACCORDING to a recent Bangkok Post report, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva blamed Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem for not understanding the border spat with Cambodia.
“The Malaysian deputy foreign minister may not have understood the border situation because there was a tripartite meeting between the Thai, Cambodian and Indonesian foreign ministers last night (May 9) and the issue was settled,” the Post quoted Abhisit as saying.
For the uninitiated, Abhisit was talking about negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia with Indonesia as the mediator to resolve a border conflict that has resulted in 18 deaths so far. In February, both countries agreed to a ceasefire.
Clashes had occurred over the ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The Preah Vihear temple, which was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008, belongs to Cambodia.
Last weekend, Asean leaders including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came out in full support for the dispute to be resolved amicably after their summit nearly got “hijacked” when Cambodian leader Hun Sen verbally attacked Thailand.
Based on what Richard was quoted as saying by the media on the border dispute, Abhisit’s response that Malaysia did not understand the conflict is a natural one.
It all started in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. When opening a symposium on the Dynamics of Youth and Terrorism, Richard said he was taken aback that an agreement signed by all Asean members in February, of which he was a signatory, was not adhered to by Thailand.
News agencies Bernama and AFP quoted him in their stories. Thai newspapers including the Bangkok Post then obtained the reaction of their Prime Minister.
More than 24 hours after the wire reports emerged, Richard called for a press conference at Wisma Putra to clarify a “miscommunication” at the symposium.
It is unprecedented for a deputy minister to call for a press conference at 8.30pm in Putrajaya.
Why so late in the day? Why not just issue a written statement to clarify the matter?
Sadly, it ended up as a meek clarification at best by Richard that evening – cautious but not diplomatic enough. It is easy to blame the media.
Richard said that his remarks were misinterpreted by journalists who interviewed him.
“I was asked twice whether I blamed Thailand and I replied ‘No’. So I don’t know how it was published in the papers that I blamed Thailand,” he told reporters.
Those who attended the press conference really wanted an end to the issue.
In fact, the Malaysian embassy in Bang-kok had already met up with the Thai Foreign Ministry’s director-general for East Asia, and Bangkok had accepted Kuala- Lumpur’s explanation.
Richard had also said at Tuesday’s press conference that it was the Government’s practice not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, especially Asean members.
Spot on. That was what Najib had all along tried to explain to the Malaysian media who accompanied him to Jakarta for the Asean summit – that this matter should be resolved in the Asean spirit.
According to a veteran diplomat, there are a few basic rules of conduct in diplomacy:
> Diplomacy is always about making friends; never say anything that is unfriendly.
> Diplomacy is about being even-handed at all times; never take sides at anytime.
> Diplomacy is about contributing towards peace; forever hold your piece if you do not have anything constructive to contribute.
> Diplomacy is about being tactful on every occasion; never be indiscreet.
> Diplomacy is about being cautious every time; never try to be clever anytime.
14 May, 2011
Cambodia to postpone Thai expo slated for next week in Phnom Penh
Cambodia to postpone Thai expo slated for next week in Phnom Penh
People's Daily Online
12:00, May 14, 2011
Cambodia decided to postpone the Thai expo planned for next week in Phnom Penh, saying it is not the right time to hold such an expo.
"Due to recent restrictions on border trade by Thai military region 2, I am of the opinion that this is not the right time to promote Thai products in Cambodia," Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a letter to Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Friday.
Cambodia's decision is a response to the 2nd Thai Army command' s order on Tuesday to halt a further exports of fuel and other products into Cambodia, claiming the Cambodian military may need them to support their troops in operations against Thai forces along the disputed border.
"The export ban will last until the border situation really returns to normal," the Bangkok Post online reported, citing the order letter of the 2nd Army command.
On Wednesday, Thailand announced that it would organize the second largest scale expo of Thai products in Phnom Penh from May 19-22.
"We cannot guarantee the reaction of Cambodian visitors to such exhibitions after Thai's behavior," Cham Prasidh said.
"Therefore, I have issued instructions to the Department of Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce to contact the organizers of the Thai exhibition 2011 to postpone the said event until more favorable time comes," added the minister.
Jiranan Wongmongkol, director of the Thai embassy's Foreign Trade Promotion Office in Phnom Penh, which is the event organizer, said Friday that the embassy has received the letter and agreed to cancel the event.
"We have no choice, we have to postpone the event," she said. "We don't know when it will be re-arranged."
Cambodia and Thailand has border dispute just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage site on July 7, 2008. Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 sq km of scrub next to the temple.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border, and periodic clashes between the two countries' soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
The latest flare-up occurred from April 22 until May 3 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, leaving 19 people, on both sides, killed and nearly 100, 000 civilians evacuated for safe shelters.
People's Daily Online
12:00, May 14, 2011
Cambodia decided to postpone the Thai expo planned for next week in Phnom Penh, saying it is not the right time to hold such an expo.
"Due to recent restrictions on border trade by Thai military region 2, I am of the opinion that this is not the right time to promote Thai products in Cambodia," Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a letter to Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Friday.
Cambodia's decision is a response to the 2nd Thai Army command' s order on Tuesday to halt a further exports of fuel and other products into Cambodia, claiming the Cambodian military may need them to support their troops in operations against Thai forces along the disputed border.
"The export ban will last until the border situation really returns to normal," the Bangkok Post online reported, citing the order letter of the 2nd Army command.
On Wednesday, Thailand announced that it would organize the second largest scale expo of Thai products in Phnom Penh from May 19-22.
"We cannot guarantee the reaction of Cambodian visitors to such exhibitions after Thai's behavior," Cham Prasidh said.
"Therefore, I have issued instructions to the Department of Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce to contact the organizers of the Thai exhibition 2011 to postpone the said event until more favorable time comes," added the minister.
Jiranan Wongmongkol, director of the Thai embassy's Foreign Trade Promotion Office in Phnom Penh, which is the event organizer, said Friday that the embassy has received the letter and agreed to cancel the event.
"We have no choice, we have to postpone the event," she said. "We don't know when it will be re-arranged."
Cambodia and Thailand has border dispute just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage site on July 7, 2008. Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 sq km of scrub next to the temple.
Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border, and periodic clashes between the two countries' soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
The latest flare-up occurred from April 22 until May 3 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, leaving 19 people, on both sides, killed and nearly 100, 000 civilians evacuated for safe shelters.
Towards An ASEAN Vision Beyond 2015: Outcome Of Jakarta Summit – Analysis
Towards An ASEAN Vision Beyond 2015: Outcome Of Jakarta Summit – Analysis
Written by: RSIS
May 13, 2011
http://www.eurasiareview.com/towards-an-asean-vision-beyond-2015-outcome-of-jakarta-summit-analysis-13052011/
Though overshadowed by the Cambodia-Thai border conflict, the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta was determined to achieve the group’s vision of ASEAN Community 2015. Leaders also decided to achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015.
By Mushahid Ali and Yang Razali Kassim
THE ONGOING border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand overshadowed the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on 7-8 May 2011, as portrayed in the regional media. The prime ministers of the two countries exchanged strong statements of their positions on the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple while the president and foreign minister of Indonesia, the ASEAN chair, met separately with their Cambodian and Thai counterparts in an earnest effort to bring about an amicable resolution in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.
While the dispute has not been settled, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his Chairman’s statement, welcomed the commitment of both Cambodia and Thailand to peacefully resolve their differences through political dialogue and negotiations. The two sides would seek to achieve a mutually acceptable solution through the fullest use of their existing bilateral mechanism, with the appropriate engagement of Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN. The ASEAN Heads appreciated that Cambodia and Thailand had agreed on the text of the Terms of Reference (TOR) on the Indonesian Observers Team (IOT). The Indonesian observers are to be deployed in the affected areas following the incidents in February 2011. The ASEAN Heads encouraged the attainment of an environment conducive to the assignment of the observers.
Concerns Over Border Conflict
Analysts wondered if this border conflict will affect the progress towards establishing an ASEAN Community in 2015. Another object of concern is whether the passing of the ASEAN chair to Cambodia and Myanmar in the next three years will weaken the momentum of ASEAN integration. They question how Cambodia will handle the chair if its dispute with Thailand continues to fester. As for Myanmar, the concern is whether it will continue to resist adapting to the ASEAN Way and Western pressure for a more liberal regime in the country. In this regard the ASEAN Leaders reiterated their support for the steady progress and political developments in Myanmar following the holding of general elections and the formation of a new parliamentary government.
According to Yudhoyono the Leaders considered Myanmar’s proposal to host the ASEAN Summits in 2014, based on its firm commitment to the principles of ASEAN. The question remains whether the Western dialogue partners of ASEAN will turn up for the ASEAN Plus One meetings hosted by Myanmar and especially the East Asia Summit. That will test ASEAN’s resolve to be a cohesive and united body central to the trans-regional multilateral groups it has formed such as the EAS.
Timor Leste’s membership
Another issue that was expected to be controversial was the application by Timor Leste for ASEAN membership this year. The ASEAN Heads, the Chair stated, came to an understanding that the discussion on Timor Leste’s formal request to be a member of ASEAN needed further consideration. They have tasked the Foreign Ministers, as the ASEAN Coordinating Council, to look at this issue very closely and provide recommendations for the Leaders’ consideration at a later stage with a view to a decision later in 2011.
The 18th Summit appears to have papered over cracks within ASEAN and deferred a decision on a potential pitfall in the road to ASEAN Community 2015. These problems were already evident when the ASEAN Six (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) admitted the CLMV Four (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) as members in the latter 1990s. Notwithstanding the major challenge of mutual adjustment presented by those countries, not least the development of a two-tiered ASEAN, the regional grouping had forged ahead to create a rules-based organisation with the ASEAN Charter and an integrated ASEAN Community by 2015.
Beyond 2015
The Jakarta Summit has gone further and launched deliberations on an ASEAN vision beyond 2015, namely an “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations”. The ASEAN Leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the undertakings towards the ASEAN Community in 2015 and to achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015 to address global issues and challenges of the 21st century.
The ASEAN Leaders issued a separate joint statement in which they agreed that by 2022 ASEAN would endeavour to have a platform for a common ASEAN position on global issues, an enhanced capacity to respond to those issues, a strengthened ASEAN Community centred on ASEAN as a rules-based organisation and a strengthened capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat. They tasked the Foreign Ministers to develop the Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations to be issued by the ASEAN Leaders at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali later this year.
Notwithstanding the road bumps and pitfalls in the road of regional integration, ASEAN seems determined to stay on course towards its vision of an ASEAN Community in 2015 and beyond.
Mushahid Ali and Yang Razali Kassim are Senior Fellows at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.
Written by: RSIS
May 13, 2011
http://www.eurasiareview.com/towards-an-asean-vision-beyond-2015-outcome-of-jakarta-summit-analysis-13052011/
Though overshadowed by the Cambodia-Thai border conflict, the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta was determined to achieve the group’s vision of ASEAN Community 2015. Leaders also decided to achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015.
By Mushahid Ali and Yang Razali Kassim
THE ONGOING border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand overshadowed the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on 7-8 May 2011, as portrayed in the regional media. The prime ministers of the two countries exchanged strong statements of their positions on the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple while the president and foreign minister of Indonesia, the ASEAN chair, met separately with their Cambodian and Thai counterparts in an earnest effort to bring about an amicable resolution in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.
While the dispute has not been settled, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his Chairman’s statement, welcomed the commitment of both Cambodia and Thailand to peacefully resolve their differences through political dialogue and negotiations. The two sides would seek to achieve a mutually acceptable solution through the fullest use of their existing bilateral mechanism, with the appropriate engagement of Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN. The ASEAN Heads appreciated that Cambodia and Thailand had agreed on the text of the Terms of Reference (TOR) on the Indonesian Observers Team (IOT). The Indonesian observers are to be deployed in the affected areas following the incidents in February 2011. The ASEAN Heads encouraged the attainment of an environment conducive to the assignment of the observers.
Concerns Over Border Conflict
Analysts wondered if this border conflict will affect the progress towards establishing an ASEAN Community in 2015. Another object of concern is whether the passing of the ASEAN chair to Cambodia and Myanmar in the next three years will weaken the momentum of ASEAN integration. They question how Cambodia will handle the chair if its dispute with Thailand continues to fester. As for Myanmar, the concern is whether it will continue to resist adapting to the ASEAN Way and Western pressure for a more liberal regime in the country. In this regard the ASEAN Leaders reiterated their support for the steady progress and political developments in Myanmar following the holding of general elections and the formation of a new parliamentary government.
According to Yudhoyono the Leaders considered Myanmar’s proposal to host the ASEAN Summits in 2014, based on its firm commitment to the principles of ASEAN. The question remains whether the Western dialogue partners of ASEAN will turn up for the ASEAN Plus One meetings hosted by Myanmar and especially the East Asia Summit. That will test ASEAN’s resolve to be a cohesive and united body central to the trans-regional multilateral groups it has formed such as the EAS.
Timor Leste’s membership
Another issue that was expected to be controversial was the application by Timor Leste for ASEAN membership this year. The ASEAN Heads, the Chair stated, came to an understanding that the discussion on Timor Leste’s formal request to be a member of ASEAN needed further consideration. They have tasked the Foreign Ministers, as the ASEAN Coordinating Council, to look at this issue very closely and provide recommendations for the Leaders’ consideration at a later stage with a view to a decision later in 2011.
The 18th Summit appears to have papered over cracks within ASEAN and deferred a decision on a potential pitfall in the road to ASEAN Community 2015. These problems were already evident when the ASEAN Six (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) admitted the CLMV Four (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) as members in the latter 1990s. Notwithstanding the major challenge of mutual adjustment presented by those countries, not least the development of a two-tiered ASEAN, the regional grouping had forged ahead to create a rules-based organisation with the ASEAN Charter and an integrated ASEAN Community by 2015.
Beyond 2015
The Jakarta Summit has gone further and launched deliberations on an ASEAN vision beyond 2015, namely an “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations”. The ASEAN Leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the undertakings towards the ASEAN Community in 2015 and to achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015 to address global issues and challenges of the 21st century.
The ASEAN Leaders issued a separate joint statement in which they agreed that by 2022 ASEAN would endeavour to have a platform for a common ASEAN position on global issues, an enhanced capacity to respond to those issues, a strengthened ASEAN Community centred on ASEAN as a rules-based organisation and a strengthened capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat. They tasked the Foreign Ministers to develop the Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations to be issued by the ASEAN Leaders at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali later this year.
Notwithstanding the road bumps and pitfalls in the road of regional integration, ASEAN seems determined to stay on course towards its vision of an ASEAN Community in 2015 and beyond.
Mushahid Ali and Yang Razali Kassim are Senior Fellows at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.
សង្គ្រាមចម្លែករវាងកងទ័ពកម្ពុជា និងថៃ
សង្គ្រាមចម្លែករវាងកងទ័ពកម្ពុជា និងថៃ
ដោយ វោហារ ជាតិ
2011-05-13
Radio Free Asia
សង្គ្រាមរវាងកងទាហានថៃ និងកម្ពុជា នៅព្រំដែននៃប្រទេសទាំងពីរ ដែលមានរយៈពេលជិត ៤ ឆ្នាំមកហើយនេះ ត្រូវបានអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍សន្តិសុខព្រំដែនខ្លះយល់ឃើញថា គឺជាសង្គ្រាមចម្លែក ដែលគេមិនធ្លាប់ជួបប្រទះនៅក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រពិភពលោកកន្លងមក។
សង្គ្រាមចម្លែក ព្រោះថា ការវាយប្រហារគ្នានៅព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ ជួនកាលកងទាហានទាំងពីរម្ដងធ្វើជាមិត្ត ម្ដងជាសត្រូវ ដែលពិបាកយល់ រហូតដល់ទៅអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ខ្លះគិតថា នេះជាសង្គ្រាមប្រើមន្តអាគមគាថាតាមសម័យបូរាណផង និងសង្គ្រាមប្រើអាវុធទំនើបចម្រុះផង។
មកដល់សតវត្សទី ២១ ទៅហើយ អប្បិយជំនឿ ឬជំនឿលើមន្តអាគមគាថា នៅតែស្ថិតនៅក្នុងបេះដូងប្រជាជនក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ីមួយចំនួននៅឡើយ ជាពិសេស កងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ ដែលកំពុងប្រឈមមុខដាក់គ្នានៅសមរភូមិព្រំដែន ក្នុងពេលការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នានៅខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យផ្ទុះឡើងជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀត ដែលបណ្ដាលឲ្យភាគីទាំងពីរស្លាប់នឹងរបូសរៀងៗ ខ្លួន។
កាលពីសប្ដាហ៍កន្លងទៅ មានព្រះសង្ឃនិមន្តមកពីទីអារាមចំនួន ៤៤ នៅខេត្តកំពង់ស្ពឺ បានប្រារព្ធពិធីបួងសួងប្រសិទ្ធីកន្សែងយ័ន្តជាង ៤ ពាន់យ័ន្ត ដើម្បីផ្ដល់ជូនទៅកងទ័ពនៅសមរភូមិព្រំដែនជួរមុខខេត្តព្រះវិហារ។
នៅក្នុងសមរភូមិប្រយុទ្ធនៅព្រំដែនកន្លងមក កងទ័ពទាំងពីរកម្ពុជា-ថៃ ដែលជាប្រទេសភូមិផងរបងជាមួយ និងមានជំនឿសាសនាដូចគ្នា បានបាញ់សម្លាប់គ្នាដោយប្រើអាវុធទំនើបៗ ជាពិសេសភាគីថៃ។ ចំណែកភាគីកម្ពុជាវិញអះអាងថា ថ្វីត្បិតមិនសូវមានអាវុធទំនើបដូចថៃ តែកម្ពុជាមានទឹកចិត្តក្លាហាន តស៊ូប្ដូរជីវិតការពារទឹកដី នឹងមានមន្តអាគមគាថា ការពារខ្លួនពីគ្រាប់រំសេវទំនើបថៃ ហើយមន្តអាគមថែមទាំងអាចផ្ចាញ់ទាហានថៃបានទៀតផង។
ដូចប្រសាសន៍លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រកាសនៅក្រុងភ្នំពេញកាលពីថ្ងៃទី ៤ ឧសភាថា ទាហានថៃនាំគ្នាផ្អើលនឹងពាក្យចចាមអារ៉ាម និងខ្លាចរអាថា ភាគីកម្ពុជាសូត្របាលីមន្ដអាគម អាលម្ពាយ បញ្ជូនពស់វែកទៅតទល់ជាមួយទាហានថៃ ធ្វើឲ្យទាហានថៃភ័យខ្លាច ហើយនាំគ្នាបាញ់ និងគប់គ្រាប់បែក ភ័យស្លន់ស្លោការពារខ្លួនដោយឯកឯង។
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ៖ «ហើយគេយកអថ័នមកដាក់ដល់ដាក់ប្រញាប់ពេក អថ័ននឹងបែរក្ដិតទៅប្រទេសថៃ។ រួចហើយបន់ស្រន់ពីពេលថ្ងៃដល់ពេលយប់ងាប់ស័ក្ដិ ៤ កន្លះមួយនៅលើថ្មនោះ វាមានរឿងអញ្ចឹង។ ដល់ឥឡូវកំពុងថា កម្ពុជាដាក់មន្តអាគមសុទ្ធតែពស់វែកទៅហើយជាង ២ ម៉ឺនពស់វែកទៅហើយ រហូតដល់អ្នកនាំពាក្យយោធភូមិភាគទី ២ របស់ថៃ និងមេបញ្ជាការយោធភូមិភាគទី ២ របស់ថៃកំពុងប្រកាសថា មិនមែនជារឿងពិតទេ។ ទេអាចមែនណ៎ា! តាក្របី វែកក្របី ហើយតេជោសែននេះឆ្នាំរោង ហើយគឺថា ប្រើពស់ទៅនឹងគឺថា មែនណាអាចមែនណ៎ា»។
ទាក់ទងនឹងជំនឿមន្តអាគមអូមអាមនេះដែរ លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ មន្រ្ដីជាន់ខ្ពស់គណបក្ស ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច និងជាអតីតមេទ័ពល្បីមួយរូប ដែលធ្លាប់តស៊ូឆ្លងកាត់សមរភូមិជាង ៣០ ឆ្នាំមកនោះ ថ្លែងថា លោកជឿលើមន្តអាគមណាស់ ព្រោះថា មន្តអាគមនេះបានជួយសង្គ្រោះជីវិតលោកពីគ្រាប់រំសេវ និងគ្រាប់មីនក្នុងសមរភូមិប្រយុទ្ធធំៗ បានច្រើនដង ហើយធ្វើឲ្យលោករួចជីវិតមកទល់សព្វថ្ងៃ។ ជាក់ស្ដែងដូចជាព្រឹត្តិការថ្ងៃ ៥-៦ កក្ដដា ឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៧ ជាដើម។
លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ៖ «ដប់ថ្ងៃមុនខ្ញុំបានទៅព្រំដែនដែរ គឺប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងតាក្របី។ កន្លែងខ្ញុំនៅចាស់ហើយត្រង់នោះ។ ខ្ញុំបានយកខ្សែគាថា ដែលលោកបានប្រគល់ឱ្យខ្ញុំច្រើនដែរ ខ្ញុំបានយកទៅចែកមេៗ ទាហានដើម្បីពាក់ទៅការពារ។ សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំៗ ជឿមែនទែន។ អ្នកណាដែលមិនជឿខ្ញុំមិនដឹងទេ សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំជឿដោយសារតែខ្ញុំរួចផុតពីគ្រោះថ្នាក់ធំៗ ប្រាំបីប្រាំបួនដងមកខ្ញុំផុតរហូត។ ការផ្ទុះមីនស្អីខ្ញុំផុតរហូត»។
តែលោក លឺ ឡាយស្រេង អ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរមួយរូប ដែលធ្លាប់ចូលប្រឡូក និងឆ្លងកាត់សង្គ្រាមស៊ីវិលនៅកម្ពុជាមិនចាញ់លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ប៉ុន្មានដែរនោះ ថ្លែងថា នោះគ្រាន់តែជាសំណាងប៉ុណ្ណោះរបស់លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ «បើអាគមពូកែចេះចាញ់គេ? បើមានអាគមពូកែចាំបាច់រត់ធ្វើអី?»
ទោះយ៉ាងណាគេសង្កេតឃើញថា យុទ្ធជនខ្មែរឈរជើងនៅព្រំដែនភាគច្រើន ជឿលើកន្សែងយ័ន្ត និងមន្តអាគមនេះ។ យុទ្ធជនមួយរូបឈរជើងនៅតំបន់ច្រកតាថាវ ថ្លែងថាអាចការពារអាយុជវិតពីគ្រាប់កាំភ្លើងរបស់ទាហានថៃបានសក្តិសិទ្ធ បើគោរពតំណមគ្រូបានល្អ ដូចជា កុំជេរ កុំលួចទ្រព្យរបស់គេ កុំហូបសាច់ឆ្កែ កុំមុជក្រោមស្នួខោអាវ កុំយកប្រពន្ធគេជាដើម «មានគឺជួយដាស់ស្មារតីពង្រឹងស្មារតី ហើយយើងមានបាលីអីសូត្រទៅបាត់ញ័រធ្វើឱ្យអារម្មណ៍នឹងនរ»។
ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ ក៏មានយុទ្ធជនខ្លះមិនជឿលើមន្តអាគមនេះទេ ហើយពួកគេយកលេណដ្ឋាន និងក្បួនយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រការពារជីវិតវិញ។ យុទ្ធជនម្នាក់ទៀតដែលកំពុងឈរជើងនៅតំបន់ភ្នំទ្រព្យ បានប្រៀបធៀបជាឧទាហរណ៍ថា តើកន្សែងយ័ន្ត និងគល់ឈើ ឬក៏លេណដ្ឋាន មួយណាអាចទ្រាំទ្រគ្រាប់កាំភ្លើងផ្លោងរបស់ថៃបាន។ យុទ្ធរូបនោះគិតថា មានតែគល់ឈើ និងលេណដ្ឋានទេដែលអាចការពារអាយុជីវិតគេបាន។
ការផ្ទុះអាវុធនៅព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ នៅពេលនេះធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ និងអ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរមួយចំនួននឹកឃើញប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រសង្គ្រាមដ៏ជូរចត់រវាងខ្មែរ និងសៀម កាលពីសម័យដើម ដែលពេលមួយនោះ មានអ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿង បានបូជាជីវិតដើម្បីការពារទឹកដីពីការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពសៀម។
លោកបណ្ឌិត រស់ ចន្ត្របុត្រ ថ្លែងថា «លោកតា ឃ្លាំងមឿង ក្នុងរឿងព្រេងនោះ គឺលោកបានធ្វើអត្តឃាតលោតចូលទៅក្នុងរណ្ដៅចម្រូង ដើម្បីទៅកកងទ័ពខ្មោច ដើម្បីតស៊ូការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពសៀម»។
លោកបណ្ឌិត រស់ ចន្ត្របុត្រ ថ្លែងថា អ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿងជាវីរជនស្នេហាជាតិមួយរូបក្នុងចំណោមវីរជនស្នេហាជាតិដទៃៗ ទៀតនៅក្នុងសម័យបូរាណ។
ដោយសារវីរភាពស្នេហាជាតិហ៊ានលះបង់ ដើម្បីទឹកដីដូច្នេះ ទើបអ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿង ត្រូវបានកូនខ្មែរជំនាន់ក្រោយៗ មកទៀតគោរពចងចាំក្នុងចិត្តមកទល់សព្វថ្ងៃ។ ទោះយ៉ាងណាក្ដី ជម្លោះព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃបច្ចុប្បន្ន នៅមិនទាន់ដោះស្រាយនៅឡើយទេ។ អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ទំនាស់ព្រំដែនឯករាជមួយចំនួនរំពឹងថា ទំនាស់នេះនឹងបន្តយូរអង្វែងទៅទៀត។
ទន្ទឹមនឹងពេលនេះដែរ អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ខ្លះបានសម្ដែងចម្ងល់អំពីយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដោះស្រាយជម្លោះព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បច្ចុប្បន្ននេះថា ជារូបមន្តមួយប្លែកព្រោះថា ភាគីទាំងពីរម្ដងជាមិត្ត ម្ដងជាសត្រូវ។
គេមិនដែលឃើញមានទាហានណាដូចជាទាហានខ្មែរ និងថៃទេ ដែលបាញ់គ្នាហើយលេងកីឡាជាមួយគ្នា លេងហើយបាញ់គ្នាទៀត រួចហើយហូបបាយមិត្តភាពជាមួយគ្នាវិញ។ ហូបបាយហើយបាញ់គ្នាទៀត ហើយមួយសន្ទុះក្រោយពីបាញ់គ្នាម្ដងហើយម្ដងទៀត នៅពេលនេះទាហានទាំងពីរជនជាតិ បែរជាស្រុះស្រួលគ្នា ហើយក៏បបួលគ្នាចូលដំណេករួមគ្នាយ៉ាងល្អូកល្អឺន៕
ដោយ វោហារ ជាតិ
2011-05-13
Radio Free Asia
សង្គ្រាមរវាងកងទាហានថៃ និងកម្ពុជា នៅព្រំដែននៃប្រទេសទាំងពីរ ដែលមានរយៈពេលជិត ៤ ឆ្នាំមកហើយនេះ ត្រូវបានអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍សន្តិសុខព្រំដែនខ្លះយល់ឃើញថា គឺជាសង្គ្រាមចម្លែក ដែលគេមិនធ្លាប់ជួបប្រទះនៅក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រពិភពលោកកន្លងមក។
សង្គ្រាមចម្លែក ព្រោះថា ការវាយប្រហារគ្នានៅព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ ជួនកាលកងទាហានទាំងពីរម្ដងធ្វើជាមិត្ត ម្ដងជាសត្រូវ ដែលពិបាកយល់ រហូតដល់ទៅអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ខ្លះគិតថា នេះជាសង្គ្រាមប្រើមន្តអាគមគាថាតាមសម័យបូរាណផង និងសង្គ្រាមប្រើអាវុធទំនើបចម្រុះផង។
មកដល់សតវត្សទី ២១ ទៅហើយ អប្បិយជំនឿ ឬជំនឿលើមន្តអាគមគាថា នៅតែស្ថិតនៅក្នុងបេះដូងប្រជាជនក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ីមួយចំនួននៅឡើយ ជាពិសេស កងទ័ពខ្មែរ-ថៃ ដែលកំពុងប្រឈមមុខដាក់គ្នានៅសមរភូមិព្រំដែន ក្នុងពេលការប្រយុទ្ធគ្នានៅខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យផ្ទុះឡើងជាថ្មីម្ដងទៀត ដែលបណ្ដាលឲ្យភាគីទាំងពីរស្លាប់នឹងរបូសរៀងៗ ខ្លួន។
កាលពីសប្ដាហ៍កន្លងទៅ មានព្រះសង្ឃនិមន្តមកពីទីអារាមចំនួន ៤៤ នៅខេត្តកំពង់ស្ពឺ បានប្រារព្ធពិធីបួងសួងប្រសិទ្ធីកន្សែងយ័ន្តជាង ៤ ពាន់យ័ន្ត ដើម្បីផ្ដល់ជូនទៅកងទ័ពនៅសមរភូមិព្រំដែនជួរមុខខេត្តព្រះវិហារ។
នៅក្នុងសមរភូមិប្រយុទ្ធនៅព្រំដែនកន្លងមក កងទ័ពទាំងពីរកម្ពុជា-ថៃ ដែលជាប្រទេសភូមិផងរបងជាមួយ និងមានជំនឿសាសនាដូចគ្នា បានបាញ់សម្លាប់គ្នាដោយប្រើអាវុធទំនើបៗ ជាពិសេសភាគីថៃ។ ចំណែកភាគីកម្ពុជាវិញអះអាងថា ថ្វីត្បិតមិនសូវមានអាវុធទំនើបដូចថៃ តែកម្ពុជាមានទឹកចិត្តក្លាហាន តស៊ូប្ដូរជីវិតការពារទឹកដី នឹងមានមន្តអាគមគាថា ការពារខ្លួនពីគ្រាប់រំសេវទំនើបថៃ ហើយមន្តអាគមថែមទាំងអាចផ្ចាញ់ទាហានថៃបានទៀតផង។
ដូចប្រសាសន៍លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រកាសនៅក្រុងភ្នំពេញកាលពីថ្ងៃទី ៤ ឧសភាថា ទាហានថៃនាំគ្នាផ្អើលនឹងពាក្យចចាមអារ៉ាម និងខ្លាចរអាថា ភាគីកម្ពុជាសូត្របាលីមន្ដអាគម អាលម្ពាយ បញ្ជូនពស់វែកទៅតទល់ជាមួយទាហានថៃ ធ្វើឲ្យទាហានថៃភ័យខ្លាច ហើយនាំគ្នាបាញ់ និងគប់គ្រាប់បែក ភ័យស្លន់ស្លោការពារខ្លួនដោយឯកឯង។
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ៖ «ហើយគេយកអថ័នមកដាក់ដល់ដាក់ប្រញាប់ពេក អថ័ននឹងបែរក្ដិតទៅប្រទេសថៃ។ រួចហើយបន់ស្រន់ពីពេលថ្ងៃដល់ពេលយប់ងាប់ស័ក្ដិ ៤ កន្លះមួយនៅលើថ្មនោះ វាមានរឿងអញ្ចឹង។ ដល់ឥឡូវកំពុងថា កម្ពុជាដាក់មន្តអាគមសុទ្ធតែពស់វែកទៅហើយជាង ២ ម៉ឺនពស់វែកទៅហើយ រហូតដល់អ្នកនាំពាក្យយោធភូមិភាគទី ២ របស់ថៃ និងមេបញ្ជាការយោធភូមិភាគទី ២ របស់ថៃកំពុងប្រកាសថា មិនមែនជារឿងពិតទេ។ ទេអាចមែនណ៎ា! តាក្របី វែកក្របី ហើយតេជោសែននេះឆ្នាំរោង ហើយគឺថា ប្រើពស់ទៅនឹងគឺថា មែនណាអាចមែនណ៎ា»។
ទាក់ទងនឹងជំនឿមន្តអាគមអូមអាមនេះដែរ លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ មន្រ្ដីជាន់ខ្ពស់គណបក្ស ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច និងជាអតីតមេទ័ពល្បីមួយរូប ដែលធ្លាប់តស៊ូឆ្លងកាត់សមរភូមិជាង ៣០ ឆ្នាំមកនោះ ថ្លែងថា លោកជឿលើមន្តអាគមណាស់ ព្រោះថា មន្តអាគមនេះបានជួយសង្គ្រោះជីវិតលោកពីគ្រាប់រំសេវ និងគ្រាប់មីនក្នុងសមរភូមិប្រយុទ្ធធំៗ បានច្រើនដង ហើយធ្វើឲ្យលោករួចជីវិតមកទល់សព្វថ្ងៃ។ ជាក់ស្ដែងដូចជាព្រឹត្តិការថ្ងៃ ៥-៦ កក្ដដា ឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៧ ជាដើម។
លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ៖ «ដប់ថ្ងៃមុនខ្ញុំបានទៅព្រំដែនដែរ គឺប្រាសាទតាមាន់ និងតាក្របី។ កន្លែងខ្ញុំនៅចាស់ហើយត្រង់នោះ។ ខ្ញុំបានយកខ្សែគាថា ដែលលោកបានប្រគល់ឱ្យខ្ញុំច្រើនដែរ ខ្ញុំបានយកទៅចែកមេៗ ទាហានដើម្បីពាក់ទៅការពារ។ សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំៗ ជឿមែនទែន។ អ្នកណាដែលមិនជឿខ្ញុំមិនដឹងទេ សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំជឿដោយសារតែខ្ញុំរួចផុតពីគ្រោះថ្នាក់ធំៗ ប្រាំបីប្រាំបួនដងមកខ្ញុំផុតរហូត។ ការផ្ទុះមីនស្អីខ្ញុំផុតរហូត»។
តែលោក លឺ ឡាយស្រេង អ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរមួយរូប ដែលធ្លាប់ចូលប្រឡូក និងឆ្លងកាត់សង្គ្រាមស៊ីវិលនៅកម្ពុជាមិនចាញ់លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ប៉ុន្មានដែរនោះ ថ្លែងថា នោះគ្រាន់តែជាសំណាងប៉ុណ្ណោះរបស់លោក ញឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ «បើអាគមពូកែចេះចាញ់គេ? បើមានអាគមពូកែចាំបាច់រត់ធ្វើអី?»
ទោះយ៉ាងណាគេសង្កេតឃើញថា យុទ្ធជនខ្មែរឈរជើងនៅព្រំដែនភាគច្រើន ជឿលើកន្សែងយ័ន្ត និងមន្តអាគមនេះ។ យុទ្ធជនមួយរូបឈរជើងនៅតំបន់ច្រកតាថាវ ថ្លែងថាអាចការពារអាយុជវិតពីគ្រាប់កាំភ្លើងរបស់ទាហានថៃបានសក្តិសិទ្ធ បើគោរពតំណមគ្រូបានល្អ ដូចជា កុំជេរ កុំលួចទ្រព្យរបស់គេ កុំហូបសាច់ឆ្កែ កុំមុជក្រោមស្នួខោអាវ កុំយកប្រពន្ធគេជាដើម «មានគឺជួយដាស់ស្មារតីពង្រឹងស្មារតី ហើយយើងមានបាលីអីសូត្រទៅបាត់ញ័រធ្វើឱ្យអារម្មណ៍នឹងនរ»។
ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ ក៏មានយុទ្ធជនខ្លះមិនជឿលើមន្តអាគមនេះទេ ហើយពួកគេយកលេណដ្ឋាន និងក្បួនយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រការពារជីវិតវិញ។ យុទ្ធជនម្នាក់ទៀតដែលកំពុងឈរជើងនៅតំបន់ភ្នំទ្រព្យ បានប្រៀបធៀបជាឧទាហរណ៍ថា តើកន្សែងយ័ន្ត និងគល់ឈើ ឬក៏លេណដ្ឋាន មួយណាអាចទ្រាំទ្រគ្រាប់កាំភ្លើងផ្លោងរបស់ថៃបាន។ យុទ្ធរូបនោះគិតថា មានតែគល់ឈើ និងលេណដ្ឋានទេដែលអាចការពារអាយុជីវិតគេបាន។
ការផ្ទុះអាវុធនៅព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ នៅពេលនេះធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ និងអ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរមួយចំនួននឹកឃើញប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រសង្គ្រាមដ៏ជូរចត់រវាងខ្មែរ និងសៀម កាលពីសម័យដើម ដែលពេលមួយនោះ មានអ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿង បានបូជាជីវិតដើម្បីការពារទឹកដីពីការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពសៀម។
លោកបណ្ឌិត រស់ ចន្ត្របុត្រ ថ្លែងថា «លោកតា ឃ្លាំងមឿង ក្នុងរឿងព្រេងនោះ គឺលោកបានធ្វើអត្តឃាតលោតចូលទៅក្នុងរណ្ដៅចម្រូង ដើម្បីទៅកកងទ័ពខ្មោច ដើម្បីតស៊ូការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពសៀម»។
លោកបណ្ឌិត រស់ ចន្ត្របុត្រ ថ្លែងថា អ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿងជាវីរជនស្នេហាជាតិមួយរូបក្នុងចំណោមវីរជនស្នេហាជាតិដទៃៗ ទៀតនៅក្នុងសម័យបូរាណ។
ដោយសារវីរភាពស្នេហាជាតិហ៊ានលះបង់ ដើម្បីទឹកដីដូច្នេះ ទើបអ្នកតាឃ្លាំងមឿង ត្រូវបានកូនខ្មែរជំនាន់ក្រោយៗ មកទៀតគោរពចងចាំក្នុងចិត្តមកទល់សព្វថ្ងៃ។ ទោះយ៉ាងណាក្ដី ជម្លោះព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃបច្ចុប្បន្ន នៅមិនទាន់ដោះស្រាយនៅឡើយទេ។ អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ទំនាស់ព្រំដែនឯករាជមួយចំនួនរំពឹងថា ទំនាស់នេះនឹងបន្តយូរអង្វែងទៅទៀត។
ទន្ទឹមនឹងពេលនេះដែរ អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ខ្លះបានសម្ដែងចម្ងល់អំពីយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដោះស្រាយជម្លោះព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ បច្ចុប្បន្ននេះថា ជារូបមន្តមួយប្លែកព្រោះថា ភាគីទាំងពីរម្ដងជាមិត្ត ម្ដងជាសត្រូវ។
គេមិនដែលឃើញមានទាហានណាដូចជាទាហានខ្មែរ និងថៃទេ ដែលបាញ់គ្នាហើយលេងកីឡាជាមួយគ្នា លេងហើយបាញ់គ្នាទៀត រួចហើយហូបបាយមិត្តភាពជាមួយគ្នាវិញ។ ហូបបាយហើយបាញ់គ្នាទៀត ហើយមួយសន្ទុះក្រោយពីបាញ់គ្នាម្ដងហើយម្ដងទៀត នៅពេលនេះទាហានទាំងពីរជនជាតិ បែរជាស្រុះស្រួលគ្នា ហើយក៏បបួលគ្នាចូលដំណេករួមគ្នាយ៉ាងល្អូកល្អឺន៕
12 May, 2011
Malaysia's Fair Stance on Thai-Cambodia border conflict:Commentary
Malaysia's Fair Stance on Thai-Cambodia border conflict:Commentary
WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2011 03:43 DAP-NEWS
By: Press and Quick Reaction Unit
http://www.dap-news.com/en/news/4591-malaysi.html
Phnom Penh, 11 May 2011- Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot Jaem made remarks, widely quoted on 9-10 May 2011 in media coverage, saying that “If Thailand would accept and adhere to the agreement, I think clashes will not arise.”
Cambodia highly appreciates the complete, clear, unbiased understanding about the root cause of the Cambodia-Thailand conflicts, which have repeatedly erupted since 2008, and the acts of aggression by means of large-scale military attacks lately launched by Thailand on Cambodia, which have been the fiercest. The clashes not only claimed many lives of Cambodia’s civilians and armed forces, but they also forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes that were severely damaged as a result of the artillery shells fired by the invading Thai troops. The clashes also caused grave damage to the Temple of Preah Vihear, a World Heritage site, as well as to the temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, situated on Cambodian legitimate territory.
Cambodia has always welcomed the presence of Indonesian observers, as mandated by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting held last February, and recently also called for by the Heads of State and the Heads of Government at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. Cambodia has agreed to the terms of reference (TOR) so that the observers may be assigned, in order to determine who started the attack, as well as to put an end to Thailand's repeated aggression against Cambodia.
To express her goodwill, as early as 3 March 2011 Cambodia signed the letter of acceptance to the terms of reference allowing Indonesian observers to carry out their mission in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear, and Cambodia has accepted all the following changes to the terms of reference insisted by Thailand as follows:
- First change on 26 February 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 27 February 2011;
- Second change on 8 March 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 9 March 2011l;
- Third change on 15 March 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 16 March 2011;
- Fourth change on 08 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 08 April 2011;
- Fifth change on 11 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 12 April 2011;
- Sixth change on 28 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 30 April 2011; and
- Seventh change on 01 May 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 02 May 2011.
In contrast, as a manoeuvre on 21 Frebruary 2011, a day before the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Indonesia, Thai government announced that it would welcome Indonesian observers to be stationed in the disputed border area, but since then has used every means to delay their assignment by repeatedly changing the terms of reference -- seven times so far -- and has still not yet agreed to them. As mentioned above, the Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister stated that “All the 10 countries, I stress, including Thailand and Cambodia, agreed to the agreement, but sad to say, the agreement was brought back to the respective two countries. Cambodia accepted it, Thailand did not accept.”
Although Indonesia’s President and Foreign Minister made great efforts to coordinate the meeting between the Cambodian and Thai Foreign Ministers on 9 May 2011, which resulted in a package resolution to the border conflict, including the dispatch of Indonesia observers to the Temple of Preah Vihear, the initiatives remain stalled because Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has destroyed all these efforts, by saying on 10 May 2011 that “Thailand’s stance remains the same. If Cambodia doesn’t withdraw its troops from the disputed border area, no observers will be sent there.” Thailand clearly knows that this condition is not acceptable to Cambodia because Cambodia cannot withdraw her troops and people from Cambodian territory. The Thai Prime Minister’s remarks clearly demonstrate Thailand’s tactics to prevent Indonesian observers from being sent to monitor the permanent ceasefire. This is a continuation of Thailand’s policy of closing the door to attack Cambodia so that it can commit its crime of seizing Cambodian territory before the arrival of Indonesian observers.
From day to day, the international community understands more clearly these Thai tricks, and can see that the assignment of observers in the Temple of Preah Vihear area is the only means to realise an effective and verifiable ceasefire as well as to prevent renewed military attacks launched by Thailand.
Press and Quick Reaction Unit
WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2011 03:43 DAP-NEWS
By: Press and Quick Reaction Unit
http://www.dap-news.com/en/news/4591-malaysi.html
Phnom Penh, 11 May 2011- Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot Jaem made remarks, widely quoted on 9-10 May 2011 in media coverage, saying that “If Thailand would accept and adhere to the agreement, I think clashes will not arise.”
Cambodia highly appreciates the complete, clear, unbiased understanding about the root cause of the Cambodia-Thailand conflicts, which have repeatedly erupted since 2008, and the acts of aggression by means of large-scale military attacks lately launched by Thailand on Cambodia, which have been the fiercest. The clashes not only claimed many lives of Cambodia’s civilians and armed forces, but they also forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes that were severely damaged as a result of the artillery shells fired by the invading Thai troops. The clashes also caused grave damage to the Temple of Preah Vihear, a World Heritage site, as well as to the temples of Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, situated on Cambodian legitimate territory.
Cambodia has always welcomed the presence of Indonesian observers, as mandated by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting held last February, and recently also called for by the Heads of State and the Heads of Government at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. Cambodia has agreed to the terms of reference (TOR) so that the observers may be assigned, in order to determine who started the attack, as well as to put an end to Thailand's repeated aggression against Cambodia.
To express her goodwill, as early as 3 March 2011 Cambodia signed the letter of acceptance to the terms of reference allowing Indonesian observers to carry out their mission in the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear, and Cambodia has accepted all the following changes to the terms of reference insisted by Thailand as follows:
- First change on 26 February 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 27 February 2011;
- Second change on 8 March 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 9 March 2011l;
- Third change on 15 March 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 16 March 2011;
- Fourth change on 08 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 08 April 2011;
- Fifth change on 11 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 12 April 2011;
- Sixth change on 28 April 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 30 April 2011; and
- Seventh change on 01 May 2011 was agreed by Cambodia on 02 May 2011.
In contrast, as a manoeuvre on 21 Frebruary 2011, a day before the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Indonesia, Thai government announced that it would welcome Indonesian observers to be stationed in the disputed border area, but since then has used every means to delay their assignment by repeatedly changing the terms of reference -- seven times so far -- and has still not yet agreed to them. As mentioned above, the Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister stated that “All the 10 countries, I stress, including Thailand and Cambodia, agreed to the agreement, but sad to say, the agreement was brought back to the respective two countries. Cambodia accepted it, Thailand did not accept.”
Although Indonesia’s President and Foreign Minister made great efforts to coordinate the meeting between the Cambodian and Thai Foreign Ministers on 9 May 2011, which resulted in a package resolution to the border conflict, including the dispatch of Indonesia observers to the Temple of Preah Vihear, the initiatives remain stalled because Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has destroyed all these efforts, by saying on 10 May 2011 that “Thailand’s stance remains the same. If Cambodia doesn’t withdraw its troops from the disputed border area, no observers will be sent there.” Thailand clearly knows that this condition is not acceptable to Cambodia because Cambodia cannot withdraw her troops and people from Cambodian territory. The Thai Prime Minister’s remarks clearly demonstrate Thailand’s tactics to prevent Indonesian observers from being sent to monitor the permanent ceasefire. This is a continuation of Thailand’s policy of closing the door to attack Cambodia so that it can commit its crime of seizing Cambodian territory before the arrival of Indonesian observers.
From day to day, the international community understands more clearly these Thai tricks, and can see that the assignment of observers in the Temple of Preah Vihear area is the only means to realise an effective and verifiable ceasefire as well as to prevent renewed military attacks launched by Thailand.
Press and Quick Reaction Unit
10 May, 2011
M’sia hopeful Thailand, Cambodia will reach deal
M’sia hopeful Thailand, Cambodia will reach deal
Posted on May 10, 2011, Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is still hopeful that Thailand and Cambodia, which clashed over a border issue, will be able to reach an amicable agreement soon.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem said Malaysia also hoped that Thailand would adhere to the ceasefire agreement it signed in February this year.
Despite calls by leaders attending the Asean Summit in Jakarta over the weekend to resolve the crisis, both Thai and Cambodian leaders have refused a truce.
Following the refusal, Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers agreed to extend their stay in Jakarta for more talks mediated by Indonesia yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a Symposium on the Dynamics of Youth and Terrorism, here yesterday, Riot said he was taken aback by the fact that the agreement, signed in February, in which he was the signatory representing the Malaysian government, was not upheld.
“During the meeting in Jakarta in February this year, all 10 countries, including Thailand and Cambodia, had agreed to the agreement.
“But sadly, it was not adhered to by the concerned countries. Cambodia accepted it, but Thailand did not,” he noted.
The agreement was violated in April, causing deadly clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, killing 18 people and displacing thousands from the area.
Thailand and Cambodia continue to accuse each other for starting the clashes.
“If Thailand would accept and adhere to the agreement, I think the clash will not arise,” Riot added.
Meanwhile, Riot said Malaysians should not take the security of the country for granted and should be prepared for counter-terrorism measures, although Malaysia is not a “high-risk country”.
Earlier in his speech, the foreign deputy minister noted that the youth had become an easy target for terrorists for recruitment because they were easier to manipulate and indoctrinate.
He added that the youth also provided an endless supply for terrorists to carry out their deeds.
“A young person with no prior police records allows a terrorist group more operational freedom since such involvement reduces the likelihood of arrest of the more senior terrorist leaders.
“Young people are also, at times, given more dangerous tasks on the assumption that if they are caught, they will receive lighter sentences due to their age,” he added.
The four-day symposium, which started yesterday and is being attended by 42 participants, is organised by the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism, Japan-Asean Integration Fund and Asean. — Bernama
Posted on May 10, 2011, Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is still hopeful that Thailand and Cambodia, which clashed over a border issue, will be able to reach an amicable agreement soon.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem said Malaysia also hoped that Thailand would adhere to the ceasefire agreement it signed in February this year.
Despite calls by leaders attending the Asean Summit in Jakarta over the weekend to resolve the crisis, both Thai and Cambodian leaders have refused a truce.
Following the refusal, Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers agreed to extend their stay in Jakarta for more talks mediated by Indonesia yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a Symposium on the Dynamics of Youth and Terrorism, here yesterday, Riot said he was taken aback by the fact that the agreement, signed in February, in which he was the signatory representing the Malaysian government, was not upheld.
“During the meeting in Jakarta in February this year, all 10 countries, including Thailand and Cambodia, had agreed to the agreement.
“But sadly, it was not adhered to by the concerned countries. Cambodia accepted it, but Thailand did not,” he noted.
The agreement was violated in April, causing deadly clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, killing 18 people and displacing thousands from the area.
Thailand and Cambodia continue to accuse each other for starting the clashes.
“If Thailand would accept and adhere to the agreement, I think the clash will not arise,” Riot added.
Meanwhile, Riot said Malaysians should not take the security of the country for granted and should be prepared for counter-terrorism measures, although Malaysia is not a “high-risk country”.
Earlier in his speech, the foreign deputy minister noted that the youth had become an easy target for terrorists for recruitment because they were easier to manipulate and indoctrinate.
He added that the youth also provided an endless supply for terrorists to carry out their deeds.
“A young person with no prior police records allows a terrorist group more operational freedom since such involvement reduces the likelihood of arrest of the more senior terrorist leaders.
“Young people are also, at times, given more dangerous tasks on the assumption that if they are caught, they will receive lighter sentences due to their age,” he added.
The four-day symposium, which started yesterday and is being attended by 42 participants, is organised by the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism, Japan-Asean Integration Fund and Asean. — Bernama
08 May, 2011
វិស័យការទូតខ្មែរ ត្រូវបានរិះគន់ថាខ្សោយ
វិស័យការទូតខ្មែរ ត្រូវបានរិះគន់ថាខ្សោយ
radio free Asia
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
2011-05-08
ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអាមេរិកាំងដែលតាមដានស្ថានការណ៍ជម្លោះព្រំដែនរវាងខ្មែរ-ថៃ បានរិះគន់ដល់វិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរថា នៅមានកម្រិតខ្សោយ
ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលអំពីវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរ ក្នុងបរិបទជម្លោះព្រំដែនជាមួយប្រទេសថៃ បានឲ្យដឹងថា នយោបាយការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានៅក្រៅប្រទេសគួរធ្វើឲ្យបានខ្លាំងជាងនេះថែមទៀត ដើម្បីរកការគាំទ្រនានា ពីសហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិ សម្រាប់ប្រយោជន៍របស់ប្រជាជាតិខ្មែរ។
ពីទីក្រុង Lowell រដ្ឋ Massachusetts សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លោក ល័ក្ខ និស្ស័យ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរមិនគួរធ្វើប្រតិកម្មជាមួយរដ្ឋាភិបាលថៃតាមតែរយៈកាសែតក្នុងស្រុក Bangkok Post ឬកាសែត The Nation របស់ថៃនោះឡើយ។ លោកថ្លែងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញគួរធ្វើសង្គ្រាមនយោបាយការទូតរបស់ខ្លួនឲ្យមានលក្ខណៈវិជ្ជាជីវៈជាងនេះ ៖ «ដូចសម្ដេចនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីអ៊ីចឹង គាត់មិនត្រូវយកភាសាពួកកាសែតទៅតវ៉ាជាមួយនឹងថៃ ជាមួយនឹងអីទេ។ ជួនកាលចំណុចខ្លះយើងត្រូវអត់ខ្លះទៅ កុំទៅតទល់ជាមួយអ្នកកាសែត អ្នកកាសែតអ្នកអីហ្នឹង។ ពីព្រោះអាកាសែតហ្នឹង វាចេះតែចាក់ឲ្យយើងលោត មិនដឹងជាទៅណាម៉ោណា។ អាហ្នឹងពេលខ្លះយើងមិនត្រូវតទេ ព្រោះឋានៈគាត់ជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ឲ្យតែឮកាសែតថាអី ក៏គាត់ញាក់គាត់លោត។»
លោក ល័ក្ខ និស្ស័យ បន្តថា មន្ត្រីការទូតខ្មែរគួរជ្រើសរើសមនុស្សដែលមានជំនាញពិតប្រាកដ ទាំងភាសា បច្ចេកទេសការងារ ពាក្យសំដី និងរូបសម្បត្តិប្រកបដោយអំណាច។ លោកថ្លែងថា ការចរចារបស់ភាគីកម្ពុជាកន្លងមក ហាក់បង្ហាញអំពីភាពទន់ខ្សោយរបស់ខ្លួនចំពោះសត្រូវ ៖ «កិច្ចការបរទេសដើម្បីយើងឈរជាមួយបរទេសដូចជាពួកថៃ ពួកស្អីៗ អ៊ីចឹងត្រូវមានភាពក្លាហាន និយាយឲ្យមានទឹកដម ឲ្យមានអំណាចនៅក្នុងការប្រឈម នៅក្នុងការចរចាជាមួយគេ។ ខ្ញុំឃើញកិច្ចការបរទេសយើងនៅទន់ខ្សោយណាស់ ហើយអត់ទាន់មានភាពអង់អាចក្លាហានទៅប្រឆាំងជាមួយគេនៅផ្លូវទូតទេ។»
ទាក់ទងនឹងការជ្រើសរើសវាក្យសព្ទមកប្រើប្រាស់ក្នុងការនិយាយទៅកាន់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មាន លោក ហោ ណាំហុង រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសកម្ពុជា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែកុម្ភៈ កន្លងទៅបានថ្លែងជាសាធារណៈថា “ខ្ញុំគិតថា វត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈជារបស់កម្ពុជា”។
អ្នកវិភាគបានចាត់ទុកថា ការណ៍ដែលលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ប្រើពាក្យ «ខ្ញុំគិតថា» ដូច្នេះ វាជាការឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងថា លោករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសរូបនេះមិនច្បាស់ខ្លួនឯង អំពីវត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈជារបស់កម្ពុជា។ ហើយប្រការនេះវាឆ្លុះបង្ហាញអំពីចំណុចខ្សោយរបស់អ្នកការទូតខ្មែរលើឆាកអន្តរជាតិ។
ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគបានបន្តទៀតថា នៅពេលកងទ័ពខ្មែរបាញ់ផ្លោងតបតចូលក្នុងទឹកដីថៃ ហើយធ្វើឲ្យខូចខាតសំណង់អគារ និងទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិរបស់ថៃនោះ គេសង្កេតឃើញថៃតែងបើក ឬជំរុញលើកទឹកចិត្តឲ្យក្រុមអ្នកកាសែតអន្តរជាតិ និងអ្នកកាសែតជាតិធ្វើការចុះផ្សាយយ៉ាងច្រើនសន្ធឹកសន្ធាប់ អំពីការខូចខាតទាំងឡាយ ដូចជាផ្ទះសំបែង អាគារសាលា វត្តអារាម ឬផ្សារលក់ទំនិញជាដើម ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយភាគីកម្ពុជា។ ចំណែកកម្ពុជាវិញ បើទោះបីថៃបានបាញ់ផ្លោងរាប់ម៉ឺនគ្រាប់ចូលក្នុងទឹកដីរបស់ខ្លួន ហើយធ្វើឲ្យខូចខាតទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ផ្ទះសំបែង ទីវត្តអារាម ប្រាសាទបូរាណ ឬបានសម្លាប់ជីវិតជនស្លូតត្រង់ជាច្រើនក៏ដោយ ក៏គេមិនសូវឃើញរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាស្វះស្វែងជំរុញឲ្យអ្នកសារព័ត៌មានបរទេស ឬអ្នកកាសែតក្នុងស្រុកចុះថត ឬរាយការណ៍ឲ្យបានច្រើនផុលផុសនោះឡើយ។ ហើយម្យ៉ាងវិញទៀត គេសង្កេតឃើញការបញ្ចេញរូបភាពនៃវិនាសកម្មដែល និងរូបភាពអំពីផលលំបាកនៃជនភៀសសឹកខ្មែរ ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយភាគីថៃ ក៏នៅមានកម្រិតតិចតួចនៅឡើយ។
ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរមួយរូបទៀតពីរដ្ឋ Alabama លោក អ៊ឹម សុនិត បានសង្កេតឃើញថា យុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរក្នុងបរិបទសង្គ្រាមព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ នេះ ហាក់មានចំណុចល្អច្រើន ប៉ុន្តែទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរវាងបណ្ដាប្រទេសមហាអំណាចក្នុងអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិនៅមានកម្រិត ៖ «ខ្ញុំមើលឃើញវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរយើងវាពាក់ព័ន្ធជាមួយយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល។ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្ញុំមើលឃើញថាវាល្អ តាំងពីចាប់ផ្ដើមជម្លោះរហូតមកទល់ពេលនេះ យើងឃើញយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រល្អ។ ប៉ុន្តែវិស័យការទូតយើងមិនសូវឃើញមានទំនាក់ទំនងល្អជាមួយបណ្ដាប្រទេសជាសមាជិកក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ។»
ទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ មន្ត្រីការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជាបានឲ្យដឹងថា កម្ពុជាកំពុងទទួលបានការគាំទ្រច្រើនពីបណ្ដាប្រទេសមួយចំនួនក្នុងទ្វីបអាហ្វ្រិក និងពីបណ្ដាប្រទេសនៅអាមេរិកកណ្ដាលផងដែរ។
ឯកអគ្គរាជទូតខ្មែរលោក ហែម ហេង មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ចំពោះទំនាក់ទំនងកាទូតរវាងកម្ពុជា និងអាមេរិក នៅតែមានភាពប្រសើរ ហើយថា អាមេរិកនឹងមិនលូកដៃចូលក្នុងទំនាស់រវាងកម្ពុជា-ថៃ នោះឡើយ ដោយសារប្រទេសទាំងពីរសុទ្ធជាប្រទេសជាមិត្តរបស់អាមេរិក ៖ «កន្លងមកបើទោះបីជាប្រទេសថៃ ដែលជាសម្ព័ន្ធមិត្តយូរអង្វែងរបស់អាមេរិកក៏ដោយ ក៏យើងឃើញអាមេរិកសម្ដែងភាពមិនជាផ្លូវការ ជាផ្លូវការសម្ដែងភាពឯករាជ្យ។ ហើយខ្ញុំបានជួបជាមួយនឹងអនុរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសអាមេរិក ហើយគេក៏បាននិយាយថា ដោយសារប្រទេសទាំងពីរជាមិត្តរបស់គេ ដូច្នេះគេមិនលូកដៃចូលក្នុងជម្លោះនេះឡើយ ហើយទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរបស់អាមេរិកជាមួយកម្ពុជានៅមានភាពល្អដដែល។»
ទាក់ទិននឹងបញ្ហាការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានេះដែរ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែឧសភា តំណាងរាស្ត្រគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ីចំនួន ១០រូប បានជំរុញឲ្យលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ដកតំណែងលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ចេញពីតួនាទីជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជា។ ក្រុមនេះបានឲ្យដឹងថា មូលហេតុនៃការជំរុញឲ្យដកតួនាទីលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ព្រោះមន្ត្រីការទូតរូបនេះ មានសមត្ថភាពទន់ខ្សោយខាងនយោបាយក្រៅប្រទេស ក្នុងការស្វែងរកកិច្ចអន្តរាគមន៍ពីបរទេសលើករណីរំលោភបូរណភាពទឹកដីកម្ពុជា ពីការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពថៃ។
ចំណែកលោកបណ្ឌិត ឡៅ ម៉ុងហៃ ជាអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលស្ថានការណ៍នយោបាយនៅកម្ពុជាដែរនោះ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា អ្នកការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរមិនសូវមានវិជ្ជាជីវៈគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ម្យ៉ាងទៀតកម្ពុជាមានឈ្មោះមិនសូវល្អខាងការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យផងដែរ ៖ «ខ្ញុំគិតថាក្នុងរយៈពេលខ្លីនេះ យើងអត់មានអ្នកជំនាញផង ច្រើនតែដាក់តែគ្នាឯងអ៊ីចឹងទៅ ហើយមានទស្សនៈចង្អៀតចង្អល់ណាស់។ ហើយសម្ដេចនាយកចេះតែបន្ទោសអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ជួនកាលដូចរឿង យ៉ា ហ្គាយ អ៊ីចឹង ឃើញទេ ដៀលសុទ្ធតែដល់ប្រទេសរបស់គេទៀត។ ដូចខាងផ្នែកសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នីតិរដ្ឋ ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យអីហ្នឹងនៅមានភាពបង្អាក់បង្អួល មានលំដាប់លេខទាបណាស់។»
ខ្លាចប៉ះពាល់ផលប្រយោជន៍វៀតណាម
ជុំវិញបញ្ហានយោបាយការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានេះដែរ លោក គុជ ចាន់លី ជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអាមេរិកាំង ក្នុងរដ្ឋ Maryland មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ការណ៍ដែលកម្ពុជារារែកមិនព្រមយកកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងទីក្រុងប៉ារីសធ្វើជាអាវុធការទូត ដែលខ្លួនមានស្រាប់ ដើម្បីដោះស្រាយទំនាស់ជាមួយប្រទេសថៃនោះ ដោយសារកម្ពុជាខ្លាចប៉ះពាល់ដល់ផលប្រយោជន៍របស់វៀតណាម ដែលជាសម្ព័ន្ធមិត្តរបស់ខ្លួន នៅពេលណាអន្តរជាតិធ្វើការសើរើសន្ធិសញ្ញាទីក្រុងប៉ារីសនេះឡើងវិញ ៖ «ឃើញថាប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងហ្នឹងមានភាពទន់ខ្សោយក្នុងការយល់អំពីកិច្ចការបរទេស ប្រទេសនីមួយក្នុងពិភពលោកនេះ ក្នុងការដោះស្រាយបញ្ហារបស់ខ្លួន។ ប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងមានការរារែកក្នុងការសម្រេចចិត្តត្រូវលើកយកប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងហ្នឹងទៅដោះស្រាយជាមួយថៃ ដោយសារតែវាមានជាប់ទាក់ទិននឹងច្បាប់អន្តរជាតិមួយ ប្រទេសថៃហាក់ចង់ប្រទេសខ្មែរដោះស្រាយដោយចង់ឲ្យប្រទេសខ្មែរហ្នឹង លើកយកកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងទីក្រុងប៉ារីសហ្នឹង យកមកដោះស្រាយពីព្រោះនៅក្នុងកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងហ្នឹង វាមានចែងពីបូរណភាពទឹកដី វាមានចែងអំពីអធិបតេយ្យភាព និងឯករាជ្យភាពរបស់ខ្មែរយើង។»
ប៉ុន្តែមជ្ឈដ្ឋានខ្លះបានកោតសរសើរស្នាដៃរបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ដែលកន្លងមកនេះ បានធ្វើឲ្យភាគីថៃដកទាហានឈុតខ្មៅរបស់ខ្លួនចេញពីវត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈ ក្បែរប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារដោយសន្តិវិធី។ កម្ពុជាបានជោគជ័យក្នុងការធ្វើឲ្យថៃព្រមទទួលយកក្រុមអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍របស់ប្រទេសឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី។ កម្ពុជាបានបញ្ជូនញត្តិរបស់ខ្លួនទៅកាន់តុលាការអន្តរជាតិទីក្រុងឡាអេ ឲ្យបញ្ជាក់អំពីសាលក្រមឆ្នាំ១៩៦២ ដែលកាត់ឲ្យកម្ពុជាឈ្នះក្ដីប្រទេសថៃ លើករណីប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ។ កម្ពុជាបានបង្ហាញអន្តរជាតិថា កម្ពុជាមិនមែនជាអ្នកឈ្លានពានថៃ ហើយគ្រាន់ជាអ្នកការពារខ្លួន និងទឹកដីប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
ទាក់ទិននឹងការលើកឡើងរបស់ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលខាងវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរ ក្នុងបញ្ហាសង្គ្រាមព្រំដែនរវាងខ្មែរ-ថៃ នេះ អ្នកនាំពាក្យទីស្ដីការគណរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីលោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ថ្លែងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាបានខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងប្រើគ្រប់យន្តការអន្តរជាតិទាំងអស់ ដើម្បីការពារអធិបតេយ្យភាព និងការបញ្ចប់ជម្លោះដោយសន្តិវិធី ៖ «វាប្រសើរណាស់សម្រាប់អ្នកនិយាយដូចជាការលេងបាល់ជាមួយមាត់ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ ការលេងបាល់ជាមួយជើងវាមានការលំបាកច្រើនណាស់ អាហ្នឹងវាអ៊ីចឹង។ ដូច្នេះបើសិនឃើញមានការឆ្គាំឆ្គងកន្លែងត្រង់ណាហ្នឹង សូមប្រាប់ទៅវាល្អជាង។ ក្នុងនាមជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋម្នាក់ ដែលទទួលខុសត្រូវចំពោះបញ្ហាជោគវាសនារបស់ប្រទេសជាតិខ្លួនឯង។ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលជាកិច្ចការបរទេស ដែលកម្ពុជាធ្វើគឺយើងធ្វើរួមគ្នាជារាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ហើយរាល់ស្ថាប័នអន្តរជាតិ គឺយើងបានធ្វើគ្រប់ជ្រុងជ្រោយទាំងអស់។ សូម្បីកាសែតក្នុងស្រុករបស់ថៃបានវាយតម្លៃខ្ពស់អំពីការងារទូតរបស់កម្ពុជា សូម្បីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក៏បាននិយាយថា កម្ពុជាបានធ្វើការងារការទូតរបស់ខ្លួនហ្នឹងប្រសើរជាងថៃទៀត។ ប្រទេសដែលអ្នកក្រៅធ្លាប់រស់នៅហ្នឹង ម្ចាស់ប្រទេសហ្នឹងគេបាននិយាយអ៊ីចឹង ទាំងបារាំង ទាំងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ជាមួយនិងចិនផងដែរ។»
ចំពោះវិស័យការទូតនេះផងដែរ ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគនិយាយថាក្នុងរយៈពេល ២៦ឆ្នាំ នៃការត្រួតត្រាអំណាចរបស់លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន នៅកម្ពុជា គេនៅមិនទាន់ឃើញប្រទេសលោកខាងលិចណាមួយអញ្ជើញលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យធ្វើទស្សនកិច្ចជាផ្លូវរដ្ឋនោះឡើយ។ បញ្ហានេះគេដឹងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាមិនសូវគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ហើយការធ្វើវិនិយោគទុនភាគច្រើនជាមួយតែប្រទេសចិន និងវៀតណាម៕
អត្ថបទទាក់ទង
radio free Asia
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
2011-05-08
ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអាមេរិកាំងដែលតាមដានស្ថានការណ៍ជម្លោះព្រំដែនរវាងខ្មែរ-ថៃ បានរិះគន់ដល់វិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរថា នៅមានកម្រិតខ្សោយ
ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលអំពីវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរ ក្នុងបរិបទជម្លោះព្រំដែនជាមួយប្រទេសថៃ បានឲ្យដឹងថា នយោបាយការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានៅក្រៅប្រទេសគួរធ្វើឲ្យបានខ្លាំងជាងនេះថែមទៀត ដើម្បីរកការគាំទ្រនានា ពីសហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិ សម្រាប់ប្រយោជន៍របស់ប្រជាជាតិខ្មែរ។
ពីទីក្រុង Lowell រដ្ឋ Massachusetts សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លោក ល័ក្ខ និស្ស័យ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរមិនគួរធ្វើប្រតិកម្មជាមួយរដ្ឋាភិបាលថៃតាមតែរយៈកាសែតក្នុងស្រុក Bangkok Post ឬកាសែត The Nation របស់ថៃនោះឡើយ។ លោកថ្លែងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញគួរធ្វើសង្គ្រាមនយោបាយការទូតរបស់ខ្លួនឲ្យមានលក្ខណៈវិជ្ជាជីវៈជាងនេះ ៖ «ដូចសម្ដេចនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីអ៊ីចឹង គាត់មិនត្រូវយកភាសាពួកកាសែតទៅតវ៉ាជាមួយនឹងថៃ ជាមួយនឹងអីទេ។ ជួនកាលចំណុចខ្លះយើងត្រូវអត់ខ្លះទៅ កុំទៅតទល់ជាមួយអ្នកកាសែត អ្នកកាសែតអ្នកអីហ្នឹង។ ពីព្រោះអាកាសែតហ្នឹង វាចេះតែចាក់ឲ្យយើងលោត មិនដឹងជាទៅណាម៉ោណា។ អាហ្នឹងពេលខ្លះយើងមិនត្រូវតទេ ព្រោះឋានៈគាត់ជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ឲ្យតែឮកាសែតថាអី ក៏គាត់ញាក់គាត់លោត។»
លោក ល័ក្ខ និស្ស័យ បន្តថា មន្ត្រីការទូតខ្មែរគួរជ្រើសរើសមនុស្សដែលមានជំនាញពិតប្រាកដ ទាំងភាសា បច្ចេកទេសការងារ ពាក្យសំដី និងរូបសម្បត្តិប្រកបដោយអំណាច។ លោកថ្លែងថា ការចរចារបស់ភាគីកម្ពុជាកន្លងមក ហាក់បង្ហាញអំពីភាពទន់ខ្សោយរបស់ខ្លួនចំពោះសត្រូវ ៖ «កិច្ចការបរទេសដើម្បីយើងឈរជាមួយបរទេសដូចជាពួកថៃ ពួកស្អីៗ អ៊ីចឹងត្រូវមានភាពក្លាហាន និយាយឲ្យមានទឹកដម ឲ្យមានអំណាចនៅក្នុងការប្រឈម នៅក្នុងការចរចាជាមួយគេ។ ខ្ញុំឃើញកិច្ចការបរទេសយើងនៅទន់ខ្សោយណាស់ ហើយអត់ទាន់មានភាពអង់អាចក្លាហានទៅប្រឆាំងជាមួយគេនៅផ្លូវទូតទេ។»
ទាក់ទងនឹងការជ្រើសរើសវាក្យសព្ទមកប្រើប្រាស់ក្នុងការនិយាយទៅកាន់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មាន លោក ហោ ណាំហុង រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសកម្ពុជា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែកុម្ភៈ កន្លងទៅបានថ្លែងជាសាធារណៈថា “ខ្ញុំគិតថា វត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈជារបស់កម្ពុជា”។
អ្នកវិភាគបានចាត់ទុកថា ការណ៍ដែលលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ប្រើពាក្យ «ខ្ញុំគិតថា» ដូច្នេះ វាជាការឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងថា លោករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសរូបនេះមិនច្បាស់ខ្លួនឯង អំពីវត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈជារបស់កម្ពុជា។ ហើយប្រការនេះវាឆ្លុះបង្ហាញអំពីចំណុចខ្សោយរបស់អ្នកការទូតខ្មែរលើឆាកអន្តរជាតិ។
ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគបានបន្តទៀតថា នៅពេលកងទ័ពខ្មែរបាញ់ផ្លោងតបតចូលក្នុងទឹកដីថៃ ហើយធ្វើឲ្យខូចខាតសំណង់អគារ និងទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិរបស់ថៃនោះ គេសង្កេតឃើញថៃតែងបើក ឬជំរុញលើកទឹកចិត្តឲ្យក្រុមអ្នកកាសែតអន្តរជាតិ និងអ្នកកាសែតជាតិធ្វើការចុះផ្សាយយ៉ាងច្រើនសន្ធឹកសន្ធាប់ អំពីការខូចខាតទាំងឡាយ ដូចជាផ្ទះសំបែង អាគារសាលា វត្តអារាម ឬផ្សារលក់ទំនិញជាដើម ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយភាគីកម្ពុជា។ ចំណែកកម្ពុជាវិញ បើទោះបីថៃបានបាញ់ផ្លោងរាប់ម៉ឺនគ្រាប់ចូលក្នុងទឹកដីរបស់ខ្លួន ហើយធ្វើឲ្យខូចខាតទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ ផ្ទះសំបែង ទីវត្តអារាម ប្រាសាទបូរាណ ឬបានសម្លាប់ជីវិតជនស្លូតត្រង់ជាច្រើនក៏ដោយ ក៏គេមិនសូវឃើញរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាស្វះស្វែងជំរុញឲ្យអ្នកសារព័ត៌មានបរទេស ឬអ្នកកាសែតក្នុងស្រុកចុះថត ឬរាយការណ៍ឲ្យបានច្រើនផុលផុសនោះឡើយ។ ហើយម្យ៉ាងវិញទៀត គេសង្កេតឃើញការបញ្ចេញរូបភាពនៃវិនាសកម្មដែល និងរូបភាពអំពីផលលំបាកនៃជនភៀសសឹកខ្មែរ ដែលបង្កឡើងដោយភាគីថៃ ក៏នៅមានកម្រិតតិចតួចនៅឡើយ។
ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរមួយរូបទៀតពីរដ្ឋ Alabama លោក អ៊ឹម សុនិត បានសង្កេតឃើញថា យុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្មែរក្នុងបរិបទសង្គ្រាមព្រំដែនខ្មែរ-ថៃ នេះ ហាក់មានចំណុចល្អច្រើន ប៉ុន្តែទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរវាងបណ្ដាប្រទេសមហាអំណាចក្នុងអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិនៅមានកម្រិត ៖ «ខ្ញុំមើលឃើញវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរយើងវាពាក់ព័ន្ធជាមួយយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល។ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលខ្ញុំមើលឃើញថាវាល្អ តាំងពីចាប់ផ្ដើមជម្លោះរហូតមកទល់ពេលនេះ យើងឃើញយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រល្អ។ ប៉ុន្តែវិស័យការទូតយើងមិនសូវឃើញមានទំនាក់ទំនងល្អជាមួយបណ្ដាប្រទេសជាសមាជិកក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ។»
ទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ មន្ត្រីការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជាបានឲ្យដឹងថា កម្ពុជាកំពុងទទួលបានការគាំទ្រច្រើនពីបណ្ដាប្រទេសមួយចំនួនក្នុងទ្វីបអាហ្វ្រិក និងពីបណ្ដាប្រទេសនៅអាមេរិកកណ្ដាលផងដែរ។
ឯកអគ្គរាជទូតខ្មែរលោក ហែម ហេង មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ចំពោះទំនាក់ទំនងកាទូតរវាងកម្ពុជា និងអាមេរិក នៅតែមានភាពប្រសើរ ហើយថា អាមេរិកនឹងមិនលូកដៃចូលក្នុងទំនាស់រវាងកម្ពុជា-ថៃ នោះឡើយ ដោយសារប្រទេសទាំងពីរសុទ្ធជាប្រទេសជាមិត្តរបស់អាមេរិក ៖ «កន្លងមកបើទោះបីជាប្រទេសថៃ ដែលជាសម្ព័ន្ធមិត្តយូរអង្វែងរបស់អាមេរិកក៏ដោយ ក៏យើងឃើញអាមេរិកសម្ដែងភាពមិនជាផ្លូវការ ជាផ្លូវការសម្ដែងភាពឯករាជ្យ។ ហើយខ្ញុំបានជួបជាមួយនឹងអនុរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសអាមេរិក ហើយគេក៏បាននិយាយថា ដោយសារប្រទេសទាំងពីរជាមិត្តរបស់គេ ដូច្នេះគេមិនលូកដៃចូលក្នុងជម្លោះនេះឡើយ ហើយទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរបស់អាមេរិកជាមួយកម្ពុជានៅមានភាពល្អដដែល។»
ទាក់ទិននឹងបញ្ហាការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានេះដែរ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែឧសភា តំណាងរាស្ត្រគណបក្សសមរង្ស៊ីចំនួន ១០រូប បានជំរុញឲ្យលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ដកតំណែងលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ចេញពីតួនាទីជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសកម្ពុជា។ ក្រុមនេះបានឲ្យដឹងថា មូលហេតុនៃការជំរុញឲ្យដកតួនាទីលោក ហោ ណាំហុង ព្រោះមន្ត្រីការទូតរូបនេះ មានសមត្ថភាពទន់ខ្សោយខាងនយោបាយក្រៅប្រទេស ក្នុងការស្វែងរកកិច្ចអន្តរាគមន៍ពីបរទេសលើករណីរំលោភបូរណភាពទឹកដីកម្ពុជា ពីការឈ្លានពានរបស់កងទ័ពថៃ។
ចំណែកលោកបណ្ឌិត ឡៅ ម៉ុងហៃ ជាអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលស្ថានការណ៍នយោបាយនៅកម្ពុជាដែរនោះ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា អ្នកការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរមិនសូវមានវិជ្ជាជីវៈគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ម្យ៉ាងទៀតកម្ពុជាមានឈ្មោះមិនសូវល្អខាងការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យផងដែរ ៖ «ខ្ញុំគិតថាក្នុងរយៈពេលខ្លីនេះ យើងអត់មានអ្នកជំនាញផង ច្រើនតែដាក់តែគ្នាឯងអ៊ីចឹងទៅ ហើយមានទស្សនៈចង្អៀតចង្អល់ណាស់។ ហើយសម្ដេចនាយកចេះតែបន្ទោសអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ជួនកាលដូចរឿង យ៉ា ហ្គាយ អ៊ីចឹង ឃើញទេ ដៀលសុទ្ធតែដល់ប្រទេសរបស់គេទៀត។ ដូចខាងផ្នែកសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នីតិរដ្ឋ ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យអីហ្នឹងនៅមានភាពបង្អាក់បង្អួល មានលំដាប់លេខទាបណាស់។»
ខ្លាចប៉ះពាល់ផលប្រយោជន៍វៀតណាម
ជុំវិញបញ្ហានយោបាយការទូតរបស់កម្ពុជានេះដែរ លោក គុជ ចាន់លី ជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអាមេរិកាំង ក្នុងរដ្ឋ Maryland មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ការណ៍ដែលកម្ពុជារារែកមិនព្រមយកកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងទីក្រុងប៉ារីសធ្វើជាអាវុធការទូត ដែលខ្លួនមានស្រាប់ ដើម្បីដោះស្រាយទំនាស់ជាមួយប្រទេសថៃនោះ ដោយសារកម្ពុជាខ្លាចប៉ះពាល់ដល់ផលប្រយោជន៍របស់វៀតណាម ដែលជាសម្ព័ន្ធមិត្តរបស់ខ្លួន នៅពេលណាអន្តរជាតិធ្វើការសើរើសន្ធិសញ្ញាទីក្រុងប៉ារីសនេះឡើងវិញ ៖ «ឃើញថាប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងហ្នឹងមានភាពទន់ខ្សោយក្នុងការយល់អំពីកិច្ចការបរទេស ប្រទេសនីមួយក្នុងពិភពលោកនេះ ក្នុងការដោះស្រាយបញ្ហារបស់ខ្លួន។ ប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងមានការរារែកក្នុងការសម្រេចចិត្តត្រូវលើកយកប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងហ្នឹងទៅដោះស្រាយជាមួយថៃ ដោយសារតែវាមានជាប់ទាក់ទិននឹងច្បាប់អន្តរជាតិមួយ ប្រទេសថៃហាក់ចង់ប្រទេសខ្មែរដោះស្រាយដោយចង់ឲ្យប្រទេសខ្មែរហ្នឹង លើកយកកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងទីក្រុងប៉ារីសហ្នឹង យកមកដោះស្រាយពីព្រោះនៅក្នុងកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងហ្នឹង វាមានចែងពីបូរណភាពទឹកដី វាមានចែងអំពីអធិបតេយ្យភាព និងឯករាជ្យភាពរបស់ខ្មែរយើង។»
ប៉ុន្តែមជ្ឈដ្ឋានខ្លះបានកោតសរសើរស្នាដៃរបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ដែលកន្លងមកនេះ បានធ្វើឲ្យភាគីថៃដកទាហានឈុតខ្មៅរបស់ខ្លួនចេញពីវត្តកែវសិក្ខាគិរីស្វារៈ ក្បែរប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារដោយសន្តិវិធី។ កម្ពុជាបានជោគជ័យក្នុងការធ្វើឲ្យថៃព្រមទទួលយកក្រុមអ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍របស់ប្រទេសឥណ្ឌូណេស៊ី។ កម្ពុជាបានបញ្ជូនញត្តិរបស់ខ្លួនទៅកាន់តុលាការអន្តរជាតិទីក្រុងឡាអេ ឲ្យបញ្ជាក់អំពីសាលក្រមឆ្នាំ១៩៦២ ដែលកាត់ឲ្យកម្ពុជាឈ្នះក្ដីប្រទេសថៃ លើករណីប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ។ កម្ពុជាបានបង្ហាញអន្តរជាតិថា កម្ពុជាមិនមែនជាអ្នកឈ្លានពានថៃ ហើយគ្រាន់ជាអ្នកការពារខ្លួន និងទឹកដីប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
ទាក់ទិននឹងការលើកឡើងរបស់ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលខាងវិស័យការទូតរបស់ខ្មែរ ក្នុងបញ្ហាសង្គ្រាមព្រំដែនរវាងខ្មែរ-ថៃ នេះ អ្នកនាំពាក្យទីស្ដីការគណរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីលោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ថ្លែងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាបានខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងប្រើគ្រប់យន្តការអន្តរជាតិទាំងអស់ ដើម្បីការពារអធិបតេយ្យភាព និងការបញ្ចប់ជម្លោះដោយសន្តិវិធី ៖ «វាប្រសើរណាស់សម្រាប់អ្នកនិយាយដូចជាការលេងបាល់ជាមួយមាត់ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ ការលេងបាល់ជាមួយជើងវាមានការលំបាកច្រើនណាស់ អាហ្នឹងវាអ៊ីចឹង។ ដូច្នេះបើសិនឃើញមានការឆ្គាំឆ្គងកន្លែងត្រង់ណាហ្នឹង សូមប្រាប់ទៅវាល្អជាង។ ក្នុងនាមជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋម្នាក់ ដែលទទួលខុសត្រូវចំពោះបញ្ហាជោគវាសនារបស់ប្រទេសជាតិខ្លួនឯង។ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលជាកិច្ចការបរទេស ដែលកម្ពុជាធ្វើគឺយើងធ្វើរួមគ្នាជារាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ហើយរាល់ស្ថាប័នអន្តរជាតិ គឺយើងបានធ្វើគ្រប់ជ្រុងជ្រោយទាំងអស់។ សូម្បីកាសែតក្នុងស្រុករបស់ថៃបានវាយតម្លៃខ្ពស់អំពីការងារទូតរបស់កម្ពុជា សូម្បីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក៏បាននិយាយថា កម្ពុជាបានធ្វើការងារការទូតរបស់ខ្លួនហ្នឹងប្រសើរជាងថៃទៀត។ ប្រទេសដែលអ្នកក្រៅធ្លាប់រស់នៅហ្នឹង ម្ចាស់ប្រទេសហ្នឹងគេបាននិយាយអ៊ីចឹង ទាំងបារាំង ទាំងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ជាមួយនិងចិនផងដែរ។»
ចំពោះវិស័យការទូតនេះផងដែរ ក្រុមអ្នកវិភាគនិយាយថាក្នុងរយៈពេល ២៦ឆ្នាំ នៃការត្រួតត្រាអំណាចរបស់លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន នៅកម្ពុជា គេនៅមិនទាន់ឃើញប្រទេសលោកខាងលិចណាមួយអញ្ជើញលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យធ្វើទស្សនកិច្ចជាផ្លូវរដ្ឋនោះឡើយ។ បញ្ហានេះគេដឹងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាមិនសូវគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ហើយការធ្វើវិនិយោគទុនភាគច្រើនជាមួយតែប្រទេសចិន និងវៀតណាម៕
អត្ថបទទាក់ទង
07 May, 2011
Global Monitoring Report 2011 - "Improving the Odds of Achieving the Mdgs"
African Development Bank
(Tunis)
http://allafrica.com/stories/201105060314.html
5 May 2011
This year's Global Monitoring Report 2011 entitled "Improving the Odds of Achieving the MDGs Heterogeneity, Gaps and Challenges", reviewed the evolution of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) towards their achievement deadline set for 2015 by World Leaders in 2000. The Global Monitoring Report is a product of a strategic collaboration of multilateral development finance institutions led by the World Bank and which includes the AfDB. This year's Report analyzed the diverse efforts and achievements in improving human development across developing countries in general and Africa in particular.
AfDB contributions which related to the African continent were highlighted in the Report as in previous years. These were illustrated through the Bank's lending program, its technical assistance, and how its knowledge products have evolved in recent years to meet different country circumstances. In pursuing MDGs, the Bank Group followed its 2008-2012 Medium Term Strategy (MTS) selectivity programmes, servicing those countries most in need, including fragile states, low-income countries, and vulnerable groups. The Report also indicated how the level of concessionary aid resources was maintained at the AfDB as a reflection of its commitment to the achievement of MDGs by 2015. The Report amply demonstrated African Development Fund replenishment under the ADF XII which resulted in a 10.6 percent increase with a funding package of approximately USD 9.5 billion to support the Fund's operations in low-income countries between 2011 and 2013.
Despite the perceived sluggishness of MDGs since its inception and the increase in the absolute number of poor in Africa from 296 million in 1990 to over 388 million now, the MDGs Report, further summarized the results of impact evaluations of health and education programs and reviewed recent developments in global growth, trade, and donor policies. Below are some of the highlights of the Report:
Global progress toward the various targets continues to be mixed, and country performance is predictably diverse. Among developing countries that are off track, the top half are, on average, within 10 percent of the on-track trajectory. While countries close to the target may still miss the 2015 deadline, they could achieve the targets soon after, with improved policies and an acceleration of growth to pre-crisis levels.
For countries that are on track, or close to it, solid economic growth and good policies and institutions have been the key factors. Progress on both fronts has been evident since the 1990s. Indeed, policy responses in the recent global economic downturn have softened the negative impact, particularly for low-income countries (especially in Africa).
This substantial progress is not a reason for complacency. Without a stable expansion of the global economy, continuing access to advanced and developing-country markets, and adequate assistance from donors, progress could still break down. Enhancing the resilience to adverse economic shocks, including the provision of social safety programs, will need greater attention and support.
Reaching the MDGs is only one milestone, for there still is much work to do in fostering inclusive growth, reducing inequality and poverty, and improving health and education outcomes in even the most successful countries. Even the middle-income countries on track to reach the MDGs have trailing pockets of indigenous and socially excluded groups whose odds of reaching the goals are slim.
Unsurprisingly, countries with slower growth and poorer institutions are farthest behind. Many countries far from the target are fragile states, reinforcing the need for the international community including the African Development Bank to step up support to these countries.
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (Studies in Development Economics and Policy)
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010
(Tunis)
http://allafrica.com/stories/201105060314.html
5 May 2011
This year's Global Monitoring Report 2011 entitled "Improving the Odds of Achieving the MDGs Heterogeneity, Gaps and Challenges", reviewed the evolution of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) towards their achievement deadline set for 2015 by World Leaders in 2000. The Global Monitoring Report is a product of a strategic collaboration of multilateral development finance institutions led by the World Bank and which includes the AfDB. This year's Report analyzed the diverse efforts and achievements in improving human development across developing countries in general and Africa in particular.
AfDB contributions which related to the African continent were highlighted in the Report as in previous years. These were illustrated through the Bank's lending program, its technical assistance, and how its knowledge products have evolved in recent years to meet different country circumstances. In pursuing MDGs, the Bank Group followed its 2008-2012 Medium Term Strategy (MTS) selectivity programmes, servicing those countries most in need, including fragile states, low-income countries, and vulnerable groups. The Report also indicated how the level of concessionary aid resources was maintained at the AfDB as a reflection of its commitment to the achievement of MDGs by 2015. The Report amply demonstrated African Development Fund replenishment under the ADF XII which resulted in a 10.6 percent increase with a funding package of approximately USD 9.5 billion to support the Fund's operations in low-income countries between 2011 and 2013.
Despite the perceived sluggishness of MDGs since its inception and the increase in the absolute number of poor in Africa from 296 million in 1990 to over 388 million now, the MDGs Report, further summarized the results of impact evaluations of health and education programs and reviewed recent developments in global growth, trade, and donor policies. Below are some of the highlights of the Report:
Global progress toward the various targets continues to be mixed, and country performance is predictably diverse. Among developing countries that are off track, the top half are, on average, within 10 percent of the on-track trajectory. While countries close to the target may still miss the 2015 deadline, they could achieve the targets soon after, with improved policies and an acceleration of growth to pre-crisis levels.
For countries that are on track, or close to it, solid economic growth and good policies and institutions have been the key factors. Progress on both fronts has been evident since the 1990s. Indeed, policy responses in the recent global economic downturn have softened the negative impact, particularly for low-income countries (especially in Africa).
This substantial progress is not a reason for complacency. Without a stable expansion of the global economy, continuing access to advanced and developing-country markets, and adequate assistance from donors, progress could still break down. Enhancing the resilience to adverse economic shocks, including the provision of social safety programs, will need greater attention and support.
Reaching the MDGs is only one milestone, for there still is much work to do in fostering inclusive growth, reducing inequality and poverty, and improving health and education outcomes in even the most successful countries. Even the middle-income countries on track to reach the MDGs have trailing pockets of indigenous and socially excluded groups whose odds of reaching the goals are slim.
Unsurprisingly, countries with slower growth and poorer institutions are farthest behind. Many countries far from the target are fragile states, reinforcing the need for the international community including the African Development Bank to step up support to these countries.
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (Studies in Development Economics and Policy)
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010
Thailand’s Elections Won't Solve Crisis
A. Lin Neumann | May 07, 2011
Jarkata Globe
On the surface, Bangkok shows few signs of last year’s political turmoil and the bloody crackdown on Red Shirt protesters. The economy is doing well and the tourists are back.
This would seem a good time for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve Parliament and call a national election, as he did on Friday. He recently told a group of visiting Asian newspaper editors that the time has come to heal Thailand’s political wounds with “free, fair elections.”
But ask nearly anyone in Thailand if they expect the elections to go well and the scenarios that come back are almost universally bad.
“Things in Thailand are such a mess that it is now finally as bad as the Philippines,” said a foreign businessman friend of mine who has been in Thailand for more than 40 years. “It can only end badly unless the Democrats win a majority — and even that is bad because this government is so ineffective.”
The well-connected businessman shares a common view that Abhisit owes his tenuous hold on power to the military and the royalist elite and that those factions are unlikely to allow a victory by the opposition Pheu Thai party, the latest vehicle for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s ambition of returning from exile on the back of the Red Shirts to reclaim the seat that was taken from him by a coup in 2006.
“If the military calls off the election because they think Thaksin will win, it will be chaos,” the man said. “If Pheu Thai win and they are denied the right to form a government, it will be chaos. If there is a shaky coalition government, it will be a mess.”
Abhisit was forced to promise an election in the wake of the disastrous May 2010 events in which 92 persons, the vast majority of them Red Shirt protesters, were gunned down after his government lost control of central Bangkok.
Until now, no real investigation has dealt with what happened. The Thai media has also lost much of its vaunted independence in the face of shadowy pressures from the military and royalist elements eager to stamp out pro-Thaksin voices or discussions of the crisis that will occur when the country’s frail 83-year-old monarch dies.
Asked by the editors about reconciliation with the opposition, a weary-looking Abhisit wandered around the issue. “I have listened to all voices, including Red Shirts,” he said. But Abhisit would not even speak Thaksin’s name, saying only that Thailand must “move beyond the interests of one man or one group.”
It is not at all clear that the Democrat Party can lead a coalition to victory. An April poll conducted across 17 provinces says the race is almost a dead heat, with the Democrats enjoying a slight lead over Pheu Thai, which appears set to be led to the polls by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, a political neophyte. A third of the electorate remains undecided.
A win for Pheu Thai may spur another coup by the military, or an attempt to dragoon enough other political parties together into a coalition to keep Pheu Thai from governing, as the military did in creating the coalition that brought an un-elected Abhisit and the Democrats to power in December 2008 after the courts unwound a post-coup Thaksin victory.
It must be wearying indeed for Abhisit to be on such shaky ground when his Democrats should be able to control the scenario at will despite Thaksin’s money.
Amid this turmoil, Thai politics increasingly seem to be driven by the military. The royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy — the Yellow Shirts in Thailand’s color-coded street politics — with the connivance of the military, kicked off a border squabble with Cambodia last December over the ancient Preah Vihear temple that continues until today, with Thailand resisting efforts by Asean to stop a renewed flare-up of fighting that has killed a number of soldiers on both sides and that many fear could be used as a pretext to halt elections.
Thaksin has dominated Thai politics like no one before him, a fact that led to fears when he was in office that he would one day supplant the monarchy. He fled the country in 2008 to avoid prison but a Pheu Thai rally recently featured a telephone address in which he promised a populist cornucopia of benefits should the party win. The Democrats have countered with their own largesse.
In the meantime, charges of lese-majeste — insulting the royalty — continue to be used against anyone who dares to discuss the royal succession in public.
At the root of the uncertainty is the fact that the glue that has held together Thai society for generations — the monarchy — appears unable to influence the situation. US diplomatic cables made public by WikiLeaks indicate that ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s weak protestations against the actions of the Yellow Shirts have simply been ignored, and the issue of who will succeed him remains an object of intense, if whispered, speculation.
For all of this, international investors seem unfazed. The government reported at the end of March a 58 percent rise in foreign investment, indicating perhaps Thailand is becoming a post-political society. “There looks to be no way out,” my businessman friend said. “But that’s politics,” he added. “Business is good.”
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE
Places of Worship in Cambodia: Buddhist Temples in Cambodia, Churches in Cambodia, Hindu Temples in Cambodia, Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear Temple
Jarkata Globe
On the surface, Bangkok shows few signs of last year’s political turmoil and the bloody crackdown on Red Shirt protesters. The economy is doing well and the tourists are back.
This would seem a good time for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve Parliament and call a national election, as he did on Friday. He recently told a group of visiting Asian newspaper editors that the time has come to heal Thailand’s political wounds with “free, fair elections.”
But ask nearly anyone in Thailand if they expect the elections to go well and the scenarios that come back are almost universally bad.
“Things in Thailand are such a mess that it is now finally as bad as the Philippines,” said a foreign businessman friend of mine who has been in Thailand for more than 40 years. “It can only end badly unless the Democrats win a majority — and even that is bad because this government is so ineffective.”
The well-connected businessman shares a common view that Abhisit owes his tenuous hold on power to the military and the royalist elite and that those factions are unlikely to allow a victory by the opposition Pheu Thai party, the latest vehicle for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s ambition of returning from exile on the back of the Red Shirts to reclaim the seat that was taken from him by a coup in 2006.
“If the military calls off the election because they think Thaksin will win, it will be chaos,” the man said. “If Pheu Thai win and they are denied the right to form a government, it will be chaos. If there is a shaky coalition government, it will be a mess.”
Abhisit was forced to promise an election in the wake of the disastrous May 2010 events in which 92 persons, the vast majority of them Red Shirt protesters, were gunned down after his government lost control of central Bangkok.
Until now, no real investigation has dealt with what happened. The Thai media has also lost much of its vaunted independence in the face of shadowy pressures from the military and royalist elements eager to stamp out pro-Thaksin voices or discussions of the crisis that will occur when the country’s frail 83-year-old monarch dies.
Asked by the editors about reconciliation with the opposition, a weary-looking Abhisit wandered around the issue. “I have listened to all voices, including Red Shirts,” he said. But Abhisit would not even speak Thaksin’s name, saying only that Thailand must “move beyond the interests of one man or one group.”
It is not at all clear that the Democrat Party can lead a coalition to victory. An April poll conducted across 17 provinces says the race is almost a dead heat, with the Democrats enjoying a slight lead over Pheu Thai, which appears set to be led to the polls by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, a political neophyte. A third of the electorate remains undecided.
A win for Pheu Thai may spur another coup by the military, or an attempt to dragoon enough other political parties together into a coalition to keep Pheu Thai from governing, as the military did in creating the coalition that brought an un-elected Abhisit and the Democrats to power in December 2008 after the courts unwound a post-coup Thaksin victory.
It must be wearying indeed for Abhisit to be on such shaky ground when his Democrats should be able to control the scenario at will despite Thaksin’s money.
Amid this turmoil, Thai politics increasingly seem to be driven by the military. The royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy — the Yellow Shirts in Thailand’s color-coded street politics — with the connivance of the military, kicked off a border squabble with Cambodia last December over the ancient Preah Vihear temple that continues until today, with Thailand resisting efforts by Asean to stop a renewed flare-up of fighting that has killed a number of soldiers on both sides and that many fear could be used as a pretext to halt elections.
Thaksin has dominated Thai politics like no one before him, a fact that led to fears when he was in office that he would one day supplant the monarchy. He fled the country in 2008 to avoid prison but a Pheu Thai rally recently featured a telephone address in which he promised a populist cornucopia of benefits should the party win. The Democrats have countered with their own largesse.
In the meantime, charges of lese-majeste — insulting the royalty — continue to be used against anyone who dares to discuss the royal succession in public.
At the root of the uncertainty is the fact that the glue that has held together Thai society for generations — the monarchy — appears unable to influence the situation. US diplomatic cables made public by WikiLeaks indicate that ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s weak protestations against the actions of the Yellow Shirts have simply been ignored, and the issue of who will succeed him remains an object of intense, if whispered, speculation.
For all of this, international investors seem unfazed. The government reported at the end of March a 58 percent rise in foreign investment, indicating perhaps Thailand is becoming a post-political society. “There looks to be no way out,” my businessman friend said. “But that’s politics,” he added. “Business is good.”
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE
Places of Worship in Cambodia: Buddhist Temples in Cambodia, Churches in Cambodia, Hindu Temples in Cambodia, Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear Temple
Border Embarrasses ASEAN
The Phnom Penh Post.
FRIDAY, 06 MAY 2011 15:03 DAVID BOYLE AND CHENG LITA
The Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations admitted its failure to resolve Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute had become “embarrassing” yesterday, as delegates at a Phnom Penh conference of the regional body warned its relevance was threatened by the issue.
Ahead of an ASEAN summit in Indonesia this weekend, Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said attending regional leaders should give the border dispute a “high level of attention”.
“It has been so embarrassing for ASEAN already, not being able to solve this problem,” he said.
“But ASEAN has tried. I think you have to recognise the fact that ASEAN has never been so pro-active before this year on this issue.”
In February, at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, it was agreed in principle that Indonesian observers would enter the border area. But Thailand has yet to confirm the terms of reference for their deployment.
Pou Sothirak, a Cambodian government advisor, told an ASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies conference in Phnom Penh yesterday that if the dispute was not resolved, other member nations would revert to settling disputes by force.
“The border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand are now threatening the very existence of ASEAN – if this now develops into a full blown war ASEAN must do something right,” he said.
Dr Tang Siew Mun, director of foreign policy and security studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, agreed the issue had becoming embarrassing for ASEAN on the sidelines of yesterday’s conference at the capital’s Cambodiana hotel.
“This is definitely a test case on how ASEAN functions as a community because ASEAN needs to, for lack of a better work, to police.
“It needs to keep the peace within the community itself,” he said.
“If we can’t do that, then what’s the point in having this community, we need to be able to solve problems within ourselves.”
The ASEAN charter, which came into effect in 2008, commits the regional body and its member states to a principal of non-interference with fellow members.
Cambodia is due to takeover chairmanship of ASEAN at the beginning of next year.
Thai and Cambodian forces continued to honour a ceasefire yesterday negotiated the previous day, Ouk Damry, a member of the National Assembly told the ASEAN – ISIS Conference.
“The sound of fighting has stopped and villagers returned to their villages,” he said.
Insider ownership and industrial competition: causes and consequences of information asymmetry.(Report): An article from: ASEAN Economic Bulletin
The Economies of Southeast Asia: The Growth and Development of Asean Economies
FRIDAY, 06 MAY 2011 15:03 DAVID BOYLE AND CHENG LITA
The Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations admitted its failure to resolve Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute had become “embarrassing” yesterday, as delegates at a Phnom Penh conference of the regional body warned its relevance was threatened by the issue.
Ahead of an ASEAN summit in Indonesia this weekend, Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said attending regional leaders should give the border dispute a “high level of attention”.
“It has been so embarrassing for ASEAN already, not being able to solve this problem,” he said.
“But ASEAN has tried. I think you have to recognise the fact that ASEAN has never been so pro-active before this year on this issue.”
In February, at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, it was agreed in principle that Indonesian observers would enter the border area. But Thailand has yet to confirm the terms of reference for their deployment.
Pou Sothirak, a Cambodian government advisor, told an ASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies conference in Phnom Penh yesterday that if the dispute was not resolved, other member nations would revert to settling disputes by force.
“The border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand are now threatening the very existence of ASEAN – if this now develops into a full blown war ASEAN must do something right,” he said.
Dr Tang Siew Mun, director of foreign policy and security studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, agreed the issue had becoming embarrassing for ASEAN on the sidelines of yesterday’s conference at the capital’s Cambodiana hotel.
“This is definitely a test case on how ASEAN functions as a community because ASEAN needs to, for lack of a better work, to police.
“It needs to keep the peace within the community itself,” he said.
“If we can’t do that, then what’s the point in having this community, we need to be able to solve problems within ourselves.”
The ASEAN charter, which came into effect in 2008, commits the regional body and its member states to a principal of non-interference with fellow members.
Cambodia is due to takeover chairmanship of ASEAN at the beginning of next year.
Thai and Cambodian forces continued to honour a ceasefire yesterday negotiated the previous day, Ouk Damry, a member of the National Assembly told the ASEAN – ISIS Conference.
“The sound of fighting has stopped and villagers returned to their villages,” he said.
Insider ownership and industrial competition: causes and consequences of information asymmetry.(Report): An article from: ASEAN Economic Bulletin
The Economies of Southeast Asia: The Growth and Development of Asean Economies
06 May, 2011
L'armée thaïlandaise montre ses muscles à Preah Vihear
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2011/05/01/01003-20110501ARTFIG00233-l-armee-thailandaise-montre-ses-muscles-a-preah-vihear.php
02/05/2011 | Mise à jour : 10:35
Des soldats cambodgiens surveillent la frontière avec la Thaïlande après les combats des derniers jours. Crédits photo : STR/AFP
Les affrontements avec le Cambodge ont fait 16 morts et 60.000 déplacés en dix jours.
La querelle de Preah Vihear n'a plus rien à voir avec le merveilleux temple hindouiste de grès moucheté datant du XIe siècle. Si les Thaïlandais et les Cambodgiens s'insultent et s'entre-tuent, c'est que «la politique intérieure thaïlandaise est à l'agonie», estime Pavin Chachavalpongpun, chercheur à l'Institut des études sur l'Asie du Sud-Est à Singapour. Pour la seconde fois en moins de trois mois, soldats thaïlandais et cambodgiens sont engagés dans des duels d'artillerie à la frontière entre leurs deux pays. En dix jours, les affrontements ont fait 16 morts et une cinquantaine de blessés, tandis que 60.000 villageois ont été évacués.
Le spécialiste des méandres de la scène politique thaïlandaise estime que ces accrochages au fin fond d'une forêt dense où se trouvent deux temples centenaires sont liés au scrutin prévu d'ici juillet. Son postulat : l'armée thaïlandaise, omniprésente dans les affaires politiques depuis le coup d'État de 2006, ne tolérera pas qu'un gouvernement pro-Thaksin Shinawatra remporte les élections pour la quatrième fois consécutive. «En 2007, les militaires ont appris qu'ils ne pouvaient gagner grâce aux intimidations et à l'argent. Une guerre restreinte avec un voisin bien plus petit est leur dernière trouvaille pour rassembler les Thaïlandais derrière eux», estime Pavin Chachavalpongpun.
Souveraineté nationale
En claironnant que Thaksin et ses «chemises rouges» ont pactisé avec Phnom Penh et braderaient à coup sûr les terres thaïlandaises, les généraux se positionnent comme les seuls défenseurs de la souveraineté nationale. Ils tenteraient même de «créer un contexte propice à un coup d'État pour empêcher l'organisation de ces élections», ajoute-t-il. Dans cette ambiance délétère, il a suffi la semaine dernière d'une brève interruption sur les chaînes de télévision thaïlandaises pour faire courir la rumeur que l'armée s'était emparée du pouvoir.
L'enjeu va bien au-delà des 4,6 kilomètres carrés de broussailles, devant le temple de Preah Vihear. Car les thèmes ultranationalistes trouvent un écho dans la fierté nationale blessée. La Thaïlande ne s'est jamais remise de la décision de la Cour internationale de justice attribuant en 1962 la souveraineté du temple au Cambodge. Depuis, les manuels d'histoire rabâchent à des générations d'écoliers que leur roi Naresuan a «lavé ses pieds dans le sang de Satha», un roi khmer, lors du sac de Lovek, au XVIe siècle.
«Le nationalisme thaïlandais s'est bâti en réaction aux humiliations territoriales subies au début du XXe siècle», rappelle Pavin, l'analyste politique. L'incident de la Paknam, en 1893, lorsque deux canonnières françaises stationnées à l'embouchure du fleuve Chao Phraya forcèrent Bangkok à renoncer à toute prétention sur la rive gauche du Mékong «a marqué la conscience collective des élites du pays». Les traités de 1907 et 1909, statuant sur l'attribution de trois provinces au Cambodge sous protectorat français et des provinces du Sud à la Malaisie britannique, «ont scellé la volonté de ne plus jamais céder un centimètre de territoire».
02/05/2011 | Mise à jour : 10:35
Des soldats cambodgiens surveillent la frontière avec la Thaïlande après les combats des derniers jours. Crédits photo : STR/AFP
Les affrontements avec le Cambodge ont fait 16 morts et 60.000 déplacés en dix jours.
La querelle de Preah Vihear n'a plus rien à voir avec le merveilleux temple hindouiste de grès moucheté datant du XIe siècle. Si les Thaïlandais et les Cambodgiens s'insultent et s'entre-tuent, c'est que «la politique intérieure thaïlandaise est à l'agonie», estime Pavin Chachavalpongpun, chercheur à l'Institut des études sur l'Asie du Sud-Est à Singapour. Pour la seconde fois en moins de trois mois, soldats thaïlandais et cambodgiens sont engagés dans des duels d'artillerie à la frontière entre leurs deux pays. En dix jours, les affrontements ont fait 16 morts et une cinquantaine de blessés, tandis que 60.000 villageois ont été évacués.
Le spécialiste des méandres de la scène politique thaïlandaise estime que ces accrochages au fin fond d'une forêt dense où se trouvent deux temples centenaires sont liés au scrutin prévu d'ici juillet. Son postulat : l'armée thaïlandaise, omniprésente dans les affaires politiques depuis le coup d'État de 2006, ne tolérera pas qu'un gouvernement pro-Thaksin Shinawatra remporte les élections pour la quatrième fois consécutive. «En 2007, les militaires ont appris qu'ils ne pouvaient gagner grâce aux intimidations et à l'argent. Une guerre restreinte avec un voisin bien plus petit est leur dernière trouvaille pour rassembler les Thaïlandais derrière eux», estime Pavin Chachavalpongpun.
Souveraineté nationale
En claironnant que Thaksin et ses «chemises rouges» ont pactisé avec Phnom Penh et braderaient à coup sûr les terres thaïlandaises, les généraux se positionnent comme les seuls défenseurs de la souveraineté nationale. Ils tenteraient même de «créer un contexte propice à un coup d'État pour empêcher l'organisation de ces élections», ajoute-t-il. Dans cette ambiance délétère, il a suffi la semaine dernière d'une brève interruption sur les chaînes de télévision thaïlandaises pour faire courir la rumeur que l'armée s'était emparée du pouvoir.
L'enjeu va bien au-delà des 4,6 kilomètres carrés de broussailles, devant le temple de Preah Vihear. Car les thèmes ultranationalistes trouvent un écho dans la fierté nationale blessée. La Thaïlande ne s'est jamais remise de la décision de la Cour internationale de justice attribuant en 1962 la souveraineté du temple au Cambodge. Depuis, les manuels d'histoire rabâchent à des générations d'écoliers que leur roi Naresuan a «lavé ses pieds dans le sang de Satha», un roi khmer, lors du sac de Lovek, au XVIe siècle.
«Le nationalisme thaïlandais s'est bâti en réaction aux humiliations territoriales subies au début du XXe siècle», rappelle Pavin, l'analyste politique. L'incident de la Paknam, en 1893, lorsque deux canonnières françaises stationnées à l'embouchure du fleuve Chao Phraya forcèrent Bangkok à renoncer à toute prétention sur la rive gauche du Mékong «a marqué la conscience collective des élites du pays». Les traités de 1907 et 1909, statuant sur l'attribution de trois provinces au Cambodge sous protectorat français et des provinces du Sud à la Malaisie britannique, «ont scellé la volonté de ne plus jamais céder un centimètre de territoire».
04 May, 2011
Asean FMs Expected To Get Reports On Thailand-Cambodia Border
Asean FMs Expected To Get Reports On Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute
BERNAMA
May 04, 2011 22:40 PM
By Ahmad Fuad Yahya
JAKARTA, May 4 (Bernama) -- Asean foreign ministers are expected to hear reports on the Thailand-Cambodia border row during its meeting here tomorrow preceding the 18th Asean Summit which is scheduled for two days, on Saturday and Sunday.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman said the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia were expected to present reports on peace negotiations to resolve the problem.
They will inform Asean on the latest development with regard to the issue, he told Malaysian journalists here today when asked on the latest effort by Indonesia and Asean to find a peaceful solution to the border dispute.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa was reported yesterday as saying that he had been having good communication with both the Thai and Cambodian sides.
Two days ago, a Thai soldier was killed during a Thai-Cambodian border skirmish in Surin, bringing the death toll on the Thai side to 12 since clashes started 12 days ago.
On whether terrorism would be discussed at the Asean summit, Mohd Radzi said at the moment there was no indication that it would be the focus agenda.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the summit.
He will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and other senior government officials.
Najib will lead the Malaysian delegation at the summit plenary and retreat sessions, Asean leaders' meeting with Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) representatives, Asean leaders' informal meeting with youth representatives, Asean leaders' informal meeting with representatives of civil society organisations, and the 7th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines Growth Triangle (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.
During the retreat session of the summit, Asean leaders would, among other things, be deliberating on matters related to the East Asia Summit (EAS) as the issue is significant given the involvement of Russia and the United States in the EAS beginning this year.
Mohd Radzi said the leaders were also expected to touch on how Asean could speak in a coordinated, coherent and cohesive manner on global issues.
"The leaders are expected to exchange views on issues of common concern, including how to further promote nuclear safety measures in the region," he said.
Prior to the summit, Mohd Radzi said Anifah would be leading the Malaysian delegation to the meetings of the 5th Asean Political Security Community (APSC) Council, Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and the 8th Asean Coordinating Council (ACC), while Mustapa will head the Malaysian delegation at the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Council.
Mustapa will also attend the First Asean-European Union Business Summit here Thursday.
BERNAMA
May 04, 2011 22:40 PM
By Ahmad Fuad Yahya
JAKARTA, May 4 (Bernama) -- Asean foreign ministers are expected to hear reports on the Thailand-Cambodia border row during its meeting here tomorrow preceding the 18th Asean Summit which is scheduled for two days, on Saturday and Sunday.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman said the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia were expected to present reports on peace negotiations to resolve the problem.
They will inform Asean on the latest development with regard to the issue, he told Malaysian journalists here today when asked on the latest effort by Indonesia and Asean to find a peaceful solution to the border dispute.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa was reported yesterday as saying that he had been having good communication with both the Thai and Cambodian sides.
Two days ago, a Thai soldier was killed during a Thai-Cambodian border skirmish in Surin, bringing the death toll on the Thai side to 12 since clashes started 12 days ago.
On whether terrorism would be discussed at the Asean summit, Mohd Radzi said at the moment there was no indication that it would be the focus agenda.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the summit.
He will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and other senior government officials.
Najib will lead the Malaysian delegation at the summit plenary and retreat sessions, Asean leaders' meeting with Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) representatives, Asean leaders' informal meeting with youth representatives, Asean leaders' informal meeting with representatives of civil society organisations, and the 7th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines Growth Triangle (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.
During the retreat session of the summit, Asean leaders would, among other things, be deliberating on matters related to the East Asia Summit (EAS) as the issue is significant given the involvement of Russia and the United States in the EAS beginning this year.
Mohd Radzi said the leaders were also expected to touch on how Asean could speak in a coordinated, coherent and cohesive manner on global issues.
"The leaders are expected to exchange views on issues of common concern, including how to further promote nuclear safety measures in the region," he said.
Prior to the summit, Mohd Radzi said Anifah would be leading the Malaysian delegation to the meetings of the 5th Asean Political Security Community (APSC) Council, Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and the 8th Asean Coordinating Council (ACC), while Mustapa will head the Malaysian delegation at the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Council.
Mustapa will also attend the First Asean-European Union Business Summit here Thursday.
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