DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia- Thailand Trade Increases to $2.54 billion” plus 3 more

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, FEB 17, 2011-Cambodia and Thailand trade increased to $2.54 billion in 2010 even the two countries have had difficulties for border issues at the area near the 11th century Khmer Preah Vihear temple, the trade relation is processing as normal, officials said on Thursday.

Trade volume between Cambodia and Thailand increased to 2.54 billion and the bilateral trade was worth about 1.65 billion in 2009, and in 2010 Cambodia exported $241.7 million and $2.34 billion US dollars, the statement from Thai embassy and Cambodian trade ministry.

The announcement about increasing trade was made during the trade Fair in Phnom Penh, which attended by Thai deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankiri and vice minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot. And Cambodian side joined by deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Keat Chhon and senior minister and trade minister Cham Prasidh.

Hundreds of Cambodians attended trade fairs and several Thai companies showed their products and attracted local buyers.

"War produced nothing for the two countries" Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen said, adding that we have difficulties on diplomatic and political ties but we shorten the border issues to avoid affecting to other fields for bilateral cooperation.

Thai troops invaded Cambodia soil near 11^th century Preah Vihear temple on July 15, 2008.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, FEB 17, 2011-Cambodian Prime Minister on Thursday initiated the four -point proposal to build permanent ceasefire as road map towards peace for area near the Preah Vihear temple where Thai troops invaded Cambodian soil since 2008 July 15. Cambodia needs the situation there prior to July 15, 2008.

"We need to see the peaceful means and permanent ceasefire for border issues near the temple of Preah Vihear," Samdech Hun Sen said.

PM Hun Sen proposed that firstly, Cambodia and Thailand must agree to cease fire permanently. It means that no further weapon eruption. Secondly, all troops along border do not mobilize. But they needs to stay in the station "not move into" waiting until the resolution on border demarcation. Thirdly, both sides encourage the frontier military commanders to discuss to ease tension. Fourthly, we ask to have the working group to monitor the permanent ceasefire from other eight ASEAN countries because it has been exchanging fire. Cambodia is not afraid of that.

The four point message was sent to Thai government through Deputy Prime Minister Sovankiri, who visited Cambodia to join the trade fair in Phnom Penh.

Thailand must stop using the own map to invade Cambodia soil," He said, adding that Thailand failed to block the UN Security Council's statement and call for the urgent meeting. Cambodia proposed the urgent meeting at the UN Security Council.

ASEAN FM meeting on Feb 22 will touch on that issue to have ceasefire permanently at the area near the temple.

Thailand invaded Cambodia on July 15, 2008 after Cambodia enlisted the temple successfully with world heritage site. In 1962, the world court ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia based on the border treaty in 1904-1907 that Thailand (Siam) and France (protectorate of Cambodia) inked the agreement.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, FEB 17, 2011-Cambodian Prime Minister on Thursday initiated the four -point proposal to build permanent ceasefire as road map towards peace for area near the Preah Vihear temple where Thai troops invaded Cambodian soil since 2008 July 15. Cambodia needs the situation there prior to July 15, 2008.

"We need to see the peaceful means and permanent ceasefire for border issues near the temple of Preah Vihear," Samdech Hun Sen said.

PM Hun Sen proposed that firstly, Cambodia and Thailand must agree to cease fire permanently. It means that no further weapon eruption. Secondly, all troops along border do not mobilize. But they needs to stay in the station "not move into" waiting until the resolution on border demarcation. Thirdly, both sides encourage the frontier military commanders to discuss to ease tension. Fourthly, we ask to have the working group to monitor the permanent ceasefire from other eight ASEAN countries because it has been exchanging fire. Cambodia is not afraid of that.

The four point message was sent to Thai government through Deputy Prime Minister Sovankiri, who visited Cambodia to join the trade fair in Phnom Penh.

Thailand must stop using the own map to invade Cambodia soil," He said, adding that Thailand failed to block the UN Security Council's statement and call for the urgent meeting. Cambodia proposed the urgent meeting at the UN Security Council.

ASEAN FM meeting on Feb 22 will touch on that issue to have ceasefire permanently at the area near the temple.

Thailand invaded Cambodia on July 15, 2008 after Cambodia enlisted the temple successfully with world heritage site. In 1962, the world court ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia based on the border treaty in 1904-1907 that Thailand (Siam) and France (protectorate of Cambodia) inked the agreement.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, FEB 17, 2011-Cambodian PM Hun Sen on Thursday said that his country needs the third party as witness to involve in the border talk between Cambodia and Thailand.

We want the third party to engage in the border talk (at the area near the temple) and want the third to know who will not follow the agreement, "Samdech said in a rare media conference at his office.

"Cambodia wants to have permanent ceasefire on border issues, he said, adding that Cambodia needs the situation prior to July 15, 2008, the date that Thai troops invaded Cambodia at the area near 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

He warned Thailand about using own map to invade neighboring country like area near Preah Vihear temple. "Thai troops are like Hitler (Troop)," Samdech noted.

"Cambodia needs third party because the previous three diplomatic notes on border with Cambodia, Thailand has not ratified yet".

He also appealed ASEAN to deploy the police or soldiers at the areas at the temple to allow the border committee to measure land.  No further meeting for border committee unless Thai side approved the previous three notes.

" I also already sent a message that has four points to Thai PM Abhisit through Thai deputy prime minister Mr. Trirong Suwannakiri who come here to attend the trade fair in Phnom Penh on Feb 17,".

"We have 10 km of 800 km of border issues". "We have to shorten the border issues and expand cooperation. I told the Thai side already that we have to continue the cooperation on tourism, investment, culture, and trade as usual.

The people alliance of democracy "PAD) group in Bangkok is working instead of Thai government; they cursed Cambodians and demanded the temple but the Thai government did not manage them. What pity for Thai media, that they were blamed about reporting.

"ASEAN does not have muscle but the ASEAN has will to implement its work." He stresses.  Dr. Surin is flying the ASEAN flag and he could not talk on behalf of Thai government, Samdech said, adding that he needs to fulfill his duties as ASEAN secretary general.

"For Indonesia Foreign Minister, I believed him and he could not use sentiments to mix with his work "diplomacy". A reporter raised the question that current Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty has Thai wife.

The current Indonesia President Yono is the former commander of Indonesian troops during the UNTAC (1991-1993) in Cambodia.

"I thanked him about his concern and he asked me to mediate about the border issues since the fighting has occurred," Samdech revealed.

"ASEAN does not have muscle but ASEAN has good "will" to deal the peaceful means. ASEAN wants to resolve ASEAN's matters.

ASEAN also needs the permanent ceasefires under the negotiation and under consensus.

Cambodia needs the statement from Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Fen 22 with permanent ceasefire at the border issues. The statement needs to have third party inked with Foreign Ministers from Thailand and Cambodia, "Samdech stresses. "Goal of ASEAN turns the region to be Community under the chart,"

"We need to wait and see the process of ASEAN after the UN Security Council allowed the regional organization to play the role.

Last choice, Cambodia will send the complaint to the international court of justice in Holland to explain the verdict in 1962.