KI Media: “Abhisit insists on bilateral solution” plus 24 more |
- Abhisit insists on bilateral solution
- Panic erupts as things go bang in the night
- Asean expanding role in conflict settlement
- Why should the UN accede to Abishit's whim and tantrum?
- Temple of Doom
- A Love Story
- "Tivea Bonn Snaeh Bae Muk Srapaun" a Poem in Khmer by Ung Thavary & Seung Samrach
- Som Niyeay Phorng - Op-Ed by Angkor Borei News
- Damages to the Preah Vihear temple from Thai shelling
- Month of LOVE
- Cambodia to claim ''war'' with Thailand
- Thai PM: UNESCO shall not proceed with Cambodia's temple plan [-Abhisit plays the spoiled brat]
- Thailand to reject UN help over Cambodia: PM [-Abishit: Whine! Whine!]
- In celebration of Valentine
- Politiktoons No. 143: The Earthquake Revolution
- CACJE's Congratulations to Tunisians and Egyptians
- Cambodia trying to kill all Thai investment? [-Thai opinion]
- Displaced [Thai] villagers return home
- Work starts on new Cambodia bridge
- Thailand can explain to the UNSC, but will it be able to justify its action?
- [Thai] Poll: Thai troops acted appropriately
- Month of LOVE
- Thailand okays regional meeting on border conflict with Cambodia
- Egypt - Photo Gallery of Women in Demonstrations
- A battle at the temple of doom
| Abhisit insists on bilateral solution Posted: 13 Feb 2011 03:27 PM PST  Govt prepares to put case to UNSC today 14/02/2011 Bangkok Post The government will tell the United Nations Security Council today that it it is persevering with its plan to solve the border dispute with Cambodia through bilateral talks. Cambodia has decided to boycott a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) later this month, but Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday the reaction was to be expected. Thailand still saw the importance of the JBC meeting for handling the conflict and hoped Cambodia would change its mind, he told his weekly television and radio broadcast. Prime Minister Abhisit said he knew about Phnom Penh's intention to boycott the JBC but had yet to receive official word from the Cambodian government. "Cambodia is playing the game," Mr Abhisit said, adding that Phnom Penh hoped to derail the JBC to shut the door on bilateral channels for solving the dispute. It has asked the UN Security Council to intervene as it wants a larger audience, he said. The prime minister said Cambodia's call on the UNSC and third countries to intervene to solve the border conflict was not right. He said Thailand was confident it could make a strong case at the closed-door UNSC meeting in New York today to show that Phnom Penh had sparked the stand-off over the disputed territory adjacent to Preah Vihear temple, which on the Thai side has left two soldiers and one civilian dead. Border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia took place between Feb4 and 7. About 21,000 villagers living in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province were evacuated and sheltered in dozens of emergency relief centres across the province. Shortly after the border skirmish erupted, both countries sent letters to the UNSC president to inform her about developments. The UN security body expressed concerns over the deteriorating border situation and called an urgent meeting with Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), in New York today to find solutions. The hearing will begin at 10am New York time (10pm Thai time) and take about 90 minutes. The Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers, and Asean chairman Marty Natalegawa, will have 30 minutes each to speak. Following the UN session, Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya would hold meetings with UN agencies in New York to update them and put Thailand's side of the saga. Mr Abhisit said Mr Kasit would exploit the UNSC platform to prove that Cambodia opened fire first during the four days of border clashes. "We have all the information and facts [about the Thai-Cambodian fighting], which we are preparing to put to the UNSC," Mr Abhisit said. The Foreign Ministry had compiled evidence, including still photos and video footage from the media to substantiate Thailand's accounts that Cambodia started the fighting and that Thai soldiers exercised their right to defend themselves, aiming strictly at military targets. Cambodia also used Preah Vihear temple as one of its military bases to launch attacks, which violated an agreement of the World Heritage Committee, he said. "We're confident that we can block Cambodia's attempt to upgrade the matter to an international level," Mr Abhisit said. "If others want to get involved, they can only come in as supporters of bilateral talks," Mr Abhisit said. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty, as the present Asean chair, has invited Asean foreign ministers to attend an Asean ministerial meeting to help deal with the dispute on Feb 22 in Jakarta. Foreign Minister Kasit has confirmed he will take part at the meeting. Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong was quoted by Japanese Kyodo News Agency on Saturday as saying Cambodia was also prepared to attend. Mr Abhisit yesterday repeated his calls on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to help reduce border tensions by putting Cambodia's management plan for the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed areas on hold. The management plan is likely to be discussed at the meeting of the WHC in Bahrain this June, but Mr Abhisit wants the discussion put off, as the border situation is still sensitive. Mr Abhisit also expressed his concern over Unesco's plan to send officials to inspect the impact of the spat on the Preah Vihear temple, saying the inspection by the Unesco delegation would add more fuel to the conflict. Former Unesco director-general Koichiro Matsuura has been appointed to head Unesco's inspection team. "Unesco should realise that naming Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site is part of the dispute," Mr Abhisit said. "So this situation should be handled carefully." The prime minister said Unesco must seek permission from Thailand if it really wanted to send its representatives to inspect the temple.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Panic erupts as things go bang in the night Posted: 13 Feb 2011 03:21 PM PST [Thai] Villagers live in fear of further border clashes 14/02/2011 Wassana Nanuam Bangkok Post SI SA KET : Loud bangs late in the night have caused panic among villagers who have just returned to their homes near the Cambodian border after being evacuated last week. The villagers, who were moved to emergency shelters after clashes erupted along the border on Feb 4, were settling for the night after returning home on Saturday when three loud bangs rang out about 10.10pm. Some fled their homes in panic for fear of further clashes between troops from the two neighbouring countries. The noises were loud enough to trigger a state of chaos in Ban Phum Srol, Ban Don-aow and Ban Nong Mek, the three communities directly affected by the border clashes. The sounds came from somewhere east of the villages, in the direction of where Thai and Cambodian troops are stationed. The 2nd Army allowed about 10,000 people taking refuge at the Kantharalak district office to return home on Saturday after there were no further flare-ups after the last round of clashes on Feb 7. Many residents felt secure enough and decided to return home in the knowledge they were being protected by the Suranari Task Force. But 196 people rushed back to the shelter after hearing the loud reports, only to find it had been closed after the last villager left. Second Army commander Thawatchai Samutsakhon said the explosions were not the result of any new fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops. They came from deeper inside Cambodia. "We are not covering it up because if Cambodia had fired at us, we would have responded and the loud noises would have been much greater," Lt Gen Thawatchai said yesterday. Col Chinnakaj Ratanajitti, a field spokesman for the 2nd Army, said: "They sounded more like gunshots but as the villagers remained frightened by the consequences of the past troop clashes and it was night-time, the shots might have sounded louder than they actually were." The 2nd Army has added more troops and stepped up patrols in affected villages to reassure residents of their safety, he said. The headmaster of Ban Phum Srol School, which was badly damaged by rockets fired from a Cambodian BM-21 multiple launcher, has turned the debris into a reminder of the Feb 4 incident. "We want our children to have something to remind them that their school was once badly damaged by the Cambodian troops," said Pramul Sawaengphol, the school director. "War or fighting is terrible and no one wants it to happen again." A sports competition being held at the school was suddenly interrupted on Feb4 by the sound of gunfire, sending the participants from 13 villages scattering for their safety. A four-storey school building was hit by at least three rockets, resulting in severe damage to the roof and the two uppermost floors. Two more rockets landed in the schoolyard and on the road leading to the school. The damaged building has yet to be repaired but the school will resume classes today . "I believe Valentine's Day will bring some good news from the negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia [in New York before the United Nations Security Council]," Mr Pramul said.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Asean expanding role in conflict settlement Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:12 AM PST February 13, 2011 By Kavi Chongkittavorn The Island (Sri Lanka)
Indeed, modern Cambodia is the product of longstanding UN peace efforts and dividends—the most cited UN success—during the 1990s followed the signing of Paris Peace Agreement in 1991. UN sponsored election in 1993 saw the unstoppable rise of Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party as well as other opposition leaders. As of today, however, these opposition leaders are all living in exile including Sam Rainsy. The only credible voice to monitor the government and its ruling party these days is the burgeoning civil society organizations, which are currently under threats by a new NGO law. Asean often claimed political utopia that its members have never fought an open war was shattered to smithereens during the three-day (February 4-6) fighting along Thai-Cambodian border. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen even went as far as declaring it a real war, which has unwittingly placed the Asean leaders and their organization under the world's microscope. He has opened a Pandora box in Asean. Now, they altogether have to find ways to smooth out these troubled relations. Otherwise, the grouping's creditability in the global arena will be severely undermined. The attention this week will be focused on the briefings at the UN Headquarters in New York given by the foreign ministers of the warring parties, Kasit Piromya and Hor Nam Hong, and their aftermath. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, current Asean's rotating Chair, will also be there as well to provide the Asean view and to ensure after the meeting, there would emerge a consensus or two, which the Asean chair can later on utilize to facilitate further peace process to end the hostilities. Obviously, it was rare that Asean warring parties appeared so readily at the UNSC. The last time Asean was a subject at the UN was the burning issue of East Timor in 1999. Burma, although an Asean member, has been an "international issue" of longer standing. Since 2008, Cambodia has always wanted to raise the border fighting to the UN platform, but they were not successful. However, this time, with intense fighting and heavy artillery exchanges, quite a few UNSC members expressed concern over the renewed hostilities and decided to call for a meeting. The new composition of the UNSC, comprising new emerging powers, allows new dynamism that permits the Thai-Cambodian clashes to be discussed. However, the outcome of UNSC briefings and deliberations—possibly through a presidential statement— are non-binding. Marty knows the trend. His call for a "brief, urgent and informal" meeting with his Asean counterparts on February 22 in Jakarta is indeed an anticipation of a mandate for the UNSC for Asean, under his leadership, to take up the same "regional" responsibility. It was an open secret that during his "shuttle diplomacy" he had been in close touch with both the members of UNSC and the UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon. In a nutshell, the informal gathering will follow up on the UNSC meeting and what Asean can do next to mitigate further conflict and salvage the grouping's reputation. A more systematic approach to conflict resolution and dispute settlements as outlined in the Asean Charter as well as those contained in the Asean Political and Security Community blueprint will be discussed and put into practice. Indeed, Marty is well positioned to take up this formidable challenge. He knows the UN system by the back of his hand, having served there before taking up the current ministerial position. He is a respectable and world-class diplomat with friends aplenty at the UN top echelon, especially the current president UNSC Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti from Brazil. With abundant UN experience, connections and diplomatic skills, he can speak on behalf of Asean and the UNSC will listen. He will certainly win support from all the council members to bring the matter back to existing regional mechanisms. Albeit their confrontation, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to use the MOU 2000 and Joint Border Committee as a basis of their negotiation. Now with the ball in Asean's court, its members need to find common solutions that augur well with Asean norms and practices. Asean Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan understood the situation well when he released a statement early last week from his office that the discussion at the UN represents an evolution of Asean's effort to resolve bilateral disputes among the members under the Asean Charter. He reiterated that the meeting would set precedence for future Asean dispute settlement mechanisms. As such, it is the most ironical development in Asean history to have Cambodia as the catalyst. Both Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong have been engaging with the UN authorities at all levels—both as friends and foes—for more than three decades. Throughout the 1980s, Asean fought hard with them to push out foreign troops to attain peace in the war-torn country. Asean dispatched its tripartite team to Phnom Penh in 1998 to help work-out political stand-off before its admission into Asean a year later. Indeed, modern Cambodia is the product of longstanding UN peace efforts and dividends—the most cited UN success—during the 1990s followed the signing of Paris Peace Agreement in 1991. UN sponsored election in 1993 saw the unstoppable rise of Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party as well as other opposition leaders. As of today, however, these opposition leaders are all living in exile including Sam Rainsy. The only credible voice to monitor the government and its ruling party these days is the burgeoning civil society organizations, which are currently under threats by a new NGO law. What will be the perceived future role of Asean in peace and conflict issues? As chair, Indonesia is in a delicate situation. If previous efforts to mediate and end conflicts within Asean were any guide, Asean members would remain extremely cautious. Jakarta did not succeed when it tried to mediate the Burmese crisis in 2008 even at the leaders' level. Bangkok encountered a similar problem when its proposal on the amnesty of Dawn Aung San Suu Kyi was backed by only half of the members during its chairmanship in 2009. In recent international security issues, the UNSC often makes use of its Article 52 of the UN Charter to share burden and delegate responsibility to existing "regional arrangements"—for instance, the African Union in Sudan, NATO in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Organization of American States (OAS) in Haiti. Ironically, a long standing common aversion for anything UN and anything collective within Asean has to be revised by the requirement of the Asean Charter, which cross-references itself to the UN Charter. In particular, Article 22-23 and 28 of the Asean Charter must be read in light of, or in conjunction with Article 52-53 of the UN Charter, which the 1945 founding document clearly calls for the world body to work in collaboration "existing regional arrangements" in the maintenance of peace and security. In the final analysis, Asean has been brought to this "reality show" by its mercurial member, which would force Asean to measure up to what Marty calls "the expectation of the international community." One big question is in order: Is Asean ready to become a pro-active, forward-looking organization which could expose individual members to outside scrutiny and eventually erode the principle of non-interference and consensus making?  | ||||||||||||||||
| Why should the UN accede to Abishit's whim and tantrum? Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:04 AM PST UN should get Cambodia to hold bilateral talks: Abhisit February 14, 2011 By Supalak Ganjanakhundee The Nation United Nations likely to ask Asean to mediate in border row between two countries: diplomatic sources Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expected the meeting of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York today could convince Cambodia to get back to bilateral channel with Thailand to settle border conflict at the areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear. "The way to solve (border) problem should be based on bilateral negotiation, rather than bringing other third party to get involved in this matter," Abhisit said in his weekly television program yesterday. The UNSC agreed with request from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to convene an urgent meeting on the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia but it remained unclear what would be an outcome of the meeting. Diplomatic sources said it was possible that the UN would throw the issue to regional forum Asean, whose current chair and Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was also at the UN meeting. Hun Sen requested the UN forces to create buffer zone at the Preah Vihear's vicinity to ensure peace for the world heritage inscribed 900 years old temple. Abhisit said Thai delegation to the UN meeting led by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya would explain to the 15 member body that it was Cambodia who ignited the military clash at the border which claimed at least eight of lives including a Thai civilian on February 4-7. "It is not true as Cambodia claimed that we are the invader," he said. "The call for the third party or the UN peacekeeping forces is not relevant." Thailand's real intention is to have the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to suspend the Preah Viehar's management plan proposed by Cambodia until the two countries could settle the boundary conflict. Abhisit said he had evidence to prove that Cambodia used the world heritage for military purpose during the clash with Thailand. Abhisit also rejected Cambodia's call for demilitarisation at the Preah Vihear in order to move forward the process of world heritage inscription. Thailand could not agree with any idea to make peace for the benefit of word heritage as long as the border dispute was not settled, he said. Thailand and Cambodia have a joint boundary committee (JBC) and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed since 2000 to handle land boundary demarcation. However the JBC has not worked properly for a period of time since its previous meeting in April 2009 as Thai parliament has not yet approved its minutes of three previous meetings to give nod to the body to go ahead the survey and demarcation tasks. Having JBC to settle the boundary conflict with Cambodia is an uphill task for Abhisit's government as nationalists protesting on streets and working in the parliament would not allow the government to implement the 2000 MOU as they feared Thailand could lose territory to Cambodia. Abhisit-once friendly People's Alliance for Democracy, which has been camping near Prime Minister Office since last month, wanted the government to scrap the MOU and used armed forces to remove Cambodian people, troops and property out of the disputed area. Cambodia's JBC chief Var Kimhong rejected a Thai proposal to call a JBC meeting later this month saying the bilateral mechanism cannot resolve the issue. Meanwhile, Thailand's JBC chief Asda Jayanama did not focus on boundary work but was busy with lobbying the Unesco in Paris to have the UN cultural body stayed away from the Preah Vihear. As the bilateral mechanism was difficult to work, many multilateral forums stayed open for the issue of boundary conflict between the two countries. After the UNSC, the Asean would open a meeting in Jakarta on February 22 over the boundary conflict of the two members, Thailand and Cambodia. Abhisit said he would send his foreign minister Kasit to attend the meeting in Jakarta. The Hindu temple of Preah Vihear has been sitting at the core conflict between Thailand and Cambodia since last century. It ignited military clashes over the past years since Phnom Penh managed to list it as a world heritage site in 2008 with Thailand's disagreement. The four-day border skirmish early this month left local residents in Si Sa Ket province in fear. Many villagers were in panic as sound of loud explosion took place in border area late Saturday night. Hundreds of them rushed to seek refuge in down town of Kanthalalak district early morning yesterday before going back home around mid day when authority informed there was no more clash in the border area.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:00 AM PST
By R. M. Schneiderman Newsweek Thailand's border with Cambodia has long been contentious, especially the area near Preah Vihear, an ornate 11th-century Khmer temple built to honor the Hindu god Shiva. For decades, the ancient site and a nearby stretch of territory have been the locus of a power struggle between the two nations, and tensions have flared anew in a dustup that left at least eight people dead and the temple reportedly scarred by artillery fire (the full extent of the damage remains unclear). Legally, the International Court of Justice settled the dispute in 1962 in favor of Cambodia. Thailand never dropped its claim, and the court never ruled on parts of the land surrounding the temple. But for years, neither country seemed to care about the land's upkeep; war between the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge made the land uninhabitable, and to this day it remains sparsely populated. "It's full of land mines," says Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "No one paid any attention to this border." So why the violence? The answer lies in domestic politics. Analysts say the temple reemerged as a flash point in 2008, after UNESCO accepted a Cambodian proposal to make it a World Heritage site. The yellow shirts, a Thai opposition group, seized on the issue to stoke fears of national decline and weaken the government in Bangkok, then controlled by supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Meanwhile, Hun Sen, Cambodia's longtime leader, used the tension to shore up election-year support. The result: spasms of violence, which have periodically flared ever since. The latest volleys have been the most serious yet. And though it's not clear who fired first, analysts say the yellow shirts have been aggressively using the temple issue for months to weaken an anti-Thaksin government, which consists of their former allies. By press time, a tacit ceasefire had been implemented along the border, and on Monday both sides planned to make their case to the U.N. Security Council. Still, troops were armed to the teeth, and Shiva's temple remained in the crosshairs of a petty and unnecessary war.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:47 AM PST A LOVE STORY 14 February, St. Valentine's Day 2011 By Theary C. Seng, Phnom Penh  Theary Seng (Photo: Roland Neveu, Dec. 2009 . . . . . In celebration of St. Valentine's Day, I'm going to tell you of a true love story. This is a story of romantic love, of filial love, and of agape love. Or, in the words of C. S. Lewis, it is a true story involving all the Four Loves: (i) Affection, (ii) Friendship, (iii) Eros/Romance, and (iv) Agape, the unconditional love of God. It is the true romantic love story of Margaret (nee Betten) and Wallace Boelkins – loved and called by everyone—young or old; family, friends or staff—as "Marge" and "Wally". It is also a story of their love for me and my family. Over the past 20+ years, they were/are my best friends whom I introduced to the outside world, in order to give more respect and coherence, as my "godparents". Of my forty years on earth, they have been the most constant presence to me, in complementing and supplementing the nurturing role of "parents" to a very needy, broken person. The violent deaths of my father when I was only four years old and my mother when I was only seven left a deep, tumultuous void in my heart and soul, which my maternal grandmother, Lauk Yeay, Yi Hao filled extraordinarily and beautifully as much as a human angel could until she passed away in 1998. Around this time three years ago, a few days after the Mia Farrow high-intensity visit in Cambodia of 2008, Marge passed away peacefully surrounded by her six children and their spouses, and 20+ grandchildren. (There have been three deaths which carry deep, searing spiritual significance for me: the death of my mom when I first experienced the separation of the body and the soul, the death of mom's mom (Lauk Yeay Yi Hao) when again I felt gutted immediately upon hearing the news, and the death of Marge, when I could not feel more alone, as I felt I just lost a best friend, a spiritual guide and a parent all in one—all three pivotal moments which continue to bring tears to my eyes of both sadness and joy upon quiet reflections of them.)  Marge (nee Betten) and Wally Boelkins, photo undated. I spent high school with my mom's relatives in California, but every summer I went to work at Wally's manufacturing company Uni-Mist (now renamed Unist, Inc.) in Michigan where my two oldest brothers continued to live and work. As these brothers wanted to stay in Michigan to complete their high school years and continued on with Wally and Marge's alma mater of Calvin College and did not move to California with the rest of the family, Marge and Wally took them into their spacious, newly built estate of Hidden Ridge. Hence, during these summer months during high school (and through the years since), I would also stay at Hidden Ridge with Marge and Wally, catching a ride to work with either my brother Sina or Wally, going out regularly for lunches with Marge and her friends and daughters, and joining in their regular family Sunday brunches of some 30 Boelkins either at Hidden Ridge or at the nearby hotel restaurant serving decadent buffets.  Hidden Ridge built on a forested hill by Wally in 1984 as an "envelope" house (a house within a house), the space in between helping to regulate the temperature inside, cool during the summer heat, warm during the winter cold. Since, they have sold many plots of surrounding forested land for other houses to be built. Now, up for sale. I still have a closet full of stuff yet there. Photo from my bittersweet visit this Jan. 2011.  During the 20+ years of living with them during the countless summer months and holiday breaks from university and law school, I witnessed incredible love between husband and wife, incredible love for family, incredible love for friends and neighbors, and incredible love for God. At one point, I was the only one staying with them as their children and my brothers had moved out (but punctuated with periodic stays of another friend they have helped to raise, Jamie, and random employees who were really down and out and needed temporary shelter – Well, there's Hidden Ridge! – whose door is always left unlocked, like Wally's car!) Every day, without fail, the first thing Wally did upon entering the house was to greet Marge with a kiss. Before every meal, without fail, Wally or Marge (or they would ask me) to read a short meditation or verse from the Bible followed with Wally offering a prayer of thanksgiving for food, shelter, family, friends etc. Without fail. During their 50 years of marriage. For his work, Wally traveled a lot, domestically and internationally. As much as possible, Marge travelled with him and they make the business trip into a romantic adventure. (Their thinking: Business in Germany? Well why not make a stop to visit friends in Uganda; it's sorta on the way! Business in Japan… well, Cambodia is not that far away!) On the rare occasions she could not travel with him, Marge told me that without fail, Wally, wherever he may be in the world, would call so they could wish each other Good night. Without fail during their long marriage of six children and 20+ grandchildren. When I first returned to Cambodia in September 1995, they came to visit me a few months later in early 1996, literally for only 3 days, only to make sure with their own eyes that I was okay. How did I return the favor but to take them on harrowing trips through military barricades guided by the government-black-listed editor Thun Bunly who was assassinated a few months after their visit (I remember Wally asking Thun Bunly whether he was not afraid, and with a smile without missing a beat he proclaimed No!), on dilapidated motorbike rides on bumpy dirt roads on the Weaving Island etc.  Marge Boelkins passing out school materials at a school half-an hour drive outside Phnom Penh, early 1996.  Wally Boelkins clowning around as a crowd of 1,000+ strong, mainly of school children came out to greet them (outside Phnom Penh, early 1996). One elderly villager said he could die and go to heaven now as he has seen a white man, thinking Wally and Marge angels (which they are!)  Theary Seng, Marge and Wally Boelkins with host Thun Bunly looking at a dilapidated school building that could collapse at the next whiff of wind (outside Phnom Penh, early 1996).  A few months after Marge and Wally's visit, Thun Bunly was assassinated in broad daylight.  Soul sisters - Daughters of Marge and Wally Boelkins: Jan, Chris, Ann, Kathy, Marla, Christine (married to their son Chuck), Theary (the unofficial "god-daughter"). Marge and Ann drove me to Georgetown University to help me move into a college I had not visited. Chris gave me her silver ladybug whistle necklace to prepare me for my first one-year visit to Cambodia in 1995, etc. I remember starting in high school when I was the most emotional fragile to the point of suicidal thoughts, Marge gave me a book by Lewis Smedes Love Within Limits which expostulates with great tenderness, strength and wisdom line-by-line the famous Love chapter of St. Paul's letter to Christians in the city of Corinth in the first century. I was not the only recipient of this beautiful book (nor the recipient of only one copy!), but others I am sure were gifted with the same book. I noticed that Marge had bought a stack of 30 books and would give them as gifts, sometimes forgetting that she had already given them to that person, e.g. me (at least five times, as at one point I own five copies!)  Helen (and Wally) Boelkins visiting Cambodia for the first time in January 2010 (with Mrs. Andrea Mann, the German Ambassador's real boss!), here in Boeung Rai Security Center where 20-30,000 were believed to be killed by the Khmer Rouge, including my mom. I am pointing to a possible mass grave where my mom could have been buried in the backyard of the house of this man who was there when we were imprisoned there 33 years ago. Two years ago, Wally remarried to another wonderful woman, Helen, who had been widowed for four years since the passing of her husband. Wally and Helen met each other some months earlier at the wedding of their grandchildren! They cannot be more perfect for each other in their 2nd marriage, confirmed by the incredible parallels they share – divine humor and love not so easily missed! If you don't believe God has a sense o humor, listen to these parallels: From their prior marriage, Wally has 6 children—5 daughters, one son; Helen has 6 children—5 daughters and one son – the children of both parallel in age! The son is the 5th child for both; and each son has taken on the helm of their father's company, which is of similar business and of comparable success in the same city! Each has 20+ grandchildren; Wally has some adopted from Asia; Helen has some adopted from Africa. They both love and serve the same God. And they both love fast cars – Wally drives either a Mercedes or a Lincoln Townscar; Helen a Porsche SUV (Marge a Mercedes or an Audi). During this January when I visited Michigan to speak at The January Series at Calvin College, upon visiting her home (also Wally's new home), Helen greeted me with a hug, and offered her love to me even as she recognizes Marge is irreplaceable.  Theary Seng speaking at The January Series on Reconciling Peace with Justice: a Personal Journey, here with Professor David Dornbos in the background (Michigan, Jan. 2011).  Theary Seng speaking at The January Series of Calvin College on Reconciling Peace with Justice in Cambodia: a Personal Journey to a packed auditorium of 1,100 with overflows in the Chapel at 400 and the Students Commons, and 30+ global simulcasts (Michigan, 7 Jan. 2011).  Helen and Wally Boelkins attending the The January Series at Calvin College. It's sweet divine humor in bringing these two kids together with all their incredible parallels!  My 4-year-old niece Lily proudly gives a gift to Helen and Wally Boelkins, a drawing she had made (in the kitchen of Lily's Michigan home, after the The January Series at Calvin College, 7 Jan. 2011). Yes, I am greatly blessed to have witnessed such great love in the lives of Wally and Marge, and now in the lives of Wally and Helen. I am very blessed to be so loved by my large extended blood family, by my large extended spiritual family, by so many great friends. All undeserved, I know. Amazing Love. Amazing Grace. Happy Valentine's Day. Wishing you LOVE. The kind of love I have been and continue to be cherished with.  | ||||||||||||||||
| "Tivea Bonn Snaeh Bae Muk Srapaun" a Poem in Khmer by Ung Thavary & Seung Samrach Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:03 AM PST    | ||||||||||||||||
| Som Niyeay Phorng - Op-Ed by Angkor Borei News Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:02 AM PST
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| Damages to the Preah Vihear temple from Thai shelling Posted: 13 Feb 2011 09:57 AM PST Thank you Lok Samrong for pointing out this video!  | ||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Feb 2011 03:16 AM PST Who, being loved, is poor?
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| Cambodia to claim ''war'' with Thailand Posted: 13 Feb 2011 02:21 AM PST By Jaishree Balasubramanian Kuala Lumpur, Feb 13 (PTI) The row over a 11th century Hindu temple between Thailand and Cambodia continued as Phnom Penh said it will not attend a Joint Boundary Commission meeting to resolve the issue. Cambodia will argue that it is at war with Thailand and that intervention from a third party in needed when it presents its case to the UN Security Council tomorrow, ''Bangkok Post'' quoted an unnamed Government source as saying. The source said that Cambodia would produce evidence that the Thai military had been the aggressors during the border clashes and had used banned weapons including cluster bombs and poison gas. The proposed joint boundary commission talks had been set for the end of the month Cambodia has indicated that there would be no meeting. "Now bilateral mechanisms cannot resolve the issue," Var Kimhong president of Cambodia''s boundary commission said. Since border skirmishes erupted on February 4 along the Hindu Shiva temple, known as Preah Vihar, Thailand has said the dispute should be resolved with bilateral talks through the joint boundary commission. A concerned Asean grouping has asked all its foreign ministers to meet for an urgent conclave to discuss the Preah Vihar shrine dispute. Indonesian foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, the current Asean chair has set the meeting to be held on February 22. Meanwhile, Thailand has said that more than 20,000 soldiers will be deployed on the Thai-Cambodian border as part of a national defence plan and an incident action plan approved by the army commander, Bangkok Post quoted army sources as saying today. The plan is to remain in effect till March 30. The main entrance of the Shiva temple known as Preah Vihar is officially on the Cambodian side but most of the other parts of the temple spill over to the Thai side. Recent reports after the border clash a couple of weeks back had said that parts of the temple had been damaged in the recent skirmishes between the two neighbours after Cambodian troops used the shrine as a military base to fire on the Thai soliders. The construction of the first temple at the site began in the early 9th century and continued in the following centuries dedicated to Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara, online reports said. The earliest surviving parts of the temple dates from early 10th century, when the empire''s capital was at the city of that name. In the wake of the decline of Hinduism in the region the site was converted to use by Buddhists. In 1954, Thai forces occupied the temple following the withdrawal of French troops from Cambodia. Cambodia protested and turned to the International Court of Justice which later ruled in 1962 that the shrine belonged to Cambodia.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Thai PM: UNESCO shall not proceed with Cambodia's temple plan [-Abhisit plays the spoiled brat] Posted: 13 Feb 2011 02:15 AM PST BANGKOK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said UNESCO could help alleviate the border tension between Thailand and Cambodia by not proceeding with any decision on administering a disputed area around a centuries-old temple. Abhisit said the tension arose as Phnom Penh tried to push through with UNESCO, or the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and World Heritage committee its administering plan of a disputed area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. He claimed that Cambodia needed to have its administering plan endorsed now as Phnom Penh unilaterally has the temple enlisted as a World Heritage site on July 7, 2008. Both countries lay claim to a 4.6-square kilometer plot of land around the temple. "In the meantime, UNESCO or World Heritage should alleviate any pressure on either Cambodia or Thailand by not proceeding with any administering plan on the area disputed by Thailand and Cambodia," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address. He said Bangkok and Phnom Penh shall first settle the demarcation of the troubled area through an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two nations in 2000 and a Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) He said Bangkok could not pull out its troops from the area before a demarcation settlement, a move seemed to be preferred now by his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen. Abhisit said Hun Sen had tried to raise the border tension as an international issue by calling for the attention of the UN Security Council. He insisted that the issue be resolved bilaterally through the MOU and JBC. Bangkok will be explaining its position on the issue to the UN Security Council, which calls a meeting on the border tension in New York on Feb. 14, and UNESCO and World Heritage, Abhisit said. The premier said though the border area remained peaceful in the past week, Thai soldiers were still closely monitoring the situation. A series of crossfire between Thai and Cambodian soldiers earlier this month caused some casualties on both sides and thousands of local Thais had to be evacuated from their homes.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Thailand to reject UN help over Cambodia: PM [-Abishit: Whine! Whine!] Posted: 13 Feb 2011 02:11 AM PST Sunday, February 13, 2011 AFP BANGKOK — Thailand will tell the UN Security Council there is no need for outside mediation to resolve a deadly border conflict with Cambodia, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He said Thailand was confident that it could make a strong case at the closed-door meeting in New York on Monday to show that Phnom Penh sparked the standoff over disputed territory, which has left eight people dead. "We're confident that we can explain that (Cambodia's claims) are wrong," he said in his weekly television address. "Cambodia is calling for (intervention by) a third country, the UN and peacekeeping forces. Thailand will call for a return to bilateral talks on demarcation," he said. Thailand will present evidence including pictures and media reports to support its case and show that Cambodia used an ancient temple at the centre of the dispute as a military base, he added. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is due to attend Monday's Security Council meeting, along with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong. Thailand and Cambodia have blamed each other for the clashes around the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, which sparked four days of fighting earlier this month. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen sought an urgent Security Council meeting and called for a UN buffer force to be put in place. Thailand has repeatedly said the dispute should settled between the two countries.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Feb 2011 02:01 AM PST Dear KI-Media readers, For the past few weeks, Southern California where I live has been blessed by an incredibly nice and warm weather during daytime while other parts of the country are buried in snow and cold. Here, in the middle of the afternoon, the temperature could climb all the way up to 80 or 90F (~27-32 degree Celsius). After visiting colder parts of the continent recently, I couldn't resist our tempting warm weather so I fixed up my beat up bicycle and off on the road I went. The warm sensation was incredible in comparison to the biting cold I had to endure earlier: gone are the thick coat, the gloves … hello T-shirt and short again!
Time sure flies, it was just New Year the other day and now Valentine is already around the corner. On this occasion, I would like to dedicate the following two songs by Sin Sisamouth to a special someone out there who is lovely as a rose, but tough as a nail. Sin Sisamouth – Reatrey Chan Muoy Chomnet (Crescent moon night) Sin Sisamouth – Aun La'or Doch Phka (Lovely as a Flower) Try as I might, I simply couldn't remember if I ever heard the song "Reatrey Chan Muoy Chomnet" in the past or not, however, when I first listened to it recently, I knew that I heard this melody before but I just couldn't remember where. Then, one day, out of the blue, it hit me that this song closely resemble to the Indian song "Aaiye Merherbaan" (Welcome, My Lord) from the classic 1958 Indian movie "Howrah Bridge" which I had the opportunity to watch once long ago. As it turns out, this Indian song is in fact a famous Indian oldies and if you were to remove some part of it, then you quickly realize where Mr. Sin Sisamouth borrowed this melody from. The next song by Ms. Ros Sereysothea is supposed to be a sad song about a woman betrayed by her husband, but it turns out to be quite a joyful sounding song instead. Ros Sereysothea – Leng Khvol Heuy (Don't care no more) The following song is very typical of Mr. Meas Samorn: irreverent, ironical and very funny – that is if you understand of the subtlety of the language he used. I'd rather leave it at that. Meas Samorn – Kar Kor Kar (OK to get hitched) Finally, these last two songs are from Yous Ouklarang (singer of Cyclo! Cyclo!). For those of you who like the Blues genre (US singer John Lee Hooker comes to mind), you will probably recognize that the song "Sora, Sora" is highly influenced by this genre. Yous Ouklarang – Yuveakchun Khoch Chet (Brokenhearted youth) Yous Ouklarang – Sora, Sora (Booze, booze) Thank you for your time. Until next time, pamper your loved ones! P. from Long Beach PS: To the person who left this comment to my earlier contribution: "Keep on singing Khmer little people to sleep with yersterday song, all of you idiot-old-farts-Pol-Pot-left-over, while Viet-Khmer Hun Sen country is being vietnamized to its final phase. You idiot-old-farts-Pol-Pot-left-over should be really, really proud of yourselves, eh???", I would like to say that I am extremely proud of your awareness to the irreparable damage sustained by our country. I also take this opportunity to urge this person to sign the petition to stop the printing of new border maps with Vietnam, and I sincerely hope all of you out there would do it also. Thank you!  | ||||||||||||||||
| Politiktoons No. 143: The Earthquake Revolution Posted: 12 Feb 2011 11:57 PM PST
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| CACJE's Congratulations to Tunisians and Egyptians Posted: 12 Feb 2011 11:54 PM PST    | ||||||||||||||||
| Cambodia trying to kill all Thai investment? [-Thai opinion] Posted: 12 Feb 2011 11:05 PM PST
The Nation Opinion In the latest round of armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, one man has been frequently mentioned in the news - Maj-General Hun Manet, who is the eldest son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. This is very interesting and a good comparison. The son of the dictator of Cambodia is responsible for the attacks on Thailand. Last year the son of the dictator of North Korea was responsible for the attacks on South Korea. Thailand has a large amount of money invested in Cambodia, likewise South Korea has a large amount of investments in North Korea. Both countries have paid back the countries that have been helping them by armed attacks against the donor countries. Is this like mad dogs biting the hand that feeds them? Now North Korea wants to have talks, same as Cambodia wants to have talks. Do these two dictators get together and compare notes? Tom Klong 3  | ||||||||||||||||
| Displaced [Thai] villagers return home Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:56 PM PST  By THE NATION ON SUNDAY Si Sa Ket Many villagers evacuated last week because of clashes on the border with Cambodia returned home yesterday after assurances from the local army commander, who was "90-per-cent confident" more strife was unlikely to erupt in the short-term. Many of the 15,000 residents of Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district forced to flee their homes due to the fighting started to pack and return home before Second Army Area commander Lt-General Thawatchai Samutsakorn and Si Sa Ket Governor Somsak Suwannasujarit saw them off. Thawatchai, who is in charge of security in northeast Thailand, said he was 90-per-cent confident no fighting would erupt for now and that he had followed the situation closely. He said he talked with Cambodian senior officials, including Fourth Army Area chief General Tea Mon and General Chea Dara, over the phone, and felt there was no point for neighbours to make war. Some residents of Phum Srol village arrived home early yesterday to check if belongings were stolen in the week they were away. But many villagers preferred to stay at the temporary evacuation centres, as they were unsure if fighting would recur. They urged concerned authorities to resolve the dispute as soon as possible so they can enjoy normal lives again. Miss Thailand 2010 Kritchaporn Homboonyasak and her runner-up Worarat Niyomdech also visited the villagers at Kantharalak district office yesterday morning to give them breakfast and see many of them off back to their homes. Villager Manoon Yodsing, 52, said he had been at the temporary shelter for eight days and was happy to return home although he wasn't sure about their safety yet. He urged officials to build a bunker for his village, which has 52 families or 290 residents. Si Sa Ket Governor Somsak said the province would survey villages along border to see if they had sufficient bunkers and would build 200-300 more bunkers to boost residents' confidence and security. In related news, Kongkrit Hiranyakit, chairman of the Tourism Industry Federation of Thailand, expressed concern that the border clashes and dispute over Preah Vihear would negatively affect Thailand's bid to be the Asean tourist hub.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Work starts on new Cambodia bridge Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:40 PM PST Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) Construction on a third bridge in Cambodia to be built with official development assistance began Saturday on a route crossing the Mekong River to Vietnam. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, said the planned 2,240-meter bridge will be the longest and "most beautiful" in the country. The structure, 37.5 meters above the river at its highest point, will provide a direct transportation link to Vietnam. The new bridge is at the Neak Loeung River Crossing, 56 km southeast of Phnom Penh. Construction is expected to end in February 2015.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Thailand can explain to the UNSC, but will it be able to justify its action? Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:37 PM PST [Thai] PM confident Thailand can explain to UN Sun, Feb 13, 2011 The Nation/Asia News Network Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Sunday expressed confidence that Thailand would be able to explain to the United Nations about the border skirmishes with Cambodia. He said Thailand would be able to explain to the International Community that Bangkok did not start the fight. He said the Thai government would inform the UN that Phnom Penh also used the ancient Preah Vihear Temple as a base for launching attacks against Thai troops.  | ||||||||||||||||
| [Thai] Poll: Thai troops acted appropriately Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:10 PM PST 13/02/2011 Bangkok Post As many as 87.4 per cent of the respondents said Thai soldiers had acted appropriately to protect the country's sovereignty during the recent border clashes, Abac Poll reported on Sunday. An opinion poll on Thai-Cambodian border dispute, conducted from Feb 7 to 12, involved 2,971 people in 17 provinces. A total of 92.7 per cent of the respondents were worried about safety of soldiers and state authorities on duty in border areas, 78.2 per cent of them were concerned about safety of people living in border areas and their assets, Abac Poll said. Some 51.6 per cent said the border clashes would damage the country's image in the international community, according to the pollsters. Asked about ways to settle the border conflict, 54.7 per cent of the respondents said a bilateral talk between Thailand and Cambodia, 17.3 per cent of them said negotiation via the United Nations Organisation or any impartial country, 5.0 per cent said war. On the question about the confidence in the government's ability to settle the dispute, 41.3 per cent said they had high confidence, 30.7 per cent had moderate confidence, and 28 per cent had less confidence and did not have any confidence at all.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:01 PM PST Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
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| Thailand okays regional meeting on border conflict with Cambodia Posted: 12 Feb 2011 10:01 PM PST Feb 13, 2011 DPA Bangkok - Thailand has agreed to join an urgent meeting among South-East Asian nations to discuss its border conflict with Cambodia, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday. Abhisit, addressing his weekly TV program, confirmed that a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will take place in Jakarta on February 26 to discuss the Thai-Cambodian conflict over Preah Vihear temple, which sparked border battles earlier this month. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa initiated the urgent meeting as part of his diplomatic effort to find a peaceful solution to an ongoing territorial dispute between the two ASEAN countries. Both Cambodian and Thailand are members of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. Fighting broke up between Thai and Cambodian troops based near the 11th-century Hindu temple between February 4-7, killing three Thais and five Cambodians and leaving dozens wounded on both sides. It was the latest of several skirmishes to flare up on the Thai-Cambodian border since July 2008, when UNESCO declared the temple a World Heritage Site despite Thai objections that a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land adjacent to the temple was still under a sovereignty dispute. Thailand has maintained that the border conflict should be settled bilaterally, but Cambodia is pushing, with apparent success, for international intervention. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong will meet in New York on Monday to explain their stance on the issue to the United Nations Security Council. Foreign Minister Natalegawa of Indonesia, which currently chairs ASEAN, will attend the UN meeting and then host an ASEAN meeting on the conflict on February 26. He has said his role will be to facilitate a bilateral solution between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Preah Vihear temple has been a bone of contention between Thailand and Cambodia for the past five decades, leading to a cessation of diplomatic ties in 1958. The two countries agreed to have the sovereignty spat settled at the International Court which in 1962 ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia. The court decision did not rule on the territory adjacent to the temple, which now both countries claim.  | ||||||||||||||||
| Egypt - Photo Gallery of Women in Demonstrations Posted: 12 Feb 2011 09:44 PM PST
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| A battle at the temple of doom Posted: 12 Feb 2011 09:31 PM PST  By Achara Ashayagachat IndochinaPublishing.com KI-Media would like to thank Lok Bora Touch for pointing out this article. But deep down, observers said border disputes always involved business dealings that would come with the success of demarcation. There were talks about Hun Sen, his deputy prime minister Sok An and Hun Sen's would benefit from oil and gas concession fees from multinational companies if Cambodia could convince Thailand in negotiating the maritime territorial in the format of Joint Development Area (JDA) development and with the same revenue-sharing as featured in the Thailand-Malaysia JDA model. Stepping out from self-centrism, it would be easier to understand why Thailand and Cambodia have recently re-engaged in nasty battlefield and table wars again-----the two countries have fallen victim to the myths of nationalism during the past century incomplete nation-building process. Sharing the Ankorean heritage thousand years ago, Siam and Khmer empires had been positively and negatively emulated each other through cultural and language exchanges such as mythology, royal cults, dance and architecture. But with the newly-emerged concept of space and border, they have to outdo each other economically and politically as well. Disputes involving the Hindu Preah Vihear Temple have begun since the International Court of Justice ruling in 1962 that the over-900-year-old Temple belonged to Cambodia. However, the less-clear reference to the land surrounding the temple has ignited the controversial contest again when the "owner" would like to exploit the ruined artifacts de facto in economic terms by unilaterally listing the Temple as a world heritage site in 2008. Thanks to Thailand's messy politics, the Cambodia-friendly nominee government of the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra was forced to bow out to the old powers-appeasing new leadership led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, who pledged during his opposition time to "reclaim the Temple" --- the mission in which Marshal Sarit Thanarat (in the ICJ ruling era) could never finish. In the past two years, we therefore witnessed verbal attacks and small-scaled skirmishes, if not military confrontation, between the two neighboring nations. The worse major turn came in December last year when the newly-elected Democrat MP and also former vice minister for foreign affairs Panich Vikitsreth and six other members of the ultra-nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy were arrested and tried in Cambodia for trespassing. The once Abhisit-friendly PAD since then turned sour to the head of the Thai government---using an ace card 'treason' against whoever preventing their dreamful mission of "defending territory." The Yellow-Shirted alliance was hoping that ranting against the belligerent Hun Sen and rallying around sovereignty issues would yield the more important and in fact ultimate goal of the PAD's key sponsors--- setting up a new strong leadership under the benevolence of the powerful and budgeted-rich military and shunning any crumbling forces led by the exiled fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra. Thai miscalculations and short-lived memories VS vengeful Cambodians leadership. Thai civilian officials have been thinking (in fact moaning) loudly during the New Year' Eve that Thailand must not confront this neighbor with troops. When first clash erupted in 4th February, historical haunt reminded the diplomats that the cunningly smart Cambodia would re-list its agenda at the United Nation Security Council again. Cambodia believed in bilateral negotiations, they could not force Thailand to accept their positions but third party could do so. That was why in 2008, during Vietnam's presidency of the United Nations Security Council, Cambodia instigated incidents at border and got the veteran foreign minister Hor Nam Hong planning to fly to New York to attend the Council meeting to accuse Thailand of aggression against Cambodia. Bangkok lobbied the Council members very hard and with Washington's help, in particular then Ambassador Eric john, the UNSC meeting did not take place. Now the Monday meeting was a deja vu. "If Security Council were to ask ICJ's opinion on Prasat (temple)'s boundary and accept ICJ's ruling, Thailand would be bound by it. It was a close call last time," a senior Thai diplomat recollected. Also thanks to other Asean friends including the secretary general Surin Pitsuwan, the then Asean chair Singapore suggested to Cambodia that they should allow bilateral and regional approaches to be exhausted before forwarding the issue to the international arena. But this time Prime Minister Abhisit was too stubborn or too confident that Thailand could deal with the less-educated and poorer neighbour so he did not take heed to such calls that he softened a bit and make direct contacts and humbly offered olive lei to the rival Hun Sen first. As key Cambodian cabinet members were veteran politicians-- shrewd in guerilla and propaganda warfare, they exploited every strategy at one battle and their moves were much better well-planned. "Negotiations are like bayonets --if they find the rival mush, they will keep thrusting, if they find steel, they withdraw," said the diplomat. Technically, Thailand should succeed in meeting Cambodian challenge at the UN meeting. More positive development was that Indonesia would call Asean meeting on 22 February to discuss Thai-Cambodian--a more proper channel than at the international arena--at least to many Thai officials now. Precedence in the 1980s confirmed that when Laos took Thailand to the Security Council on the three-village incident took place, then New York-based ambassador M.L. Bhirabhongse Kasemsri single-handedly rebutted every accusation by Laos. But the authorities' competence (in negotiations) this time might be futile if political leadership has remained crumbling and offered wrong signals and envoys that might be counter-productive to other technical efforts. "Abhisit usually said it's the matter for foreign ministry, but when the PAD pushed for a harsh nationalistic tone, he silenced the ministry's legal experts," said another retired diplomat. His government has sent problematic signals from day one, diplomatic sources said, "The outspoken PAD-allied Kasit Piromya was appointed foreign minister. When the ministry's veteran legal expert Vasin Teeravejayan, chair of the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), was replaced by Kasit's friend Asda Jayanama, who during the PAD rallies has made public disparaging remarks about the Cambodian strongman," sources said. Yet, Asda, who retired as ambassador to the UN-New York, has now showed his muscles by postponing the UNESCO expert visit to the damaged Temple. But Kasit's remarks to the House committee for foreign affairs early this week about who-support-who at the UNSC, though bluntly true, would certainly cost him a dim stature in convincing the UNSC members. It's quite clear that Russia, one of the Council's five permanent members, would not side Thailand due to our mishandling in extraditing to US its national--alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout. France has traditionally supported its former colonies against Thailand. China, whose economic influence in Cambodia was eminent and its regional security clout was stronger, was expected to toe neutral line and pushing for bilateral dealings---as it has been preaching non-interference principle as its mantra all along. For U.S., it has to hide its traditional backing with Thailand. The UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, with the helping hands from Asean chair Indonesian foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan, would try to keep all 15 Council members all necessary perspective of the closed session discussion Monday. In term of diplomatic fighting, Cambodia was winning a brownie point as it was making progress in its strategy to multilateralize this border issue, the Thai official conceded. Now Cambodia insisted that none of bilateral mechanism including the JBC worked, so the Thai plan to have the JBC talks by the end of this month was now totally dashed. "If the Council on Monday merely listens to three FMs and urges Thailand and Cambodia to continue their negotiations perhaps with ASEAN's or Indonesia's assistance, then we'll have time to continue the negotiations with Cambodia although with more parties looking over our shoulders," said a seasoned Thai diplomat. However, if the Council were to do otherwise, Thailand had to be very careful because the Council's decision was binding on all UN members. A Bangkok-based diplomat from one of the five permanent members said most likely outcome was "no statement, no vote, and discussion that urges the two countries to work together to resolve the disputes bilaterally." He said it was indeed a shame for both countries which have far more pressing priorities to deal with. Another Bangkok-based European diplomat has said Thailand has become more isolated in the international arena since the 2006 coup. The non-stop political turbulence has cost Thailand position as a hub for regional diplomatic consensus. "Just recently, Thailand was always a voice to be listened, a stop-over for major powers to seek consultations in regional issues. Now they choose to deepen more links with Indonesia," the sources said. He noted that Thailand's losing sympathy internationally might be attributed to its wrong signals during its efforts to recuperate international reputation with obsession on chasing Thaksin. The fugitive-favoured internal force Red-Shirted demonstrators had also buried Thailand's shining chairmanship of the Asean in 2009 with its summit storming in Pattaya. Last but not least another deciding factor in the Thai-Cambodian conflict was the personality and vested interests around the strongman Hun Sen. Superstitiously, the UNSC move was coincidently the same time as the first anniversary of Hun Sen's infamous Khmer voodoo curse on Abhisit. "If you don't tell the truth about Thai troops invading Cambodia, let magic objects break your neck, may you be shot, be hit by a car, may you be shocked by electricity or (may you be shot) by misfired guns. Will Abhisit swear on having all his family members killed and having them (perish) in a plane crash, if (he still claims) that Thai troops did not invade Cambodia?" Hun Sen was quoted as saying by Cambodian website Deum Ampil News. On a positive note, Thai historian Thamrongsak Petlert-anan from Rangsit University, said Hun Sen regarded the World Heritage as a tool to get foreign aid to the impoverished northwestern Cambodia--perhaps a similar fashion as the late Thai leader Sarit Thanarat used communism spread-over in Isan to attract American aid in the 1960s. But deep down, observers said border disputes always involved business dealings that would come with the success of demarcation. There were talks about Hun Sen, his deputy prime minister Sok An and Hun Sen's would benefit from oil and gas concession fees from multinational companies if Cambodia could convince Thailand in negotiating the maritime territorial in the format of Joint Development Area (JDA) development and with the same revenue-sharing as featured in the Thailand-Malaysia JDA model. But this JDA, though should proceed discreetly without having to wait for the settled on land border demarcation, the proposed revenue sharing structure should be different from the existing model, experts said. If there was any recent lesson to learn for despotic leaders in the region, it should be the timely ouster of long-time Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. At the end of the day, Hun Sen's Preah Vihear Temple pawn as a booster to him and to his two-star general son Hun Manet, now in charge of the border clash with Thailand, may turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory when truth could be told in Cambodia.  |
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