DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia to set up foot-wear manufacturers association” plus 9 more

PHNOM PENH, May 12 -- The demand of apartment rental in Phnom Penh has been gradually bouncing back since the start of this year after it had declined due the global financial crisis impact in 2008, realtors said Thursday.

"It has been picking up since earlier this year thanks to re- active businesses after the slump," said Sung Bonna, president of the National Valuers Association of Cambodia.

"Also, the apartment rental prices have been stable now after they have nosedived up to 30 percent since 2008," he said.

Sung Bonna, who is also the president of the kingdom's largest Bonna Realty Group, said that from January to May, there have been many foreign investors, especially from China, Vietnam and Malaysia approaching his firm for apartment rental services.

Currently, the occupancy rate for class A, B and C apartment is as high as 80 percent of the total apartments available in the city.

Average apartment rental fees are between 1,800 U.S. dollars and 3,000 U.S. dollars per month for grade A; 1,000 U.S. dollars to 2,000 U.S. dollars for grade B; and 500 U.S. dollars to 1,000 U. S. dollars for grade C.

Mang Sovandara, the property manager of Cambodia Property Ltd Co, agreed that the apartment rental demand is good this year.

"More clients have come for apartment rental this year and the rental prices are also stable, not further declined," he said, adding that the company brokers up to 70 apartments and 500 villas in the city for rental services. (Xinhua)

By: Press and Quick Reaction Unit

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.

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.

By Puy Kea and Rudy Madanir

JAKARTA, May 9 Kyodo - Cambodia and Thailand moved a step closer to an Indonesia-mediated plan to resolve their border dispute following a meeting of their foreign ministers in Jakarta on Monday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

''We will no longer discuss who will take the first step and who will follow up by taking other steps,'' Natalegawa told reporters after hosting a meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.

Hor Namhong told Kyodo News that Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to the idea of a ''package solution'' offered by Indonesia on sending Indonesian observers to the disputed border area.

''Both foreign ministers have agreed with the idea, and they will report it to their respective countries to seek approval from their own governments,'' Natalegawa said. 

Hor Namhong said his government is ready to accept the package, which involves a series of steps to be taken by the two countries under specific timelines.

The three-way talks came a day after an Indonesia-brokered meeting in Jakarta between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

Natalegawa said there was ''consensus'' between Kasit Piromya and Hor Namhong and he hopes that will lead to the deployment of Indonesian observers. 

''Now we are waiting for the responses from the two respective countries,'' Natalegawa said.

Hor Namhong said the meeting produced good results as both sides made progress on their differences.

One sticking point before the "package solution" was agreed Monday was the newly imposed condition by Thailand demanding that Cambodia withdraw its troops and civilians from the disputed border area. Cambodia has rejected the demand.     

The border dispute between the two members of ASEAN has boiled into gun violence several times since 2008, the latest round just last month.

Indonesia currently serves as chair of the 10-member regional grouping. The membership also includes Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

JAKARTA, May 8 - A meeting between the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, mediated by the Indonesian president in Jakarta on Sunday, ended with an agreement to have their foreign ministers try once again to end a border dispute that has boiled into shooting war several times since 2008.

Hor Namhong, Cambodia's foreign minister, said that after the meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva both sides agreed to accept a proposal by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to have another round of talks in Jakarta among the foreign ministers of the three countries to work out differences.

Hor Namhong said Hun Sen urged Abhisit to sign off as soon as possible on terms that will allow unarmed Indonesian observers to monitor a cease-fire along the disputed border.

Abhisit, however, said a meeting of the two countries' Joint Border Commission must precede any deployment of cease-fire monitors.

Since Friday, Cambodia and Thailand, facilitated by Indonesia, have had two meetings, first among foreign ministers and then between the prime ministers.

Indonesia, current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was asked Feb. 22 to send unarmed military observers to the disputed area to monitor a cease-fire, but although both sides agreed to the dispatch at that time, Thailand has yet to sign off on the deal and has demanded Cambodia pull troops and civilians back from disputed areas before it will accept observers.

The Cambodian and Thai leaders are in Jakarta for the two-day ASEAN summit that ends Sunday afternoon.

In many ways, the summit has been overshadowed by the acrimony between the two ASEAN members and Yudhoyono has been urged by his several fellow ASEAN leaders at the annual 10-country summit to try to get the border war resolved ''within the ASEAN family'' as quickly as possible, while others suggested both have to respect the decision made by the United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN Chair on Feb. 22, 2011.

The ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Kyodo)

JAKARTA, May 7 Kyodo - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen stated Saturday that Thailand's demand for withdrawal of Cambodian troops

from Cambodian territory on the disputed border between the two countries is ''irrational and unacceptable.''

He made the statement at a plenary session of the 18th leaders' summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that began in Jakarta on Saturday morning.

''This condition is irrational and unacceptable. In fact, it is Thailand that must withdraw troops from the vicinity of the areas, according to the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague dated 15 June, 1962,'' he said.

Hun Sen was rejecting a recent demand by Thailand that unarmed Indonesian cease-fire observers will be allowed along the disputed border only if Cambodia withdraws its own troops and civilians from what Cambodia sees as its own land.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva countered that Cambodia was violating a Memorandum of Understanding agreed in 2000 that troops and population based or living near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple on the border must be withdrawn.

The bloody border conflict, which has seen a shaky cease-fire since Tuesday, has now grown into a heated regional diplomatic conflict since ASEAN foreign minister gathered in Jakarta on Friday and the leaders since Saturday.

In a six-page statement to the leaders' plenary, Hun Sen highlighted the border war with Thailand as well as other regional issues such as disputes among other members and China in the China Sea and terrorism.

He noted the border war may not only affect regional peace and security but may also ''create serious challenges for ASEAN in our pursuit towards the ASEAN Community in 2015.''

''I believe that ASEAN should not ignore this serious issue. Moreover, ASEAN must consider this dispute as the most important issue for the life of the community...ASEAN must establish a mediation mechanism for the effective settlement of the dispute,'' he told the other leaders.

In conclusion, Hun Sen urged the ASEAN leaders to ''provide support and put forth necessary measures in order'' to make all parties concerned cooperate and accept unarmed observers along the disputed Thai-Cambodian as soon as possible.

''ASEAN's prestige and credibility will be at high risk if the efforts to establish a permanent cease-fire will not materialize as planned,'' he warned.

The ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

JAKARTA, May 5 Kyodo - The Cambodian-Thai border conflict that  has resulted in bloody fighting between the two countries is expected to dwarf other regional issues this weekend when leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meet in Jakarta, ASEAN sources said Thursday.

They said among heated topics such as the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea and Myanmar's troubled democracy, this time the Cambodia-Thai border war looks to overshadow them all.

As in every meeting of the ASEAN leaders over the past several years, the Korean Peninsula, especially nuclear weapons there; areas in the South China Sea claimed by four ASEAN members and China and new interest in the area by the United States; and Myanmar's slow road to democracy will again be on leaders' international agenda.

The Middle East and terrorism will also be there, but the shooting war between two ASEAN members -- Thailand and Cambodia -- is expected to be the most pressing matter.

The leaders of the 10-member group are to meet Saturday and Sunday for the 18th ASEAN Summit with the main theme being ''ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations.'' But a shooting war between members is nothing short of an

embarrassment of that lofty theme.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has already told Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to get everything ready on the border issue for

the summit.

''If we could not sort it out now, at the foreign ministers'

level, the issue will have to be brought for the attention of the ASEAN leaders,'' he said, adding he will raise it in all

summit-related sessions.

The latest border clashes have been at Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, known in Thailand as Ta Meun and Ta Kwai, about 150

kilometers west of the long-disputed Preah Vihear Temple.

Preah Vihear has been at the center of the border conflict since 2008 when it was named a World Heritage site.

Sporadic fighting since 2008 near Preah Vihear has caused several casualties, but none of those skirmishes were as prolonged as

the 13 days of fighting from April 22 through May 3 near the two other temples that left at least 17 soldiers dead, more than 100

others wounded and displaced at least 70,000 civilians on both sides of the border.

Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of ASEAN, told reporters in Jakarta that with help from global and regional powers there would be

a common effort to address the conflict this weekend.

''We have to be generous looking at the institution (of ASEAN) in making efforts, trying to help solve the problem between Thailand

and Cambodia. As I said, it is the first in many ways. Therefore, I think the fact that foreign ministers agree to come (for the summit)

and listen to issues of the two countries in conflict is already a first. It's already the step forward into the future,'' Pitsuwan said.

Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia's foreign minister, said Thursday he will meet with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand to wrap up terms of reference on the dispatch of unarmed Indonesian military observers to the disputed border.

He plans to meet with Hor Namhong on Friday morning and will follow with his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya before a trilateral

meeting later Friday.

Cambodia and Thailand agreed in February to accept Indonesian observers in the disputed area to monitor a cease-fire, but they have yet been to be sent because terms of reference have not been settled.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters that Thailand is ready to sign the terms, but only if Cambodia withdraws

troops and other people from the disputed area.

Abhisit said Indonesia has pledged to discuss with Cambodia the condition and if Cambodia refuses to accept it, Thailand will not

sign the memorandum setting up the observer mission.

But, Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, said Hun Sen has already affirmed it is ''impossible to kick'' Cambodian troops and people ''out of their own territory.'' What worries ASEAN most about the conflict is the mockery it

makes of ASEAN's proclaimed status as ''a region without the sounds of bullets.''

Surin admitted the border dispute is an embarrassment for ASEAN,  especially as it was initially forged to prevent open war in

Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN members beside Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia are Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.