KI Media: “Sacrava's Political Cartoon: ASEAN Summit 2011” plus 24 more

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND, 8 May 2011: Recent events surrounding the United Nations-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia ("ECCC") has motivated Olympic and trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill's call for diasporas and expat Cambodians to apply for Civil Party status at the court.

"I am deeply concerned about overt political influence and the recent announcement by the two Co-Investigating Judges (CIJs) to close investigations into case 003. This means that any victims who wish to file complaints to the court for this case must to do so by 18 May 2011."

(http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/articles/statement-co-investigating-judges)

Even though the ECCC has not yet disclosed the names of the persons under investigation, on 8 April 2011, exactly one month ago, Hamill became the second person (after Khmer Rouge survivor Theary SENG) to apply to become a Civil Party in Cases 003 and 004 against the five individuals believed to be under investigation by the ECCC Office of the CIJ's, in particular against military commanders Mr MEAS Muth and Mr SOU Met who commanded the Khmer Rouge Navy and Air Force respectively.

Hamill claims these two individuals committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including forced transfer, imprisonment (including severe deprivation of physical liberty), enslavement, torture, murder, and other inhumane acts.

Rob Hamill's brother Kerry was abducted by the Khmer Rouge navy in 1978 when his yacht strayed into Cambodian waters. He was taken prisoner at Toul Sleng prison in Phnom Penh where he was tortured and murdered.

"Rather than ramp up the investigations on behalf of the millions of victims and despite a mountain of evidence it seems the CIJs' response to our applications is to cease any further enquiries into the heinous crimes these people committed,' says Hamill. "It makes me wonder how much political influence is being wielded in Cambodia and what do the court's funders' think of the situation."

The Victim Support Section (http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/victims-support) is the body within the court that receives and processes victims' application forms.

For further information please contact Rob Hamill +64 (0)274 936677 or rob@wave.co.nz .

www.brothernumberone.co.nz or www.facebook.com/#!/BrotherNumberOne.film 

www.thegreatrace.co.nz 

T +64 (0)7 825 9921 (try first)

M +64 (0)274 936677 

F +64 (0)7 8259961

'Thuggish' display at summit a threat to Asean solidarity, and year ahead

When Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong attacked Thailand at the Jakarta summit as an aggressor, it was with a heavy dose of malicious intent. Their poor manners surprised Asean colleagues at all levels. During the ministerial meeting on Friday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had to cut the former Khmer Rouge leader off before the Thai-Cambodian conflict split any further. It represented the lowest point of Asean diplomacy, which has prided itself on discreet and effective dealings.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded to Hun Sen's allegation in a calm and assured manner. He categorically stated that Thailand had no intention whatsoever of engaging in any conflict with neighbours and countries in the region. In the case of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's rebuttal, he was right in responding to Cambodian vitriol, stating that the conflict had been raised and briefed by the chair as part of the progress report. The matter should be dealt with bilaterally, as has always been the case. He emphasised that the more important issues of Asean community building should be the topic of the day. That objective reminded Asean ministers of the ultimate objective of Asean - which was set up 1967 - to put all Southeast Asian countries under one roof. Can Asean allow such a thuggish attitude to prevail and destroy the group's solidarity and spirit of cooperation? This is essentially the first time a foreign minister had such bad taste to go all out at a plenary session.

Thailand and Cambodia are currently working hard, despite a lack of quick success, on various confidence-building measures to end the border dispute. Somehow, it seems Cambodia enjoys the game of brinkmanship at the expense of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit, who is trying to set things in order at home. He is calling for a new election in July after the dissolution of the House of Representative next week. Indeed, Cambodia knows how to score and hurt Thailand.

Lest we forget, this was the same bullying tactic that Cambodia used in 2008 at Singapore when Thailand was struggling with its own domestic problems. Phnom Penh tried to internationalise the conflict over the Hindu temple at Preah Vihear, and brought the issue to the UN Security Council as well as Asean. At the time, Cambodia's appeal was sent right back by the UNSC. It was during the second flare-up of border conflict in February this year that the matter was pushed forward to the Security Council again. Rightly, the issue was given to Asean to deal with as an intra-regional conflict. As the chair, Indonesia has done a great deal in bridging perception and procedural gaps between the two protagonists.

It remains to be seen how this will play out in the future as Cambodia has also referred the matter to the World Court for reinterpretation of the decision made in 1962 which stated that the temple belonged to Cambodia. It did not rule on the exact boundary between both countries, however. In response, Thailand also established its own legal experts to fight the case, which is expected to cause further tension between the two neighbours. As long as the conflict remains unresolved, the future Asean chair, Cambodia, will next year be at jeopardy if it seeks to drag Asean further and deeper into a quagmire of bilateral politics.

PHNOM PENH May 8 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were injured when armed police broke up a protest in Cambodia on Sunday by at least 2,000 mostly female garment workers demanding unpaid bonuses after their plant was closed by a fire, police and witnesses said.

Police armed with guns, shields and electric stun batons were deployed to clear demonstrators blocking the main road to Phnom Penh's international airport. Eight female protesters and seven police were injured.

The clashes were the latest setback for Cambodia's garment manufacturing industry, which employs 300,000 and is a major source of revenue for Cambodia's fledgling $10 billion economy.

Protests and strikes over factory closures and pay disputes have become increasingly common since the global economic crisis slowed demand for garments in Europe and the United States, Cambodia's biggest markets for textiles.

Protesters told Reuters that riot police fired shots into the air to disperse workers demanding unpaid bonuses of $100 from a local firm, June Textiles, since its factory was destroyed in a recent fire. The firm had offered $20.

"This is an injustice. Some workers were hit in the head and some had broken arms. They have worked so hard for the factory," said Ros Ratha, 32.

Lay Narang, also 32, said she saw a policeman holding a pistol to a garment worker's forehead.

"Police had rifles and the workers only had water bottles," she said, adding that several of her colleagues were arrested.

Phnom Penh's police chief Touch Naruth said his officers had no choice but to disperse the protest. He blamed the injuries on a hostile crowd hurling stones, beer bottles and chairs.

"They blocked the whole road. We begged them not to block the road to the airport," Touch Naruth said. "We pushed them a little and they turned violent on us."

Garment manufacturing is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner after agriculture and tourism.

About 30,000 jobs were lost in 2009 at the height of the global economic crisis. Average monthly wages in the industry stand at about $60.

The downturn led to a strike by more than 210,000 garment factory workers last year and more mass strikes have been threatened over moves by the government to regulate trade unions.[ID:nSGE72E03M]

Cambodia exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion in 2009, down from $2.9 billion in 2008. According to the World Bank, the sector is in recovery and exports grew 24 percent in 2010 after a 20 percent contraction.

Cambodian factories produce clothes for many Western brands, including Gap Inc , Nike Inc , Marks and Spencer Group PLC , Tesco PLC , H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMb.ST), Puma , Next Plc and Inditex , the world's biggest clothing retailer and owner of Zara.

(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Martin Petty and Ron Popeski)

PHNOM PENH — Rights groups in Cambodia accused police of using disproportionate violence on Sunday, alleging they beat protesters at a rally by 2,000 garment workers in the capital.

Around 100 officers, armed with anti-riot shields, electric batons and guns, moved in to disperse the mainly female crowd that had formed a roadblock near Phnom Penh's airport, according to a joint statement by three rights groups.

It said the police fired warning shots into the air, deliberately drove motorbikes into the crowd, arrested two female workers and left another eight women in need of hospital treatment for their injuries.

But Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said just one person was arrested, who is still in custody, and that he had seen just "one or two" of the crowd wounded, while nine of the security force were injured.

"The use of violence by police was totally disproportional to the workers? actions," said Am Sam Ath, monitoring supervisor at the LICADHO, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights.

"The government should be supporting unions on the issue of expressive rights, rather than systemically cracking down on every form of rights activism," he said.

The statement was also issued by ADHOC, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, and CLEC, the Community Legal Education Center.

The workers? dispute stems from the loss of jobs following a fire at a factory on March 30. The owner offered severance pay of $20 per year worked, which workers felt was insufficient, the statement said.

Sunday's action was intended to temporarily block the road to draw the attention of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who was scheduled to return from abroad via the airport, to the workers' situation.

"Ordinary Cambodians have no leverage, no voice and no legal recourse in situations like this. They are simply brushed aside," said Moeun Tola, Head of CLEC's labour programme.

"People are increasingly resorting to acts of desperation. Police violence is not the way to resolve the problem."

Naruth insisted police were "trying to help" the people, but said the crowd did not understand and started to throw rocks. "They cannot block the street on which all VIP people are travelling," he said.

Cambodia has come under fire from activists and observers in recent months for stifling free speech and cracking down on opponents after it introduced laws that increase the risk of arrest for voicing dissent.

In a crackdown last month on a Phnom Penh rally against mass evictions, 11 protesters were detained and others were beaten by baton-wielding police, according to rights groups.

PHNOM PENH - At least 15 people were injured when armed police broke up a protest in Cambodia on Sunday by at least 2,000 mostly female garment workers demanding unpaid bonuses after their plant was closed by a fire, police and witnesses said.

Police armed with guns, shields and electric stun batons were deployed to clear demonstrators blocking the main road to Phnom Penh's international airport. Eight female protesters and seven police were injured.

The clashes were the latest setback for Cambodia's garment manufacturing industry, which employs 300,000 and is a major source of revenue for Cambodia's fledgling $10 billion economy.

Protests and strikes over factory closures and pay disputes have become increasingly common since the global economic crisis slowed demand for garments in Europe and the United States,

Cambodia's biggest markets for textiles.

Protesters told Reuters that riot police fired shots into the air to disperse workers demanding unpaid bonuses of $100 from a local firm, June Textiles, since its factory was destroyed in a recent fire. The firm had offered $20.

"This is an injustice. Some workers were hit in the head and some had broken arms. They have worked so hard for the factory," said Ros Ratha, 32.

Lay Narang, also 32, said she saw a policeman holding a pistol to a garment worker's forehead.

"Police had rifles and the workers only had water bottles," she said, adding that several of her colleagues were arrested.

Phnom Penh's police chief Touch Naruth said his officers had no choice but to disperse the protest. He blamed the injuries on a hostile crowd hurling stones, beer bottles and chairs.

"They blocked the whole road. We begged them not to block the road to the airport," Touch Naruth said. "We pushed them a little and they turned violent on us."

Garment manufacturing is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner after agriculture and tourism.

About 30,000 jobs were lost in 2009 at the height of the global economic crisis. Average monthly wages in the industry stand at about $60.

The downturn led to a strike by more than 210,000 garment factory workers last year and more mass strikes have been threatened over moves by the government to regulate trade unions.

Cambodia exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion in 2009, down from $2.9 billion in 2008.

According to the World Bank, the sector is in recovery and exports grew 24 percent in 2010 after a 20 percent contraction.

Cambodian factories produce clothes for many Western brands, including Gap Inc , Nike Inc , Marks and Spencer Group PLC , Tesco PLC , H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB.

Him Sivorn - Neak Mday

This Sunday, May 08, 2011 is Mother's Day celebration in the United States. Mother's Day is celebrated all over the world to honor our Mothers, although the dates and months of Mother's Day differ from country to country. Mother's day is the occasion to pay rich tributes to one of those persons who have had a great impact on our lives, a person whose love and care knows no boundaries, a person who does everything to keep her children happy an joyous.

From all of us, KI-Media Team, we would like to convey our best wishes to all Mothers around the world on this very special day. Happy Mother's Day!

PS: Thank you Lok C.S. for the lovely song!

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders made little headway Sunday in helping Thailand and Cambodia end a deadly border dispute that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

The prime ministers of the two feuding nations held talks Sunday — mediated by Indonesia's president — as part of efforts to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.

But neither seemed in any mood to back down.

"There's no conclusion," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after the trilateral meeting, providing no details. "We'll need further talks after this."

Other topics discussed in the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, summit included Myanmar's bid to take over the rotating chair of the regional grouping in 2014 — something that appeared likely despite lingering concerns about human rights abuses, according to a draft statement seen by The Associated Press.

Spiraling food and energy prices and security in the South China Sea also were also on the table.

The main maritime dispute is over the potentially oil-rich Spratly islands, claimed in whole or in part by China and four ASEAN members — Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam.

The smaller nations, together with the U.S., worry that China may use its military might to seize the area outright or assume de facto control with naval patrols.

That could threaten one of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes.

"We deemed the South China Sea issue, in all its various dimensions, as having the potential to undermine the stability of our region," according to the draft ASEAN statement.

Member countries agreed to work toward ending a nine-year disagreement with China that has blocked completion of guidelines for an accord aimed at preventing armed conflicts over the disputed islands, it said.

Those guidelines would allow all the claimant nations to pursue joint development projects to ease tensions in the South China Sea region.

The annual meeting between leaders of the 10-member regional grouping was supposed to focus on steps needed to create an integrated regional economic zone by 2015.

But Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the host, said in his opening statement that little can be accomplished without peace and stability between member countries.

To that end, he agreed to mediate talks between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers about repeated outbreaks of fighting that have killed nearly 20 people in the last two weeks. Another 100,000 have fled their homes.

The dispute — allegedly over control of ancient temples claimed by the two nations — has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides.

But analysts say domestic politics is fanning the fire, especially in Thailand, where the military that staged a coup in 2006 could be posturing ahead of elections expected as early as next month.

Neither side appeared ready to budge this weekend.

During the plenary session on Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called a demand by Thailand to withdraw troops from the area "irrational and unacceptable."

"It's Thailand that has to withdraw its troops from the vicinity," he said, warning that unless ASEAN stepped in, the border dispute could undermine many of the regional grouping's loftier goals.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted his country had no ill intention toward his eastern neighbor, but, after three-party talks, reiterated there was little room for outside intervention.

"We have a number of bilateral mechanisms that are functioning," Abhisit said, referring to Cambodia's attempt to seek a settlement through the International Court of Justice.

"This is something that we should talk about ... and prove to the world that as members of ASEAN, this can be resolved.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, who heads the military-backed party that overwhelmingly won general elections late last year, was expected to win approval for his request to chair ASEAN in 2014.

The regional grouping is supposed to rotate the post every year between its 10 member countries.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn in 2005, however, after coming under heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on national reconciliation and human rights.

The draft statement said Southeast Asian leaders "consented" to Thein Sein's proposal.

ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

JAKARTA — The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia met in Indonesia on Sunday to discuss their bitter border dispute, which has overshadowed an annual summit of regional leaders, officials said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sat down with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose country currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The unscheduled meeting took place a day after Hun Sen took aim at his Thai counterpart in the closed-door opening session of the two-day summit in Jakarta, according to a transcript of his comments released to reporters.

Hun Sen admitted after Sunday's meeting that the row was "spoiling" the Southeast Asian summit, which was supposed to focus on efforts to create a harmonised regional economic community by 2015.

"Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for ASEAN," he told a press conference after the meeting.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at ASEAN meetings, the Cambodian leader on Saturday accused Thailand of invading its neighbour and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring ASEAN members".

"The invasion of the Thai troops of Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from the 4th to the 7th of February, 2011," he told the assembled leaders.

Around 18 people have been killed and 85,000 have been temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

Indonesia has been trying to mediate a solution to the conflict on behalf of ASEAN, but so far it has achieved little except an in-principle agreement from both sides to accept a small team of military observers on the border.

Abhisit responded to Hun Sen's criticism by saying he was ready for dialogue and insisting that the matter be resolved bilaterally.

"Thailand has no intention whatsoever to have conflicts. I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand?s intentions," he told the leaders Saturday, according to a copy of his remarks released to the media.

He also agreed that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the ASEAN summit, threatened to undermine the credibility of the 10-nation group's plans to create an integrated economic zone by 2015.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of ASEAN. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," he said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts."

Officials said the two leaders agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again to discuss the conflict further.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign".

Jakarta - A border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand seized central stage at a summit of South-East Asian nations where it was agreed Sunday to continue talks on the contentious issue for another day at the foreign ministers' level.

'The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand will stay another day to work with the foreign minister of Indonesia,' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met Sunday on the sidelines of the 18th Association of South-East Asian (ASEAN) summit for talks on their border conflict that has overshadowed the regional gathering this weekend.

The meeting was hosted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chair of the summit, who is pushing ASEAN's regional peace-making role.

Cambodia has been keen to bring a third party into its ongoing border row with Thailand over joint claims to a 4.6 square kilometre plot of land adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple, an 11th century monument that was named a World Heritage Site in 2008.

The border dispute, which has flared into several skirmishes over the past three years, has blocked Cambodia's efforts to get UNESCO approval for its management plan for the site.

In February, following a fight, Cambodia appealed to the United Nations Security Council to step in on the issue, but the council entrusted that role to ASEAN.

'Any attempt to solve this issue needs the participation of Indonesia, as current chair of ASEAN,' Hun Sen said.

Thailand, although open to Indonesia's role as a facilitator of talks, insists that the Preah Vihear issue needs to be solved bilaterally.

'This is a boundary issue, so it's between two countries,' Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said. 'A third country with no interest in the issue can only facilitate the process. It's not a three-way negotiation.'

The Jakarta summit a week after Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire at two other border temples - Ta Muean and Ta Kwai, 140 kilometres west of Preah Vihear, leaving eight soldiers dead on both sides.

Hun Sen said that the dispute over Ta Muen and Ta Kwai could be handled bilaterally, unlike the conflict over Preah Vihear.

Indonesia has offered to send observers to the border area, to facilitate a ceasefire between the two ASEAN states, but the proposal has hit snags on a Thai request that Cambodian troops and civilians be withdrawn from the temple site.

Cambodia has refused to do so, insisting that the observers be allowed in the temple complex while Cambodian troops are there.

Thailand is pushing for Cambodia to return to the General Border Committee, a bilateral mechanism, to resolve their differences over the troop withdrawal issue.

Abhisit on Saturday accused Hun Sen of attempting to 'internationalize' the border issue.

Last week Phnom Penh petitioned the International Court of Justice to intervene.

In 1962, the court ruled that Preah Vihear was on Cambodian soil, but did not rule on where the common border lies, giving rise to a dispute over a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land nearby.

ASEAN now holds two summits a year. The second of the two annual ASEAN summits is scheduled for November in Bali.

JAKARTA — Southeast Asian leaders met Sunday for the final day of an annual summit that has been hijacked by a bitter feud between Thailand and Cambodia over a tiny patch of disputed borderland.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed frustration that the dispute had not been resolved and the 10-nation group's strategic message of regional economic integration was being lost.

In an effort to bring the warring neighbours together, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an unscheduled meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders on Sunday morning.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sat down with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a day after the former had set the tone of the summit by launching a surprise verbal attack on Abhisit during the opening session.

Hun Sen admitted after Sunday's meeting that the row was "spoiling" the summit, which was supposed to focus on long-term plans to create a harmonised economic community by 2015.

"Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creats a challenge for ASEAN," he told a press conference.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at ASEAN meetings, the Cambodian leader on Saturday accused Thailand of invading its neighbour and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring ASEAN members".

"The invasion of the Thai troops of Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from the 4th to the 7th of February, 2011," Hun Sen told the assembled leaders.

Eighteen people have been killed and 85,000 temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

Indonesia has been trying to mediate a solution to the conflict on behalf of ASEAN, but so far it has achieved little except an in-principle agreement from both sides to accept a small team of military observers to the border.

Abhisit responded to Hun Sen's criticism by saying he was ready for dialogue and insisting the matter be resolved bilaterally, instead of under UN auspices as Cambodia wants.

"Thailand has no intention whatsoever to have conflicts. I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand?s intentions," he told the leaders.

He agreed that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the summit, threatened to undermine the credibility of the bloc's rhetoric about regional integration and playing a greater role in world affairs.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of ASEAN. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," Abhisit said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN?s community-building efforts."

Officials said the two leaders had agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again in Jakarta to discuss the conflict further.

Putting a brave face on the episode, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign".

But other ASEAN leaders were not so sanguine.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late Saturday, said ASEAN unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

"How can we have one ASEAN, one family if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?" he asked.

"It is important that ASEAN is united so that when we talk with other groups we tell them you talk to us as one whole unit.

"If we are disunited they can easily push us around... so it is in the interest of ASEAN that Thailand and Cambodia should resolve the issue."

Aquino said he had asked Hun Sen whether there was anything the Philippines could do to help, but the Cambodian leader "just smiled" in response.

In addition to strategic integration, other issues on the table at the summit include food and energy security, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the scourge of human trafficking and East Timor's membership bid.

Myanmar stole the headlines on Friday when ASEAN officials announced that the military-led country -- which is under Western sanctions for serial human rights abuses -- had asked to chair the group in 2014.

US-based Human Rights Watch said ASEAN, already struggling for credibility, would become the "laughing stock of intergovernmental forums" if it granted the request.

BANGKOK, 6 May 2011 -Deputy Director-General of the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labor, Mr. Prawit Kengpol has reported no labor abuse or violence since the border battle started but admitted that hiring Cambodian workers to work in Thailand has been slow.

According to Mr. Prawit, there are currently 151,119 Cambodian workers making a living in Thailand. Most of them have found jobs in Songkhla, Chon Buri, Rayong, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakarn provinces. Each year the number of Cambodian migrants continues to grow. It is almost impossible not to hire them while labor shortage is posing concerns on the economy of the country.

The lives of Cambodian workers in Thailand have not been affected by the clashes over the Thai-Cambodian border. Officials overseeing migrant labors across the country have been told to assure these migrants are living here unharmed.

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Employment adds that any of these legal migrants can return to Cambodia at anytime they wish if the situation over the overlapping territory exacerbates.

JAKARTA, Indonesia—President Aquino offered the country's top tourist destinations as a venue for talks between quarreling Thailand and Cambodia in a bid to resolve the border dispute between the two other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In jest, Mr. Aquino said he even offered to make coffee for the talks just so there'd be calm between the two sides. He cited the importance for the Asean as a bloc in the global community for Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their conflict.

In an informal banter on Saturday night with reporters covering his working visit here, Mr. Aquino indicated that he somehow played go-between for the two leaders, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"I was able to talk with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and he said, 'Perhaps, you can talk to Prime Minister Hun Sen'," President Aquino said of his exchange with the Thai leader on the sidelines of the 18th Asean Summit in this city.

Mr. Aquino said that he approached Hun Sen of the Philippines' willingness to help resolve the issues between the two sides.

"I told him, 'Mr. Prime Minister, we're really interested in solving this problem. And all you have to do is tell us how we can help. If by not meddling, we're helping then we will do so. But if you want us to provide a venue, we'll give you the best resort there is in the Philippines," President Aquino said.

"I'll go to the extent of making you coffee so we can be calm," he added.

With the attainment of an Asean Community by 2015 as one of the agenda during the summit, President Aquino said a Thailand-Cambodia border resolution has become important for the group.

He indicated that it would be best for the 10 Asean countries to engage the global community as one bloc rather than deal with nations outside the region individually.

President Aquino indicated that it would be difficult for the Asean members to move to the world stage as one if two of its major players were at odds with each other over a territorial issue.

"We can be a mediator. We can be an observer. Just tell us how we can be of assistance to bring your confidence levels up so that you can talk," President Aquino recalled telling Hun Sen.

And what did Hun Sen say?

"That's the painful part. He didn't say anything. He just smiled as if to say, 'Thank you. We'll think about it," President Aquino said.

PHNOM PENH: Sad and relieved. That is how the director of the United Nations human rights office in Cambodia said he felt about leaving the country after effectively being forced out of his post by the government.

Christophe Peschoux, who headed the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for four years, left Phnom Penh on Saturday after admitting it had become "impossible" to work in the country following numerous run-ins with the leadership.

The 52-year-old Frenchman angered officials by speaking out on controversial issues, prompting Prime Minister Hun Sen to demand the UN remove him and the foreign ministry to issue a letter ordering officials to freeze him out.

"Human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite," Peschoux said.

"That's where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts," he told AFP days before heading to Geneva to take on a senior UN role.

Rights groups say his departure comes as the ruling Cambodian People's Party is curbing freedoms and silencing critics in a bid to consolidate power ahead of local elections in 2012 and a 2013 general election.

"What is so worrisome about Christophe's departure is that he was one of the few UN agency heads who publicly stepped up to oppose (Prime Minister) Hun Sen's intensifying campaign to muzzle critical voices," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Peschoux incurred the wrath of officials after speaking out on a range of issues last year, including land-grabbing by the rich and powerful and crackdowns on government critics.

His remarks prompted the government to call for his removal and accuse him of "unacceptable interference" and "acting as a spokesman for the opposition" -- charges Peschoux vehemently denied.

"I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible but sometimes you have to speak out," he said.

Tensions reached boiling point in October when strongman Hun Sen -- who has vowed to rule until he is 90 -- used a high-profile visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to demand the removal of Peschoux.

The UN hierarchy reiterated its support for Peschoux, but in November the Cambodian foreign ministry sent out a confidential letter, seen by AFP, urging government officials "to cease working relations" with him.

The move had "a very negative impact", Peschoux said.

While he stressed that his recall to Switzerland coincides with family obligations in Europe and the end of a standard four-year term, he admitted that his presence was "an obstacle to the re-establishment of a normal working relationship" with the government.

"Of course I'm leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment," he said, adding that he felt "sad and relieved" about moving on.

Peschoux, who investigated human rights abuses in Cambodia for the UN in the 1990s and is an expert on the Khmer Rouge, remains well-respected among the diplomatic community in Phnom Penh.

"There is no doubt that the issues that he has raised have created animosity towards him personally within the government," said Tom Barthel Hansen, the head of the Danish representation in the Cambodian capital.

"What we should remember is that Mr Peschoux has only raised issues that most development partners are in total agreement with."

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith refused to comment on Peschoux's departure and its implications for the UN office when contacted by AFP, saying only that he wished him well.

Deputy representative James Heenan will take over the role on an interim basis.

Peschoux's exit comes as the very existence of the UN's human rights office in Cambodia is up for debate.

The government is set to discuss an extension of a memorandum of understanding with the UN at the end of this year on whether the office will be allowed to stay open.

"It's the crux of the conflict with the government because (it) would like this office to be a pure technical, cooperation office providing support to the government and not speaking out. But it's a part of our mandate that we cannot compromise," Peschoux said.

Robertson urged Cambodia's donors and the international community to defend the office.

"There are regretfully few other checks against Hun Sen's increasing domination and authoritarianism, which has been expanding like a dark cloud over Cambodia's politics and society," he said.

As Peschoux prepared to quit Cambodia, he said the "total control" by the ruling party was one of the country's main challenges.

"When there is no more limit to executive power... it becomes arbitrary and abusive. This is what is happening today. How far it will go remains to be seen. But I think this is a serious concern."

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Southeast Asian leaders made little headway Sunday in helping Thailand and Cambodia end a deadly border dispute that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was also poised to agree to Myanmar taking over the rotating chair as scheduled in 2014 despite doubts about the country's human rights record, according to draft statement seen by The Associated Press.

"There's no conclusion," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after the trilateral meeting, providing no details. "We'll need further talks after this."

During the plenary session between ASEAN leaders Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called a demand by Thailand to withdraw troops from the area "irrational and unacceptable."

"It's Thailand that has to withdraw its troops from the vicinity," he said, warning that unless ASEAN stepped in, the border dispute could undermine many of the regional grouping's loftier goals of achieving economic integration by 2015.

And returning to his earlier stance, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the dispute, which has claimed nearly 20 lives in the last two weeks, should be settled between the two countries alone.

Also on the agenda of the two-day ASEAN summit that wraps up Sunday was Myanmar's bid to take over the rotating chair of the 10-member regional grouping in 2014 — which appeared set for approval.

A draft of the ASEAN chairman statement says Southeast Asian leaders "consented to the proposal."

The regional grouping is supposed to rotate the post every year between its 10 member countries.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn in 2005, however, after coming under heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on national reconciliation and human rights.

In the past, many Khmer nationalists, men and women have fallen into this trick: send his secret persons to oppose his policies, to curse him and to condemn him in order to lure all nationalists to his trap.

Op-Ed: Khmer Young

My many years observation on the movement of Hun Sen has come to this end. He is not only been well in using nation money, military and guns to undermine his opponents, he is also good in using tactics and hidden tricks to gain his political ambition.

I can see many times that the method of using "bamboo to cut bamboo" derived from the art of war from China, and it was wisely copied by Vietnam; Hun Sen and the CPP have utilized every capabilities to weaken their contenders.

In the past, many Khmer nationalists, men and women have fallen into this trick: send his secret persons to oppose his policies, to curse him and to condemn him in order to lure all nationalists to his trap.

By not detailing to the past, the recent accidents of CFF, Hun Sen and his cliche can arrest many nationalists from the border (who are considered the best fighters equipped by a lot experiences) to put in jail or kill.

While the war of guns have been unpopular in recent time, Sourn Serey Rattha has appeared doubtfully in using rhetoric to lure the rests by utilizing all his abilities such as pro-Lon Nol and condemning Sihanouk, pushing on the people power movement successful in Middle East to deter the actual movement in Cambodia, pro-Yellow shirt in Thailand in condemning Hun Sen in order to promote more popularity for Hun Sen in this row of popular game of border dispute with Thailand, to raise himself high more than other opposition parties in order continuously divide them and discredit them.

Of course, it has appeared that the activities conducted by Sam Rainsy at eastern border encroachment has sound and it can be a good premise for Cambodian people to topple Hun Sen government, the next step is trying to discredit Sam Rainsy as much as Hun Sen can.

Now, the world is moving closer with each other, but Cambodian powerful politicians will not hesitate to create a drama for the non-stopping division among Cambodian people for their own political gain...and yes this drama will not benefit Cambodians at all...it will only help foreigner to take advantage over Cambodia endlessly.

KY

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Secrétaire CAC

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