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| Sacravatoons no 1996 : " The French Supreme Court " Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:16 AM PDT   |
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KI Media: “Thailand: Deny! Falsify the fact! Deny! Pointing finger! Deny!” plus 24 more |
| Thailand: Deny! Falsify the fact! Deny! Pointing finger! Deny! Posted: 30 Apr 2011 04:36 PM PDT Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=27237 [Thai] Press briefing on the current Thai-Cambodian issues April 30, 2011, 9:00 am On 28 April 2011, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, together with Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Spokesperson of the Army, gave a press briefing to the media on the current Thai-Cambodian border situation. Gist as follow: 1. Historical records have shown that Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples, situated around 140 kilometers from the Phra Viharn Temple, are in Thailand, and that they have both been listed as Thailand's national heritage sites since 1935. Also, since the early 1990s, the Thai authorities have been renovating the Temples complex. Cambodian reports that Thailand has been shelling these temples therefore make no sense. 2. The fact is that Thailand has never initiated clashes with Cambodia. The country has no reason or rationale to do so, considering its trade with and investment in Cambodia as well as what the country has been doing to enhance cooperation, to assist and to promote the creation of an ASEAN Community. 3. Be that as it may, if attacked, Thailand has to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law and proportionately, directing fire only at military targets and taking great care to avoid civilian areas. In this regard, it should be noted that Cambodia had occasionally fired artillery from populated areas into Thailand, and that Thailand had refrained from retaliating into those areas for fear of causing civilian casualties. This practice of using civilians as a "human shield" is of great concern and the international community should look into it. 4. Prior to the 22 April incident, satisfactory progress had been made, notably with regard to the meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission in Bogor, Indonesia on 7-8 April 2011 and the discussions of the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the dispatch of the Indonesian observers to the Thai and Cambodian sides of the border. The attacks on 22 April therefore came as a surprise, and Thailand has since called on Cambodia to return to the negotiating table to end the dispute through peaceful dialogue. 5. Regarding the meeting between the Thai and Cambodian Defence Ministers, although Thailand had wanted this to take place, the Cambodian side had failed to show its sincerity by ceasing hostilities. While the Cambodian side said they were ready to talk, attacks continued on the ground. Furthermore, the proposed visit was distorted and played up in Cambodia, which portrayed that the Thai side was going to Cambodia to seek a halt of hostilities given the casualties suffered by the Thai side. Thailand, nevertheless, hopes that this meeting between the two Defence Ministers will take place in the near future when conditions are conducive. 6. Regarding the issue of Indonesian observers, it should be recalled that it was at Thailand's initiative and invitation that the observers would be sent to the area near the Phra Viharn Temple. This decision was made at the meeting between the Thai prime minister, defence minister, foreign minister and army commander-in-chief, held two days before the Informal ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting on 22 February 2011 in Jakarta. Since then, discussions on the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Indonesia observers have been on-going. Being an open society, Thailand's consultation process may take time. At present, most part of the TOR has been agreed upon with only a few technical points remaining, such as the issue of privileges and immunities for the Indonesian observers. 7. It is regrettable that the Thai cabinet decision of 26 April 2011 has been distorted by press announcements by Cambodia as being a declaration of war. In fact, the said cabinet decision made three points, namely that: (1) if attacked, Thailand would respond in self-defence to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law as appropriate; (2) Thailand would undertake diplomatic efforts to seek the support of friendly countries to urge Cambodia to return to the negotiating table as border issues should be addressed and resolved peacefully through negotiations; and (3) relevant government agencies have been asked to review the status of their relationship with Cambodia, so that the Government could have a clear picture of the current state of the relations between the two countries. 8. Regarding talks between the 2nd Army Regional Commander of Thailand and the 4th Regional Commander of Cambodia on 28 April 2011, this took place after the Ministers of Defence of the two countries spoke on the phone. Both sides would propose to their respective superiors that any hostilities should end, and that for areas where there continues to be some shooting, local commanders should talk to end hostilities as soon as possible. Another issue raised is the reopening of international border passes which, due to the present situation, had to be closed temporarily. While there is yet no official confirmation, the statement made by the Cambodian side is a positive step forward. 9. As for the question whether the latest border incidents would affect the election date, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has stated that he will continue with his schedule for the dissolution of the House of Representatives, which is early May. ********************* 29 April 2011  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 04:30 PM PDT
Libyan leader's son Saif al-Arab killed in NATO strike Sat Apr 30, 2011 TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi survived a NATO airstrike on Saturday night that killed his youngest son Saif al-Arab and three of his grandchildren, a Libyan government spokesman said. Mussa Ibrahim said Saif al-Arab was a civilian and a student who had studied in Germany. He was 29 years old. Libyan officials took journalists to the house, which had been hit by at least three missiles. The roof had completely caved in in some areas, leaving strings of reinforcing steel hanging down among chunks of concrete. A table football machine stood outside in the garden of the house, which was in a wealthy residential area of Tripoli. (Reporting by Lin Noueihed; Editing by Matthew Jones)  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 04:09 PM PDT Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=27233 Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border on 27-29 April 2011 April 29, 2011, 8:20 pm  With regard to the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border on 27-29 April 2011, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state the following: 1. On 27 April 2011 from 20.40-21.10 hours, the Cambodian troops started launching attacks into the area around Ta Kwai Temple in Panom Dongrak District, Surin Province, Thailand, using small arms, mortars, artilleries, rocket propelled grenades and hand grenades. The exchange of fires expanded into the area around Ta Muen Temples, Surin Province. The unprovoked armed attack by Cambodian troops resumed from 23.30 hours until 00.50 hours of the next day (28 April 2011). 2. On 28 April 2011 from 04.00-08.30 hours, the Cambodian troops renewed the armed attack using small arms, mortars and artilleries into the area around Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples, as well as Karb Cheang District hospital in Surin Province. The attacks resulted in the death of one Thai soldier and injuries of eleven Thai soldiers and six civilians. At 10.30 hours, the Commander of the Second Army Area of Thailand and the Commander of the Fourth Military Region of Cambodia met at the border to discuss measures to be taken to reduce tensions. The mutual understanding resulting from the said meeting included the avoidance of armed clashes of both sides. However, at 21.00 hours, the Cambodian troops resumed firing rifles and launching hand grenades into the area of Ta Muen Temples, Chong Krang Pass and Ta Kwai Temple, in Surin Province, constituting a breach of aforementioned understanding. 3. On 29 April 2011 from 03.00-06.00 hours, the unprovoked armed attack by Cambodia started again in the area around Ta Kwai Temple, with the use of small arms, rifles, hand grenades and mortars. The result of this round of attack caused one death of Thai soldier and injuries of six Thai soldiers. 4. Thailand exercised its utmost restraint. Nevertheless, the repetition of these provocative acts of aggression left the Thai troops with no choice but to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as in protection of the Thai civilians in the area, by using proportionate means with necessity, under international law, and strictly directed at only military targets. Nonetheless, the Thai troops chose not to react to the armed attack by Cambodia on several occasions when the civilian population could be at risk of danger. One such occasion was on 26 April 2011 when the Cambodian troops fired BM 21 rockets from the O Samet Village, O Samet District, Udon Meechai Province in Cambodia into the area around Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples in Thailand. Thailand has tried to avoid causing losses to civilians as much as possible and, in exercising utmost restraint, decided not to respond to the said armed attack by Cambodia. However, the series of armed attack by Cambodia on that day resulted in the death of one Thai civilian and injuries of two Thai civilians. 5. Thailand therefore protests in a strongest term that the repeated unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodia, and the use of civilians including children and women as "human shield" are in clear violation of international law. Thailand condemns Cambodia's acts of aggression which have put the lives of civilians at risks. Thailand also deplores the breach of understanding on avoidance of armed clashes by Cambodian troops which underlines the insincerity of Cambodia to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner. 6. Thailand hereby demands that such provocative conducts by Cambodia be ceased immediately and calls on the Cambodian side to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue under existing bilateral mechanisms. ***************************** 29 April 2011  | ||||
| MOU 2000-The Root Cause of Thai-Cambodian Conflicts Posted: 30 Apr 2011 01:39 PM PDT By Pang Sokheoun 27-04-2011 The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed in 2000 under the Democrat-led government of Chuan Leekpai and the dictatorship-led government of Hun Sen, is a legal instrument meant to set up a joint boundary committee, to help survey and demarcate the border of the two countries Thailand and Cambodia initiated by Thailand. Many of Cambodians are made to believe that this MOU 2000 is the main legal instrument, giving Cambodia the upper hand, to bring peace, to negotiate the border conflicts, to protect Cambodian territory and on how to demarcate the border lines. But to me I see it as disadvantage and a root cause of all the problems. I don´t want to explore other root causes of the conflicts but just MOU 2000 to why it has become the effective instrument to create the border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia until today. The positive point of the MOU 2000 for Cambodia is that the border´s resolution between the two countries will be negotiated and demarcated basing on its Article 1 (c), which says:"Maps which are the result of demarcation works of the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam set up under the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France and Siam, and other documents relating to the application of the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France and Siam." With this, it is sure that the "maps" mentioned in this Article is the 1:200,000 scale one, which is part of a series of maps made by France that show the Preah Vihear Temple and its adjacent area being in Cambodia. However, we should recognize that this MOU 2000 also gives Thailand the bid in blocking border negotiation and demarcationwhich thought to be critical to its national pride. More, it plays as the key alibi for Thailand to lay claim for any land areas along the borders for its political and national interests as it has happened so far, for instances, the case of Prasat Preah Vihear , Prasat Ta Mean Thom, and Prasat Ta Krobei. If we remember before the clashes happened at Prasat Preah Vihear, Thailand often raised four reasons to argue such as: (1) the easy gateway to reach the temple is from the Thai side, (2) the borderline doesn´t follow the watershed principle, (3) the border line demarcation is not yet complete, and (4) it needs co-management plan of Prasat Preah Vihear. But from 2009 Abhsit has turned these arguments to be only one practical point – the "disputed zone" or "white zone", which he based his claim on the spirit of MOU 2000 in particular Article 5 which stated that: "To facilitate the effective survey along the entire stretch of common land boundary, authorities of either Government and agents shall not carry any work resulting in changes of environment of the frontier zone, except that which is carried out by the Joint Technical Sub-Commission in the interest of the survey and demarcation." With this, he repeatedly defends Thailand´s position at the international arena that Thailand is not invading Cambodia but it acts in self-defense and protect Thailand´s territory which Cambodia is occupying. He also interprets that the MOU 2000 prioritize the bilateral talk under framework of the General Border Committee and the Regional Border Committee. This is the main reason that Thailand keeps insisting the bilateral talk with Cambodia even though it clearly knows that the talk has not worked for years. The benefits of the MOU 2000 raised by Abhsit are clearly told in some of his speeches published in the followings:
So, we do wonder why Cambodian leader signed this MOU if we have already had the internationally recognized treaties, maps, and verdict to demarcate the border lines of the countries. Didn´t Cambodian government have any legal team work, international law experts, political analysts to analyze the vision and the affect of this MOU before it was signed?  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 01:04 PM PDT By Pang Sokheoun 29-04-2011 We have heard the endless accusation game of the two countries about who shoots first in the Thai-Cambodian conflicts. Now I may analyze this as a tip. IT IS THAILAND
IT IS CAMBODIA
NOTE: To the observers, it is believed that Thailand is being viewed as the provoker because it has refused to accept the multiparty talk and sign the Term of Reference to allow the international observers to monitor the border conflict areas in order to maintain peace. Whereas Cambodia has repeatedly demanded it and more importantly Cambodia is weaker than Thailand, so there is no reason that Cambodia provokes war against its more powerful neighbor. Most importantly, those Prasats geographically and legally belong to Cambodia so there is no reason that Cambodia invades Thailand.  | ||||
| Thailand: Deny, Disparage Cambodia, Take credit for everything ... even if it means LYING!!! Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:18 PM PDT Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=27239 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson responds to questions about the military's role in Thai-Cambodian relations April 30, 2011, 12:06 pm In response to questions regarding recent media reports alleging that the Thai side may have initiated recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia due to domestic politics, criticizing the role of the Thai military in Thai-Cambodian relations, as well as alleging lack of coordination between the Thai Foreign Ministry and the military, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that clarifications have already been sent to the news agencies concerned, which can be summarized as follows: First, Thailand did not start recent clashes with Cambodia because it simply has no reason to do so and no benefit to gain therefrom. Any such adverse action would only harm Thai civilians living along the border and undo what Thailand has long been working for in promoting relations with Cambodia and advancing ASEAN on its road towards becoming an ASEAN Community. Besides trade and investment, Thailand has pursued various forms of cooperation with Cambodia, many aimed at bettering the well-being of its people. It therefore makes no sense for the Thai side to undo all this hard work. Second, since the clashes in February 2011, there has been progress in bilateral talks. The Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission met in Bogor, Indonesia, on 7-8 April. In addition, as the UNSC and ASEAN have urged both countries to resolve the border problem bilaterally, there is no reason for Thailand to take any action to derail these processes. Third, rather than resisting observers, it must also be recalled that it was Thailand who had invited the dispatch of Indonesian observers, the terms of reference for which is close to being finalized. The decision to invite the Indonesia observers to Thailand was also made jointly at a meeting on 20 February 2011, chaired by the Prime Minister and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence and the Army Commander-in-Chief taking part. Since then, there have been close consultations between all the relevant government agencies concerned. It is therefore not true that the Foreign Ministry and the military are in disagreement on this issue and other issues regarding Cambodia. Lastly, if one is to insist on analyzing the Thai-Cambodian issue from the perspective of domestic politics, it would only be fair to look at the situation on the other side of the border as well. The question that ought to be asked is who stands to gain the most from having the border issue escalate and internationalized. On our part, Thailand has always sought to contain the situation and address it with Cambodia through dialogue and negotiations, as other countries have done in resolving such issues. ********************* 29 April 2011  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:11 PM PDT Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=27235 April 29, 2011, 9:28 pm 1. Thailand takes note of the submission of a request by Cambodia to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 28 April 2011 and will take appropriate steps in accordance with its rights under international law. 2. Thailand is not surprised by this latest move by Cambodia in light of the latter's pattern of behaviors and clear motives in the past few months, especially since 22 April 2011. 3. Thailand regrets that Cambodia decided to completely disregard progress being made in various tracks as follows: 3.1 Just hours before the Cambodian submission at The Hague, Thai and Cambodian regional military commanders reached a preliminary common understanding to instruct respective troops to refrain from further hostilities at a border area of Surin Province, Thailand, and that boundary negotiations should best be left to negotiators from both countries. 3.2 Also just hours before the Cambodian submission at The Hague, conversations between Thai and Indonesian Foreign Ministers, and between Indonesian and Cambodian Foreign Ministers respectively, had yielded satisfactory progress in terms of diplomacy to ensure continued peace and stability in the area near the Temple of Phra Viharn, which is over 140 kilometres away from where the incidents in Surin Province took place. 3.3 Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers already spoke with each other and agreed to meet soonest to resolve outstanding issues to the bilateral relations. Thai and Cambodian Prime Ministers are also scheduled to attend the ASEAN Summit meeting in Jakarta in the next few days. 3.4 On 7-8 April 2011, the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which is a joint mechanism established by the two countries to deal with land boundary matters, was convened in Bogor, Indonesia. The meeting discussed a range of issues, for example, preparations for production of orthophoto maps of the boundary between Thailand and Cambodia. Both sides agreed to meet again soon. The convening of the said meeting was a demonstration of willingness of Thailand and Cambodia to move this process forward, despite the fact that at that time Thailand had not yet completed its internal legal procedures for the Agreed Minutes of the previous three JBC meetings. Now that Thailand has completed its internal legal procedures on this matter, there is no reason why both countries cannot continue this bilateral process in good faith if there is a will to do so. It is important to recall that, during the Bogor meeting, the Cambodian side expressed its desire to see the completion of these internal legal procedures in Thailand as early as possible in order to proceed with relevant works of the JBC. 3.5 It is important to recall that the Seventh Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Relations between Cambodia and Thailand in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 3-4 February 2011, concluded with the following paragraph in its Record of Discussion: "44. The Cambodian side expressed understanding of the internal process of consideration of the three Agreed Minutes of the Joint Commission on Land Boundary (JBC) of the Thai side and hoped for its earliest completion so that both sides can proceed expeditiously with all relevant works of the JBC, including, in priority, the survey and demarcation works in Sector 6, as well as the process of orthophoto maps, the fact finding mission and location of boundary pillars in the other remaining sectors." 4. In light of the above facts, it is clear that Cambodia will stop at nothing to achieve its specific political expediencies even though it would mean creating a conflict, disregarding the bilateral commitments already made and bypassing the ongoing efforts by the ASEAN family just days ahead of the ASEAN Summit. It is therefore sad that many lives have been lost and livelihoods of peoples on both sides of the border have been adversely affected as a result of this calculated strategy by Cambodia. ************************* 29 April 2011  | ||||
| [Thai] 'Red Power' editor Somyos arrested [-Why would he raise funds in Cambodia?] Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:07 PM PDT  By Pravit Rojanaphruk The Nation on Sunday Red Power magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk was arrested yesterday afternoon for alleged lese majeste, after trying to leave the Kingdom on a fund-raising tour to Cambodia. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested Somyos after being notified by border officers at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew province that Somyos was leading some 30 or so red shirts on a fund-raising tour for the magazine to Angkor Wat. Somyos was charged last week with alleged lese majeste over an article in the February and March issue of the now-banned Voice of Thaksin magazine, which he published in February. He denied the charge and insisted yesterday that he was innocent. "We're fighting for the right to be human," he said on the phone shortly after 5pm yesterday, while inside a DSI vehicle on the way from Sa Kaew back to Bangkok. It was unclear at press time if Somyos would be granted bail or not, but a DSI officer told a local media outlet they were determined to detain him until Monday, when a court would decide whether he should be given bail or not. Speaking on his mobile phone, Somyos said he was surprised by the incident. He said the timing of his arrest, coupled with other developments, such as the crackdown on many red-shirt community radio stations, a new wave of internet censorship, plus "harassment" of a red-shirt historian and lese majeste charges against 18 red-shirt leaders had all taken place at a "suspicious" time - just before the election. "I think they're all related to the current [political] situation," said Somyos, who was detained for a month without charge last year under the emergency decree.  | ||||
| 10 Thai troops injured in Surin after 'light weapons' clashes on border Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:02 PM PDT  The Nation on Sunday Surin Flare-up triggered by delay in informing units of ceasefire Ten more Thai soldiers were injured in the Thai-Cambodian border clashes in Surin's Phanom Dongrak district on Friday night until yesterday morning, bringing the cumulative Thai casualties to seven deaths and 95 injuries in the nine days of clashes. Among the four injured soldiers from Friday night's clash, First-Lieutenant Kosit Songsaengkajorn suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his neck and back and was transferred to Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, while others were airlifted to the Surin Centre Hospital and Weerawat Yothin Army Camp Hospital the same night. Six other soldiers were injured on Saturday morning. The border clash reoccurred despite the fact that a ceasefire was agreed by Thai and Cambodian field commanders. Second Army spokesman Prawit Hookaew said that the Cambodian side explained that it was because "some units weren't yet informed [of the ceasefire]" and "there were some rogue soldiers". He also declared a hint of a silver lining in that the reoccurring clashes so far utilised light weapons only. This showed that field officers could still talk to each other and limit the fighting. Since Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen declared that he wouldn't negotiate at all levels and would only table the issue at the Asean level - and announced that Cambodia was ready to go to war against Thailand - the Thai Army has remained cautious and was following the situation closely, he said. Prawit also revealed that Cambodia had sent more backups to the clash area and reportedly recruited more fighters, especially former Khmer Rouge soldiers and their children. "We haven't yet sent more back-up soldiers, [but] it wouldn't take a long time to send back-ups because most of the manpower are already in the Second Army area. We're using force only to defence our territory," he said adding that 36 out of the injured 95 soldiers already asked to be reinstated in the field. Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd commented that the Cambodian side admitted that there might be some stress in the areas that the ceasefire order haven't reached yet - hence the fighting wasn't completely halted. But gunfire erupted lightly on and off and Thai troops just counter-fired. He said they would try to get the ceasefire in place first before negotiations at other levels could take place. Meanwhile, the Second Army Area bomb squad had cleared some 70 per cent of the grenades fired from Cambodia to Thai villages. As several schools in Surin were currently functioning as shelters to villagers, the Education Ministry inspector Supakorn Wongprat said he would initially arrange a Bt500,000 budget allocation to help these schools with water, electricity and other expenses. He said he would also have non-formal education teachers teach students at the shelters so the students could later catch up with their lessons, as the school term will open in mid-May. In Buri Ram, some male evacuees yesterday returned to their homes near the clash site in hopes that the border fighting would stop soon, bringing the number of evacuees in nine shelters of Ban Kruat and Prakhon Chai districts down from 9,000 to some 4,000.  | ||||
| Legal Farce at ECCC Toward Dismissing Case 003 - The OCIJ's Press Release Posted: 30 Apr 2011 11:55 AM PDT     http://www.thearyseng.com/columnist/32-theary-sengs-blog/294-legal-farce-at-eccc-toward-dismissing-case-003-ocij-press-release Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Press Release of Public Affairs re The Statement of the Co-Investigating Judges (sent out late FRIDAY afternoon, before long weekend of Labor Day on Monday, in light international attention on Cambodia-Thai border fatal clashes in its 9th day, against the backdrop of Royal Wedding frenzy, Syrian crackdown and Alabama tornado) Cover page addressed only to the Co-Prosecutors, 2nd page with this very terse one sentence. "The Co-Investigating Judges today (29 April 2011) in a public decision concluded the investigations in Case 003 (the Case File containing more than 2.000 pieces of evidence, comprising more than 48.000 pages),and have notified the parties [ONLY the Co-Prosecutors] according to Rule 66.1." Theary Seng's Note: This Press Release and Statement of Co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng (Khmer) and Siegfried Blunk (UN) are very disturbing in confirming our fears - the ECCC's dismissal of Case 003 and 004 involving 5 additional charged persons to the existing 5 individuals of Case 001 (Duch) and 002 (Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith). First, this is the only first statement/public information re Case 003 or Case 004 of the new UN (German) Co-Investigating Judge Siegfriend Blunk since he took up this position in December 2010, consisting of ONE SENTENCE, failing in his Rule 56 obligation to provide public information. The Office of Co-Investigating Judges forwarded the Introduction Submissions of Case 003 (charged persons Meas Muth, Sou Met?) and Case 004 (Battambang Im Chaem and two other district chiefs?) to the Co-Investigating Judges for investigation since Sept. 2009 -- almost 20 MONTHS ago, whereby the CIJs have conducted ZERO field investigation, which they and the Public Affairs Press Release failed to mention! They failed to mention that their 40-member staff -- both Khmer and UN -- have been idled, with the Khmer staff only called back to the work only after public scrutiny resulting from the lodging of my and Rob Hamill's civil party applications. They failed to mention that they have been shuffling papers, some of the "2.000 pieces of evidence, comprising more than 48.000 pages" mentioned -- if at any at all for the last 20 months. Hence, the Co-Investigating Judges have closed the investigation WITHOUT conducting ANY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS after 20 months of inactivity since the Introduction Submissions and 7 months since the end of investigation of Case 002 (Closing Order) in Sept. 2010. It is also disturbing that the ECCC has not officially informed me via documentation of receipt of my and Rob Hamill's civil party application to Cases 003/004 (Our application is strongest to Case 003 if charged persons Meas Muth and Sou Met, as we have little connection that we know of to Case 004 regarding three district chiefs including madam Im Chaem). The Chief of ECCC Victims Support Section informed me via a telephone call that his office has received my application. And when it was established that I will be a guest on the popular 30-45 minute radio call-in show on Radio Free Asia on Friday, 23 April 2011, Reach Sambath who was a guest with me stated on the air that the ECCC has received my application in good form and that as of that day (Friday, April 23), the Co-Investigating Judges have received my application. However, there has been NO DOCUMENTATION OF THIS RECEIPT AS A MATTER OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY RECORD besides a radio broadcast in the Khmer language. If our suspicion is correct - that the ECCC is on an expedited path to dismissing Cases 003/004, beginning with Case 003 as it involves 2 very public figures (me and Rob Hamill) -- then this terse Statement of the Co-Investigating Judges closing the investigation of Case 003 is a very disturbing, concrete step. They must first closed the investigation before they can dismiss. The great fear is that they will dismiss the Case 003 before confirming me or Rob Hamill as a civil party to this Case. Because once we are made civil parties, we have the right to appeal the dismissal of Case 003. We also have the right to appeal our civil party applications should they not recognize us, but our case made stronger if only there is a case concerning us. But if Case 003, then our applications are made substantially weaker as the case involving us (Case 003 involving Meas Muth and Sou Met, and not Im Chaem and the other 2 district chiefs). - Theary C. Seng, Jakarta, 30 April 2011  | ||||
| Orphan Culture Education Center's HUMANITARIANS FUND-RAISING Posted: 30 Apr 2011 09:59 AM PDT   | ||||
| Who are Meas Muth and Sou Met? Posted: 30 Apr 2011 08:14 AM PDT By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh ECCC Cases 003 and 004 Series Is civil party applicant Ms. Theary C. Seng correct in saying that Meas Muth and Sou Met are in Case 003 and Im Chaem and two other district chiefs are in Case 004? See ECCC Timeline by Theary C. Seng. Are Cambodian scholar Steve Heder and international lawyer Brian Tittemore correct in naming Meas Muth and Sou Met as senior leaders to be prosecuted? See http://www.wcl.american.edu/warcrimes/khmerrouge.pdf?rd=1. This series will provide in full the section on Meas Muth and Sou Met from the report Seven Candidates for Prosecution: Accountability for the Crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Sou Met and Meah Mut ii. Minutes of General Staff Meetings Who are Meas Muth and Sou Met? Part 2iii. Reports and other Documents from Sou Met and Meah Mut Who are Meas Muth and Sou Met? Part 3b. Legal Analysis and Conclusions i. Individual Responsibility Who are Meas Muth and Sou Met? Part 4ii. Superior Responsibility(a) Superior-Subordinate Relationship Who are Meas Muth and Sou Met? Part 5(b) Mens Rea Numerous accounts of meetings attended by Sou Met and Meah Mut at which arrests and executions were discussed provide the most significant body of evidence that the two Secretaries had knowledge of crimes committed by CPK cadre. Notes from meetings on August 30, 1976, September 16, 1976, September 19, 1976, September 30, 1976, October 9, 1976, and March 1, 1977 reveal the presence of one or both officials at General Staff meeting convened by Son Sen. At these meetings, participants discussed arrests, purges, and murders. Moreover, minutes from several meetings record Sou Met and Meah Mut as reporting on the implementation by their Divisions of the Party's execution polices and expressing their support for those policies. Similarly, both Sou Met and Meah Mut appear to have authored reports transmitted to the General Staff that reported on arrests in their Divisions. For example, a report bearing Sou Met's signature dated September 1, 1976 describes the arrest and interrogation by a battalion under his command of two individuals on August 19, 1976. Moreover, Sou Met appears to have composed notes directly to Duch, which subsequently accompanied cadre who were transferred from his Division to S-21. This evidence, together with the fact that both officials held positions of moderate authority in the CPK hierarchy and that numerous cadre from both of their Divisions were arrested, further suggests that Sou Met and Meah Mut knew or had reason to know of arrests and executions conducted or facilitated by their subordinates and failed to take reasonable and necessary steps to prevent these atrocities or punish the perpetrators. [ to be continued ]  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 08:08 AM PDT Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed During the Period of Democratic Kampuchea ("ECCC Law") with inclusion of amendments as promulgated on 27 October 2004 CHAPTER IV APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES Article 13 Judges shall be assisted by Cambodian and international staff as needed in their offices. In choosing staff to serve as assistants and law clerks, the Director of the Office of Administration shall interview if necessary and, with the approval of the Cambodian judges by majority vote, hire staff who shall be appointed by the Royal Government of Cambodia. The Deputy Director of the Office of Administration shall be responsible for the recruitment and administration of all international staff [hey, Knut Rosandhaug - there are NO, yes, NO U.N. staff in the Victims Support Section because you allocated ZERO $, yes, NADA. Yes, we know you are proud of this, but you will go down in history as the enemy of victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge! ]. The number of assistants and law clerks shall be chosen in proportion to the Cambodian judges and foreign judges. Cambodian staff shall be selected from Cambodian civil servants or other qualified nationals of Cambodia, if necessary.  | ||||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2011 08:03 AM PDT One of the most persistent ambiguities that we face is that everybody talks about peace as a goal. However, it does not take sharpest-eyed sophistication to discern that while everybody talks about peace, peace has become practically nobodys' business among the power-wielders. Many men cry Peace! Peace! but they refuse to do the things that make for peace. - Martin Luther King,Jr.  | ||||
| My rights, my responsibility (Constitution) Series Posted: 30 Apr 2011 08:00 AM PDT Constitution of Cambodia (Sept. 1993) CHAPTER IX: THE JUDICIARY Article 132- New (Previously Article 113): The King shall be the guarantor of the independence of the Judiciary. The Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall assist the King in this matter. [ hey, King, you're failing! ]  | ||||
| "Pouch Chor Soth" a Poem in Khmer by Thorn Sambo Posted: 30 Apr 2011 06:00 AM PDT   | ||||
| Cambodia rejects arrangement for deployment of observers on disputed Cambodian-Thai border Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:47 AM PDT April 30, 2011 Xinhua Cambodia has rejected arrangement for the deployment of Indonesian observers to the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple because Thailand has proposed a location in Cambodian territory for observers on its side, Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong said Saturday. The rejection was in response to the 5th modified terms of reference (TOR) submitted by Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, current rotating ASEAN chair, on April 28, for Indonesian observers to be deployed in the disputed border areas in order to monitor ceasefire. "Cambodia cannot accept the fifth revised TOR because Thailand has proposed four locations for the observers on its side, but one of the locations is in Cambodian territory at Svay Chhrum area, though Thailand uses a different name," Hor Namhong said at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his return from submitting a request to the International Court of Justice for the interpretation of the Court's judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the Preah Vihear temple. He said that the Svay Chhrum area in Preah Vihear province is in Cambodian territory as far as 7 kilometers from the border line. "I will reply to Marty that Cambodia cannot accept the fifth TOR," he said. Cambodia has proposed three locations -- Ta Sem, Chak Chreng and Pram Makara -- near Preah Vihear temple for the deployment of observers on its side. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962. The 11th century temple was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on July 7, 2008. But the dispute over the 4.6 square kilometers scrub next to the temple has sparked periodic border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. The latest in a series of deadly clashes has killed over a dozen soldiers on both sides since April 22.  | ||||
| Domestic issues fuel Thai-Cambodian spats Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:41 AM PDT
By Nelson Rand Asia Times Online NONG KUN NA and BANGKOK - Fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops along their disputed border continued on Friday for an eighth consecutive day despite reports the day before that a temporary ceasefire had been reached. Since armed hostilities resumed on April 22, at least 16 people have been killed, over 50 injured and at least 50,000 displaced on both sides of the border. Strategic and political analysts foresee sustained sporadic fighting, though the chances of the clashes escalating into full-scale war still seem slim. "Thailand's and Cambodia's relationship is fragile and fighting will likely erupt again," said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai political scientist at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "The dispute has been too politicized that it will take a long time before ties will be healed," he added. "I doubt that a ceasefire will hold because the border tensions are now being driven by their own dynamic," said Marc Askew, a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne who specializes in Thai politics and security issues and who is editor of the recently published book Legitimacy Crisis in Thailand. The latest bout of fighting is centered around a disputed hill near the ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan, representing an expansion of previous hostilities that centered on the contested Preah Vihear temple. Although both countries have long laid claim to these ancient ruins and border territories, most analysts believe the conflict is being driven more by domestic politics in both countries. "[The border conflict] is a function of the two states' domestic politics, and especially Thailand's civil and military relations in the midst of a major political transition," wrote Stratfor, a United States-based private intelligence firm, in a recent analysis of the conflict. "On the Cambodian side, nationalism is always a way to boost Prime Minister Hun Sen's leadership, and Cambodia is no doubt willing and ready to exploit a neighbor consumed by intense factional politics," Stratfor wrote in a separate analysis. The neighbors have been locked in a diplomatic row for nearly three years while Thailand has been rattled by a prolonged and sometimes violent political crisis. The border issue has presented both governments with an opportunity to galvanize nationalist sentiment at home and gain popular support by rallying their citizens against an external threat. This has been especially the case for Thailand, which is beset by entrenched political and social divisions at a time when the Thai military has been strengthening its influence and power in politics. With general elections expected to be held in late June or early July, analysts believe the Thai military is now flexing its muscles to signal its intention of retaining strong influence over the next elected government. After launching a military coup in 2006 to depose prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the military's stake would surely be reduced if the pro-Thaksin Puea Thai Party wins the elections - as its predecessors of the now dissolved People's Power Party did the last time the country went to the polls in December 2007. Recent opinion polls show Puea Thai stands a good chance in what is expected to be a tightly fought election. "Certainly there is some sort of connection between the current armed clashes with Cambodia and the upcoming election," said Singapore-based political scientist Pavin. "This reflects a desperate measure of the Thai military to maintain its power position in politics, and indeed its domination of domestic and foreign policy," he added. Diplomatic politics Compared with the incumbent Abhisit Vejjajiva-led coalition, Puea Thai has comparatively good relations with Cambodia - as does its allied United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protest movement, whose mass street campaign last year resulted in some of the country's worst political violence in its modern history. Many UDD leaders fled to Cambodia after last year's military crackdown on its members to escape arrest by Thai authorities. That sanctuary was given after Thaksin was made a special economic advisor to Hun Sen in late 2009, a move that infuriated Bangkok and contributed largely to the recent deterioration in bilateral ties. Now, the armed hostilities are emerging as a campaign issue as both sides swing into vote-getting mode. "If we win the elections, we will seek friendship with Cambodia," Puea Thai parliamentarian and prominent UDD leader Jatuporn Promphan told reporters on Tuesday night at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Bangkok. "There is no reason for us to fight." Paul Chambers, a Thai military affairs specialist at Heidelberg University, contends there is a good chance that violence along the Thai-Cambodian border will continue in the run-up to the elections and that this recent fighting could be an attempt by the Thai military to delay the polls. "The violent intensity of frontier friction between Thailand and Cambodia will be determined first by the arch-royalist Thai military's preference to delay the upcoming Thai election [and] second, the Thai election itself, after which tensions could diminish since Thai politicos will no longer be campaigning through the use of anti-Cambodian rhetoric," he said. Domestic imperatives are also pushing Cambodia's hardline stance. "[The level of hostilities will also depend on] Hun Sen's own satisfaction with the successful use of irredentist ultra-nationalism to bolster the political power of himself and his son," said Chambers. Hun Sen's eldest son, Major General Hun Manet, is reported to be one of the key commanders overseeing operations along the border. The 33-year-old West Point Graduate has rapidly moved up the ranks of the Cambodian army, with some observers believing Hun Sen is grooming him to assume his position as premier. Despite the intensity of the recent clashes and rising death tolls, most analysts believe it is unlikely the conflict will expand into full-scale war. "Both Thailand and Cambodia will pull back from the brink of a full-blown conflict," said Ian Storey, a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. "Thailand could not expect a quick victory against Cambodia, and Hun Sen will not want to get into a protracted war with an important neighbor," he added. According to Stratfor, this latest round of fighting can be explained through both countries' temporary political considerations and does not represent a threat to the vital interests of either country. "The two sides have fought low-level border conflicts for decades that have not escalated to broad war," Stratfor said in an April 26 analysis of the conflict. Nevertheless, both sides are digging in by sending reinforcements and bolstering their defenses. On the Thai side of the border, the army has this week actively recruited, armed and trained civilians affected by the fighting to act as village defense guards in border areas. "I've come [back] here to protect my village, to defend my home, my land and the Thai people," said Wonbik Chai, a newly recruited village defense guard in Nong Kun Na two kilometers from the frontline. "Anyone who takes our land, we will take it back," he added while holding a shotgun. Nelson Rand is a Bangkok-based journalist with a master's degree in Asia-Pacific policy studies. He may be reached at nelsonrand@hotmail.com.  | ||||
| Thailand, Cambodia Spat Gets Ugly Posted: 30 Apr 2011 12:13 AM PDT  By William Lloyd-George The Diplomat According to Michael Montesano of the Institute of Southeast Asia Studies in Singapore, the temple dispute all came about as a result of 'cheap politics' by the People's Alliance for Democracy – otherwise known as the Yellow Shirts – in 2008 to reduce support for then Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin. Domestic politics could be pushing leaders of the two countries to more intense conflict as thousands flee border fighting. PRASAT, THAILAND – It was a typical night for Wanchai Jongkot and his family. After working all day in the paddy fields, he sat down with his wife and two daughters to eat dinner – the main meal in his household. Before he could take his first bite, flashes illuminated the night sky, followed by deafening explosions. 'We had no idea what was going on, we just ran to take cover,' says Jongkot, a wiry man in his late 50s. 'We were so shocked we almost fainted.' In the midst of the bombardment the eldest daughter saw her sister rolling in agony and yelled out that she had been hit. When the fighting had subsided, they took the injured daughter to the local hospital where they discovered she had a broken arm and hip. Jongkot and his family are some of around 80,000 civilians who have been affected on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border by recent clashes between the two nations. The latest conflict is the most serious fighting in decades and stems from a demarcation carried out in the 1950s by an international court, which awarded Cambodia the land. Thailand continues to disputes this ruling. The effects of the fighting can been seen all over Gaab Cherng district in Surin Province. As fighting has escalated over the last seven days, both sides have been firing heavy artillery into each other's territory, littering empty shells indiscriminately into civilian areas. Wedged in a plank of wood at the back of the Jongkot's house lies the stray BM21 rocket that has destroyed their home. Pieces of timber lie smashed amidst shared ceramic tiles. The only thing that remains intact is a picture of the revered King. Lying in a hospital bed at Prasat local hospital, the 15-year-old daughter, Jeeranan, grimaces in pain. Accompanied by a teddy bear, and hair tied up in ponytails, she looks younger than she is. 'The doctor says her bone is completely smashed,' her mother says looking over at her, clearly distressed by the news. 'We don't want to go back to our village while bombs are flying over like this.' The same sentiment is echoed throughout the more than 20 temporary camps along the border, populated by refugees evacuated from their homes. Sleeping on straw mats in crowded conditions and surviving on donations it's not clear how much longer they can tolerate the fighting. 'We've been okay so far,' says an elderly lady as she finishes her food. 'But I miss my home and worried for my property. We all hope it ends soon.' Hope for an end to the conflict faded early Friday morning, when more fighting broke out, killing a Thai soldier and bringing the official tota; death toll for Thailand and Cambodia to 16. The latest clash occurred after a supposed ceasefire had been agreed between the two nations on Thursday morning. High-level commanders of the two nations were reported to have agreed to stop all military activity and were supposed to open borders for displaced people to travel home. Both side's commanders have blamed the other's local units for not following orders. Fighting is reported to have started again early Saturday morning. With no international observers on the frontline, the conflict is slowly turning into a war of words, with a raging blame game taking place. 'They want to take over our land, there are no Cambodian soldiers in Thailand, but they keep coming onto our land, plain and simple,' Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan told me Friday. 'Our soldiers are inside Cambodian land, if they fire into our land only then will we fire back.' During a surprise visit to Koke Klang temporary refugee camp – home to more than 3,000 villagers who have escaped the fighting – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told refugees and reporters that it was Cambodia's fault the fighting continues. He said Thailand was ready to talk with Cambodia, but he added that if they continue to attack Thailand it will be impossible to make any progress. Making some of his first comments on the conflict, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, meanwhile, said in a speech to a women's group on Wednesday that Abhisit was to blame. 'The current Thai leader likes war, provokes war,' he said. 'Cambodia is a small, poor country and has fewer forces, but don't you forget that an ant can make an elephant not get any sleep…Cambodian's weaponry is not just slingshots.' Relations first frosted over the border demarcation in 2008 when a temple – 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the current conflict – was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Thailand says that although the land was awarded to Cambodia by the international court, the temples were never properly discussed. Conflict erupted at Preah Vihear temple in February 4-7 this year, killing 11 people. While it could appear to be a simple conflict over sovereignty, experts and civilians on both sides of the border are beginning to blame domestic politics for the ongoing conflict. In Cambodia, some believe Hun Sen is attempting to wield nationalist sentiment to gain support for his son, who he is grooming to eventually take over control of the country. It's also believed that he could be attempting to discredit Abhisit and so boost support for opposition parties in the forthcoming elections. Hun Sen has often publicly voiced his support for the Puea Thai party and Red Shirts. According to Michael Montesano of the Institute of Southeast Asia Studies in Singapore, the temple dispute all came about as a result of 'cheap politics' by the People's Alliance for Democracy – otherwise known as the Yellow Shirts – in 2008 to reduce support for then Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin. 'This whole episode in a sense is the tail that the dog of Thailand is waging, and the dog of Thai domestic politics is not going to calm down any time soon so that is the problem here,' says. In a move that's likely to irk Bangkok even more, Cambodia announced on Friday it would be seeking clarification from the International Court of Justice over the demarcation of Preear Vihear temple. Cambodia said a clarification by the court was of 'the utmost necessity… in order to peacefully and definitely settle the boundary problem between the two countries in the area.' Previously, the country had turned to ASEAN and asked for international mediation to deal with issue. It's rumoured that Abhisit has been leaning towards accepting Cambodia's proposal, but the Thai military has been reluctant to accept, adding to speculation they are prolonging the war in order to establish their legitimacy. 'It's very clear that the army and its backers are nervous about the overall political situation in Thailand, nervous about mounting criticism of the monarchy, nervous about Thaksin's return to political activity, nervous about the outcome of the upcoming election,' Montesano says. 'This is one more way that the army and its backers are asserting themselves.' Adding to concerns that the conflict will escalate further, Prawit Wongsuwon, Thailand's defence minister, cancelled a meeting with Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh on Wednesday. While leaders quarrel over statements, fighting continues to rage in once sleepy Surin. Both armies are digging in – new rocket launchers have reportedly been deployed on the Cambodian side, and fresh tanks on the Thai side. With little progress diplomatically or military, few expect the problems to be resolved anytime soon. At the border, villager parliamentary groups are getting ready to defend their villages. Bunkers are being built and weapons collected as the Thai military gives sporadic training. 'We don't war, but if they come near our village I will defend my land,' says Khun Kung, a farmer in the area. In the meantime, those who have fled the villages, caught in the middle of the conflict, continue to suffer while seemingly murky political battles rage on both sides. 'The government of both countries should resolve the problems immediately,' says Jongkot looking over his destroyed home. 'We want our country in peace because now we're losing everything we have.' William Lloyd-George is a freelance journalist based on the Thai-Burma border. His work has appeared in TIME, The Independent, Bangkok Post, Afternposten, Irrawaddy and Global Post among others.  | ||||
| [Khmer-thai] Clashes: impact on [Thai] trade with VN, Laos adds to FTI concern Posted: 29 Apr 2011 11:54 PM PDT April 26, 2011 By Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation Today's meeting of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) will discuss the Thai-Cambodian border clashes, which have been added as an urgent agenda item amid concern that the fighting is not only harming trade between the two nations but also damaging commerce with Vietnam and Laos. Meanwhile, the Bank of England yesterday said it expected only a minimal impact on Thailand's overall trade, due to the relatively small value of exports to Cambodia. "Several million baht have been lost a day since the clashes first erupted," said FTI vice chairman Thanit Sorat. "Thai exports to Vietnam and Laos have been affected, as some shipments have to pass through Route No 48, which connects Thailand, Cambodia and the southern part of Laos and Vietnam." Normally, Thailand exports fresh fruits, flour and foods through Route No 48. Investment has also dropped considerably since the conflict started, he said. The FTI will today call for an urgent meeting with the Foreign Ministry, the Trade Negotiations Department and the Thai Chamber of Commerce to address the economic losses and seek solutions for trading amid the political conflict with Cambodia, he added. The federation was originally scheduled to meet to establish a Business Council between Thailand and Cambodia, but the dispute has been included as an urgent agenda item after the rising border tension. Mathee Supapongse, senior director for the central bank's Domestic Economy Department, said there had been little impact to date on Thai-Cambodian trade after the fighting over the countries' disputed border. If the situation were to get even worse, there should still be relatively little effect, as Thai-Cambodian trade is not high, he said. "To my understanding, both countries' checkpoints have not yet been closed. "Moreover, we have faced this kind of situation many times before. "Therefore, it should not have much of an impact on bilateral trade," he added. Overall Thai exports totalled about US$200 billion (Bt6 trillion) last year, according to the central bank. Less than 1 per cent went to Cambodia.  | ||||
| Cambodia to respect ceasefire despite alleged Thai mortar fire Posted: 29 Apr 2011 10:56 PM PDT Saturday, April 30, 2011 DPA Phnom Penh - Cambodia on Friday said that Thailand had broken a ceasefire agreed the day before by military commanders and endorsed by politicians in both countries, but that it would respect the deal. Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said Thai artillery fired a number of mortars early Friday near Ta Kwai temple on the north-western border. The temple is one of a half dozen sites that have seen exchanges of fire since April 22. He said six shells landed on Cambodian territory. "We are very sorry that Thailand has broken the agreement," he said. "It is a provocative act, but we restrain ourselves and we don't return fire. Cambodia is abiding by the (ceasefire) agreement." Phay Siphan said Thai and Cambodian military commanders on the ground would meet to assess what had happened.  | ||||
| Keeping the army marching on its stomach Posted: 29 Apr 2011 10:51 PM PDT
To ensure Thai soldiers and evacuees don't go hungry at the border, 12 men toil every day in a makeshift kitchen at a shelter to cook them rice 30/04/2011 King-oua Laohong Bangkok Post From early in the morning to late at night every day, 12 men toil arduously in front of five giant woks in an open-air makeshift kitchen. Their duty is to ensure the Thai troops stationed at the Cambodian-Thai border and about 3,000 evacuees at Ban Khok Klang shelter in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin don't go hungry. Each day, every wok is used 10 to 12 times to cook rice alone and it takes a dozen men to cook the steamed rice. About 350 boxes of cooked rice are prepared and then delivered to the troops at the front line once in the morning and then again in the evening. The rest of the rice that is prepared is for feeding the evacuees. The food to eat together with the cooked rice is prepared by a number of female villagers. The rice and food are bought with money allocated by the provincial office. The general public has also given cash donation which were then spent buying food. Ready-to-eat food and ingredients have also been donated. A week ago, about 2,000 villagers living near the battle zone were evacuated to live at the shelter which is actually a school. The number has risen to about 3,000 now. In the makeshift kitchen, the stoves are made of 200-litre tin barrels. Using the extremely large pans to cook the rice is no easy task, said Ad Koisamran who is one of the 12 rice cookers. It is a really physically demanding job to wrestle with the extra large pan and a spatula about one metre long which is used to stir the rice for hours a day, not to mention coping with the fierce heat, he said. Aside from physical strength, the task also requires certain special methods to cook such large amounts of rice in the giant woks. Sud Chaikla, a rice cooker, said it was important to put enough water into the wok and add some vegetable oil before leaving the liquid to boil. After that, he puts the rice into the pan and keeps stirring the mixture to prevent the rice at the bottom of the pan from burning while the rest of the rice gets half-cooked. Most importantly, he said, liquid in the pan must be drained at the right time before covering the well-cooked rice with a thin sheet of white cloth soaked in water. Onsa Chaikla, an elder brother of Mr Sud, said he is responsible for finding firewood supplies for cooking the rice. Due to the large amount of rice that needs to be cooked just every day, a lot of wood must be used, he said. He normally leads a team of teenagers in his village to look for dried logs such as those from dead mango trees. Somphong Laksanasi, another member of the rice cooking team, said in the past week he arrived around 5am to cook rice at the shelter. He returns home late at night after work. "We might be tired from waking up at three or four in the morning to cook. But the soldiers on the front line are on duty day and night and they must be far more exhausted then we are," he said.  | ||||
| Border clashes end, 10 [Thai] soldiers injured Posted: 29 Apr 2011 10:41 PM PDT 30/04/2011 Bangkok Post The exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian troops along the border in Surin province which started early Friday night had stopped about 6.30am on Saturday, reports said. A total of ten soldiers were injured in the fighting, 2 seriously. They all were admitted to Surin hospital and Veerawat Yothin military hospital, according to the reports. The soldiers are:
Altogether 7 soldiers, one civilian were killed and 95 people and soldiers injured in the border clashes, which started last Friday, April 22.  | ||||
| Abhisit says [Thai] govt ready for ICJ petition defence Posted: 29 Apr 2011 10:35 PM PDT 30/04/2011 Bangkok Post Cambodia's request to the International Court of Justice for legal clarification to settle the border dispute around the Preah Vihear temple is not unexpected, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says. Mr Abhisit added yesterday that he had prepared for Cambodia's petition to the ICJ and the government is ready to present its defence if necessary. A legal consultant has been hired to prepare its points in terms of legal aspects and facts. Cambodia has asked the ICJ to interpret the court's 1962 ruling, which awarded the ancient Hindu temple ruins to Cambodia A statement issued by Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation yesterday said Phnom Penh felt it was necessary to have the interpretation "in order to peacefully and definitely settle the boundary problem between the two countries". Mr Abhisit did not comment on some critics' remarks that Cambodia had picked a fight with Thailand as part of an orchestrated plan to find grounds for lodging the ICJ request. Mr Abhisit said efforts to end the clashes would continue. However, Thailand would retaliate if Cambodia opened fire first. Information Department director-general Thani Thongpakdi yesterday criticised Cambodia for overlooking Asean by filing its petition with the ICJ. Mr Thani said Cambodia had no intention to solve the problem bilaterally and overlooked Asean, which had offered help to solve the conflict. Mr Thani said earlier Cambodia had informed Thailand it would bring the conflict to the ICJ if Joint Boundary Commission talks came to a halt. The ICJ may consider in three weeks whether it will accept Cambodia's petition, Mr Thani said. If it accepts, it will take up to two years before it reaches a ruling.  | ||||
| RI team waits for nod from Thailand, Cambodia Posted: 29 Apr 2011 10:27 PM PDT Sat, 04/30/2011 Sri wahyuni The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta An Indonesian observer team to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute was forced to delay its departure as both countries have not agreed on terms of reference (TOR) for the team's duties and responsibilities. Speaking in Yogyakarta on Friday, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said there were a number of issues that remained to be hammered out in the TOR, which stated the readiness of Indonesia to send observers, including the number of the observers to be deployed, to what extent and in how many spots. "The dispute has expanded to as far as 150 kilometers to the east of the initial area. This of course has to be considered in the TOR," Purnomo said after delivering opening remarks at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) Plus on Friday. The Thai-Cambodian border conflict, he said, was initially over an area of 4.5 square kilometers, but later spilled over to a wider area. The dispute, Purnomo claimed, had been brought to the UN Security Council, which recommended it be settled within ASEAN. Based on the recommendation, Purnomo said, Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN initiated a meeting earlier this year and proposed the TOR should a peacekeeping operation be carried out to help settle the dispute. "It's still under discussion," he said. Purnomo added that a peacekeeping operation was one of five topics discussed at ADSOM Plus, which was attended by the representatives of the 10 ASEAN states and the grouping's dialog partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US. "This is the new architecture of ASEAN and its eight dialog partners in the field of defense," Purnomo said, adding that Yogyakarta was the first host city for the ADSOM Plus. The meeting was scheduled back-to-back with the two-day ADSOM held on Wednesday and Thursday, which involved only senior defense officials from ASEAN states. The other four defense cooperation issues discussed during the ADSOM Plus were military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and maritime security.  |
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