Famlies ask land case be sent to K Chhnang

(Post by Khmer hot news)
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 15:03 Tep Nimol and Kim Yuthana
ABOUT 50 villagers representing 64 families from Kampong Chhnang province came to Phnom Penh on Tuesday to deliver a letter to the Ministry of Justice seeking intervention in a land dispute.
The families travelled from Kampong Chhnang’s Lor Peang village, Ta Cheist commune, Kampong Tralach district, in an effort to have their legal dispute with KDC, a private company, transferred from Phnom Penh Municipal Court to Kampong Chhnang provincial court.
Um Sophy, a village representative, said the families were seeking the change of venue because they could not afford to make frequent trips to Phnom Penh to monitor legal proceedings there.
The villagers’ thumb-printed letter also requested that Kampong Chhnang provincial court shelve incitement charges that were brought against three Lor Peang residents last year in connection with the dispute and focus instead on the civil case with KDC.
Ministry of Justice spokesman Bunyai Narith said he was not sure whether the ministry’s Department of Administration had received the letter, but that if it was submitted properly, the department would forward it to the minister of justice for evaluation.
Villagers said, however, that their letter had been rejected by the Ministry of Justice because it lacked the proper documentation.
Som Sokong, the villagers’ lawyer, said he had already sent a letter to Phnom Penh Municipal Court requesting a change of venue to Kampong Chhnang, but was still waiting for an official reply.

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Cambodia Enters Fray on Climate Change

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from New York
29 September 2009
(Post by khmer Hot News )
Cambodia has urged developed countries to show more commitment to mitigating climate change, saying that countries like Cambodia that are affected most.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York Saturday, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that developed countries, who produce the most greenhouse gases, “should share greater responsibility and take more drastic and urgent measures to reduce the emission of these deadly gases.”
“It is an obligation of the international community to roll back global temperatures before it is too late,” he said.
Cambodia’s farmers, around 80 percent of the population, rely on agriculture, making them vulnerable to climate change, he said, adding that Cambodia had undertaken several climate change responses, including implementing the UN convention on climate change.
“We have also launched a major campaign of reforestation all over the country, with more than 49,000 hectares of trees planted,” he said.
The UN’s 64th General Assembly session comes as the world faces a series of challenges, from the global economic crisis to global warming, food security to terrorism and the threat of nuclear proliferation.
Hor Namhong’s speech focused on global issues, such as the Middle East, a denuclearized Korean peninsula and UN reform, avoiding the topic of human rights.

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‘No Disputed Land’ Near Border Temple: Hun Sen

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 September 2009
(Post by khmer hot news)
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday said there was no disputed land near Preah Vihear temple, contrary to Thai statements.
The temple is at the center of a longstanding military standoff and saw a number of Thai protesters amassed last week.
Though leaders have sought to solve the border dispute bilaterally, Hun Sen said he would raise the issue with Asean at a summit in October if Thai leaders continued to make public statements about the temple and nearby border.
On Thursday, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said roads leading to the temple from the Thai side had been made by the previous government, claiming, "even if there are roads in the border area, it does not mean that the land belongs to Cambodia."
On Sept. 20, around 5,000 Thai demonstrators gathered on the Thai side of the border, near the temple, as leaders of the protest claimed Cambodian civilians and soldiers had settled in disputed areas near the temple.
"I would like to request that Thai leaders stop using Preah Vihear temple in their internal political conflict," he said.
Claims by the Thai prime minister and others about 4.6 kilometers of land near the temple "are not acceptable," he said. Thailand was making unilateral claims using a unilateral map, he said. "Cambodia does not recognize the overlapping or disputed area."
Cambodia uses a map from French surveys in 1904 and 1909 and argues that a 1962 decision at the International Court of the Hague and other documents provide a claim to land near the temple.
"If the Thai prime minister brings a unilateral map to me, I will tear it up in front of [him]," Hun Sen said Monday. "If Thailand militarily invades Cambodia, we will complain to the United Nations Security Council."
Preah Vihear temple was put on a Unesco World Heritage protection list, under Cambodian ownership, in July 2008, sparking demonstrations in Bangkok and an immediate military build-up. Ensuing skirmishes along the border have killed at least seven soldiers.

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PM Orders Stop to Poipet Payments

Written by DAP NEWS -- Tuesday, 29 September 2009
(Post by khmer hot news)
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday ordered a stop to informal charges at the Poipet border crossing to Thailand.
The premier’s warning came following some reports that Government officials, including police, customs and armies, were taking money from people crossing the border from Thailand.
“This border gate is getting worse and has started to charge money from the citizens. Is this real police or customs? I call on and send the message that it is not a small story for those citizens,” said the premier. The premier stated that this activity is completely illegal. “All money charged is never given as national budget, it is always kept in your pockets,” the premier added.
The PM said that some complicated deals had also taken place, such as the transport of second hand jeans. “In the past … we suggested businessmen to give some donations to the provincial authorities in order to develop the province as directed by top leaders,” Hun Hean, Banteay Meanchey Police Commissioner, told DAP News Cambodia on Monday.
However, the commissioner stated that he will take measures to control the situation as directed by the premier. “Following the premier’s recommendations, we will find workers or police who are responsible.”
Sao Bunrith, Poi Pet border gate patrol chief, said that police have no right to charge money. Sao Bunrith confirmed that he will take action to control the situation

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PM Threatens to Tear Thai Border Map

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen addresses the audience at the inauguration of the new tourism ministry headquarters on Monday.
Written by DAP NEWS -- Tuesday, 29 September
(Post by khmer hot news)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday warned he would personally tear up a Thai border map if the Thais try to use the map again during the next session of negotiations.
The premier’s warning made following deputy supreme commander and chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces [RCAF] tore Thai party border map during their talk at Sombok Khhmoum as Thai black uniform soldiers used this map to solve with Cambodia.
“If Thai Prime Minister uses its map to talk and negotiate with Cambodia next time, we will tear this map,” said the premier at the inauguration of the new tourism ministry headquarters on Monday.
The premier said he admired Pol Saroeun for tearing a copy of the Thai map during previous talks.
Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia doesn’t want war, but will fight in self-defense against enemies.
“The illegal encroachment of last year [took place] as Cambodia was busy with election campaign, if not so, you will have blood from your head; do not push the chest more,” the premier said in an apparent threat to unspecified Thai officials.
The premier also rejected Thai deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaug- suban allegations that the road Cambodia is constructing to Khmer Preah Viheah will cross Thai territory. “Do not use Preah Vihear as your political issue,” the premier said.
Srey Doeuk, Cambodian Preah Vihear Army Chief, on Monday told DAP News Cambodia that the situation is still normal. “The situation is still normal, but we are in high ready station,” he added.
The Land Demand Pilgrim Group, apparently a different group of Thai protestors to those who recently demonstrated, on September 29 will hold a protest demanding 4.6 square kilometers of Cambodian territory near the Khmer Preah Vihear Temple be handed over to Thailand.
Srey Doeuk said that Cambodian soldiers don’t care as they protest on their own territory.
“They can do whatever they want, but do not do or protest in our territory. If they do, we cannot be patient,” Srey Doeuk warned.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has warned protesters not to complicate political issues and not to encroach on Cambodian territory.

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Abhisit hits back over dispute

Sep 29, 2009
(Post by khmer hot news)
BANGKOK - PRIME Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hit out at his Cambodian counterpart on Tuesday for saying that Thai trespassers would be shot near a disputed temple on their border.
Cambodian premier Hun Sen said on Monday that he had ordered his troops to shoot anyone from neighbouring Thailand who crossed onto land around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Mr Hun Sen's comments came a little over a week after Thai protesters rallied near the ancient temple, the site of clashes that have killed seven soldiers since tensions flared last year.
'Whenever he gives interviews to the foreign media he always has this attitude where he wants to make headlines,' Mr Abhisit told reporters of his opposite number.
He said Mr Hun Sen wanted to 'retaliate' for the Thai protests on September 19. But he insisted that Thailand still wanted to find a 'peaceful' solution to the dispute over the temple through a joint border commission set up by the two countries.
Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over the land around Preah Vihear for decades, but tensions spilled over into violence last July when the temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The World Court ruled in 1962 that it belonged to Cambodia.
Mr Abhisit said he had raised the issue with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the UN General Assembly in New York last week, saying that UNESCO had worsened tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
He also sought to reassure protesters who rallied at the temple earlier this month and who accused the government of failing to defend its claims over the disputed 4.6 square kilometres of land around Preah Vihear.
'Thai people have nothing to worry about. We will assert our rights,' Mr Abhisit said.
Soldiers from Cambodia and Thailand continue to patrol the area, with the last gunbattle near the temple area in April leaving three people dead. The border between the two countries has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia. -- AFP

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Joint border panel to solve border dispute : Anupong

Tue, September 29, 2009
(Post by khmer hot news)
Any Cambodians trespassing into Thai soil to be treated in accordance with human rights standard : Army chief
Anupong declined to comment on news report that quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying that Cambodia soldiers are ordered to shoot any Thai crossing the border to the disputed area near the temple.
Hun Sen said the four square kilometres near the temple belongs to Cambodia, not a disputed land pending demacation.
The Cambodian leader also said that if Thai officials negotiating the border demarcation line present their own maps during bilateral talks, Cambodian officials 'should tear them up or walk out.'
Gen Anupong said that all the border talks would be the responsibility of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission for the Demarcation of Land Boundararies.
He said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed earlier on the principle to use the talks to solve the problem not to use forces to end the disputes and the Thai government is still adhere to the principle.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission for the Demarcation of Land Boundary would be responsible for the talks to find solution on the border disputes near Preah Vihear temple.
"The Thai government has clearly showed that it will use dialogue as the channel to end the disputes. Local military personnel are maintaining good relations with Cambodian soldiers," he said, adding that no severe measures would be used.
He ensured that if there was any trespassing by Cambodian soldiers, they would be treated in accordance with human rights standards.
Gen Anupong added that the Second Army Area had warned local residents in Thailand to take care when traveling in the disputed border areas, intrusions into Cambodian territory could happen and there are still landmines in the border zone which could endanger civilians.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he was verifying the news report before making any comment and affirmed that Thailand would use peaceful mean to solve the problems.

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