Preah Vihear: ICJ: Jugment Day: November 11, 2013

Cambodia, Thailand vow to maintain border peace regardless of ICJ's verdict: spokesman

English.news.cn   2013-10-28 16:58:56

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Monday vowed to maintain peace and stability along the border regardless of the upcoming verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case concerning the disputed land around Preah Vihear Temple, a spokesman said.
The commitment came after a meeting between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul in Cambodia's Poipet City on the border with Thailand.
"Both sides agreed to comply with the upcoming ICJ's decision in the spirit of friendship, brotherhood, and neighboring countries," Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua over telephone after the meeting.
"Whatever the ICJ's verdict is, the two sides agreed to maintain and further enhance good ties in order to build a border of peace, stability and cooperation," he added.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said last Friday that the country would continue to maintain safety, security and peace along the Cambodia-Thailand border at any cost.
"Whatever the ICJ's decision on Nov. 11 is, whether it will be in favor of Cambodia or Thailand, the two governments-Cambodia and Thailand-still stick to the stance of good friendship and cooperation between the two governments, the two armies, and the two peoples," the premier spoke to armed forces along the border via a video conference at the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The ICJ would issue a verdict on the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over a 4.6 square-km land near Preah Vihear temple on Nov. 11.
Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple, is located on the top of a 525- meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, bordering Thailand.
The ICJ awarded Cambodia the temple and its vicinity on June 15, 1962, but Thailand claimed the ownership of the 4.6 square-km of scrub next to the temple in 2008.
The 11th century temple had been a flashpoint of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops since July 2008 when the UNESCO listed it as a world heritage site.
Cambodia brought the case of the disputed land to the ICJ in April 2011.

Paris Peace Agreements

On this day October 23rd, 1991, 22years ago, after over 10 years of war, the warring parties under the auspices of the UN and with the participation of 18 countries signed the Paris Peace Agreements.
       Today in Phnom Penh the CNRP organized a grandiose mass Rally, delivering over 2 millions thumbprints petition to the UN to help resolve the political deadlock.

Read the AFP cable:

Fresh protests in Cambodia over disputed poll

AFP News – Oct 23,2013

Cambodian Buddhist monks and supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party attend a demonstration over disputed elections at Democracy Park in Phnom Penh on October 23, 2013

Thousands of Cambodia opposition supporters staged a demonstration amid high security Wednesday over fiercely disputed elections that extended strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen's near three-decade rule, following bloody protests last month.

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which is boycotting parliament over the controversial July polls and has demanded an independent investigation into allegations of electoral fraud, said the protest would last for three days.

"The mass non-violent demonstration... organised by CNRP is to demand justice for the people who are the voters regarding the election irregularities," the party, led by Sam Rainsy, said in a statement.

According to an AFP photographer, about 5,000 protesters joined the rally in central Phnom Penh, many with ribbons tied around their heads carrying slogans such as "Where is my vote?"; "We need a truth committee"; and "Long live democracy!".

"I am protesting to demand my vote back, they stole my vote. I want justice. If they do not return my vote, I will protest until the current government collapses," 72-year-old demonstrator Phay Math told AFP.

Thousands of riot police were deployed along the streets and at significant locations in Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning to meet the first major show of strength by the opposition since tens of thousands of its supporters joined three days of rallies in the capital last month.

Those demonstrations left one protester dead and several wounded after security forces clashed with a stone-throwing crowd.

Cambodia's parliament in late September approved a new five-year term for Hun Sen, despite the absence of Rainsy's party, in a move decried by the opposition as a "constitutional coup".

The opposition has said protesters will march on the United Nations human rights office in the capital on Wednesday afternoon to deliver a petition calling on the UN and foreign powers to intervene after the disputed polls.

They also plan to walk to a number of foreign embassies, including those of France, the United States, Britain and China to deliver their petition over the coming days.

Hun Sen -- a 61-year-old former Khmer Rouge cadre who defected and oversaw Cambodia's rise from the ashes of war -- has ruled for 28 years and vowed to continue until he is 74.

 In Phnom Penh Post - Oct. 23rd
March a Positive Sign
Shane Worrell

Analysis

While the Cambodia National Rescue Party’s continued push for an investigation into election irregularities may at times feel quixotic, the fact that the opposition was able to hold a peaceful demonstration today without incident represents a perhaps equally important victory for freedom of assembly.

The Ministry of Interior’s decision to allow 1,000 opposition protesters to converge on foreign embassies and offices of the UN was important, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said, but the fact thousands marched in peace was even more significant.

“I don’t want to say it’s a victory for the CNRP,” he told the Post. “But it’s a victory for the people. We’re making big progress.”

Freedom Park, Sovann added, was becoming a place the opposition felt it could use on a regular basis to keep pushing forward with its demands of an investigation into irregularities at July’s national election.
And boycotting the parliament was showing itself to be the right decision, he added.

Political analyst Kem Ley said the government’s approval of the marches was, indeed, a victory for the CNRP and agreed that it vindicated the opposition’s boycott of the National Assembly.

“Right now, it’s good for them. They have organised this, and the government has opened the door to them,” he said.

The CNRP had drawn more attention to its cause and the CPP now had little choice but to continue allowing similar protests, Ley added.

“In order for the CPP to increase its popularity again, they must respond to the people.”

The freedom to protest on the streets or in public parks has fluctuated greatly over the past two decades.

Incidents have ranged from the brutality of the 1997 grenade attack on opposition members and supporters – which killed 16 and injured more than 100 – to an unprecedented 17-day park sit-in, organised by opposition supporters, in 1998. 

In scores of other instances, protesters have been blocked from marching through the streets or been beaten by police.

Yesterday’s march was the biggest that Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, has seen. 

“We’ve got to get used to this. It should and will be a lot more common,” he said. “If the authorities realise that not all protests lead to revolution, they might be more willing to allow them to take place.”

But even if such protests do represent a victory for the CNRP, Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak said yesterday that the government will still be approving them only on a “case-by-case” basis.

“It will depend on discussions and the agreements reached [between the government and the CNRP],” he said.

The ministry had decided to allow this week’s marches because they coincided with the anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and protesters and police had pledged not to be violent.

“And I think it is nothing to be concerned about, because the number of participants has weakened.”

CNRP Demonstration: Police REsponse

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Phnom Penh Municipal Police of Cambodia conducted a special training at the capital's Freedom Park on Monday after the opposition set to stage a three-day mass protest from Wednesday against the results of the July's election that handed victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.

About 2,000 policemen, armed with shields and batons, joined the half-day training, said Gen. Chuon Narin, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police.

The training aimed to strengthen security forces'abilities in maintaining security, safety and public order for the city.

The training came after the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) announced last week a three-day mass demonstration from Oct. 23 with 20,000 to 50,000 participants at the capital's Freedom Park. About 20,000 people will march to the United Nations office and several foreign embassies in Phnom Penh to submit a petition.

CNRP's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said Saturday that the mass protest is to call for the United Nations intervention in the country's political crisis after the disputed elections in July.

He said on Oct. 23, the first day of the protest, which will coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, protestors will march to the U.N. office to submit a petition. On Oct. 24 and 25, they will march to the embassies of France, Japan, the United States, China, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Australia.

......

CNRP: Next Move

Mass demonstrations for 3 days: October 23, 24, 25 with march to deliver petitions to UN Office, etc...

October 19, 2013 The Cambodia Daily.

The Phnom Penh Municipality on Friday said it would only allow 10,000 protesters to attend the opposition party’s planned mass-demonstration next week and that the demonstrators would not be allowed to leave Freedom Park.

On Friday, the municipality officially rejected the CNRP request to hold a three-day demonstration with 20,000 to 50,000 participants, and a 20,000-people-strong march to U.N. offices and several foreign embassies was also not permitted.

City Hall spokesperson Long Dimanche said on Friday that the municipality could only allow a maximum of 10,000 protesters—the capacity of Freedom Park ...

Dark Clouds Over Cambodia

 Marcus Mau:

More than 25.5 million people in Southeast Asia currently earn their money in the tourism industry and the trend is still rising. But the new climate report presented this summer by the Potsdam Institute for Climate analysis in cooperation with the World Bank paints a dark picture for the future of the region.
Since the 1960s, the temperature in Southeast Asia rose by an average of 0.27 to 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade. This value in itself seems to be small, but it still doubles the global heat increase per decade of about 0.13 degrees Celsius. By the year 2090, the world temperature could rise by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. The consequences for Southeast Asia and especially for Cambodia can already be predicted and will have serious impact on people, economy and tourism in the region.
Less fish, less rice, less tourists
With an increase in mean annual temperature by 1-2 degrees Celsius, the corals will die first, rendering the coasts defenseless against the roaring sea. By 2040, the sea level might be rising possibly by 30 cm. The sea water will invade far into the Mekong Delta and thus could reduce rice production by 2.6 million tons per year. This corresponds to a drop in production of 11 degrees Celsius compared with the rice harvest in 2011. With the death of the corals, the number of fish will decline. It is anticipated that current fishery quotas will drop.
On land, extreme summer temperatures are expected with up to 90 days per year that would turn generally hotter than normal. The heat will come together with a higher amount of rainfall during the monsoon season. Therefore, Cambodia could be affected by flooding in the future much more than today. Drought on the one side and heavy rains on the other could lead to crop failures on a large scale.
The climate change caused by a temperature rise of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius is predicted to have a huge impact on the economic and social development in Cambodia. With drops in fishery and tourism the region, will have to face an increasing number of unemployed people. Heat, constant flooding and the spread of diseases such as malaria could slow down the local development, making Cambodia one of the world's most vulnerable tourist destinations in the future.

 

Follow Marcus Mau on Twitter: www.twitter.com/IdeenUndWissen

CPP: On the move

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's ruling party- controlled National Assembly on Thursday convened its first plenary session to elect members for the body's nine commissions, while the opposition party has continued to boycott the parliament over July's disputed election.

Sixty-eight lawmakers of the Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party on Sept. 24 approved a parliamentary president, chairpersons for the body's nine commissions and Hun Sen's new Cabinet even though the opposition party's 55 lawmakers boycotted the session since they refused to accept the election results.

Thursday's session, attended by 64 ruling party lawmakers, was chaired by President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has announced that his party did not recognize the Prime Minister Hun Sen-led government, claiming that the newly-formed government was a violation of the constitution.

However, Hun Sen has defended that his government was " legitimate" since the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni had already given endorsement.

Rainsy departed Cambodia Monday night on a two-week trip to Europe and the United States in order to seek international intervention in the political impasse triggered by disputed election.

Opposition's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said on Thursday that the party would continue to boycott the parliament until there was an appropriate solution to the political crisis.

"We want a check and balance role in parliament, or we will continue our boycotts," he told Xinhua over telephone.

He said the party would call a three-day massive protest, starting from Oct. 23, in Phnom Penh in order to submit petitions to the United Nations and 18 signatory countries of the Paris Accord to seek their intervention in the dispute.

CNRP President: On the Move

Rainsy Registers as Voter, Opening Road to National Assembly

By Khy Sovuthy - October 8, 2013 The Cambodia Daily.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy registered his name on the National Election Committee’s (NEC) voter list in Phnom Penh on Monday, opening the door for him to be instated on the CNRP’s list of lawmakers as early as next year.

Mr. Rainsy’s name was removed from the voter list in November 2012 on the grounds that he was a convicted criminal. After he received a Royal Pardon and re­turned to the country just days before the July 28 national election, both the NEC and National Assembly said it was too late for him to be put back onto voter rolls.

The decision made it impossible for Mr. Rainsy to stand as a candidate for the National As­sem­bly, de­spite the fact he was the opposition’s president. CNRP chief whip Son Chhay said that by registering as a voter Monday, the process had begun for Mr. Rainsy to become a lawmaker.

On the Move 

On Monday he will leave Phnom Penh for a 2 week trip to Europe and America to put pressure on the Government to accept CNRP request.

CNRP: People Congress

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia October 6, 2013 (AP)

By JUSTINE DRENNAN Associated Press

Cambodia's main opposition party staged another mass rally in the capital on Sunday, vowing to keep up its political fight in the aftermath of national elections they say were rigged.

Around 10,000 people turned out for the protest in Phnom Penh. The demonstration was part of a more than two-month opposition push to demand an independent probe be set up to investigate alleged cheating during the July vote.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party has steadfastly refused the demand, however, and both sides are in a stalemate, with the opposition boycotting parliament.

Sam Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Party issued a statement later Sunday reiterating much of a strategy that has so far proven unsuccessful. It said the party would hold more protests nationwide, call a general strike, lobby foreign governments and gather support for a petition asking the U.N. to support the party's election claims.

Hun Sen is one of Asia's longest-serving and most authoritarian leaders. He has run Cambodia since 1985 with little tolerance for opposition, propelled by his well-financed political machine.

During the July election, though, his party performed unexpectedly weakly, emerging with its poorest results in more than a decade to see its majority wither in the 123-seat National Assembly.

The opposition, running on a newly unified slate, boosted its number of elected lawmakers to 55, up from 29.

People’s Congress – Resolution

11 hours ago

- See more at: http://www.nationalrescueparty.org/peoples-congress-resolution/#sthash.IHlfk4kT.dpuf

People’s Congress – Resolution

11 hours ago

- See more at: http://www.nationalrescueparty.org/peoples-congress-resolution/#sthash.IHlfk4kT.dpuf

 The 10 points Resolution:
 

... More demonstration by CNRP

CNRP confirms mass protest

PHNOM PENH Post

Tue, 1 October 2013

Meas Sokchea

Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy yesterday said he would go ahead with threatened protests whether or not permission is granted, citing the 1997 grenade attack at a workers’ rights rally as proof of how meaningless such authorisation is.
Speaking at a hastily-planned ceremony – the second in as many months – Rainsy pointed out to the hundreds gathered that consent given by then co-ministers of interior Sar Kheng and You Hockry had failed to stanch bloodshed.
On March 30, 1997, 16 were killed and more than 100 wounded when masked men lobbed grenades into a rally held by Rainsy. More than 15 years later, no arrests have been made and no suspects named.
“Both Excellencies [Sar Kheng and You Hockry] wrote back to me at the time saying that I could hold a demonstration but they would take responsibility. My God! Taking responsibility like this,” Rainsy said.
“Cambodia leaders do not have the spirit of responsibility at all, allowing us to hold demonstration, urging us to enter a trap.”
On Sunday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party announced it would hold another mass demonstration on October 23. A three-day sit-in held at Freedom Park last month remained non-violent, but was marred by clashes elsewhere in the city that resulted in at least one death and numerous injuries.
Given the fallout when legal permission was given, Rainsy said: “If we hold a demonstration and do not have the law[ful right], maybe it is better.”
Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak said it was Rainsy’s “right” to shirk the proper channels, but urged him to seek permission.
“Although there have been problems, if we have cooperation it is better,” he said.
He also stressed that the government was upset, too, about the loss of life in the 1997 attack.
But for Pov Sinuon, who was injured in the attack, such claims amount to little.
“I will not forget it all my life,” she said.