Bangkok: Protest Against Arrest of Thais in Cambodia

About 400 protesters rallied outside Bangkok's Government House on Thursday… demanding the government speed up the process of seeking the release of a group of Thais detained in Cambodia.

Protesters from the Thailand Patriot Network, a splinter group of the People's Alliance for Democracy, set up the temporary shelters outside the premier's office.

They condemned Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on their failure to free the detainees.

The seven Thais were charged on December 30th in Cambodia, with illegal entry and encroachment when they entered a disputed territory along the border.

Offences carry a maximum sentence of 18 months.

Two of them have been released on bail, but have to stay at the Thai Embassy in Cambodia until the trial.

Cambodian prosecutors have filed additional espionage charges against a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network and his secretary for attempting to collect information that is detrimental to Cambodia's national defense.

Espionage carries a sentence of five to 10 years.

Ties between the two countries have warmed in recent months in the wake of diplomatic spats over jurisdiction of land surrounding a 900-year-old temple and Cambodia's decision to employ former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand claims much of the land surrounding it.
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My Family Vacation to Cambodia: Quirky Encounters from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat

When I was a kid I went along with my family to Cambodia for the primary purpose of visiting Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building and surviving ancient temple. Little did I know the vacation would be
full of surprises, some humorous and others terrifying.

Our first stop was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Before we checked into our hotel, my father warned the rest of us to be careful about what we said out loud during our stay, in case the hotel room was bugged. I am not certain as to why the owners of an arbitrary hotel in Cambodia would want to bug their rooms, or if my father was simply paranoid to the point of ridicule, but we took his advice anyway to make him happy.

Oddly enough, we did find a small hole in the ceiling directly above our shower that looked suspiciously like a hidden camera. I believe we blocked it with some tissue paper.

In any case, we did a little sight-seeing in Cambodia's capital and then made our way to Siem Reap, the city closest to our main destination: Angkor Wat. There we met up with our designated tour guide. He spoke English more or less fluently, which relieved my father of the job of having to translate for us (he speaks Cambodian).

The tour guide was a nice enough guy. As the vacation progressed, he led us through the mind-blowingly beautiful Angkor Wat and other temples, explaining their history and the various Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. But when the man got around to describing the plentiful phallic and yonic statues, he unknowingly used their vulgar slang names instead of the aforementioned polite, formal vernacular. He did this consistently throughout the entire tour. Needless to say, it drew some stares from the other tour groups.

Later we passed by a group of locals, one of whom pointed our direction and yelled something in Cambodian. Our tour guide quickly translated this to us as, "What a nice, healthy son you have." If that sounds odd, it's because the tour guide lied. My father, being able to speak Cambodian, gave us the correct translation later. Apparently that person had actually yelled, "White as a ghost!"

Anyway, at some point during this vacation—I forget exactly when—my parents thought it would be fun to go joy riding in a rental car in the countryside. We went driving down the middle of nowhere, bisecting
fields of rice, toward some tourist attraction that we never could find. At some point we realized we had gone too far, and might be near or across the Cambodian border. This is bad. Why? Because there is a trend where people get robbed and killed trying to drive across the Cambodian border.

We turned around as soon as possible and bee-lined for our hotel again. Thankfully, there were no unpleasant encounters. We all got back to the city and then finished our trip in one piece.

That was the quirkier side of my family vacation to Cambodia, in a nutshell. Read more!

Let this case proceed fairly

What is fair for Thais? When Thais were trespassing into Cambodia, they were treated with respect and put on trial with court procedures. But if Cambodians were trespassing into Thailand, they were shot in execution style or burned alive, those culprits will face justice in future.

The arrest and legal proceedings by Cambodia against the Thai Seven is spiralling downward far too quickly into a soap opera with real-life implications. The government, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, should take a collective deep breath and reconsider the fast escalating case. Authorities should strongly encourage the noisy and decidedly unhelpful members of the anti-Cambodia nationalist movement to do the same. The decision by Cambodian authorities to charge two of the seven men with espionage is a petty and legally insupportable move. It should encourage Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to take the necessary steps to move the original trespassing cases along and seek an end to what is quickly becoming yet another crisis with the eastern neighbour.

There are many unanswered questions, but everyone now knows the basics of this simmering case. Mr Abhisit assigned the high-profile Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth to gather facts about Thais who live at the Cambodian border. Mr Panich, for unknown reasons, went there with Veera Somkwamkid, who is both a leader of the Thai Patriots Network and a well-known instigator of anti-Cambodia actions. The two men and five companions were recorded on video while Mr Panich stated calmly that they were inside Cambodia. All seven were arrested, charged with trespassing, and taken to Phnom Penh for trial.

PM Abhisit, apparently because of Mr Panich's arrest, has tried aggressively and publicly to win release of the Thai Seven _ "They meant no harm." Hun Sen, apparently because of Mr Veera's arrest, has aggressively and frequently refused to intervene in the case _ "No one can intervene in the judicial system."

On Monday, however, someone in Cambodia intervened rather forcefully. Prosecutors filed the absurd charges of espionage against Mr Veera and the activist's secretary, Ratree Pipatanapaiboon. They allegedly collected information which might damage Cambodia's national security, said the charges. Presumably, the other five men did not collect such information. It is a clearly a vindictive charge, meant to intimidate and to punish Mr Veera for his past actions.

The irony, lost on few if any of the Thai public, is that Mr Veera is at least as large a thorn in the government's side as in Cambodia's. The arrest of the Thai Seven, now followed by the further serious charges against Mr Veera, will serve to spur a large rally against the government, scheduled in two weeks. Daily utterings by PM Abhisit on the case are fuelling emotions. There is a strong chance that the Jan 25 rally could descend into xenophobia. It is certain that some activists will attempt to steer the rally against Cambodian relations. It is arguably the only serious issue that the People's Alliance for Democracy can use in its anti-government campaign.

In effect, then, both Mr Abhisit and Hun Sen are acting against their own interests by treating the trespassing charges as a continuing and high-profile case. The rather feverish and daily news conferences feed the extremists. Both men and their spokesmen are providing more ammunition to the PAD and the self-styled "patriots" in both countries.

Mr Abhisit and the government need to do their best to protect Thais in trouble overseas. They need not and should not attempt to intervene directly into ongoing cases. As for Hun Sen, it is always appreciated when he dials down his rhetoric. It may be too much to hope, but if he allows the case to proceed to the judiciary without interference, it would be appreciated.

Read more!

Leslie Sanazaro Returns with Daughters of Cambodia Tour, Album

By Annie Zaleski

Singer-songwriter Leslie Sanazaro has a free show tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wine Press (4436 Olive Street). This show holds particular meaning for her, though: She'll be debuting new songs from a forthcoming album, Daughters of Cambodia, which is due in May 2011. The album is part of a bigger project whose aim is to raise money for a girls' school in Cambodia.

"It's a little bit of an outside-the-box project," Sanazaro said in a press release. "We make the record with the help of musicians all over the country, raise money for the tour, and let the tour stops raise the money for the school in Cambodia. Each show is a fundraiser and is linked with a local women's organization. It raises awareness for women's issues at home and abroad at the same time."

Sanazaro first became interested in this cause while performing in South Korea in 2008.

"I played 70 shows there that year and would read about women sold into marriage to wealthy men from Seoul," she tells A to Z. "Many of them didn't make it. It was very hard to read.

"Then last year I came upon New York Times writer Sheryl WuDunn's book, Half the Sky. I also heard her speak at Webster this past fall. The detailed stories of women who had survived (and some who had not survived) being sold against their will into the sex trade (brothels), well, it just hit me very deeply. For weeks it was the first thing I thought about waking up and the last thing at night. It made me re-think many things."

A planned break from writing music soon fell by the wayside; Sanazaro says she "was suddenly filled with a reason to write new music! While my heart still aches and I still spend a strong portion of each day in thought about the realities of human trafficking, I feel like I've come alive again working on this project.

"I couldn't be more excited to work on something so important," she adds. "The importance of this issue is deeper than I can express. That is why I began writing this music. When words fail, music, time and intent can deliver!"

Sanazaro will follow the album's release with a U.S. tour and a show at the beneficiary Cambodian school. She's currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the project. Tonight's Wine Press show will have a raffle of prizes, including music from bands such as Bill Deschand, Bottoms Up Blues Gang, Auset, Javier Mendoza and Dub Kitchen. Read more!

Cooperation Between Sweden and Cambodia

The Royal Government of Sweden has decided to set up an Embassy in Cambodia to boost up the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries – Sweden and Cambodia.

Newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Cambodia Mrs. Anne Hoglund told Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Keat Chhon during their meeting here last Thursday, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The Swedish diplomat further said her government had provided a financial aid for the mutual cooperation and development to two countries in Asia, including Cambodia.

This year, she added, Sweden took over the rotating presidency of the EU and she also became president of EU in Cambodia, which is a task to share effort in the development activities in Cambodia.

In the meantime, Sweden and Cambodia have been working on drafting a development strategic plan for year 2011-2015, which will be completed every soon, said Mrs. Anne Hoglund, adding that many Swedish companies are interested in doing business in Cambodia.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Keat Chhon expressed his warm welcome to the diplomatic mission of the newly-appointed Swedish ambassador to Cambodia, which he said is a sign of strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Sweden is a development partner, which has played an active role in the national development of Cambodia and has been providing grant aid to Cambodia since 1979 by starting from a humanitarian aid, he said.

Up to the end of 2009, Sweden provided US$280 million in grant aid to Cambodia to support the fields of education, good governance, human rights and environment. –AKP

Read more!

Legal Advisor Seeks Release of Seven Thais From Cambodian Detention

There is no a disputed border area like NTD Asia Brief News had reported on the internet, the Thai MP is representing million Thai nationals. What was that meant? It meant Thais invading Cambodia.

Thailand sent a legal advisor to Cambodia on Sunday to seek the release of the seven Thais who were detained for entering a disputed border area and military zone on December 29.

The legal advisor met with Cambodia’s defense lawyers and the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh.

[Nataporn Toprayoou, Thai Legal Advisor]:
"We need to talk to the lawyers here and let them know that we would like to meet the seven Thai detainees."

It's been arranged for him to meet the detainees on Monday to hear their side of the story.

Last month, the court charged the seven Thais with offenses which carry a maximum sentence of 18 months.

At the center of the dispute is the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple - a nationalist symbol in both countries.

The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962 but Thailand lays claim to much of the land surrounding it.

[Nataporn Toprayoou, Thai Legal Advisor]:
"Let the court prosecute. We cannot say this person is guilty or that person is not guilty so far as there is no proof of the disputed land belonging to the country. We have to prove this concretely."

Most of the detainees are members of the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD.

PAD members have whipped up nationalistic sentiment over border disputes with Cambodia at times leading to deadly fighting. Read more!

Court slaps 2 Thais with spying charge

Immediate release not possible, says Hun Sen

The seven Thai suspects arrested for trespassing into Cambodia have plunged deeper into trouble as two of them have been slapped with an additional charge of espionage.

Under the new charge, Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, a splinter group of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, identified as Mr Veera's secretary, could face between five and 10 years in jail if found guilty.

The two were additionally charged with "collecting information which might damage Cambodia's national security", according to Phnom Penh Municipal Court officials.

The two are among the group of seven Thais arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 last year, which included Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, when they entered a disputed area claimed by Cambodia near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district adjacent to Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.

The Cambodian court earlier charged them with illegal entry and trespassing on a military area.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen strongly reaffirmed yesterday his government's position to allow the Cambodian judicial process to take its course.

The Phnom Penh Post quoted Hun Sen as saying that the Thai parliamentarian and six other Thais arrested on trespassing charges will have to serve at least two-thirds of their jail sentences if convicted.

"Nobody, not even the United Nations or former Thai prime minister Thaksin [Shinawatra], could interfere in the Cambodian judicial process for an immediate release for them," Hun Sen said via the Bayon television station.

"We will talk about this further when the court has completed its procedure, but the law is the law, the court is the court, and the government cannot influence or order the court to do this or that for a political compromise."

If found guilty of the charges against them, the seven could file an appeal within 30 days.

Hun Sen said that on the night of Dec 29, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya called him about 10 times but he did not answer the phone.

The Foreign Ministry yesterday submitted bail requests for the seven Thai detainees with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said the court would make a decision on bail within five days.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called an urgent meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Mr Kasit to discuss ways to help get the seven Thais released.

"We are looking at trends in the case. Our goal is to help them to be released and our sovereignty must not be violated," said Mr Abhisit.

Meanwhile, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a leader of the Thai Patriots Network, said the Thai embassy in Cambodia had tried to bar the network's legal team from meeting the seven Thais. This could affect their court defence and consequently deprive them of an opportunity to return to Thailand.

He said the network had also petitioned the UN asking it to intervene.

"We will not accept the Cambodian court's ruling as the court procedures are not in line with the fourth Geneva Convention," he said.

Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara yesterday denied Cambodian media reports that Thai soldiers had shot at Cambodians along the border, saying the troops only fired in response to gangs who sneaked into Thailand to fell trees and then opened fire on the soldiers when discovered. Read more!

As Divisive Jan. 7 Holiday Passes, An Expert Reflects

Jan. 7 remains a contentious day for Cambodians, marking both the ouster of the Khmer Rouge and the beginning of Vietnamese occupation. And while Cambodian's can be bitterly divided on the day, an independent analyst says that's the “beauty of democracy.”

“We should take these differences and bind us to each other, to unite build the country,” said Chea Vannath, as a guest on “Hello VOA” Thursday.

People have different views the world over, she said, but some people understand the “art of the the win-win” and that different opinions can be a strength.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party remains a fervent supporters of the day, while denouncing those who are critical. Meanwhile, the opposition and its supporters find more to celebrate on Oct. 23, the birth day of Cambodia as a constitutional democracy.

On Jan. 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces pushed the Khmer Rouge from power. They did not leave until 1989, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Bitter civil war continued through Oct. 23, 1991, when a peace accord was reached.

Both days are important to reflect on Cambodian history, she said.

“Jan. 7 is the father and Oct. 23 is the mother,” Chea Vannath said. “Children need both a father and a mother and they can't say a father has more favor than a mother, can't say that a mother has more favor than the father.”

Read more!

Logger alleged killed by Thai border patrol

One Cambodian man was killed and another wounded after they were caught logging illegally across the border in Thailand, officials said Sunday, the latest in a spate of such shootings by Thai security forces.

Dy Phen, director of the border relations office in Banteay Meanchey province, said the pair were part of a group of seven loggers from Thma Puok district who came under fire from troops in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province on Friday.

The group then bore the injured back to Cambodia without being apprehended or informing the Cambodian authorities, he added.

“The body was returned to the man’s family members on the same day as the shooting,” Dy Phen said. “They didn’t report to local authorities because they were afraid we would investigate their case and ask them who encouraged them to go to Thailand.”

Last month, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya, reportedly discussing the shootings of Cambodian loggers by Thai troops. Hor Namhong said following the meeting that Kasit had agreed that Thai authorities would be more lenient with trespassers.

On the same day as the talks, however, two Cambodians were killed by troops in Thailand’s Sisaket province. Cambodian officials claimed the loggers were attacked by the troops, though Thai Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said the soldiers were acting in self-defence.

“They were fired upon by [the loggers’] guards, who were armed, so the patrol had fired back in defence,” Thani said at the time.

Following the incident, the government sent a diplomatic note to Thailand inquiring about the shooting.

“I will use serious words to emphasise that the shooting is a cruel act and is unbecoming of a civilised country,” Hor Namhong said at the time.

Chan Soveth, head of monitoring for local rights group Adhoc, said Sunday that his organisation had recorded 16 Cambodians killed by Thai soliders near the border in 2010, with 29 killed since tensions between the two countries broke out in 2008.

“They should use the law in these situations, not violence,” Chan Soveth said.

Thai officials could not be reached for comment Sunday. Read more!

A day of fun and celebration for children

Thai kids enjoyed special treats and fun activities provided by state agencies, organisations and companies as the country celebrated National Children's Day yesterday.



By The Nation on Sunday


At Government House, in keeping with tradition every year, children formed a long queue for a chance to sit on the prime minister's seat in the Thai Khu Fa building.

Among the children were 13 whose parents were killed in the Southern unrest. They were taken to meet PM Abhisit Vejjajiva who greeted them.

Nine-year-old Alimin Waetingwae from Narathiwat said the premier's seat was soft. He also said that Abhisit was handsome and that he too wanted to become a prime minister in future

Abhisit had earlier presided over the event hosted by the Education Ministry at Sanam Suapa and another by the Metropolitan Police before his meeting with 241 Thai Student Council representatives. He also attended a videoconference with youth representatives of four regions at Government House.

The prime minister was guarded by the "little rangers" security volunteers. He gave an interview to a special television programme by the Thai youth news centre. Abhisit said that if he could ask for three blessings for Thai kids he would want them to be good, capable and happy.
At Parliament, children watched in awe a light and sound show of a 3D House meeting in which they saw PM Abhisit explaining a fiscal matter, House Speaker Chai Chidchob performing his duty and MP Chalerm Yoobumrung giving a speech. They also got a chance to act as news broadcasters from a mock-up TV studio and to learn about Thai politics and royal projects from the exhibition there.

Many military bases also hosted special events for kids and were a popular choice for parents to take their kids to yesterday. The Defence Ministry headquarters in Bangkok hosted many games. There were plenty of photo opportunities for kids to pose with military machines, and also the opportunity to ride one of 32 horses.

At the 14 October 73 Memorial on Rajadamnoen Avenue, democracy advocates and red-shirt supporters hosted an event titled "children love democracy, don't play with soldiers and don't accept dictatorship", in which children were taught to make paper birds, as a symbol of peace.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) also celebrated the day by granting 500 scholarships to underprivileged kids, while providing fun activities for kids at most city parks, the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre in Din Daeng as well as other 37 youth centres, 10 sport centres and 34 libraries.

At the Nation Tower in Bang Na, the Nation Group yesterday morning hosted a fun event for kids. Besides playing games for gifts and colouring pictures, the kids also got a chance to try recording their voice at a news studio and had their image printed on the cover of Kom Chad Leuk newspaper.

Read more!

Indonesia, Pakistan and Cambodia back Aquino peace stance

By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—Asian leaders have thrown their support behind President Aquino's peace engagement with the Moro separatist rebels and communist insurgents.

Aquino earned the backing of leading political leaders of Pakistan and Indonesia, which are largely Muslim countries, and Buddhist Cambodia when they called on him in Malacañang on Friday.

“Carpe Diem! Seize the moment,” was the message of Pakistani Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a leader of the political opposition in Pakistan, to Mr. Aquino.

At a press conference in Makati on Saturday, Sayed reiterated it. “This is the time and I think that President Aquino has seized the moment and we will ensure that the moment, the initiative, remains in his hand, and we are right behind him to push this forward.”

Sayed, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Sok An and former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, along with former Speaker Jose de Venecia, met with the President at the Palace to laud him for simultaneously pursuing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Maoist New People's Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Although there was no formal invitation for Muslim nations to broker the peace process, Sayed said, "We endorsed his initiatives for peace within the Philippines—the discussion with insurgents in Mindanao and of course with the NPA.”

Sayed is a member of the Commission of Eminent Persons of the powerful Organization of Islamic Conference and secretary general of the Pakistani Muslim League.

He is seen as an opposition presidential contender should the Pakistani government call for fresh elections to end the political stalemate there.

He said Pakistan, which he described as a “leading Muslim country,” shared the “strategic convergence with the government and people of the Philippines for the resolution of this issue concerning the Muslims of the Philippines. So we endorse wholeheartedly the peace process initiated by President Aquino.”

The officials held an informal meeting later Friday with former President Fidel Ramos and Vice President Jejomar Binay at the residence of De Venecia in Forbes Park, Makati, following the wedding of De Venecia’s son, Joey, to Karen Batungbacal.

At the meeting, which lasted way past midnight, both Binay and Ramos welcomed the help of the Centrist Asia-Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI) in the Philippine peace process.

Binay is set to write President Aquino to formally invite CAPDI to help, in whatever capacity, in the peace process since there has been no formal invitation from Malacañang to do so.

“Our formal presence has to be the result of an invitation because we cannot intervene unilaterally,” said De Venecia, who wanted CAPDI "to make itself available on request."

CAPDI is a high-level alliance of ruling and opposition political parties in Asia, business leaders, civil society and academe. CAPDI, whose forerunner was the Centrist Democrats International Asia-Pacific, was formally founded in Dec. 2010 in Phnom Penh.

Its leaders are skilled in conflict-resolution and international diplomacy.

Sayed said the Philippine government must also welcome Malaysia and Qatar's help.

“Qatar has clout also as a rising Muslim country with a lot of oil revenues. So you see, there's a lot of back- up from Muslim countries and this back-up would help... the government of the Philippines in pushing this process forward,” said Sayed.

“It will bring the Muslim world and the Philippines closer together, and we welcome this,” he said, adding, in effect, that the President was in the best position with his immense political capital and popularity here and abroad to end the Mindanao conflict and insurgency.

“Dialogue is the essence of democracy. The Philippines has a very dynamic democracy. We always looked up to Cory Aquino… in 1986. In the Third World, the Philippines has been a role model on how a peaceful transformation can take place through the exercise of people power,” he said.

Kalla currently chairs CAPDI, while Sok An and Sayed serve as vice president and secretary general, respectively.

“Kalla successfully negotiated the Aceh conflict in Indonesia,” said De Venecia. Sok An and Hun Sen helped engineer the resolution of armed conflicts in Cambodia.

De Venecia is the founding chair of CAPDI, while both Ramos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen play the role of chair emeritus.

Leaders in Asia have much respect and admiration for Mr. Aquino due to the legacy of his late mother, People Power icon Corazon Aquino, said Sayed.

"Talking to President Aquino, I found him a good guy, a sincere person and a very straightforward person. I think he means what he says," said Sayed, when asked about his thoughts about the chief executive.

"We feel that this is the 21st century. A lot of these conflicts are holdover from the past. It's time to have a better tomorrow. And that new beginning is essential for not just the Philippines (but) for Asia, the Muslim countries and communities," said Sayed.

In the Makati meeting, Sok An said that the Capdi officials decided to form a peace commission with headquarters in Phnom Penh “to be given an institutional back up and support of leaders who have experiences in mediation, negotiation and in conflict resolution.”

The priority is the peace mission to Nepal to be followed by a dialogue between leaders of India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, said De Venecia.

Sayed urged Mr. Aquino and the rest of Asia facing internal conflicts to negotiate peace without U.S., British or Western intervention.

"If the 21st is to be an Asian century, the resurgence, rise and rejuvenation of Asia are inexplicably intertwined with the quest for peace, security and stability in those parts of Asia who are prone to violence, conflict and instability. Hence, we link development with peace. This linkage which something which the country will capture,” said Sayed, adding that Asians should learn to make peace on their own.

“This is the Asian century. We should do it on our own," he said.

Read more!

No reinforcement of Thai troops along Thai-Cambodian border

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 8 -- Despite ongoing tension between Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia following the recent arrest of seven Thai nationals, Thai forces on the Surin provincial border have not been reinforced, said Second Army Region commander Lt-Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn on Saturday.

Gen Thawatchai, responsible for security affairs in Thailand's Northeast, said no violence had been reported at Prasart Ta Muen Thom, and the peoples of both countries still visit the historic ruins.

Ta Muen Thom ruin sits on another of many disputed areas along the border, and lies in Surin province and Cambodia’s northern Uddor Meanchey province.

His remarks were made after seven Thais, including MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth from the ruling Democrat party and Thai Patriots Network leader Veera Somkwamkid, were arrested by Cambodian soldiers as they inspected the border area in Sakeo province on Dec 29.

The court in Phnom Penh finished the first hearings for all seven Thai detainees on Thursday. The seven faced two charges -- one of illegal entry into the Cambodian kingdom, with assigned punishment of three to six months of imprisonment and deportation, while the other involved trespass into a Cambodian military area without permission, punishable by a three to six months jail term and Bt7,500-15,000 in fines.

No date has been set for the court ruling.

Gen Thawatchai said Thailand's present number of troops along the Surin border is sufficient and they are prepared to perform their duty so it is unnecessary to boost their number.

In response to concern that more serious violence might follow the border arrests, Gen Thawatchai said he did not believe there will be more violence. In any case, the final ruling will be made by the Cambodian court and the Thai authorities could not intervene.

He said the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry may discuss with the Cambodian government to secure their return home after the final verdict is made. (MCOT online news)
Read more!

Russia mounts land, air and sea searching for trawler in Far East

Two boats, a helicopter and 14 land vehicles are searching for a trawler last heard from off the coast of Sakhalin in Russia's Far East, a regional emergencies spokesman said on Saturday.

The Cambodia-flagged Partner, which has a Russian crew, issued a distress signal on Friday when it was near the western coast of Sakhalin. It had been fishing in the Tatar Strait between the island and the Russian mainland.

"A Mi-8 helicopter from the Sakhalin company Aviashelf is conducting aerial reconnaissance in the area where the distress signal was issued. There are two ships combing the area where the distress signal was issued," the Sakhalin Region Emergency Situations Ministry official said.

The search began on Friday but there has been no sign of the vessel. The land searchers, numbering 74 people, are scouring the western coast of Sakhalin for rafts that may have saved the crew. It is thought that there were up to 14 Russian citizens on board the vessel.

"There are no roads to the coast in the search area, so the operations involve an all-terrain tracked vehicle. The ground-search group includes a doctor. They have warm clothes and food for the fishermen, if they are rescued," the emergencies spokesman said.

Russian fisheries officials said on Friday that the trawler was owned by the Belize-registered company SGI. An October 2010 record listed the captain as Sakhalin resident Alexei Maltsev and said there were 11 crew.

Shipping in Russia's Far East has been beset by problems due to bad weather in recent days and weeks, with icebreakers dispatched to the Sea of Okhotsk, north and east of Sakhalin, to rescue several vessels trapped in sea ice up to two meters thick.

Read more!

Trespassing case 'has no bearing' on Cambodia border dispute

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Convicting the seven Thai nationals for trespassing in Cambodia would not overrule Thailand's right to claim sovereignty over the disputed border area near Sa Kaew's Ban Nong Chan, where the men were caught, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and legal experts said yesterday.

The Cambodian court's ruling on the case would only be binding for individuals who were involved in the case, but would never be a reference point for boundary demarcation, he said.
Seven Thai nationals, including an MP from the ruling Democrat Party, Panich Vikitsreth, and yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid were arrested by Cambodian officials last week while inspecting the disputed area.

In his testimony, Panich told the Cambodian court that he had crossed the border by accident. Information from the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Foreign Ministry indicates that the group had only gone 55 metres into Cambodian territory

Veera and other activists insist that this area belongs to Thailand because Thai authorities issued land titles for local residents a long time ago. Veera and his group were arrested at the same site last August.

The area in question has been occupied by Cambodians who fled from civil war at home in the late 1970s and refused to return after the war.

This border location had been demarcated more than a century ago, when Cambodia was a French colony, but the boundary pillars in the area were destroyed or removed. The two countries have not yet reached common ground as to exactly where the boundary pillars were.

Worry is growing in Thailand that Cambodia will take advantage of the case to claim sovereignty over the area.

Legal expert Panas Tassaneeyanond, meanwhile, said the Cambodian court had the authority to rule on each individual's guilt in accordance with Cambodian law but such a ruling had no binding on the boundary line with Thailand.

"Legally speaking, the ruling is specifically bound to each individual in the case," Panas said on a television programme.

Meanwhile, secretary to the foreign minister Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the case should be kept separate from the boundary issue because the two countries had a joint boundary committee to handle the dispute. The Cambodian court's ruling should have no legal implication on the matter, he said.

The main argument in the case of the seven Thais jailed in Phnom Penh is whether they entered Cambodian territory unintentionally, he said.

Separately, Army chief Prayut Chan-ocha responded to allegations that the military was too weak to deal with Cambodia over the border dispute by saying that the issue should be settled through negotiations and that it would take time.

"With both sides claiming the same location, we cannot say who has lost it to whom, but we do have to say that we need to live together peacefully and with mutual respect," he said.

"The military does not fear anyone. We have the duty to protect our motherland. If it is clear that it is our land, we will not allow any invasion, but while it is still unclear, we will have to talk with our neighbours," he said.

A group of yellow-shirt activists met with officials at the Foreign Ministry yesterday asking the ministry to help them pay a visit to their colleagues in prison.

The court finished the first round of testimony on Thursday and their lawyer will submit a bail request on Monday. The court will then take five days to consider the request.

Read more!

Cambodian court decision over 7 Thais not affect Thai territory: Thai PM

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday reaffirmed that Cambodian court's verdict on the arrested seven Thai will not lead to possible loss of Thai territory since it has legal binding effect only on individual.

The Thai premier made remarks after the pro-establishment People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), dubbed"yellow-shirt" movement, claimed Thailand may lose some of its land to its neighboring Cambodia if it accepts the Cambodian court ruling on the case of the seven detainees.

Abhisit stated that the court ruling will affect only the litigants and it's considered an individual issue, on a case by case basis, not as part of the border problems.

"If so, we can arrest a foreigner and then the defendant confesses, it means his country will lose territory," noted the PM, adding "we must wait and see the court verdict first. The matter will not be prolonged,"a local media quoted him as saying.

The Thai premier advised the critics to let concerned officials do their jobs. "We won't talk about legal aspects which can bring more damage," he said.

Following opposition Puea Thai accusations that the premier conspired with the detained Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, Abhisit affirmed he had assigned Panich to respond to the complaints of local residents at the border, but he asserted that the incident occurred unexpectedly.

The seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers as they inspected the border area on Dec. 29 last year.

The Cambodian court finished the first hearing on Thursday. They were facing two charges -- illegal entry into Cambodian territory and illegally entering a military base; crimes which in Cambodia carry penalties of up to six months and one year respectively, and fine from one to two million Cambodian riels ( 250 U.S. dollars to 500 U.S. dollars).

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia, although its primary entrance lies in Thailand and the exact boundary through the surrounding grounds remains in dispute, with occasional military skirmishes claiming a number of lives.

Source: Xinhua Read more!

Over 2,000 to take part in ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia next week

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) - More than 2,000 delegates from ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are ready to take part in the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2011), a government official said Friday.

Plong Thoeun, deputy director of tourism promotion department of Ministry of Tourism said that more than 2,000 delegates have confirmed their attendances to the 30th ATF to be held from Jan. 15 to 21, 2011.

The 30th ATF 2011 will be held at the newly built Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

He said alongside with the ATF 2011, there will be travel exchange (TRAVEX) which will give the venue for the ASEAN's package tour sellers and potential buyers from the region and the world, and friendship golf tournament for ASEAN Tourism Ministers and senior officials, organized and sponsored by international television network.

Ang Kim Eng, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents (CATA) said Friday that some 990 buyers have registered, just more than double from original plan of about 400.

The forum is the second of its kind hosted by Cambodia after the previous one was hosted in 2003.

ASEAN Tourism Forum is a cooperative regional effort to promote the ASEAN region as one tourist destination.

This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Read more!

Recently released market study: Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar Business Forecast Report Q1 2011

Recently published research from Business Monitor International, "Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar Business Forecast Report Q1 2011", is now available at Fast Market Research

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN )'s drive to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015 is expected to support economic growth for Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos through increased trade and foreign direct investment. ASEAN 's growing political influence within the international community will also put the group in a stronger position to negotiate for favourable trade agreements with external parties, in our view. However, we see cooling external demand as a credible threat to the group's exports, which could become a significant drag on growth in 2011. Thus, we are forecasting relatively weak real GDP growth of 3.7%, 4.0% and 6.5% for Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos respectively in 2011.

The increasing scale and frequency of land rights violations are fuelling growing dissent against the Cambodian government. We are increasingly concerned with the government's failure to clamp down on corruption at the district level, which risks further social unrest going forward. The growing number of cases involving violations of land rights and forced displacement of the rural poor in Cambodia are partly a result of the Cambodian parliament's decision to pass a law allowing the government to expropriate land for development in December 2009. Despite ongoing efforts by the government to clamp down on corruption, Cambodia remains one of the most corrupt countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Foreign direct investment in Laos's mining industry could overtake the hydropower sector in terms of growth over the coming years. The country is well placed to capitalise on its rich mineral resources on the back of China's growing demand for industrial metals. We believe the Lao government's plan to issue new investment licences over the coming months will help raise foreign participation in the mining industry. Foreign capital and technological know-how will play a crucial role in paving the way for a new phase of growth for the industry, in our view. Growth in the mining sector will also contribute to Laos's Millennium Development Goals in the coming years.

The Burmese government's 10-year plan for the development of a large-scale industrial estate in Dawei is attracting the attention of investors across the border. The Thai government's economic think-tank has warned that heavy industry in Thailand could shift operations from the Map Ta Phut industrial estate to Myanmar upon completion of the Dawei industrial project. However, uncertainties with the successful implementation of the project compel us to adopt a cautious stance on Myanmar's economic growth outlook in the coming years. Accordingly, we are maintaining our real GDP growth forecasts for Myanmar to average 4.0% over the next five years (2011-2016).

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Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Read more!

CAMBODIA: Winning the battle against schistosomiasis

KRATIE, 6 January 2011 (IRIN) - Health officials in Cambodia are making inroads in their battle against schistosomiasis, a chronic and debilitating disease commonly known as snail fever.

In northeastern Cambodia, more than 80,000 people living along the 5,000km-long Mekong River are at risk of schistosomiasis, according to the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) [ http://www.cnm.gov.kh/ ].

"We've seen a very [big] drop from the last decade," Muth Sinuon, a parasitic worms specialist at the government body, said. She places current prevalence rates at less than 5 percent - a steep fall from the mid-1990s.

"Back around 1995, we saw that between 30 and 70 percent of people in Kratie and Stung Treng were infected," she said. The chronic disease is endemic in the two poor, remote provinces in northeastern Cambodia.

Schistosomiasis is known as snail fever because the parasite lives in freshwater snails. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), people become infected when larval forms of the parasite - released by freshwater snails - penetrate their skin during contact with infested water.

In Cambodia, residents go fishing in rivers when water levels are low during the dry season, from February to May, and contract the disease from infested water.

The disease spreads through bathing, washing laundry and fetching water, Muth said.

Left untreated, the worm is perilous even though mortality is low. Schistosomiasis can cause bloody faeces and urine, a bloated belly, intestine damage, liver disease and bladder cancer, say health experts.

In terms of its social and economic impacts, snail fever is second only to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease in tropical countries, according to the Carter Center, a non-profit charity based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. [ http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html ]

Risk to children

Because of their hygiene and play habits in the water, children are particularly at risk.

"These parasites cause growth retardation in children, short- and long-term memory problems, difficulty with reasoning and reading comprehension," said Taing Tek Hong, a US-based Cambodian gastroenterologist, who travels regularly to Cambodia.

Heavily infected people are at risk of malnutrition.

Parasite's lifecycle

When human urine or faeces containing the parasite's eggs enter the water, the eggs hatch and release larvae, which search for river snails that live in the fissures of partially submerged rocks.
They enter the snail and multiply, then look for a new host in the water. They break through human skin and infiltrate the blood, move to the liver, and grow into worms.

From there, the worms travel through the blood, laying thousands of eggs in the intestine or bladder.

Treatment

Since 2002, the Cambodian government has overseen a vast deworming programme. In 2004, the country was the first to reach the WHO's goal of covering three-quarters of school-aged children, or three million people.

Once a year in Kratie and Stung Treng, authorities treat schistosomiasis patients with Praziquantel, a drug that is usually effective with a single dose.

The campaign has led to a drastic fall in cases, said Duong Socheat, head of the CNM.

Even so, more needs to be done to improve sanitation and education, he said.

Many people still defecate into rivers because they have limited access to toilets. Fewer than 16 percent of rural Cambodians have access to adequate sanitation, says the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

According to WHO, around the world, 700 million people may be at risk of schistosomiasis. More than 207 million people are infected worldwide, the majority in Africa. Most live in poor communities without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

Control of schistosomiasis is based on drug treatment, snail control, improved sanitation and health education, the world health body says.

Read more!

Cambodia says KRouge trial should preserve peace

PHNOM PENH (AFP) – Cambodia's ruling party Friday called for a UN-backed war crimes court to safeguard "hard-won peace" in its trial of top Khmer Rouge leaders, as it marked the 32nd anniversary of the regime's ouster.

"The Cambodian People's Party supports the trial... for crimes committed by the most senior leaders" of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodian People's Party (CPP) president Chea Sim told a crowd of thousands of supporters.

He appealed for continued international support "so that the trial process will be successfully completed on the basis of safeguarding all national achievements, especially Cambodia's hard-won peace and stability."

The trial of four top regime leaders is due to start this year on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide after up to two million people were executed or were starved or worked to death from 1975-1979.

The tribunal, dogged by allegations of political interference, has yet to announce whether it will go ahead with two more cases against five as-yet-unnamed former Khmer Rouge cadres.

In its first case, the court in July sentenced former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch to 30 years in jail for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people.

But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, deputy leader of the CPP, has repeatedly warned that pursuing more suspects from the hardline communist regime could spark civil war.

Hun Sen -- once a mid-level Khmer Rouge member before turning against the movement -- told visiting United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon in October that a third case was "not allowed" because it could jeopardise peace. Read more!

Travel Vietnam & Cambodia - Fancy a Far East adventure

2011-01-07 08:41:17 - The New Year is fast approaching, so now is a good time to consider next year's break. With the economy slowly but surely improving, why not travel to somewhere a little more exciting in 2011?

Vietnam ( www.activetravelvietnam.com ) holidays are certainly an option worth considering, with the Far East nation offering visitors spectacular landscapes, a fascinating culture and a friendly population. A nation that has successfully emerged from the ravages of war, Vietnam is being explored by an increasing number of travellers, all of whom are keen to experience this most unique of destinations. While its recent history is inescapable, so too is its soaring mountains, stunning coastline and iconic rice fields.

With so much to take in, travellers arriving in Vietnam will want to arrange their transport as early as possible. Trains are perhaps the most comfortable way of travelling around the country, although there is only one major line; that linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, a journey that takes around 30 hours to complete.

Buses are a cheaper option, with intercity services tending to depart at the crack of dawn in order to beat the morning rush. Services take a while, however, so be prepared to give up a day or two here and there for travelling. Once you've arrived at your chosen destination, you will certainly want to get out and explore your surroundings; in which case, car rental might be an option worth considering.

While hiring your own car is only possible in Vietnam's main cities, you can hire a vehicle with a driver elsewhere. So, not only will you avoid having to negotiate the country's often hectic road network, you will be able to take advantage of local knowledge, possibly discovering places a little off the beaten track and learning a bit of Vietnamese along the way.

The Far East ( www.activetravel.asia ) is a long way to travel, so there's no reason to limit your trip to a single country. Neighbouring Cambodia is another nation that has fully embraced tourism. Fortunately, then, there are a number of Vietnam and Cambodia tours for travellers to take advantage of.

Angkor Wat is arguably the jewel in Cambodia's crown. The huge temple complex, one of the finest examples of classical Khmer architecture, has become the nation's symbol. Dating back to the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the World's largest religious building and has pride of place on Cambodia's flag.

While Cambodia ( www.activetravelcambodia.com ) is awash with culture and historical artefacts, travellers will inevitably want some downtime during their Far Eastern adventure. Sihanoukville, known among tourists as Snookyville, is a popular seaside town and home to the country's best beaches. Seemingly becoming more popular as each year passes, Sihanoukville was recently referred to by the New York Times as "Asia's next trendsetting beach".

Seemingly a million miles away, Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, is referred to as one of the Far East's remaining undiscovered destinations. Despite being deeply affected by war and revolution, Phnom Penh is a city of optimism and colour; a place of Buddhists, spice markets and a burgeoning economy. It's likely you'll visit the city during your Cambodian adventure, and while the inevitable assault on the senses may exhaust you, it's certainly worth spending a day or two here.

No visit to the eastern corner of Asia can be complete without seeing some of the region's wildlife, so a visit to the 1,581 sq km Bokor National Park comes highly recommended. Home to green peafowl, chestnut-headed partridge and even tigers, the park is well worth a visit, even if it's just to see the deserted French hill station, Bokor, that it contains.

Vietnam and Cambodia are two nations opening their arms to tourism. Why not discover each country next year before everyone else does?

Source : forres-gazette. Read more!