New Thai Prime Minister

Sompong, New Thai Foreign Minister

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Bernama) — Justice Minister and veteran politician Sompong Amornwiwat is set to helm the Foreign Ministry in Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat’s Cabinet.

The deputy leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) told reporters today that Somchai had asked him to be foreign minister in the new Cabinet which is awaiting royal endorsement.

Sompong, 67, one of the front-runners to replace prime minister Samak Sundaravej after he was disqualified by the Constitution Court on Sept 9, said he woul d be ready to assume the post which was last held by former diplomat Tej Bunnag.

Sompong’s confirmation today also ruled out former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as speculated by the media or former ambassador to France Saroj Chavanaviraj who was nominated by Samak to replace Tej but was left out in the cold after Samak’s departure.

Thai officials said Sompong, who hailed from the northern city of Chiangmai, was favoured over other career diplomats due to the party’s close link with ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

“In the previous Thaksin government until he was ousted in the 2006 coup, his party was not concerned much with the foreign ministry. But now they need a politician in control as there are lot of issues about Thaksin, his exile abroad and his red (diplomatic passport),” said a government source.

Sompong’s immediate task would be to reduce the border tension with Cambodia, as well as taking charge of the country’s preparation to hold the Asean Summit in December.

Somchai, a brother-in-law of Thaksin, said the Cabinet line-up had been completed, including nominees from five other parties in the coalition government.

The former judge is expected to hold the Defence Minister post as well.

The new cabinet is expected to have several new faces, including for the coveted Finance Minister post where the current deputy finance minister, Suchart Thadathamrongvech is likely to replace PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee who declined reappointment due to an ongoing court case.

Suchart is the leader of the Puea Thai, a party formed recently with the aim of absorbing members of parliament from PPP in case the party is disqualified for alleged election fraud.

Rain and Floods hit the province of Preah Vihear

PHNOM PENH, WED: Heavy rains have caused floods in at least four of Cambodian Preah Vihear province’s seven districts, especially along the Stueng Sen River, national media reported Wednesday.

“At least four districts have been flooded by rain and the rising Stueng Sen River. Some places have been seriously damaged by this flood,” China’s Xinhua news agency quoted provincial Deputy Governor Long Sovann as saying in the Phnom Penh Post.

He said that Tbeng Meanchey, Rovieng, Chey Sen and Kulen districts have been particularly affected.

“I do not have any reports of people’s property being damaged, but we believe some rice and farm crops have been destroyed,” Long Sovann said, adding that officials are working hard to ascertain the extent of the damage.

While the water level is still lower than it was last year, some fear that the situation will worsen as the rain continues.

Mao Pov, police chief in Preah Vihear province, said that heavy rains have affected almost all districts and that the water level continues to rise.

“A provincial town located on a hill in Tbeng Meanchey district is currently surrounded by water. Farmers from nearby villagers have been forced to relocate to the small town to avoid the flood,” Mao Pov said, adding that the water level continues to rise.

A Letter via e-mail to Mr. Liow

Royal Kingdom of Cambodia

National Religion King

To: Prachathai
UN Scretary General
UN Disaster Management
UN Counter Terrorism

Dear Mr. Joseph Chinyong Liow
mailto:iscyliow@ntu.edu.sg
mailto: publications@eastwestcenterwashington.org

My name is Chan Born, living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, have read your Policy Studies 24 “Muslim Resistance in Southern Thailand and Southern Philippines”. It is very useful. I have one question and suggestions to your Center as follow:

Question:
• Does the Center Washington have a plan to study of Khmer Surin or/and Siemess living in Thailand?

Whereas:

• There are former 20 provinces of Kingdom of Khmer occupying legally by Thailand with around 20 millions habitants. Those Khmer were too the founders of Prah Vihea Temple of which military tension taking place surrounding the temple’s zone till today;
• The Thailand’s King is suggested to be 50% of Siames and other 50% to be Khmer blood but He has pretended himself to be the Thai‘s King for Symbol of country unity sine 1946;
• Thai’s Coup 1939 had changed the Constitution and moved the Country name from Siam to Thailand as today;
• There were Siames ‘s Coup in 1932, Thai’s Coup 1939…..and some other 10 Coup bloody and bloodless consequently. The last Coup was managed by Muslim in 2006. Thus, the religion, ideology and politics are the mains issues related to Thaization’s philosophy;
• The King Phumibol and the Queen administered 2 types of armed forces: one is Royal Bodies Guard and other is Paramilitary. Most of prime ministers included Taksin and Samak are the puppets of the Royal Bangkok Administration;
• The Kingdom of Patani was administrated by Ministry of Interior from 1930 but the role had moved to Ministry of National Defense for instance (Muslim Umbrella); and
• There will be soon a war between Cambodia and Thailand because of more and more troops’ invasion and deployment by Thailand along the borders.

With the above facts, my motivations regarded to this question (state independent like “Timor” country) are:
• What are the positions of Khmer Surin people (Kingdom of Srey Ayuthia)?
• What are the positions of Muslim at the former Kingdom of Patani?
• What are the positions of Siamess people (People Alliance for Democracy)?
• What are the positions of Thai Citizens ( Bangkok Metropolitans and Kings)?
• What are the positions of USA and China National Defense Ministries?

Dear Sir, Madame, I have expressed my interesting the above topic. I have expecting that your Center would have the advantage as well as the US government. I really appreciated if any related study project taken place in Cambodia where i could joint with you.

With best regards

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
September 14, 2008
Boeun Chan Born, freelance researcher
E-mail: chanborn@yahoo.com

The French (Cambodia) and Siam Treaty in 1904 and 1907 delegated back some provinces to Cambodia. This is the idea of Thai Coup!. 1932 Siemss organized Coup. 1939 Thai Organized coup. You are Thai blood. I suggested you note that the TRT party managed by Thaksin and Samak and King Phoumibol already destroyed.

Cambodia Ambassador to Thailand sends a protest, but lying Thais insist Ta Krabey resides in Thailand.

19 Sept 2008
By Alain Ney
Cambodge Soir Hedbo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

By reaffirming Cambodia’s sovereignty on the Ta Krabey temple, in spite of the military and diplomatic annexation attempts by Thailand, Ung Sean condemns Thailand’s intrusion.

Cambodia’s tit-for-tat response to Thailand: “Based on geographic maps, the Ta Krabey temple, also known as Ta Kwai in Thailand, is located inside the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia.” It was through this small correction, expressed in diplomatic language that the Cambodian Ambassador in Thailand sent in a letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This act constitutes a violation of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Cambodia,” Ung Sean wrote also.

However, on 16 September, the permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Cambodian Ambassador, in which he accused Cambodia of “violating Thailand’s territory” by sending in troops on the spot because, according to the Thai official, the temple is located inside the Thai province of Surin.

In the wake of the Preah Vihear dispute, Thai soldiers have multiplied their incursions in Cambodia’s territories, under the pretext that the border was not well defined.

Ung Sean recalled that, on 10 September, at 6:00 PM, about 100 Thai soldiers entered and occupied the Ta Krabey temple in spite of the repeated protests made by local Cambodian authorities. Thai soldiers moved out of the temple the following day.

The tense atmosphere endured since the listing of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO last July. With the current crisis in Thailand, the border resolution is dragging on.

Stand off at another temple, and another temple, etc.

SURIN, Sept 13 (TNA) — Fully-armed Thai and Cambodian soldiers are again in confrontation — this time at a different temple ruin on another mountain in Surin province — but still marking the ill-defined border between the neighbouring countries.

A combined Thai Army force of local para-military rangers and regular troops from the Suranaree Task Force were dispatched to another ancient ruin, this time the Tawai temple sitting atop the Phnom Dong Rak mountain range in Thailand’s northeastern province of Surin along the Cambodian border.

The Thai military force was dispatched following reports that some 150 armed Khmer troops led by Col. Neak Pung, commander of the Cambodian army’s Task Force 42 assigned to defend the mountain, had several days ago tried to enter the ancient temple, which is claimed by both countries.

The Tawai ruins is located about 12 kilometres east of Ta Muen Thom, another ruin contested by both countries which sparked tension in early August.

Before the situation turns worse, Maj-Gen. Kanok Netrakawesana, chief of the Suranaree Task Force, opted to negotiate with the Khmer troops.

Both sides later agreed to withdraw their men from the Tawai temple compound but are still maintaining positions at the border.

The Tawai temple is attracting attention as the third disputed area between the two countries, after Thailand and Cambodia had engaged in disputes over the better-known Preah Vihear and the Ta Muen Thom ruins, which lies either in Thailand’s Surin province or in Cambodia’s northern Uddor Meanchey province.

IN THE MEAN TIME:

Cambodian military said that more than 100 Thai soldiers have seized control of the Kingdom’s Ta Krabey temple and are refusing to leave, despite the best efforts of some 50 Cambodian soldiers who remain at the site, local media reported Friday.

The Cambodian soldiers, who have controlled the small temple for years, tried to defend the site by shooting in the air but that the Thai soldiers still marched in, Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

“They dared to enter because they know Cambodian soldiers got the orders not to use violence and shoot,” Ho Bunthy said.

THEN

Cambodian military officials in Oddor Meanchey province said that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been sent to the Khmer-Thai border at Ta Krabey temple in Kork Kpous commune, Ampil district to prevent Thai troops from being re-occupied the temple which is located in Cambodian territory.

Commander of Battalion 422 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Mr. Pol Then, has said on Thursday the 11th that hundreds of Cambodian troops had been transported since Wednesday night to the Ta Krabey temple in between Thmor Daun district which Thai troops had been trying to occupy. And the military confrontation had been very tense.

The same military official said that up until Thursday, Thai and Cambodia troops are still besieging each other in many layers.

Mr. Pol Then said: “Many of my soldiers have been sent there since last night and two more truckloads of troops are being sent to reinforce us. A moment ago the situation has been eased because we agreed to negotiate on the temple building. Now they don’t know how to withdraw. Yesterday we were inside the temple and they came to encircle us from behind the temple. So we sent the troops to encircle them as well, but they sent the troops to encircle us in a second layer.”

According to Cambodian military sources, up until Thursday afternoon there were about 140 Thai soldiers in the area and that they have already occupied the temple. Cambodian military sources said that at about 8pm Wednesday night about 12 Thai soldiers have forced their way in to occupy the Ta Krabey temple to open the way for other troops to move in.

According to a military official based at O’Smach who spoke on condition of anonymity said that a Cambodian soldier has fired a single shot in the air to stop them from moving in to occupy the temple but the Thai troops were not deterred.

The same military official said: “They moved in at night time and our troops tried to push them back by firing into the air but they still moving in.”

Governor of Ampil district, Mr. Chap Phat, said that Ta Krabey temple is located about 6km east of Thmor Daun district and that area is uninhabited.

Mr. Chap Phat said that district officials are trying to go to the areas to assess the situation but were unable to get there because they were unable to cross the many rivers which were flooded due to heavy rains.

Mr. Chap Phat said: “This morning I tried to go there but the floods have cut the roads so we cannot cross the rivers. The area is uninhabited.”

At Ta Moan Thom temple which were located nearby, there were reports that the Cambodian side has sent more troops to the area, while Thailand has sent more troops to the area also which their troops have already re-occupied the temple more than a week ago.

PM Hun Sen prepare for the ICJ or UNSC. Is this true or just another false hope?

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 12 (AP) – (Kyodo)—Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that a nearly two-month border dispute with Thailand will likely be to be brought to the International Court of justice in The Hague or once again be returned to the United Nations Security Council.

“We should be well-prepared and get documentation ready because it is unlikely that we can avoid the court, or, if it is worse, then we have to return to the U.N. Security Council,” Hun Sen said at the opening of his weekly Cabinet meeting.

The premier said Cambodia has used “utmost restraint” in the face of “daring aggression” by Thai troops into Cambodian territory.

He added that incursions have been at many place along the some 800- kilometer border with Thailand.

Cambodia and Thailand were to discuss full troop withdrawals from a disputed border point last month, but the Thai side requested a postponement due to internal tension in Thailand.

Cambodia made an appeal to the U.N. Security Council on July 22 to meet urgently on Cambodia’s military standoff with Thailand, but it withdrew its appeal two days later after Thailand had agreed to hold immediate talks on the issue.

The border dispute and military standoff stems from incidents almost two months ago when Cambodia detained three Thai ultranationalist activists who the authorities allege illegally crossed into Cambodia near the World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear Temple.

Since then, Thailand and Cambodia have been building up their forces near the temple and tensions have escalated.

On Aug. 16, several hundred troops from both sides who had been deployed to the area since July 15 were drawn back from immediate confrontation, but they remain close by.

But the military standoff has spread to at least three more points along the border.

The dispute appears difficult to resolve because the two sides use different maps of the border areas.

Thai serving as Senator in the Cambodian CPP party

Sunday September 14, 2008
Bangkok Post STAFF REPORTERS

Ly Yong Phat, the businessman behind the major developments planned on Koh Kong, is no stranger to controversy having been criticised by several human rights agencies for forcibly removing villagers from their land in 2006.

Also known as Phat Suphapha, he is a senator in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and one of the wealthiest men in Cambodia who counts many of the country’s most powerful people as his close associates.

Mr Phat came under fire from the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for the forced eviction of 250 families in the Chi Khor Leu commune in Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province on Sept 19, 2006.

According to the AHRC report, military police were involved in the eviction, destroying the villagers’ crops and bulldozing houses. Seven people were injured in the confrontations, including two villagers who suffered bullet wounds.

The Cambodian government granted Mr Phat’s Agriculture Duty Free-Shop Development Company two 10,000-hectare concessions in the commune, which the villagers had been living in since 1979, the report said.

Human Rights Watch, Global Witness, FORUM-ASIA, the Asian Human Rights Commission and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) issued a joint statement in Oct 2006 condemning the evictions.

He offered compensation of $50 per hectare when human rights lawyers were asking for a fair market value of $500-$1,000 per hectare, human rights workers later discovered.

Attempts to remove Samak at any cost

By Nopporn Wong-Anan

BANGKOK, Sept 10 (Reuters) – The parties in Thailand’s ruling coalition huddled behind closed doors on Wednesday to agree a replacement prime minister for Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts for hosting a TV cooking show while in office.

Samak’s People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, vowed to back him again as prime minister, but smaller partners have not made their stance clear ahead of Friday’s parliamentary vote.

Chart Thai, the second largest party in the coalition, was meeting with the PPP amid newspaper speculation that its leader, Banharn Silpa-archa, would replace Samak.

Banharn, a veteran provincial powerbroker whose disastrous premiership in the 1990s contributed to the baht collapse that triggered a wider Asian financial crisis, denied the rumours.

“It is impossible for the PPP to vote for me to be the prime minister. They have many choices, apart from Samak,” he told reporters before meeting finance minister and top PPP official Surapong Suebwonglee. Banharn gave no hint of how his party would vote on Friday.

A nationwide poll conducted by Assumption University found that 56 percent of respondents wanted the Samak government to go. A similar percentage wanted a national unity administration or a snap election.

The 73-year-old Samak has yet to comment on Tuesday’s court ruling that he had violated the constitution by hosting cooking shows on commercial television while in office.

The Constitutional Court said it was a conflict of interest that disqualified him as prime minister.

Analysts said the verdict should have provided at least a stop-gap solution to the crisis, but the likelihood the stalemate will drag on for months is likely to take a further toll on Thailand’s financial markets.

The country’s main stock index .SETI has fallen nearly 25 percent since a street campaign against the Samak government began in late May.

Protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who accuse Samak of being a puppet of Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as premier by the army in a 2006 coup, said they would not move from Government House, where they have barricaded themselves for two weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat — who is Thaksin’s brother-in-law — was named acting prime minister, an appointment hardly likely to calm PAD ardour.

It was also not certain that Samak’s entire party would back him Friday’s secret ballot. Some PPP factions were meeting on Wednesday to discuss leadership options.

“What the spokesman said about re-nominating Mr. Samak was not a party resolution,” Paijit Srivorakarn, head of the PPP’s northeast faction, told a Bangkok radio station.

note: It’s amazing how the opposition used a cooking show in an attempt to remove Samak.  They tried to find any minor offense to legally remove him.  Why don’t they have an emergency election to see if the Thai people feel strongly enough to remove him?

Preab Sovath sings at Preah Vihear

Drug deal gone wrong at the Cambodia-Thailand border

Written by Thet Sambath and Yun Vann
Friday, 05 September 2008

The body of a Cambodian man reportedly killed by Thai soldiers while trying to make a drug deal across the border from Banteay Meanchey province’s O’Chrov district was repatriated Thursday.

Police said that Hel Touch, 28, from Prek Chan village, O’Beichoarn commune, was trying to deal narcotics with Thai soldiers when he was shot Tuesday night. His two accomplices escaped, provincial police commissioner Hun Hean told the Post.

Hun Hean said that Hel Touch tried to kill three Thai soldiers by throwing a grenade at them after the deal went bad. The grenade explosion wounded Hel Touch and slightly hurt one of the soldiers, who then fatally shot the Cambodian, Hun Hean added.

“We are still not sure about the accuracy of the Thai authority’s report. We will investigate it more thoroughly,” said Sam Chit, Banteay Meanchey province’s deputy police chief.He added that Thai police had said the desceased and his accomplices were also involved in smuggling stolen motorbikes and cars.

Hel Touch’s body was handed over to Cambodian authorities at the Poipet border crossing, where relatives were waiting to bring the him to their village for a funeral ceremony, according to Tim Sareth, deputy chief of the Thai-Cambodian Relations Office.

Chhouk Ang, commander of Border Police Battalion 911 stationed north of Poipet, did not attribute the killing to military tensions along the border.

He said the situation has been normal despite the standoff between Cambodia and Thailand over disputed territory.